She Had It All, page 5
Sarah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Kian held his head in utter disbelief, Petros and Paul were agitated to hear the dark truth, and Pearl was biting her nails in anxiety. Mary and Frank were just shocked to hear the secrets of this family.
The Doctor (continuing):
There is a lot more to it than I can tell now. I will send you an invite to assemble at a place soon so that I clear up the remaining secrets of your family.
Then the doctor went to check on Sarah, she was having a fever so he asked Kian if he could bring medicine to inject Sara.
Paul:
I know a pharmacist who can deliver it to us.
He dialled someone and was happy that the person said he would bring the medicine in ten minutes. Kian couldn’t take it anymore, he came near Sarah’s bed, held her hand, and asked for forgiveness. He left the room and went to his Connex, Frank and Petros left too. Only Paul, Pearl, and Mary stayed.
The doctor injected Sarah, stayed for a while to observe, and once her temperature lowered, he deduced she was alright.
The Doctor:
She needs peace, just let her be.
Paul offered the doctor a ride back home and left along with him.
Pearl (to Mary):
I will stay. You go and rest.
Sarah:
Ladies, I am fine! I just need to be alone and get some rest. Don’t worry, please go home. Just send me some food from the grand house, I am starving.
Pearl:
Sure, my lovely. Just give me a few minutes, I will arrange for food to be sent here.
Mary (kissing Sarah’s forehead):
Goodnight. We are around if you need anything. (Then they both left.)
After a while, the servant brought some chicken soup and sandwiches including some dessert for Sarah. She ate everything and dozed off because she didn’t have the strength to take a shower.
In the morning, Kian came to check on her but found her neither in bed nor anywhere in the cottage. He saw a trail of footprints on the muddy path and followed them till they reached the river bank. He was worried that Sarah had drowned herself. He started shouting Sarah’s name and frantically ran up and down the river to see if he could see a body floating. Just near the river was the family cemetery and he saw Sarah walking around each grave, trying to read the names on them. He shouted Sarah’s name again and sped up to get near her.
Kian:
Oh, girl! You scared me to death.
He hugged her tight, apologized for last evening, expressed happiness on seeing her up and about, and questioned what she was doing at the graveyard.
Sarah:
I thought to come and find Patrick’s grave. Which one is it?
Kian:
His grave is not here; it is on the other side of the farm. I will take you there. Are you upset with me?
Sarah:
Can you believe that one day you and I will sleep here too? This will be our home forever. By coming here, I feel empty. It feels like my anger just left my body and nothing in the world seems important anymore. I hope I have answered your question. Now, I think my body is tired of walking and is still weak, I need to go back and rest some more.
Kian:
If you allow me, I will walk you till your cottage.
Sarah wanted to be alone for a while, but she knew she probably would not be able to walk back without support.
Sarah:
Sure, why not? We are neighbors, after all.
Kian dropped Sarah at the cottage and went to the grand house where everyone was waiting for him, including Kate.
Kian:
What has happened? Why are you all here?
Kate (clenching her teeth):
Do not tell me you were with her!
Petros:
Please, Kate, not now! We have more important things to do.
Frank was not there and Mary had gone to visit her mother, so only Kate was there who was outside of the immediate family.
Kate (moving forward):
I have gathered everyone here to make the final decision.
Kian:
Final decision about what?
Kate:
Decision about you killing her! The original plan that all of you seem to have conveniently forgotten. We had decided to avenge your brother’s death as soon as she had arrived at the farm.
Petros (raising his voice):
Listen, Kate! I am unsure if you are unaware of the new information and I don’t think my family or I need to explain anything to you.
Kate:
Kian, are you not going to stop your brother from disrespecting me in front of everyone?
Pearl:
Kate, there so many new things we have got to know around Patrick’s death. It was never Sarah’s fault. It was our parents’ fault to not have been in a position to take care of a 16-year-old boy.
Paul:
Kate, this honestly is a family matter and we have changed our minds about taking revenge from our cousin. It was never our idea to begin with. It was our mother who fed it to us to get rid of Sarah, whereas she was the actual reason behind Patrick’s suicide. Our mother did some serious damage to all our relationships.
Kian:
We did not know any of this until—
Paul (interrupting Kian):
It is not important who told us. Just know that plan is now null and void.
We do not want you to bring this up in front of Sarah or your family members.
Kate:
I knew all of you are scared to do what is right. I should have taken the matter in my hand and slaughtered her on the first day. I told you guys that she is an enchantress and has cast a spell on all of you.
Pearl:
Kate, please! Do not harbor such hatred against her. She is a part of our family and you are soon going to be Kian’s wife. I want all of us to stay under one roof happily, which our parents could never do.
Pearl said what she had to say and left the main hall, Petros followed her.
Paul got up; while he was about to exit the room, he gave one final statement.
Paul:
If you want to be a part of our family, never forget that Sarah is our sister. You like it or not, she is always going to be family.
Kate (looking Kian in the eye):
Now, it is just you and me who can finish this business.
Paul was hiding behind the door and listening to their conversation because he did not trust Kate at all and was scared she might change Kian’s mind.
Kian:
Kate, have you started taking drugs again? Aren’t you on medication?
Kate:
No, I am completely fine! Come on, darling. Let us do it for our baby. If we kill her, I will always be sure that you won’t leave me and the baby for another woman. I will convince my sister to allow us to see the baby this time. I promise I will marry you, move into the farm, and raise our child here if you agree to let go of her.
Paul wanted to walk in and give a tight slap to Kian for not seeing how illogical Kate was and not to entertain her nonsense.
Kian (in a mellow voice):
Who are you? Why do you hate her so much? Aren’t you happy to be with me? Isn’t that enough, why do you need someone to die so that we can be together? How can you expect me to do such a crime?
Kate (taking a step back):
Yes, it is not enough. Yes, I think of you like an animal because you raped me like one! You made a 16-year-old girl pregnant; they didn’t even let me keep my baby and put me in an asylum for a year. Do you have any idea what they did to me?
Kian collapsed on the sofa, with his hands on his head; he had heard this story time and again when Kate wanted to make him feel bad. She just took her handbag and stormed out of the room.
Paul was still there, feeling sorry for Kian that he had gotten himself in this ruckus with this woman. He made up his mind to never let this marriage happen and saw Kian exit from the back door toward his Connex.
Chapter 8
The Fresh Family Bondings
Everybody is about to know Sarah’s true self. The world is yet to witness a side of her that is beautiful and ever-giving.
Kian reached the Connex, showered, and wondered if Sarah was still sleeping. He craved to go see her because her face relaxed him. When he entered the cottage, he saw Sarah was up and was making lunch from the leftovers of yesterday.
Kian:
Can I join as well? I am hungry and don’t want to walk to the grand house again.
Sarah:
Yes, please! Come in, I do not like to eat alone, always grateful for the company.
Kian:
I cannot believe you made such delicious food out of the leftovers!
Sarah:
I grew up where we struggled to get three proper meals for the day. I know how difficult it is to have food on the table and how grateful I am for whatever I have today. I would never let a grain go waste.
Kian looked at her face, she was so innocent and pure. She looked angelic just standing there and serving food. How did they even think of hurting that pretty face? They ate in silence.
Sarah:
I am sorry, no desserts at home to offer. Can I interest you with some cherries that I picked from the farm?
Sarah brought a plate and a lot of washed cherries into a basket and started walking away, but Kian held her hand.
Kian:
Please sit here. I need to talk to you.
Kian mentioned the secrets their family doctor had told and how shocked everybody was to know the mental destruction their parents brought in Patrick’s life. He asked for her forgiveness on behalf of everyone in his family who had negative thoughts about her.
Sarah (in a shaky voice):
I had heard it all, but didn’t have the strength to get out of bed and scream that I have been innocent from the very beginning.
Sarah cupped her face and started sobbing, Kian couldn’t bear that sight. He hugged her tight and kept begging her to stop crying. Sarah was overcome by sadness and breaking down in Kian’s arms felt like a weight being lifted off her chest. She could smell his musky scent, his groggy beard touching her forehead, and both his arms enveloping her in an embrace. It was too good to be true, she shuddered and moves away. He was looking at her in a way that would sweep a woman off her feet. He had both love and hurt in his eyes.
Sarah then tried to diffuse the tension.
Sarah:
Do you want to take a walk?
Kian:
Sure, my princess. It is cold outside so bring your jacket.
The weather was just lovely for romantic walks, but Kian had something important to discuss as well.
Kian:
The lawyer called Petros and asked for a meeting tomorrow.
Sarah:
Ah, good of you to inform me! I was planning to go away for a few days.
Kian:
Have you planned what to do with the inherited money, lands, and shops?
Sarah:
Umm, I thought it was only this farm. When did we get so rich?
Kian:
Our great grandparents were in aristocratic power and lent money to people in need. However, if people failed to pay their dues on time, their properties were snatched and turned in as our family property.
That is how we have acquired all of this wealth.
Sarah:
Oh dear! What has our family done to all these poor families? People here have suffered under the power of our family. I cannot imagine their pain and endurance. Now I, most certainly, know what I want to do with my money! I will give it back to the families who we hurt. I am sure they will rejoice.
Kian:
You are an angel who has come to help people on earth!
They walked for a little while longer, and Kian dropped her at the cottage. They wished each other a good night and went separate ways.
Next day, everyone was present in the lawyer’s office at sharp 9 am. The lawyer mentioned that all of the divisions that had been made were according to their father’s will. He mentioned the letters that their father had written to be distributed amongst his children stating everyone’s share. He also added that the cash inheritance would be directly transferred to their banks.
Eventually, he passed everyone’s letters and asked them to read thoroughly and return to him if they failed to understand something. Everyone was eagerly reading their letter except Sarah. She wasn’t interested in the money after the truth she had heard about the origin of all this richness. Kate was reading Kian’s letter and was beaming like a happy sun. As he was the eldest child, he had inherited more than the others.
The lawyer noticed Sarah standing in a corner, raised his voice a little, and announced to the room.
The Lawyer:
Patrick’s share will be given to Sarah, as per your father’s request.
Kate (annoyed and unhappy):
What? Why? They were not even married! Don’t you think it should be distributed amongst all?
Sarah was still standing mute, thinking how her father went missing in the war and the struggles her mom faced to pay the rent and pay for her education. She couldn’t believe all this easy money that had suddenly come to her. Everybody in the room, except Kate, congratulated Sarah.
Petros (inquisitively):
Sarah, what do you want to do with your share?
Sarah:
What rightfully belongs to other poor families will be returned to them.
My father’s share will be utilized to build a hospital for women and children in this very place.
Kian was so proud of her decision and clapped for her. Everybody followed suit. They all then returned to the farm. At the cottage, Sarah called the lawyer and requested him to look up the families whose lands were taken away from them. They knew she couldn’t help all the families because her cousins won’t give up on their share, but she decided to help at least the ones whose lands had come to her. He promised to help her trace out these people and expressed happiness that at least one in the family thought to do some good to the society.
Kian came back to the workshop and started working. He was the only one who was able to keep up and continue the family tradition. Paul knocked on the gate and asked if he could come in to discuss something important. Paul had been worried about Kian ever since Kate tried to convince all of them about avenging Patrick’s death. Paul went to his unique sources to trace out information about Kate’s past and he had found so many shocking things that he wanted Kian to be aware of the trouble he had invited by agreeing to marry Kate. His face looked horrified. Kian washed his hands that were soaked with clay water, offered Paul some water, instructed him to finish it, and then asked what the emergency was.
Paul (sighing heavily):
Do you remember Jack, my friend, who was in the military?
Kian:
Yes, I do.
Paul:
I met him a couple of weeks ago and we got talking. We opened up a few subjects from his past. He dated Kate’s sister for a couple of months in the past. He gave some crucial information that could be helpful to you. Before I start, please note that I don’t have any intention of interfering in your relationship with Kate. As a brother, it is my duty to let you know.
Kian was just looking at him and smiling.
Paul:
He said Magi had been abusing her stepsister Kate all her life. She used her as a drug peddler and sold her to men for different nights. On the night you had your friend’s bachelor party, Kate was sent there with a plan. She was already two months pregnant with somebody’s child but they wanted money, you became an easy scapegoat. Kate was sent to deliver in the countryside so that no one could guess the age of the baby, but the newborn died in a month due to pneumonia. Kate was heavily affected due to all these so she was admitted into a psychiatry hospital. She even started doing drugs when she came back from there.
Magi is the mastermind behind Kate blackmailing you all the time. They just want a rich boy to fulfill their needs. That is exactly why Kate is playing her role so perfectly.
Kian:
My dear brother, your concern and worry for me has touched my heart. Just for you information, I have known all of it and a little more than that. I am aware of Magi’s customers, drug dealers, and other mafia associated with her as well.
Paul:
Are you serious? You know all of it and are still silent? Why are you letting them threaten you this way?
Kian fetched a glass of water for himself and sat down to tell Paul the whole story.
Kian:
One year ago, I was contacted by the police. They had run a sting operation in which they discovered the whole racket that Magi and her associates were running. Kate is also an active member of this gang.
These are no ordinary criminals. I don’t want to involve you or the family in any of this. The police have strictly instructed me to maintain confidentiality. They asked me to behave normally and continue my relationship with Kate because they wanted to monitor her moves. They are tracking a lot of other people so that they can arrest them all very soon. So, around Kate, don’t act suspiciously at all. No way she should come to know any of this.
Paul:
Thank God! I still deserve some credit for going through the pain of digging deep into Kate’s life. Do you think she will harm Sarah? We all know how much she hates her and wants you to be an accomplice in the crime.
Kian:
Do you think I will let her touch my family? She is being tagged all the time. Her phone lines are tapped and her movement is recorded. She cannot harm my family without alarming the police first. There are also servants in the house who are acting as a spy for the police. I don’t know which ones though.
