Overshadowing the shadow

Mia stared at Amir who was cooking in the kitchen. Since the incident this morning, he had been avoiding her like a plague. She cleared her throat severally hoping to get a little of his attention but all were futile. He responded to none and didn't even bother to look at her.

"Are you okay?" She finally breaks the silence between them as she couldn't take it any longer. Amir ignored her as usual.

"I will eat, please make some for me too." She pestered more.

Another abrupt silence continued between them. Amir wasn't in the mood to chit-chat with this lady. He was simply concerned about his stomach. He couldn't take his mind off what happened today. How could she pretend as if nothing happened? And it seems she wasn't ready to apologize or explain herself.

He sighs heavily. What was he expecting before? He came here for vengeance and that's what he should stand for till the end. His heart can't moisten for her, not for a bit. He just felt sorry for Mer kingdom, the adorned princess is wasting her body here and they know nothing about it. What an irony!

Mia got closer to him, she wasn't at ease with his silence. Though she felt guilty, she decided not to apologize till he spoke to her. But that seem so impossible now as Amir wasn't interested in whatever she was doing behind him.

"Are you still angry with me for what happened?" She queried and walked closer to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." She added coquettishly and hugged him from behind.

He pushed her off instantly and snickered. "I don't want you close to me. Don't you get the silence, must I blurt it out for you to comprehend."

Mia cried out and held her head. She was pushed vehemently and lost her stability. Her head was spinning, though she didn't hit it on anything, the force he used coupled with his powers were enough to kill her.

"My head hurts!" She grumbled.

"You are lucky to still be alive at least." He ridiculed.

She glared at him and storm out without a word. She stopped on the way outside and yelled, pretending to be hurt more.

"Amir help me. My head hurts." She wailed.

Amir came out of the kitchen angrily and looked at her. He scoffed. "What is it?"

"My head hurts, all thanks to you." She sobbed.

"How has that got to do with me?" He doubted.

"You pushed me, remember." She held her head and groaned.

"Wished I truly pushed you?" He snorted. "You won't even survive it."

"I want to make something, I'm very hungry. Better don't disturb me, else you will regret it." He cautioned and went back to the kitchen.

"Why is he furious about it? Did he think I will stop my business because of his decisions? Where will I get money from? How will I take care of myself?" She grumbled. "There's no way you can change me, Amir. If you are not comfortable with my lifestyle, you can leave. I'm not begging you to stay anyway, I'm fine alone."

Amir hissed in disdain. He heard everything, of course, he won't stay here. How can he live with a woman forever? Only a shameless man would do that. He had been thinking of what to do to her. How can he make her regret her actions of killing Mila?

She seem so undisturbed by her actions and he needed to remind her of it. Now, he knows what to do. She will suffer for what makes her happy. That desire and urge which is driving her crazy will make her cry and beg for mercy soon.

Olivia stared at her reflection, confused. She looks worried, is she truly pregnant? She had been experiencing some symptoms lately and it's not funny. She touched her stomach and groaned.

What if she's pregnant? What will she do? She can't stay here with pregnancy? She isn't safe here and a child wants to join her. She ran to the bed and picked up her phone. She must ask Austin what he has done. She called him, her heart almost jumping out through her mouth.

"Hi, babe." His voice was heard from the other end.

"Don't call me babe, just.....

"Why? What happened?" He interrupted.

"Buy a pregnancy kit and come here now, don't waste any time." She trembled.

"I'm in the office, I will come after work." He replied.

"Leave the office, this is more serious than work. Buy a pregnancy kit and come immediately." She said.

"Are you pregnant? That's great." He was excited. Olivia started crying. He seems not bothered about it.

"Don't cry, I'm coming. I will come now." He promised.

"It's all your fault, you caused this incident. I told you to stop cumming in me but you didn't listen." She laments.

"Stop crying. I'm coming, I will get the pregnancy kit." He assured and ended the call.

She threw the phone on the bed and ran to the mirror. She touched her stomach again. It's obvious she added. She screamed.

"No, no, no, no, no." She yelled.

Sophia and the other girls were passing by when they heard her voice. They ran to her room to check if something happened to her.

"What is it?" Sophia asked immediately after she got inside. Ava and Frelin followed suit.

"Are you okay?" Frelin asked and touched her neck.

"Your temperature is high." She commented and looked at her carefully.

"Are you sick?" Sophia asked slowly.

"I will take care of myself, don't worry about me." Olivia replied and walked to the bed.

"How can you say that? Your temperature is high." Sophia said and move closer to her.

"I know, I called Austin and he's coming." Olivia replied.

"Austin." Ava scoffed.

"Okay, let's stay with you before he comes." Frelin suggested.

"Don't bother, I'm fine." Olivia reassured.

"Are you sure?" Sophia asked, concerned.

"Yes I am, thanks for your care." Olivia replied.

"If you say so, we will leave now. See you later. Girls, let's give her some privacy." Frelin said.

Ava left without a word. She doesn't have time for petty talks. Her revenge mood is still intact and she needs to plan it carefully.

"Take care of yourself." Sophia said and they left.

Olivia locked the door after they left. She doesn't want unnecessary questions now. She sat on the floor and cried silently. She was angry and felt stupid, she shouldn't have allowed him. She was foolish.

This time was perfect for her to escape from her stepmother's clutches. She was supposed to run away soon. Everything was well planned and she fucked up. She pushed her last opportunity away without thinking twice.

She stood up and walked to the mirror. She looked at her reflection again and tears flow down from her eyes. She was stupid this time.

Austin ran inside a pharmacy, panting profusely.

"Please, I want a pregnancy kit?" He said, trying to catch his breath.

"No problem." The pharmacist replied and walked to a nearby shelf to get it.

"Here it is." She gave it to him.

"How much is it?" He asked, observing the packet. "Is this how it looks like?" He sounds confused.

"It's 20 dollars." She replied, ignoring his other question.

"Package it then." He said, disappointed. Why did she avoid his second question? Is it too blunt to answer?

"Alright." She replied and packaged it. Austin gave her money and collected the package from her.

"Thank you." She said.

"Thank you." He said and walked out.

He decided to run back and get a cab quickly before Olivia called again. Before taking the fifth step, he mistakenly bumped into a lady. He was busy checking his phone for any missed calls and the lady wasn't looking in her direction either.

"I'm very sorry, please forgive me." He apologized and quickly helped her up.

He didn't look at her properly as his attention was on her things which were scattered everywhere.

"Don't be angry with me." He said and began to pick her things on the floor.

"It's okay, it's also my fault." She said and picked up her bag.

"I'm sorry ma." He apologized and brought the things over to her.

They were shocked to see each other. Austin became angry immediately, why must he see her today? Of all people, he bumped into this disgusting bitch. He looked at her with disdain and hissed.

"Austin, is this you?" She asked, disappointed. "Where have you been?"

"I have been fine." He answered rudely and picked up his package on the floor.

"Son, why did you leave home? I have been searching everywhere for you. Your father and I have been so worried about you. Why did you choose to abandon us like that? Thank goodness I saw you today." She queried and tried to touch him but he adjusted backward.

"How pathetic? I never knew you would be so emotional. I must say you are good at acting. Anyone could believe whatever you say but unfortunately, I won't fall for your useless tricks so stop pretending." He scoffed. He never had any sort of respect for her before, then why now?

"Don't talk like that. I am your mother, I...

"You are not my mother. I'm still wondering where you came from and how you entered my father's life because bitches like you are meant to be in deep shallows." He interrupted rudely.

"Austin, I'm not that bad anymore. I have accepted you as my son. I promised to be the best mom you never had." She coaxed.

"At least, you know what you are. It should be a relief to your husband. I'm not so stupid to fall for your lies. And also, I don't need a mother. Even if I want one, you are the last person to be chosen." He replied rudely.

Gone are the days when she fooled him. Though he was young then and easily coaxed, he still felt the pain. She was always pleased to see him being tortured by his father and yet pretend as if she cares. What a world!

She moved closer and tried to touch him but he pushed her hand away. His facial expression was deadly.

"You still hate me?" She asked rhetorically.

"I can't remember ever liking you. With all the troubles you caused for me and still pretend to care about me, how would I like you? Maybe you have forgotten but I haven't and you haven't changed either. You are still a sheep in wolf's clothing ." He condemned.

"Don't say that Austin. I loved you and did all my best to please you. What have I done wrong to deserve your hatred?" She queried.

"If you had loved and cared for me, you would have had your child. You are childless because of your wicked self." He blurted out.

She was shocked and couldn't contain the feeling. She staggered back and looked at him.

"That was too harsh to say. I may be childless but you shouldn't insult me with it." She said and tighten her hands on her dress. Wished she could kill him with her eyes but that wasn't possible.

"Good for you then. I'm in a hurry and you have wasted almost 30 minutes of my time. I need to leave now." He said and walked past her, without waiting for her reply.

She ran to him and held his hand, pulling him to her.

"Austin, please come back home. Your father had been looking for you. Do you know how stressed he is because of you?" She asked, concerned.

He sneered disgustingly at her act of pretense and pushed her off him.

"You have a well-developed talent and you need to go to the entertainment industry. That's the only place you can be useful. As for me, I won't buy your nonsense. I'm not interested in it." He sneered.

"How can you be so rude? Even in public, you have no sort of respect for me. I'm still your mother for crying out loud." She said, embarrassed.

"Even nature resents you, how can you be a mother? I'm running out of time, don't disturb me." He said rudely and walked away.

She ran to him, pretending to be in pain. She wanted the passers-by to think she was the best mother ever. All her life, she likes giving people a good impression of herself. Austin won't make her ruin it today.

She started wailing and pulling him.

"Forgive me, son. I'm sorry. Don't forget I'm still your mother despite my mistakes." She pleaded.

"Mother my foot. Better look at the mirror and see how ugly you are. Continue with your act when I'm gone." He sneered and pushed her off.

She can fool others but not him. He can never forget the trauma she made him go through. It was disheartening and frustrating. He walked away and never turned to her despite people's comments behind him. He doesn't care anyway.

She looked at his backside and scoffed, she was trying to be nice but this boy is stubborn and stupid. He hasn't changed at all. He knows just how to catch her lies and pretense red-handed. How annoying?

She cleaned the tears on her cheeks and adjust her mood. It's good to be manipulative. Pretense should have been her name instead. She never ceases to pretend especially in situations like this.

She carried her handbag and walked to her car. She opened the door and entered. She was very angry, that brat insulted her and left freely. She will definitely teach him a lesson, one he won't forget in his life.

"You made a big mistake pushing me away today. I won't let it slide, you should keep celebrating your victory of humiliating me. I might be childless but your father is on my palm. He only listens to me and I will make you pay dearly for this. Soon I am going to place you where your mother is." She said.

"Just like I eliminated your mother, I will eliminate you too and be in charge of everything your father owns. I will make sure your father knows nothing about your whereabouts and make you disappear into thin air." She said and smiled. She can't wait to execute her plans. Thank goodness she found him before his father does. It's all for the best.