CHAPTER 47

~While anger is temporal, remorse is eternal~

~Mina.

SERAPHINA'S POV

"I miss you soo much." I pouted, adjusting the position of the MacBook.

"I know you do. It's the only statement you've been saying for the past one hour that we spent face-timing."Enrique chuckled.

" I can't help it. It's been ages."

"Babe, we hung out yesterday." He mused. I rolled my eyes and glared at him.

"Yeah well, I miss you. I want to have days when I'll be waking up to your face and sleeping in your arms."

"If it takes any second longer it's on you." He breathed out. I wanted nothing more than to marry his fine ass but my parents will have my head if I so much as mention the word marriage to them. Get educated, secure a good career, be independent, give back, secure for your incoming children, then settle down. My mother's life guides to her children.

"You're thinking about your parents."

"Unfortunately." I yawned.

"I don't mean to burst your bubble but they're right you know. Patience is the only direct path to success."

I did a double-check and drew closer to the camera, trying to see if it's truly Enrique I was chatting with.

"Who are you and what have you done to my boyfriend?"

He laughed and gulped down some water.

"Never knew you were Einstein's descendant."

"Because I'm not." He shrugged. Just then, Peyton's annoying voice called out to me.

"Second mommy calling." Enrique mocked.

"I swear down. Okay, talk to you later. Love you."

"Love you too and take care of yourself."

"Okay, bye." I shut down my laptop the same time Peyton walked in.

"You just had to yell my name like a rat stuck in labour. "

"Whatever, who was that?"

"That who?" I returned, playing stupid.

"You're gonna have to improve on your pretence skills." She snorted, flopping at the other end of the couch.

"I admire your relationship. Two complete years of commitment. No drama, no breakups."

"Lol, na. Break ups no, but drama, tons." I lightly laughed, thinking back to our petty dramas. We'd argue over the dumbest shits.

"Still, you guys lasted more than the average wedded couples in New York."

"You're so savage." I laughed.

"Seriously though. Do you know that the longest New York couples stay committed in a marriage is less than four months?" She stated matter of factly.

This got me laughing so hard my sides hurt.

"Please stop, I can't. " I wiped my eyes, short of breath.

Awkward silence almost waggled its tail but I refused to succumb to it.

"How about you? any special guys?"

For a renowned supermodel, Peyton was pretty discreet with her private life and always dodged questions relating to rumoured boyfriends during interviews. Celebrity reporters and paparazzi had done enough digging but their results were near to fruitless, except for minor unnecessary things here and there. Like she did plastic surgery, her net worth and whatever crap tabloids make up about celebrities.

"None interested in a relationship. " She shrugged with a tight-lipped smile.

"Who wouldn't want to have eternity with you?" I wondered aloud. I mean, any guy would be dumb to throw away their chance with the Peyton Sanders. Bruh, even celebrities couldn't hide their obsession over the Eritrean beauty.

"Maybe I wasn't good enough. I mean, that's the only possible explanation to why every guy leaves me for another chick after barely a week." She briefly glanced at me.

"I'm not even experienced in the whole dating shit, and I'm twenty-three for heaven's sake."

"Haven't you ever dated before?"

"Just started last year and progress is on a red line so far." She shrugged.

"Do you mean to tell me you only started having some sort of connection with guys at twenty-two!"

No way could Peyton be truthful. I know I'm being judgemental, but hey, would you believe it if Kim Kardashian said she only started dating at twenty-two? That makes two of us.

Peyton's silence erased all doubts in my mind.

"Oh my. Were you born to abusive parents or something?"

"I don't have parents and if I did, then I know nothing of their whereabouts. "

I drew closer to her, giving in all my attention.

"What do you mean?"

"I'd been homeless eleven years of my life. Sleeping on the streets and living off binned foods." She smiled sadly.

"I'd no friends. It was stupid of me to expect any at the time, because Sis, who would want to befriend a street girl wearing the same clothes for months? My only friends were stray cats, dogs and the homeless. Although bizarre, I was still hopeful and thankful to God for my life because at least I wasn't lonely." She spotted a weak smile while narrating her story.

"The day I turned twelve, my friends and I were having the time of our lives, celebrating my birthday when we got attacked by unknown forces. Except for me, everyone else escaped. I got sedated, and the next thing you know, was waking up to a gigantic bed in a big luxurious room.

This lady, probably in her late forties came out of nowhere and started touching my body inappropriately like  I was some commodity being auctioned in a charity event. Fun fact, I didn't know she was there to buy me. So we left that house to another one, this time an estate, where I was received by young girls dressed in stripper's outfits and ushered inside.

After getting showered and being dolled up, I was locked inside a room. That night, I was resold to another guy, who took me with him to his residence, and...and..raped me. At just twelve years of age, only I could tell you how painful it felt being penetrated by a guy three times my age.

And that marked the beginning of my journey into full-time prostitution. I mean, what's there to lose anyway? considering I was no more virgin. It was then sitting on the fence for me and being entirely at the disposal of men to do as they please, whenever, however, and wherever.

After fruitless crying, I learned to accept my fate and convince myself that I was doing this for me. Everything was normal until when I turned eighteen and they started forcing me to do drugs, that's when all hell broke loose. I got into a fight with my boss after the clients reported numerous complaints about me. It was pretty intense and out of self defence, I ended up killing him.

I got arrested and detained by the police in lower Manhattan prison. After several escape attempts, I was transferred to ADX and detained in solitary confinement. Despite being in one of the most secured prisons in the country, I still tested the waters and yet again attempted another escape. I was almost successful this time but for some loud cleaner, I got exposed and intercepted at the exit. Whoosh, it was a hard experience with being beaten by hefty prison guards to a dead point.

And that was how your mom came into the picture, for she saved my ass from the securities. From there, she took me to lunch, against the director's orders might I add, but I guess being a celebrity come with special privileges. I narrated my story, and she promised to help.

True to her promises, she appointed one of the best attorneys to stand for my case and despite the bumpy ride, I won, rendering me acquitted and discharged. Feeling obliged to return the favour, I offered to help her run one of her many businesses. Primarily, she outrightly rejected, advising me to go to school and complete my education, but after much persistence on my part, she eventually gave in. She taught me modelling and groomed me until I was able to stand firm on both of my feet.

That brought us to the present day. Peyton Sanders, the highest-paid supermodel in America, biggest plot twist in the history of literature. For someone who changed my entire life, I don't have your mother's pay Seraphina and I don't think I ever will. I'll forever remain committed and loyal to her, that much I could offer."

I was done trying to fight back. My lips violently quivered and tears stung my eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." I hugged her, repeatedly blinking.

"You're gonna make me cry if you don't stop now, Seraphina. " She sniffed, gently patting my back. I pulled away and stared at her with sore eyes.

"I'm so sorry, I can't begin to imagine what you must've gone through." I croaked, wiping my eyes with a tissue.

"It's fine, for real. I'm all good now, thanks to your mother. Trust me I'd be nothing without that woman. Heck, she even made me discover my nationality. To me, I was always American until when I turned twenty, there I got to learn I was Eritrean. " She laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"Your mother isn't what she portrayed to be outside. She just used this hard exterior as a protective mask against the public eye. "

I don't want to jump to conclusions but maybe, just maybe, Peyton's story might change my assumptions of my mom.

"You're brave," I affirmed.

"Ha, tell me something I don't know." Ladies and gentlemen, the Peyton is back. She proudly flicked her hair and smirked. Egotistical fuck.

We ended the day with snacks and a mug of hot chocolate each before I started for home. Traffic was surprisingly free today, so I needed not use the expressway to reach earlier.

As usual, I was met with an empty house, typical. I took a carton of orange drink from the fridge and lazily trudged the stairs. Upon reaching the lobby, I'd a mental debate with myself as to whether to barge in on Tiffany or simply just march to my room. When I felt a headache slowly building, I sucked it up and chose the former, jerking the knob forward.

"Su.....

The words died in my mouth and the world spun. A huge wave of dizziness hit me on spot, sending everything in my possession to the ground.

There my younger sister laid,

sprawled in a puddle of blood.