Chapter 1 Shattered

“What are you doing here, Abigail? Don't you know you have to knock at the door before coming in?” Liam, her boyfriend, was a fireball.

Her eyes were on stalks, unable to believe the scene running before her. Earth shook under the feet of Abigail when she discovered her cousin Zoey cheating on her with her boyfriend.

Abby took a long wavered breath trying her best not to present herself shaken. “Until a moment ago, I thought I did not have to practice formality around you. But I was wrong.”

“Psst! Shattered is what I would describe seeing the dilation in your eyes.” Zoey mocked pity. Liam immediately covered himself with the duvet and got up from the bed before throwing a jacket on Zoey to cover herself. Guilt was evident in his eyes.

“Abby, I love you. Please do not misunderstand me. I'm sorry that I hurt you. It's a mistake that accidentally happened, carried away by the moment.” Liam pleaded.

“What? Is this a mistake Liam? We have been sleeping together for the past six months, throwing dust in her eyes. You promised me that you will marry me and now you call it a mistake?” Zoey took over Liam about to blow the roof away with her anger before Abigail even had a chance to react.

So he had been cheating on her for the past six months. She was too stupid to trust him on everything. Abigail’s heart broke to several pieces with dismay after learning the news from Zoey.

She learnt a new lesson on that day. The worst hits are from the person’s own kith and kin. Liam was still an outsider. But what happened to her blood relation? Abigail always saw Zoey like her own sister though the latter never had reciprocated it. Today's scene was a devastating eye opener for understanding the true color of Zoey.

The tears which till then were locked in her eyes began a free flow like a river. “Do not pay heed to her nonsense. I'm yours and you are mine. She is just a pastime.” Liam requested taking a step forward to hold her hand.

But Abigail took two behind, still under the shock. She blinked her eyes twice…thrice to restrict her tears. There was no use of crying over spilt milk. Liam was not worth her tears. He is a taken man and she is not dying for a guy in her life. Abby gathered her last ounce of energy to speak though she was in a sea of sorrow. “A pastime? Love implies sacrifice, Liam. Just because I couldn't sleep with you in the last six months you wanted another woman. Though I am not as rich as you, I do not use second hand stuff. We are done.” She spat the words with venom while looking at Zoey giving her an indirect message about her self esteem.

Zoey could easily read her and stamped the door on her face, throwing a deaf ear to Liam’s pleas from behind.

***

“Where were you all this while?” William yells at Abigail once she returns home.

“Uncle William, I went to meet Grace after my college. She had a blood transfusion today.” Abigail answered meekly, fearing a slap from him.

William knotted her brows in indignation.

“And you thought you could wind up all the household work here to babysit your sister? That ugly crow is not going to stay on this earth for too long.” He was about to blow her face but was immediately stopped by Nora. An unsaid conversation went between them through their eyes.

If Abigail could have a wish from God at that moment, she would have already asked him to take away William in place of her sister. William is a miser and a very selfish man. The only reason he agreed to take custody of both the sisters is to get rights on the millions his brother left behind for them. But Nora is a smart woman. Though her intentions are equally wicked she would never let them surface. Abigail could guess something going fishy between the husband and wife. In the corner room was Zoey in soft sobs. “Uncle William, I did all the household work including cooking, cleaning and washing clothes before I went to check up on my sister at the hospital.” Abigail replied timidly.

“These days your mouth works sharper than a knife. You started giving back answers to me. How dare you do that. Do not forget you are a charity case here. Your parents died in the plane crash. You and your sister were hardly 5 and 3 when I gave shelter to both of you. I do not have a money minting press here. You both need to work to have your three meals in my house. And since your sister cannot work, you have to do her part too.” William’s voice rose an octave startling the three women present in the house.

Abigail wanted to shout and say, the house still works on the savings her dad once upon a time pooled for them. But did she have a voice? Abigail will not get rights on her dad’s property until she turns twenty one. Nora and William are making absolute use of that. “Why did dad get such a will framed for us which has so many loopholes, Abby?” Grace once asked Abigail in soft sobs.

“Uncle William was loving and very caring towards us when we were small and our parents were alive. Dad wouldn’t have thought even in his dreams that he would turn out to be such a miser and selfish man.” Abby replied Grace thoughtfully. It was because of Nora that everything changed in William. She is a cunning fox.

Nora came forward and patted the back of Abby in consolation who was still in stupor by the words of William. “William!” She called him in warning and the man fell silent as if he had been hit by a hammer.

‘What is this new plot she was going to play on her?’

“Do not mind your uncle’s words darling. Every dog has its day. Your good days are around the corner. The little earnings you make as a waitress in the night club is hardly sufficient to treat the growing cancer in Grace. But I have an offer which could bring you out of all your problems.” Nora smartly suggested locking her bright blue eyes with Abby.

“What is it?” Abigail asked, wiping her tears and enthusiasm in her eyes.

“Marry Nelson Benedict in place of Zoey.”