Perfect disguise by Elizabeth A (speld decodable readers .txt) 📗

.48.

 

Diana's POV.

I rushed to my room, packed some of my stuff and drove straight to Chad's house. 

He needed to know everything.

I parked my car in the garage and dashed into his house. I met Annie in the kitchen talking to one of the maids. I approached her.

"Annie, is Chad around?"

She observed me and arched her brow. "Diana, you looked stressed. Is everything okay?"

I sighed. "Yeah, I just need to know if my brother is around."

She blinked, confused. "Yes, he is. He is resting in his room."

I nodded and forced a smile. "Thank you."

I entered the lift and went to the third floor. I walked straight to his room and pressed the doorbell. The door opened and he stood by the doorway wearing silken pajamas and rubber slippers. His hair curled up into a coil and his eyes were half lidded. It was obvious I had just woken him up from his slumber.

He arched his brow. "Diana? What's wrong? You look worried."

I shouldn't have come to his house late at night. He deserved to rest. I waved my hand. "Don't worry, I will tell you tomorrow. You should get some rest."

"There is no way I'm going back to that bed when I'm aware that something is bothering you. He widened the door, giving me space to enter inside. "Come insides. You need to tell me what is bothering you."

I stepped inside and sat on the couch. He sat on the bed and looked at me. "So what did your mom do this time?"

"She isn't my Mom anymore."

He pursed his lips and nodded. "Okay, that sounds very serious. You can stay here if you are trying to avoid her."

"Are you sure your girlfriend won't assume that I'm dating you?"

"Annie knows you are my sister," he deadpanned.

"Hmm. So you consider her as your girlfriend?" I mused.

"Yeah, I've asked her out already. That's enough about Annie. What's going on?"

I bit my lip. The room seemed to close in on me. I didn't know how to tell him the truth. I was afraid he would hate me because my mother killed his sister. He should have hated me. My presence was the reason his mother broke up with our father. We destroyed his family. My mother even went as far as killing his half sister as if we haven't hurt him enough. 

"I… My mom, she… She…" I swallowed hard and adjusted uneasily on the couch.

He sat up and leaned closer to me. "What did your mom do?"

I inhaled deeply. I shouldn't have come to tell him this in person. It was harder than I thought. How will he react when he finds out the truth? What will he do? Will he harm my mom?

I knew she deserved to be punished for what she did, but I wanted her to confess her crime and redeemed herself. She wasn't bothered about Emily's death. So I knew it would be hard to get her to change.

Chad furrowed his brow, worried. "Diana?"

I jolted and my pulse thumped. I brushed my hair backward. I was going to give my mom a chance to redeem herself. "My mom wants to tell you what she did. So will you go and talk to her?" 

He frowned. "I can't talk to your mom."

I stood up and picked up my tote bag. "You don't have a choice this time, you need to talk to her." I said and left his room.

 

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Dominic POV.

I met up with Annie at the usual restaurant we used to go to every Wednesday. I haven't seen her for some time because she traveled with her boss, Mr Lawson, to Japan for his knee operation. Her boss was crippled due to a tragic accident. He had been in a wheelchair for about three years and Annie was hired as a caretaker to look after him. I knew she was only working for him, but I can't stop feeling jealous of the moments they spent together. 

Although He wasn't nice to Annie, she still defended him whenever I accused him of anything. It made me feel like she had feelings for him. I had been in love with Annie since I was a teen and she was aware of this, but she tried to deny my affection each time I brought it up. Still, I was willing to wait for her to accept me. I just hoped she did.

She pursed her lips and looked through the menu.

 "Let's just order the usual." She said and dropped the menu. She told the waiter our order and he left.

"How was the trip?" I inquired.

She smiled and her eyes sparkled. "It was lovely. We had a lot of fun." 

I grimaced. "We?" I repeated her words. She wasn't referring to us. It seems like the trip brought her and her boss closer. 

The waiter came back and placed the meal on the table. He braced his hands and tried to smile, but he noticed the tension between us so he only nodded and told us to enjoy the meal.

Annie's smile dropped when she noticed my reaction. She sat up and sighed. "Um… Dominic, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just carried away."

I nodded and ate the pasta in silence. I didn't want to sound hurt and angry so I took a deep breath. I studied her. She looked more at ease and happy than the last time I saw her. 

"Annie."

"Yeah?" She looked at me, confused.

I dropped the fork and rested my hands on the table. "Are you dating your boss?"

She nodded. "Yes, we are dating."

I tightened my lips and started elsewhere. How can she be dating her boss after what he did to her? She deserves someone who treats her right! I threw the napkin on the table.

"Annie, he doesn't deserve you and you know that!"

She sighed and stretched her hands across the table and squeezed mine. "I know, but he is becoming a better person

"

I lowered my eyes to our intertwined hands and removed her hands from mine. Her words sliced deep through my heart like a sharp knife and it ached. So she loves him? Although, He had never done anything for her yet she loved him? What about me? I had put her first in everything. I even rejected Diana because I loved her and was willing to wait for her to notice me. Gosh, I was such a fool. I should have let go of the things I couldn't hold.

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