“Sister! Why are you so bent on slandering me? Why are you so-” April fell to the floor, tears streaming down her eyes. “The past few days have been hell for me since father’s untimely death, and mother’s insanity.”
“I tried calling you for the longest time but you refused to pick my calls.” She wept, “Now you show up here and try to pin this on me? Why do you hate me so much, sister? What did I ever do?”
The visitors were moved by compassion for April and scorn for her sister.
“That woman is such a wicked person!” One said in anger.
“She doesn’t care for her mother! She is just here to cause a scene!” Another said,
“Why are they letting crap like her come into this house? Mrs Evelyn had already told us about this daughter of hers before she lost her mind. She should not be allowed to come into this house!”
“Such a shameless woman! Bullying her younger sister for trying to carry the family name while she whores about! Despicable!”
Soon enough, the entire house turned against June who stood her ground and demanded to be given the address of her mother’s whereabouts. When April was certain she had the public sympathy, she bared her fangs.
“Mother had always said you were not a part of her family. You are the last person she needs to see while trying to recover her mind.” She wiped her tears. “I am sorry but I cannot let you meet my mother. Not when she is not in her right mind.”
June was close to laughter. Her mother? Did she fall and hit her head as a baby?
“Maybe you have forgotten.” June took a stance. “Permit me to refresh your memories. Evelyn is my mother. My birth mother. If there is anyone who should not be given access to my mother it’s you!”
“You will take me to my mother this instant or I will not take it lightly with you!” June threatened. She meant every word. Although she appeared confident on the outside, June was afraid.
For the longest time, she’d let her mother remain at the hands of a monster like her sister. She had believed since they were partners in crime, her mother would at least be safe. Although she hated her mother, she never wished for her death.
Upon hearing of her father’s death and her mother’s sudden madness, she lost all peace and wanted to ensure her mother was safe from harm. It seemed like anyone who got close to her sister experienced one misfortune or the other.
It was a terrible time to be a Rivera.
“I will not stand here and watch you disrupt this memorial.” April suddenly said. “I thought you came here to pay your respects to the man that raised you but it seems you are here to cause trouble as always.”
“Do not blame me for trying to maintain the peace of this family.” April turned to Colton and he didn’t need to be told what to do. In one second, June was circled by security men who served at the Rivera house.
A shallow laugh escaped her lips. “Are you throwing me out of my father’s house?” June asked with a stormy look on her face.
April answered. “If you have come to cause trouble, I think you should leave.”
June remained steadfast, forcing Colton to take a step forward. Unknown to them, June had sent a message to Thomas who called for more help from Ambrose Security.
“I want to see my mother,” June said slowly. “Get out of my way or-”
Colton stepped forward and soon, June was surrounded by armed men, ready to throw her out of her father’s house. The atmosphere tensed and June felt her anger soar.
“Leave the premises, Miss. I’d hate to disgrace you.” Colton said in a tight tone.
June scoffed, “I’d like to see you try!”
Before they could do anything, Thomas appeared inside the room with more security men who worked for Ambrose Corporation. The place was painted black within ten minutes, and Colton faltered in his steps.
June smirked when she saw April’s eyes go wide. “I won’t repeat myself. Where is my mother?”
“I already told you. Mother is getting help! Besides, she refuses to see you.” April said with gritted teeth. “Who are these men you have called to disrupt this memorial? Have you come to showcase what thigh you are hugging this time?”
June couldn’t restrain herself any longer.
“At least I am hugging the big thigh of my husband! The same could not be said for you! You act like you are intent on honouring Father with this memorial and yet you were upstairs, sleeping with a strange man some minutes ago!”
Gasps were heard in the room and suddenly, April felt put on the spot.
“You didn’t even have the decency to wait until the meeting was over before you indulged in your intrusive desires!” June turned to Colton. “I don’t care who you are but-”
“He is my husband-to-be!” April said with quivering lips. June could tell it was all an act. “Mother handed Rivera stores over to him and we prepared to announce our union but it was just too early and we feared what people would think of our love.”
“I know you might think it’s too early for me to have a special person in my life, following the death of my husband but I promise, he has only been my friend who had been with me through the losses. My poor heart couldn’t help but fall for him.”
April cried, “I understand that this is neither the best place nor time to announce this but since sister already saw us, I had to put this out. I am sorry for those who I have disappointed.”
With the sudden announcement, people felt conflicted about what side to take. On the first side, having such an unholy engagement while they honoured their father’s passing was not right.
But they also couldn’t fault the young lady who had been dealt the worst cards in life for falling in love and attempting to find solace with a new man. Everything was all too complex.
June rolled her eyes at the sight before her. She didn’t care if her sister got married to thousands of men. She just needed to see her mother. June’s brows narrowed as her sister’s words echoed in her head.
“Did you say my mother made this strange man the CEO?” Her tone was laced with unbelief and suspicion.
Colton interlocked his hands with April who went on defence. “What? Do you also want to question Mother’s decision?”
June shook her head and turned to Thomas. “Search the house! My mother has to be somewhere!” She didn’t trust a word that came out of her sister’s lips.
She knew her mother would never give up her rights and position in Rivera Stores to a strange man. That woman was too protective of the business to do such a thing. Something was wrong and she needed to find out fast.
“Sister! You are trespassing! I already told you my mother is in a mental hospital! Why are you so bent on twisting things?”
June paid her no mind. “Tell me where she is!”
Thomas and the others forcefully entered into the house. The place erupted in chaos as some people left while others stood to see the end of things.
A cold sweat broke out of April who was yet to retrieve her mother from the basement where she’d been kept. The plan was to have her removed and sent to a mental hospital at the end of the memorial but June had shown up and demanded to see her despite all efforts to stop.
With the men searching the building, it was only a matter of time before they discovered her mother and things would go downhill. She had to do something or things would take a bad shape.
“I’ll take you where she is!” April spoke up, earning June’s attention. “Withdraw your men and I will take you to the hospital.”
June took a cautious look at her sister who wore a solemn face. She hated the thought of her mother being in a mental hospital but if that was the case, there was no point searching the house.
She made to withdraw her order when she heard the unmistakable voice of Evelyn who cried in a shaky voice. “June! My child! Is that you?!”
June hadn’t heard her mother speak to her so fondly in many years. She slowly turned around and sure enough, Thomas held Mrs Evelyn, who seemed to have lost a large amount of weight and was in dire need of a shower.
“Mother!” June rushed to her with concern written over her face, “What happened? Why are you like this? Who-”
“She killed him!” Evelyn said with a sharp tone, pointing at April. “She killed my husband! She killed both my husbands! She is the devil!”