The news of Anthonio’s death spread like wildfire and soon, the Rivera family was the talk of the town. According to the news, Anthonio had returned from a vacation and slipped from the stairs of the Rivera mansion.
An accident that led to his untimely demise. Condolences poured from various parts of South City as the Rivera family experienced the loss of yet another family member.
Things had gone out of hand and some netizens went as far as pointing out the alarming rate of deaths and misfortunes that seemed to visit the Rivera family and their inlaws.
When June heard the news, she was in her office. Things strained around the house after the tiff with her mother-in-law, especially her relationship with Rafael.
She knew that most of the strain was because she felt guilty about her unsettled case with his mother but she planned to do everything she could to make things work.
April was in the Rivera family house with Colton when her mother attacked her in tears. “You killed him! You killed him and had the guts to say it was an accident! I will never forgive you! I will never forgive you!”
Mrs Evelyn acted like one deranged. Ever since she discovered the dead body of Anthonio, she hadn’t slept a wink, her life had been reduced to an abyss of sorrow and pain.
This was the second husband she lost to the cold arms of death. She was once again a widow due to the witch sitting before her. She will never let her go unpunished.
“I understand you are shocked, Mother,” April said, feigning concern. Please calm down. We will be expecting guests soon, and the last thing we need is people getting the wrong information.”
“We have tried our best to create a good impression, you shouldn’t make things more difficult than they already are,” Colton said with a frown. “The reporters are running their mouths, you should not give them more to talk about.”
Evelyn didn’t care. She sat on the floor of the sitting room and lamented the loss of her husband. “I warned you! I told you if anything were to happen to my husband, you would pay the price for it! You will never go free!”
April heard the revving of a car into the house. It was still early in the morning and she knew people would come in to leave their regards on the death of her adopted father. She couldn’t have her mother out and speaking nonsense.
“Quick! Get her out of here and use the drugs on her.” April ordered. “The others will be here to take her soon.”
Colton nodded and immediately two newly hired security men picked Evelyn from the floor and dragged her out of the place while she cried and struggled against their hold.
Soon enough, she was locked in a windowless room in the basement of the Rivera family mansion, drugged out of her mind, bound and laid helplessly on the floor awaiting further instructions.
After welcoming some guests, April felt tired of feigning sadness and excused herself to have a drink before she returned to her job for the day. Colton followed her into her mother’s office which was now his office, following his take over as CEO of Rivera Stores.
“Are you sure you want to take her there?” Colton asked as they shared a bottle of wine.
April turned to face him with a smirk. “I am not comfortable having her out with the current state of her mind. She is too grieved and has nothing but her life to lose if she decides to be stupid.”
“I will not bear the responsibility if she stupidly starts talking and it will be too much of a hassle to kill her. People are already talking.” April took a sip of her drink.
Colton shot her a look. “I understand. But don’t you think sending her to the mental hospital might be a bit too cruel? Who is to say that she wouldn’t keep talking while in there? Don’t you think it’s better to have her where we can monitor her behaviours?”
April laughed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’ve gone soft, baby.” She dropped her glass. “I was raised by this woman. She is better off sent to the mental hospital.”
“Besides, who says I wouldn’t keep my eyes on her?” She smiled. “I have everything planned so don’t worry and let me handle things. You just focus on doing a great job handling the Rivera Stores so when things fizzle out, I can introduce you to the world as my love.”
April stepped in front of Colton with seductive eyes. She bit her lower lips and wrapped her arms around his torso. “It’s been so long since I had you inside me. Think we can get one round before returning to those mourners?”
Colton smirked. “I’ve waited all day to hear the words. Your wish is always my command.”
With that, the couple went into a round of vigorous sexual intercourse which featured April getting bent on her mother’s table as she had coitus while staring at the picture of Anthonio whose memorial was held in the sitting room.
Meanwhile, upon hearing the things June tried to reach her mother’s line to no avail. Left with no option, she headed to the Rivera family house, refusing to believe her stepfather was dead.
Upon arrival at the Rivera house, June breezed past the people who came to share condolences without speaking a word. She could hear the small murmurs that ensued at her presence but she paid no mind and diligently sought out her mother.
While entering the house, she took notice of the car that was parked by the house, a car she’d come to identify as belonging to her adopted sister. June entered the living room and sure enough, her father’s picture was placed on a table with some registry by the side.
She shook her head and muttered, “No…”
Unable to stop herself, June headed upstairs in search of her mother. She needed an explanation. Something was not right. The last time she saw her stepfather, he had been hale and hearty. She refused to believe he was gone.
June got to her parent’s bedroom door and after many knocks, tried to open the door, only to find it locked. She immediately headed for the office. It was a natural occurrence to find her mother in her home office so June headed right for the door without bothering to knock.
Her eyes stung when she saw the sight of April, bent over her mother’s desk with a strange man ramming into her from behind. Shocked at the events, June jammed the door close and wondered what she just witnessed.
“Darn it! I think someone saw us!” April whisper-yelled and they jolted away from each other.
Colton rushed to the door, dressed and took a peek outside the door. There was no one in sight. April became decent and soon walked out of the office, cursing herself for forgetting to shut the door.
Whoever it was, she planned to find the person and teach the person some lessons. But first, she headed downstairs with a sunken look. Colton followed a few minutes later.
“Where is my mother?” June asked as soon as April stepped into view.
April was stunned to see June but she managed it well. “Sister! You are here!” She rushed to hug her and in a matter of seconds decelerated into a mess of sobs and tears.
“F-father!” She cried, “He’s d-d-dead… mother is so heartbroken. The doctors said she’s lost her mind.”
April made dramatics of the event. Once again, eliciting pity. June stepped away from her hold. “Where is my mother?” Her tone was firm and her eyes blazed. “What did you do to my mother?”
Tears streamed down April’s face. “Mother hasn’t been the same since she saw the death of father. I didn’t do anything! I swear! She fainted early this morning and hasn’t been behaving properly.”
“Do you think I am lying? I even have a video from the CCTV to prove it!” April turned to Colton who immediately signalled one of his men to play a video that had been curated and modelled to push the story.
Soon enough, a video of Mrs Evelyn was placed on the TV, showing her acting out after she saw the body of her husband. The video was muted and soon spanned to one of the videos taken earlier on after she had been drugged.
Mrs Evelyn was caught on camera muttering unintelligible things as she grieved her husband’s death. By the end of the video, everyone believed that Mrs Evelyn had been driven to insanity at the loss of her husband and needed psychiatric attention.
June was maddened by the sight of her mother in such a state. She rushed to April and dragged her by the cloth, “Take me to my mother this instant! How dare you disrespect her in this manner?! How dare you dishonour my father on his memorial?! Who the hell do you think you are?!”