I got home to meet the house locked. I used my key to open the door and went. I wondered where aunt, Riley and Nicolas were. We were the only ones living together and everything we did was based on love. They are definitely the best family any one could ever have. I wondered where they could have gone to as early as the morning was. I was starving and went into the kitchen to get a snack or anything I could smash on real quick. There were fruits in the fridge so I took an apple and snacked on it as I also drank some milk. Just then, I heard footsteps of people come in. I stepped out to check and saw my aunt with Riley and Nicolas.
"Lyra", my aunt and Riley called out to me and ran towards me.
"Urgh, you see?", a sign of frustration was how he began. "I told you guys we didn't have to go out looking for her. She isn't a toddler after all. She left with her own two legs, no force applied and now she is back the same way.", annoyed Nicolas; Riley's younger brother and also my younger cousin who can be arrogant but is a really sweet and supportive person spoke out as he threw his tired self to the sofa closest to him. "Shut up, Nick.", Riley responded. "okayyyy"
"Where were you all night, Lyra? You were no where to be seen and we couldn't reach out to you.", my aunt complained.
"Girl, you had us worried all through", Riley added to aunt's complaint.
"I… I… ", I stuttered not knowing what excuse to give. I definitely couldn't say I was wasted and ended up in a one night stand with a complete stranger. "I was out with friends after the wedding. We drank alot and so I couldn't return home and i also lost my phone so there was no way to keep you informed. I'm really really sorry"
"Friends? But Bella didn't know where you were. She was even the one who let me know you left wedding all of a sudden and couldn't be found"
The name Bella irked me. Like, this nuisance again? "Bella isn't my only friend, aunt", I responded.
She gave me a really big hug and let out tears. I could see how worried and restless she had been. The feeling of relieve couldn't even fade away the restlessness that overwhelmed her immediately. Riley joined the hug while Nick just starred at our emotional moment wiith a "iwww, what a girly moment!" expression. We laughed and laughed and laughed and later had breakfast.
"Riley", I cried out to her when we were alone in our bedroom.
"What's wrong Lyra? You are crying", she asked clueless.
"Alex got married", I burst out into tears. "When did you guys get married?", she asked feeling surprised still obviously clueless too.
"Not me. He was the groom at yesterday's event.", I responded. She opened her mouth feeling shocked. She had no words to express the matter at hand.
"He got married to Sandra Clarke.", I continued.
"How could he do that to you? That's so cruel and evil", she finally spoke out.
I sobbed so much and just when Riley wanted to let out more words, Nick came in. I pretended not to cry and as if not serious convo was going on.
"I didn't eavesdrop but I heard everything.", he said as he sat beside me.
"That was really heartless of him but it's his loss.", he continued.
"This is too much to bear", I burst out in tears again.
"You are not alone, Lyra. Ignore his silly behaviour. He is going to regret leaving an angel for a demon.", Riley hugged me as she wiped my tears.
"I have an idea guys", Nick said with his usual demonic smile.
"But were we looking for any sort of suggestions?", Riley asked in response to his statement.
"Nope, but I still have one. A really amazing one at that", his smile got wider. I wondered what he had in mind.
At the main gate of the Clarke mansion, an ornate wrought-iron gate framed by stone pillars and gold accents, opening to a tree-lined driveway that hints at the mansion's grandeur beyond stood me, Riley and Nick each holding a bag.
"We can't let you in", the guard insisted when we requested to enter the mansion. I brought out my business card for him to see. "Look, I work for Vela Rosa Royale Designs. Let us in please. It is urgent", I showed him my business card but he continued to insist. "Yes, I do know you but you can't go in without a pass."
"Come on man. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't important.", Nick said as he placed his right hand on the guards right shoulder and let out a deceitful smile. With a scorn face, the guard pushed away Nick's hand and instructed us to leave.
"Rude", Nick scoffed.
"She is Isabella Clarke's bestfriend and if Isabella was to know you are treating her this way, she will deal with you mercilessly.", Riley threatened.
"Yes, I do come here with her frequently and you also already confirmed to knowing me. I just want to drop her wedding gifts to her sister."
"Okay, give her a call for her to confirm your pass", he instructed.
"I am not with my phone and my escorts do not have her phone number either.", I responded.
"I will call her then", I got scared when he proposed to make the call himself. Bella most definitely will not let us in.
"Good afternoon ma'am. You have a guest, Lyra. Should I let her in?", he asked her. "Why is Lyra here? Has she perhaps come to talk to me and get over the situation?", Isabella thought to herself and responded. "Yes pls, bring her in". The guard dropped the phone and turned to us.
"She said you can come in so you can go in but your bags need to be checked first".
The bags were checked by the other men and only eggs were found inside all 3 of them.
"Why eggs? What do you need them for?", the guard inquired.
"It's our wedding gift to the new couple", Riley replied.
"These many eggs?" "Alex really loves eggs so I brought many for him to share with his new wife", I said to him.
He let us in and as we passed, Nick gave him a ugly, we won look.
* * * * *
The mansion rose like a modern-day palace, sprawling over acres of perfectly manicured grounds. Its façade was a symphony of glass, ivory stone, and brushed gold accents, gleaming under the sunlight. A grand double staircase led to ornate iron-and-glass doors that opened into a foyer crowned with a crystal chandelier the size of a small car. Marble floors stretched endlessly, polished to a mirror shine, while floor-to-ceiling windows framed panoramic views of the ocean.
Outside, an infinity pool spilled seamlessly into the horizon, flanked by a sunken lounge with a firepit at its heart. Exotic gardens, sculpted hedges, and private waterfalls created a sense of curated paradise. The garage, more like an art gallery, housed a fleet of luxury cars, each displayed beneath precision lighting. Inside, every detail spoke of indulgence—private cinema with velvet recliners, a wine cellar stocked with rare vintages, a spa rivaling any five-star resort, and a library lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves.
"This isn't just a house—it is a statement of wealth, power, and taste, a place where the world outside could be left at the gates", Riley thought to herself.
"Now, this is what you call a good life. So much wealth", Nick said feeling astonished. It wasn't my first time there nor the second or third. I had been there countless times so I didn't feel the excessive excitement Nick felt but Riley definitely felt it too.
The moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by a soaring double-height foyer. A sweeping marble staircase curves upward like a ribbon, crowned with a chandelier dripping with thousands of Swarovski crystals. The floor beneath our feet was polished white onyx, inlaid with gold filigree patterns. Soft piano music played from an unseen sound system, and the air smelt faintly of white roses.
The living area was vast yet intimate, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls offering a panoramic view of the ocean. Italian leather sectionals in creamy beige are arranged around a glass coffee table supported by a single block of sculpted quartz. On one wall, a contemporary art piece—worth more than most houses—dominates the space. A hidden projector screen can descend for movie nights, but most evenings, the room glows from the flicker of the marble-clad fireplace.
The dining room could easily host royalty. A polished mahogany table stretches long enough to seat twenty, illuminated by a modern chandelier resembling a cascade of golden raindrops. Each chair was upholstered in silk, and the table was dressed with fresh orchids and fine china.
Riley and Nick got even more astonished. There was more more more to see by every turn.
Bella was already waiting for us and as soon as she saw me, she hugged saying, "You are back to me. Lyra, I knew you would understand me.", she disengaged the hug and continued her explanations.
"You know the day Alex came to pick you up here? That was the day Sandra saw him and got a liking for him. You know how my step sister is. She threatened me. She said if I didn't get Alex for her, she would clear me from the family and the company. I really didn't want to do such a thing to you but I had to. I know you understand how I feel. I had to bring Alex and Sandra together but I really didn't do much befor Alex gave in. I had the interest all along, I promise. I didn't force him into anything." Nick stepped forward angry but I stopped him from taking any actions.
"Bella, you sold me. You knew how much I loved Alex and how devastated I would be. You even made sure I was present to see it myself so that I could get even more broken. If this is your way of friendship then what's your way of hate"
"Lyra, pls"
Alex and Sandra joined us where we were having our conversation.
"Lyra", Alex called out to me.
"oh wow, here you are, shameless man", Riley shouted at me. I stared at Alex with disgust. How could he? He came to me, pulled my left arm towards the door. I pulled my hand out of his grip and slapped him. Sandra shouted, "how dare you hit my husband?", she tried to hit me too but I held her hand and twisted it. She cried out for help and ofcourse, her dearest husband pulled her away from me like the little hero he is.
"I have a gift for you Alex?", I said as I picked an egg from my bag and threw to his face. Riley and Nick picked the eggs from the bags and threw all over Sandra, Bella, Alex and the house. We egged the place to our satisfaction and ran away as fast as we could.
"Bella, what the shit is all this? Did you invite them in?", Sandra lashed out at Bella as she wiped the egg spill from her face.
"No, I didn't ", Bella responded. Alex walked away
"You were supposed to handle everything properly but you have failed like always. You are a failure just like that your slut of a mother. Fix everything before before I throw you away like the trash you are."
"I'm sorry", Bella pleaded in a faint voice looking away.
"Sorry for yourself and your mother", Sandra responded as she walked away. Bella fell to the ground.
* * * * *