Chapter 1 Broken

Penelope

I froze and then I tried to speak but no words formed in my mouth as my stepsister's statement had sent literal shock waves through me, it was as though my heart had been ripped out from my chest. Suddenly the food in my mouth which tasted so delicious earlier on turned so bitter that I had to reach for a glass of water and gulp it down my throat before returning my gaze to Mireya.

"Huh!" I managed to mutter when I eventually found my voice.

"I am in love with Richard and we've decided to get married in a month." Mireya my stepsister repeated, this time with a grim expression playing on her face.

Mireya did have great guts, that I was aware of but never had I imagined that she would announce her wedding to my fiance looking me in the eye.

The room fell silent and you could hear a pin drop, my eyes darted around as I watched the disarray of expression on everyone's faces. My dad had this indifferent look on his face as expected, my Stepmom didn't seem surprised by the news but my half-brother Oliver was the only one who had a different look on his face, he was ashen.

My mouth hung open as I looked over at Richard the one person who had no right to be silent at this point, but his eyes were elsewhere, he was gazing at Mireya lovingly with a smile plastered on his face face making my chest swell with raging jealousy.

"I think you are forgetting something, baby. The best part of the news." He said proudly in a skeezy tone that almost got me puking.

What other disgusting news did they have to share? What could be worse than this?

Mireya returned the smile peeking at him," I'm carrying Richard's child."

A peal of laughter left my lips making everyone turn their attention to me including Mireya and Richard.

"Is this some kind of prank?" I questioned as my laughter died down raising a brow at them but from the look on their visage, I needed no one to tell me that this was no joke, it was the sour truth.

Richard and Mireya glanced at each other and burst out laughing as they turned their gaze to me.

"Baby, I told you she wouldn't believe me if I said it. Maybe she would if you say it to her yourself." Mireya mumbled returning her eyes to Richard after their laughter died down.

Richard nodded and looked at me. Those eyes that once stared at me with love were cold and expressed contempt. Still, deep down in me, I wished he was going to tell me this was all a joke or better still I wake up and realise this was just a bad dream.

"I'm in love with Mireya, she is pregnant with my baby and we'll be getting married in a month."

As he said the words, his voice was laced with so much happiness and I knew for a fact that he didn't care how I was going to feel.

A pang of pain shot through my heart and it was as though my airways were restricted making it difficult for me to breathe.

I shook my head springing up to my feet and sauntered to Richard.

"I beg of you, don't do this to me. I know you love me and I love you....."

I didn't complete the words when Mireya's mocking snicker filled my ears.

"I know you love me and I love you." she mimicked erupting into another wave of laughter.

She huffed and rolled her eyes at me, her eyes blazing with intense dislike. I knew for a fact that Mireya hated me but I never saw this coming.

"You still think Richard gives a damn about you? Well guess who he getting married to and who has his baby?" She mocked but I chose to ignore her not willing to give up, I decided to keep talking to Richard maybe he was going to have a change of mind when I remind him of how long we had been together and the amazing beautiful memories we had shared.

"Richie, we've been together for four years. How can you do this now? Remember the good times, we promised never to let go of each other," I sobbed raising my hand to touch him but he shoved my hand away and glared at me with eyes full of resentment.

"I didn't want to say this to you but I think I should because you are acting really pathetic right now. I never loved you Penelope, I realised that after being with Mireya. All I ever felt for you was pity."

The words echoed in my ears even after he was done saying them and I took a step backward, my limbs weakened and I almost fell to the ground, I gripped the table for support trying to steady my legs.

I have been the biggest fool believing that Richard loved me and that we were meant to be together.

"Didn't you hear him? He has never loved you, I would advise you just leave our presence and stop with your show of shame." Mireya jeered rolling her eyes at me.

I didn't wait to hear another word from anybody else, I turned abruptly and took to my heels running upstairs not looking back or taking a pause until I reached my bedroom. I slammed the door and crashed to the floor in front of my bed.

I screamed facepalming as tears streamed down my cheeks letting the pain out but it didn't make me feel any better. My heart was sore, making me feel like it was pricked with a million thorns.

My body trembled with every sob that left my lips letting my emotions overwhelm me, I was deeply hurt swimming in a sea of heartbreak.

"Can you just stop this? It is making you look more stupid than we all know you are."

I was forced to tilt my head when I heard that voice and even before I did, I knew who the voice belonged to, it was my beloved Stepmother. I figured I was too busy crying to have noticed when she stepped into my room.

"Please if you are here to taunt me, just leave," I stated trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. I was in no mood to listen to her but at the same time, I knew I had to be careful with my choice of words while I spoke with her to avoid incurring the wrath of my father who happens to be her puppet.

My stepmom snickered and then placed a hand on her chest feigning to be hurt by my words.

"Is that what you think of me?" She paused raising a brow at me.

I didn't care to give her an answer, I just scowled at her.

Her lips widened into a sardonic smile," You know me so well my dear, Penelope."

I gave her a knowing look, I had gone past the stage of believing that this woman would ever care about me.

"I've always told you, Mireya is better than you are or will ever be. You must have come to terms with that seeing that even your fiance saw that and chose her," she said proudly making her way to my bed, she sat on it and crossed her legs. Her next words sounded like bad music to my ears and poison to my entire being.

"Anyways that aside. I came to tell you that you have a marriage proposal. It came as a surprise to me that someone in their right senses would want you to be their wife but I guess everyone deserves to be lucky for at least once in their life." She let out and for a second I forgot all about the pain in my chest and began to laugh amidst tears. I saw my stepmom hoist her head and she gawked at me like I was losing my mind.

A marriage proposal? Was this some kind of joke?