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The loud cries of a newborn was heard in then background, accompanied with the panting of a woman with a gun in her hand. With hands like fire, she stood in front of three people: her parents and her sister. The child wouldn't stop crying, her hands wouldn't stop shivering, and the rest of the family wouldn't stop pleading. "It's better that we put an end to all of this. It's better that we just end all of this shit now! I'm tired of having to deal with all of you. I'm tired of the hatred and I'm tired of the lies.... I'm a bad kid am I not?" She asked and she laughed like her life depended on it. Silence...then she turned to her sister. "Happy 18th birthday to us," then bang! She pulled the trigger.
~Lyla's POV
My heart was pounding hard against my chest. I was aggressively biting my lower lips as I packed my clothes into my box.
I looked everywhere and it all just didn't feel right to me.
Why would I go to a boarden school when I'm already in the 12th grade? Can't they just find another way to punish me?
Okay fine.
I admit that what I did was wrong. I admit that I wasn't supposed to be having an affair with my teacher but still.... can't they just find something else to use in punishing me?
I never pictured myself in boarding school, not now, not ever!
Ahhh!
I screamed and I threw out all the clothes that I had folded. My head was aching inside out. As if treating me like a prisoner isn't enough.
The thought of having to start all over again made me feel suffocated. New class mates, new environment and new teachers.
I still can't believe I'll have to share a dorm with other kids.
"Ahhh!" I screamed again, then the sound of a knock on the door.
I recognized that knock.
Without even raising my head, I already knew who has at the door.
"The damn door is open, Marie! Just get the hell in!" I yelled at her.
She lowered her head and she had that same pathetic look on her face. "I'm sorry ...I just didn't want to invade your privacy," she said.
I shook my head and smacked my teeth.
Faker.
"So what do you want this time? You want to ask for permission if you can step on the living room floor or what?" I asked with my hands folded and my lips curved with disgust.
Her presence made me feel more worse.
"Mom and dad want to see you," she said, still with her head down.
Can someone please tell Marie to stop acting like I'm punishing her!
"Wait, why do they want to see me? I thought they don't want to set their eyes on me?" I asked.
She blinked. "I was so worried about the way you were screaming and how you threw your bag on the ground...so I told them," Marie said and I felt like tearing my self from my scalp all the way down.
I locked my jaw and closed my eyes.
Sigh.
I looked at Marie and I didn't even know what to do to her. "The day you learn to keep your mouth shut, I'll be happiest human on earth," I mouthed before walking out on her.
I took deep sighs as I walked down the corridor. I stood in front of mom and dads white door and my heart would not stop racing.
Normally, i would have barged into their room without knocking, but at that moment....I just couldn't.
After the incident with the teacher, everything changed. They didn't let me go to my old school after that time and even the way they gazed at me made me feel like an abomination.
I was sure that I was only going to receive an ear full because of what Marie said and they were surely going to say something about treating Marie right.
After minutes of standing at the door, I finally landed two knocks on the door.
Mom opened it and when her eyes met mine, I couldn't even look into her eyes.
That cold, disappointed gaze of a mother was still there.
"It took you long enough," Mom said before she stepped away from the door. I swallowed.
But mostly, my heart stinged. I was craving for that warm gaze I had always known my all life, but all that I am left with is...this. There's a clear difference in the way they look at me and how they look at Marie.
The smell of mom's body spray mixed with dad's ran through my nose. I never really wanted a hug from them since I was young. I felt too grown to be held in their arms, but at that point, I really wished I could just run into their hands, cry my eyes out and tell them I'm sorry for dating my own teacher.
But Marie seems to be making things even harder for me. She was always running the mom and dad's door, opening her lose mouth.
"Lyla!" dad called, snapping me out of my thoughts. I raised my head and with the look on his face, it was so obvious that he has been calling my name for quite a while.
"What are you thinking about this time? How to run from the house or what?" Dad asked.
I just couldn't hold it in. "Why are you always thinking that I'm up for something bad! You're not even giving me any chance to breath!" I yelled.
And after I did it, I knew I shouldn't have.
Damn.... what's all of this?
"You need a chance to breath, don't you? Then why don't you just learn to do the right thing for once?" Dad yelled at me.
I felt a lump in my throat.
Sincerely, I have been trying everything to make it up to them, but they just wouldn't see it because they are blinded by Marie's presence. Everything was going fine before she came into the picture.
Just like I expected, the new line was about her. "I should be the one telling you to give Marie a chance to breathe! She's trying her best to bond with you!" Dad yelled.
He did the talking, but I could feel mom's gaze on me.
"I am trying! I am trying everything that I can but can you as well tell Marie to give me some time? I spent my whole life thinking I am the only child until you both brought her home saying she's my twin sister and there was a mix up after she was born! I have feelings too! I am trying so hard but because you both are blinded my Marie's pretence, I just don't do anything right, anymore!" I yelled.
"How do you expect us to to all of this, Lyla when you aren't even giving us the chance to trust you! After we thought that you have changed, we found out that you are having a stupid affair with that thing named Martin!" Mom yelled.
Mom didn't really have to mention Mr. Martin's name but yes, she did.
Everything I do now, his name ends up getting mentioned one way of the other even if I break a glass.
Marie suddenly ran into the room. My phone was ringing and she had that same look on her face.
I didn't want to see her at the moment, but she was standing in front of me with my phone in her hand.
"What?" I asked.
Mom and dad glared at me. They were obviously not satisfied with how I spoke to their daughter.
"You have a call," Marie said. "Don't you understand that I am trying to have a conversation with my parents and the damn call can wait?" I asked and she sniffed.
"It's Mr. Martin. He said he wants the both of you to finish your conversation," Marie said and my eyes widened.
I am doomed!
We are the White's, a family known across the city for it's beauty, wealth, and most importantly, our PERFECTION. We are known are the perfect family, but the question is...are we? Behind that perfect name; "White" lays lies, betrayal, and deep secrets that even siblings don't know. Every member of the "Whites" have a secret to keep. Meet five siblings who would die to portray themselves as perfection Meet a family who live in the same house but no one knows who the other truly is Meet a family where lies fly across the dinning table Meet a family where secrets are hidden between and beneath the sheets. Blood stained hands, lies, secrets, buried truths and defiled sheets makes up the White; the society's perfect family. Our mother is a lair, our father is a cheat. Our brothers are devils and our sisters are human like witches. Our wives are betrayals and our husbands are thieves. But when we're outside, we've got big smiles on our faces and roses on our dresses. Our name is "White" but deep down, black is brighter than we are. What happens when these secrets come to light? And is there even a hint of truth among us?
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?