“Do you think you… can scare me that easily? My friends and family are powerful enough to stop hooligans like you. So don’t ever call me or threaten me ever again!” I stated, summoning up all the courage I could muster.
I was right in what I said, wasn’t I? The Winfrey’s can take good care of themselves and so can my mother. They can’t be easily intimidated and so I won’t be either.
I swept it all under the rug and forgot all about it, until I was arrested the next day and taken to the police station with the charge of murdering Felicity Gracía.
As I sat at the station, my mind went through many possibility possible, but I consciously blocked out the the unknown caller’s threat from the previous day.
Because I was scared that it could be him- if these was all his doing, then Felicity’s death was really on me.
And if it was really his doing, then I can’t tell Markian even if I wanted to. His first demand after all was to keep all this a secret.
I refused him once and Felicity paid for it, I don’t want to know who pays for the next error I make.
I was so scared and distraught, I was dying alone in fear and all I could think about was all the what if’s.
If that voice was capable of taking Felicity’s life and framed me for it, I wondered what else he was capable of. I was in pure agony and self blame.
If only I had listened and not called his bluff, Felicity would still be alive, wouldn’t she? I caused her death because I was selfish, and I wonder just how many more mistakes I’ve made in the past because of my selfishness but can’t remember any.
After I got out, he didn’t call nor did I hear from him until Markian and I went on the cruise ride to Sedaver.
That night on the beach at Sedaver before Markian came to get me, he called again.
“Mrs Markian Winfrey, isn’t it a rather cold night on the beach?” he asked startling me.
I found myself looking around the beach to see if he was lurking in the shadows. But what would that solve? I needed to know just one thing, and that was if he was responsible for Felicity’s death.
“I hate the cold, but I had to do some thinking.” I stated sternly.
My hands were cold and I was starting to shiver from the ocean’s breeze, but I summoned up the courage to listen to him this time. Because, I can take on anything but not at the expense of others.
“You must have been quite shaken up being at the police station yesterday? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make such a close call on you, but I needed you to understand just how serious I was.” He stated, sounding automated.
My heart sank and I could feel tears rolling down my face.
“So it was you? You killed Felicity and framed me for her murder?” I asked, weeping through the phone.
“Oh, I thought you had figured that out by now. I could have easily deleted the video from Felicity’s car blackbox, and keep you a while longer in jail. But I didn’t, because that was just a warning that you shouldn’t mess with me.” he replied.
“Just a warning? You took an innocent live just to warn me?… Whatever I had done in the past, if I’ve ever hurt you, please forgive me. You can do whatever you want to me, but please- leave others who are completely innocent out of it.” I pleaded earnestly.
I had decided to do what I knew how to do best, and that was to shut everyone and everything remotely connected to me out for the sake of their own protection.
I would rather die than see those I love get hurt because of me. I was done being weak and selfish, that’s for sure- and heaven knows that I’ld rather end my own life than let anyone take that which is important to me.
“But your apology isn’t want I want, neither do I want to give you an easy punishment by directly hurting you. I just want you to suffer slowly as you watch those you love, hate and despise you as much as I do. So for your next task, I want to deflate your sense of moral. Which is why, you’ll have to prove to everyone what a crappy human being you truly are, by getting your claws into Castlehill.” he ordered.
If I reach for any position at Castlehill, Markian’s family would never forgive me for that. But if I dare defile this vile man, i might risk losing someone important to me.
I have to protect my sense of purpose- and that’s my family, because they matter to. I’ld be completely lost without them and it kills me to even imagine that their lives were at stake because of me.
My love may be my weakness, but it’s also my greatest strength. I’ll do anything to see that they are safe.
“My choices are limited, aren’t they?” I asked sadly and disheartened.
“Yes they are… don’t forget, I’m always watching- every minute. Don’t give me another reason to take the life of someone you love- I’m just kidding.” he said and ended the call.
So much for a quiet and happy life with Markian, because aside from the fact that no matter how much I try to mask it he will see through me.
I have a deadly enemy who is after those I care about and Markian can never know about it. He’ll have to be the first person I detach from, because I lose him, I don’t think I’ll be able to survive it.
I remember still sitting at the beach that cold night, wondering just how much things will change once we got back to Minnesota.
I could not afford to be selfish anymore and let others suffer for my sake. I had to detach from everyone that I love and that ever loved me.
When Markia came to get me later, I just kept thinking that, that night was going to be the last night I’ll spend feeling anything for Markian Winfrey or anyone else. I didn’t want them to be the end of me.
Because, after Felicity’s murder, I realized my blackmailer’s target were those he believed of he hurts them, then it would hurt me. Therefore, they were either people I love, cherish or respect.
So, I believed I could do it- I believed I could detach from everyone including Markian, provided he has no feeling for me at all.
But I was wrong, because Markian started liking me for real and it broke my heart into million pieces.
The minute we got back to Minnesota, I immediately started to drift away from my husband and everyone else that’s close to me.
I was being blackmailed and threatened. I stood the risk of losing those I loved, so what else was I suppose to do?
I had nothing with me, not strength, not power or authority to stand up against an enemy that was everywhere, so I became more scared and paranoid as the day went by.
Finally, began to do exactly what I was told like a coward, but I didn’t mind. Because, as long as everyone else was safe, what’s a little bad image I couldn’t manage.
To cut off all ties, I had to start with Heather.
I voted against her and she lost S. Group to Daniel. I thought maybe to her I could became a traitor, I thought after that she would hate me.
But she didn’t- not entirely though. She was still willing to help Markian and I get back together, and even though I appreciated her efforts, I couldn’t help but trash talked her and her efforts.
And even when Markian started liking me, I couldn’t reciprocate because, he was the closest target and I was scared to death that something bad might happen to him because of me.
I tried my best to avoid him everywhere. At home, at the office, everywhere- but he was all that I could think of. I might have been successful on some occasions, but I couldn’t avoid him in my mind and in my heart.
So, when he asked me out on that date, i tried my hardest to stay away- to disappoint him.
But I found myself at the park, hiding behind a tree that was behind Markian as I stayed and watched him as time went by.
He was patiently waiting for me even after an hour had gone by. It crushed my heart to watch him wait, so I texted him to telling him I couldn’t make it, but that didn’t help either.
The sound of his voice as he called Heather to thank her for her help, broke me down into tears and cursed my fate for putting me in such a position.