Elora, a college graduate, navigates a complex web of family secrets, manipulation, and forbidden love. Torn between her desire for Felix, her stepbrother, and the pressures of her mother's ambitions, Elora must confront her past, face her fears, and fight for her happiness.
Chapter 1 Elora's pov
I stood close to the door of my room looking at the beautiful blue dress lying on my bed. It was exclusively made and delivered to me by my mum and step dad for my graduation in a few days.
Suddenly I heard a knock on the door and Felix entered immediately, closing the door from behind.
"Hey beautiful", he said as he pulled me closer to himself by my waist and kissed me gently on my lips.
Seeing him immediately made the confusion and trouble I felt disappear.
He Became my stepbrother after my mother married his father after my father died.
She seduced Mr Hudson not long after her husband died just to secure herself financially.
Jayson couldn't help but notice my sad countenance and it worried him " Elora what's wrong you have been dull since I came in is anything wrong is it the dress, the graduation or is it me, did I do som......"
"No you didn't do anything thing wrong am just a little sleepy"
She was trying to hide the fact that something was actually bothering her and she was scared to tell him.
She kissed him and pulled him to the bed, shifting the graduation dresses on the bed to a corner as she opened his shirt button by button when they were interrupted by a sound from outside the room.
Felix buttoned up his shirt and kissed Elora as he walked out of the room in a hurry to avoid being noticed.
Seeing him leave made my heart ache as I hated my mum all the more for getting married to Mr Hudston and almost ruining the relationship Felix and I shared way back.
Felix and I had been together since before our parents got married.
Mr Hudston and my mum had been friends before my father died and we frequently paid visits to them, that's how I met Felix and we fell in love.
Immediately Felix left I was back to my misery, how was I to tell him that my mum has arranged for me to get married to someone else after my graduation.
Shortly after I heard a knock on the door "who's there"
I asked not wanting to see anyone else.
" It's me ma'am Miss isabela asked me to call you down for dinner".
"I have heard you, you may go" I shouted at her angrily. The idea of coming out and seeing my mum made my heart ache.
I went to the bathroom to take a bath and I drowned myself in the bathtub to relieve myself of the stress I felt,and I took my time before coming out.
When I came out, I wore a casual dress and stepped out for the family dinner, a tradition my mum enforced and made compulsory for reasons known best to her.
I reached the table and was greeted by the warm smile on Felix's face. I wondered to myself what I would do without Felix; he was my only source of joy in that house.
I greeted him back with a smile as I sat down at the table near my mum. I began eating immediately the maids served the food,I couldn't afford to waste any time with my mum.
"Is anything the matter my dear" Mr Hudson asked me after noticing her dull countenance, knowing me to be more lively than I usually am.
"Or is it something about your graduation coming in few days"
"No i'm alright i'm just a little sleepy"
I stood up shortly after to avoid being asked another question that would lead to my mum bringing up the topic in front of felix.
I went back to my room and sat down near my bed with my bed as tears rolled down my eyes as I cried out " how am i supposed to tell felix that mum has arranged a marriage for me with Victor Morgan.
"What do you mean by that"
I immediately looked up after hearing the voice and behold it was felix.", he had followed me to the room after i stood up.
I stared at him not knowing what to tell him or how to even start'
He saw the fear in my eyes and he walked towards me and hugged me gently "is that why you have been gloomy all day".
I began crying as he tried harder to comfort me, patting me softly on my back softly like i was a baby " hey that's enough crying we will get through it or don't you trust me?" he asked in a very calm and gentle tone.
I assured him that I was alright as he kissed my forehead and left the room. We couldn't afford to be seen by either of our parents.
I was woken up early the next day by my mum "here wear this we will be attending a program with your dads partners and Mr Morgan will be around i want you to look your best, we will be leaving by 10 get ready"
I looked at her a while before collecting the dress from her and shutting the door on her without saying a word to her.
I got dressed knowing disobeying her was not an option.
In no time we were at the venue and I could imagine how hellish a day it would be. I stood away from my family alone when I saw my mum bringing someone to my direction.
He was a young man in his early thirties and I must say that he was really handsome like he was carved out of a book.
I immediately knew it was Mr Morgan, I had never actually seen him physically and today was my first time seeing him.
"Dear this is the famous victor Morgan am sure you have been dying to see him" my mother said trying to make us look close and create a fake impression to Mr. Morgan giving me a signal with her eyes to play along.
He was holding a glass of champagne which he dropped on the table beside me as he looked into my eyes.
He took my right hand and kissed it and held my hands in his, I immediately withdrew my hand when I sighted Felix coming towards our direction.
He knew what was going on but I couldn't risk Felix seeing us together, I didn't want any form of trouble.