The gateman finally opened the gate for her after she had knocked for almost three minutes. He looked pissed, but still chose not to say anything.
Linda stepped inside blankly. She had accepted her fate as the bad omen ever since her mother left the house. This place used to feel like home before her mother left, before love became selective. She had learned the hard way that blood didn't always mean protection.
Her father sat on the couch with his legs crossed, a newspaper in his hands. He didn't look surprised to see her. It was as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
"So," he said coldly, dropping the paper. "You finally remembered you have a father."
Linda opened her mouth. "Dad…"
SMACK!!
The sound echoed through the living room. The slap came fast, making Linda wonder how he was able to reach her so quickly despite sitting on the couch. Her head snapped to the side, the sting spreading across her cheek like fire.
"You shameless girl!" he roared, standing up. "Look at what you've turned into!" He threw the newspaper at her face.
She licked her lips and tasted blood. "I didn't do it," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the pain. "I was framed."
Her father laughed mockingly. "Framed?" He stepped closer, pointing at her face. "You are exactly like your mother. Always pretending and playing the victim."
Linda gritted her teeth.
Her mother… she was alive somewhere. Breathing. Linda still had no idea why they separated, but she was certain the fault came from her father's side. To him, her mother was already erased. He brought another woman into the house, and on the second day, they parted, with a daughter. He had definitely planned everything.
"Do you know what people are saying about you?" he continued. "Sleeping with married men? Ruining families? You've brought disgrace to my name!"
"I didn't…"
"Enough!" another voice snapped. Linda rolled her eyes. She already knew who it was, and it annoyed her that the woman had to witness her downfall.
Her stepmother emerged from the hallway with a mocking smile on her face. Her eyes scanned Linda from head to toe, filled with disgust.
"You've embarrassed this family enough. Are you happy?" she chuckled. "Do you think we don't have neighbours or friends like you? Do you know how many calls we've received just because of you?"
Linda finally looked at her. "Then why answer them?"
The woman scoffed. "Still arrogant. Just like her mother, of course!"
Linda was about to speak when another voice interrupted.
"Mom! Dad! Please!"
Rodah rushed into the room, waving slightly. Her eyes were red as she looked at Linda worriedly. "Please don't blame Linda. I've seen the news too. She doesn't look like someone who would do this."
Her father's expression softened immediately. "Rodah," he said gently, pulling her into his arms. "You shouldn't involve yourself in this mess."
"But I'm worried about her," Rodah insisted, glancing at Linda. "She's my sister."
Linda said nothing. She watched them silently, the way his hand rested on Rodah's shoulder, the way his voice softened, something she had never experienced.
Her stepmother smiled faintly. "You see?" she grinned. "Rodah is reasonable. Unlike you."
Linda nodded and finally spoke. "I didn't come here for sympathy."
Her father frowned again. "Then why are you here?"
She sighed softly. "I needed a place to stay. Just for tonight." With that, she would at least be able to take some important things from her room.
The room went quiet…
Then he scoffed. "You think this house is a shelter for a disgraceful person like you?" he snapped. "Go to your mother. Oh wait, she abandoned you, didn't she? I knew it already."
That one landed deep. "She's alive," Linda said calmly. "And you know exactly where she is."
He clenched his fist. Linda was right, but…
"Get out," he said coldly. "I don't want your bad luck under my roof. I won't have my daughter associated with this filth."
Rodah stepped forward. "Dad, please…"
"It's fine," Linda interrupted calmly, making everyone turn to her.
She picked up her handbag, which had fallen the moment her father slapped her. "I didn't come here expecting love. I just wanted confirmation."
"Confirmation of what?" her stepmother asked in confusion.
"That this place stopped being my home a long time ago." She chuckled and turned toward the door.
Behind her, her father was already comforting Rodah. "Don't cry," he murmured. "You're nothing like her."
Linda paused for half a second. Then she walked out of the building. She hadn't even taken three steps away from the gate when she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
"Linda! Wait! Sister!" Rodah's voice rang out.
Linda didn't bother to turn. She already understood why she came. "Say what you want to say," she said over her shoulder. "No one is watching."
Rodah stopped in front of her with a smirk. For a moment, the world seemed to bend around her, victory sparkling in her eyes.
"I'm very sure you love my gift, ehn, Linda," she mocked.
Linda's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you done?" she asked calmly, almost yawning in boredom.
Rodah couldn't hold her laughter as she stepped closer, sticking out her tongue. "Oh, we're just getting started. If you really want to survive, you'll need to know the truth. Or maybe… You won't survive at all."
Linda only raised a brow. Rodah was doing this intentionally, knowing Linda wouldn't dare lay hands on her or say something harsh. Otherwise, she would be tied to a tree and whipped twenty times as usual. But Linda knew all this would end soon.
Rodah leaned closer, lowering her voice so only Linda could hear. "Ezekiel Lane will notice me. Yes, him, the CEO of the most powerful technology company. I'll work in his company and stand by his side. And when that happens, you'll wish you were never alive, because I'll make sure your career… your life… collapses before you even know what hit you."
Linda smiled in amusement.
Ezekiel Lane? She heard that name every day. Of course, everyone had. His empires are above all others, his name never leaves the top number one, but to Rodah, he was nothing more than a golden jackpot she had been chasing. Ezekiel's level was so far beyond their petty little generation that Linda almost felt pity for her imagination.
Linda stepped past her, ignoring Rodah completely as she continued rambling about how she would use Ezekiel's power to destroy her.
But the real question was… James…
James was Linda's boyfriend and he cared for Rodah more than anything. Did she plan to dump him in the future?
"You think you can ignore me? You'll fall, Linda! You'll regret thinking you're untouchable!" Rodah kept threatening her.
Linda ignored her and walked out of the gate. The fact that her father didn't allow her to pick anything from her room annoyed her.
Outside the gate, she pulled out her phone. Her thumb paused for a moment before she dialled her manager's number.
"Submit it," she said the moment Megan picked up.
"Wait, what?" Megan gasped. "You want to submit… your resignation? Linda, we can fix this! Please don't do this…"
"I said submit it," Linda interrupted calmly. She had already made up her mind. She wasn't going back.
Megan paused before sighing. "Alright… if that's your decision. I'll submit it." Linda ended the call.
She stood there for a moment, staring at the empty street. Nowhere to go. No one to turn to.
The sun showed her no mercy. It was harsh and unrelenting as she wandered without direction, every step reminding her that she had no place left. She couldn't believe her stepsister had succeeded just as she said she would.
Before she realised it, she found herself standing in the middle of the road.
Pimmm!
A car sped toward her. She froze. 'How did I end up here?' Panic flooded her chest. The Lamborghini was coming straight at her and it's not slowing down.
She tried to step back, but the heat from the sun and her fear collided. "Yes! To the left…!" Just as she tried to move, the car hit her.
"Ahhh!"
She fell hard, her head crashing against the solid road. And then… darkness took over her.