How it all began (1)

Under the raging thunder and crackling lightning, there stood two individuals. One is thin & gaunt, named Emily while the other one is exact opposite of her, named Grace.

As the clouds rained down in a relentless downpour. The nails that bit deep into Emily's palms drew blood, mixing with the cold rain that soaked her to the bone.

"Let me see him" Emily's voice trembled, but it was filled with determination. She stood outside the large mansion, her body shaking from both the cold and the emotions coursing through her. Her eyes were red, tear stains marking her pale cheeks and she bit her lower lip with such force that it started to drew blood. To the outsiders it might seem like - Even the smallest gust of wind from the storm might knock her over at any moment.

Across from her stood Grace, her former best friend and now her rival in every sense. Where Emily's hair clung lifelessly to her face, Grace's hair shone even in the dim light of the storm. Where Emily's cheeks were hollow and sickly, Grace's were full and rosy, her beauty seemingly untouched by the harshness of the storm.

Anyone looking at the two of them would never ever believe that this was the same Emily, who had once captured every man's heart with her breathtaking beauty.

Because of Ethan, Emily had given up everything. For him, she gave up on her dream, future, freedom and everything. Became submissive, and did everything in her power to gain approval from the man and his family. Listening to Grace's honey-coated advice, Emily began to believe that taking care of herself was too excessive and that it will make her look superficial if she desired anything more than daily necessities.

Slowly, she let herself go. Her clothes became plain, her beauty continued to fade away with rough care on each passing day. She stayed up late every night to cook for Ethan, who was always busy and woke up early each morning to make breakfast for him. She lived her life as less of a partner but more of a slave. Emily spent years, sacrificing herself for a love that was never reciprocated back to her.

And all of this effort had only earned her cold shoulder.

Ethan never acknowledged her as his equal. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd seen her lover's eyes light up in her presence. And all along, Grace was there, whispering words of reassurance that she was taking care of things, as she and Emily were best friends. Emily believed that Grace was helping her by telling Ethan of her good points, hoping to change his heart.

Little did she know that Grace’s version of "taking care of him" was completely different from what she imagined.

While Emily toiled away like a slave, Grace was there, growing closer to Ethan. When Emily was scorned by Ethan’s mother for being ugly, Grace was gradually becoming the perfect daughter-in-law that Mrs. Roy always wanted. When Emily looked at Ethan with desperate, love-struck eyes, Ethan was already looking at someone else with love.

Now, as the two girls faced each other in the storm, their roles had been completely reversed.

Grace’s lip curled up in disdain as she glanced at the broken girl before her. "What are you doing here? Don't you know, someone like you isn't allowed in this house?"

Emily flinched, her heart aching at the words. That mansion had once been her home but now she wasn’t even allowed past the front gate.

"I need to see him," Emily repeated, her voice firmer as she clenched her fists tighter.

Grace sneered, contempt dripping from her voice. "Where do you get the nerve? He doesn’t want to see you. He told me that waking up next to you every morning was like a nightmare for him. Now, at least, he wouldn't have to worry about seeing your face every morning and can wake up to my beautiful face. You aren't needed here, so, just why are you still clinging to him."

Though she was accustomed to these insults, Emily still felt her heart shatter. How many times had she allowed herself to be broken by that man, clinging to the hope that one day she would receive just a fraction of the love of what she has for him?

"No, I can't. I need to see him," Emily repeated desperately.

"Just why can't you understand, nobody needs you."

But even after listening to all these insults, Emily resolves remain unchanged, still clinging to one last tiny bit of hope.

The rain blurring the lines between tears and raindrops on Emily’s face.

As the heat of the argument continues to flare up, the surrounding storm also seemed to have reached its peak.

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