Married To My Sister's Husband

JUDY

(19years ago)

"Claris, please tell us a story," Sophy pleaded.

But Claris glanced at me before silently tucking them in with a smile.

"How about I do the story-telling tonight, hmm?" I asked from the doorway, surprising them a bit.

"Mama, you're home!" Sophy said surprised and excited.

They must be very surprised that I made it home before bedtime tonight.

"Really? Yes... come mama!" Livy exclaimed equally excited to see me.

"Hmm, so I have a riddle to tell and at the end you'll have to answer a question, how about it?" I asked eagerly.

I never should have told them that story. I never should have made them think they had to fight for anything at such a young age.

My poor choices and fear that my daughters would fall like I initially fell after their father's death, made me compel them do some unforgivable things all in the name of making them into strong women.

I needed them to be strong, but there was no excuse that they were just kids, and such tough life lessons shouldn't have been a burden they needed to bear at that young age.

Sabrina, Markian's mom had asked me the same question when I was at my lowest and was about to give up.

"Two princesses living in a castle painted white. Sisters they were but rivals they were born to be.

Soon the castle will be painted red with blood, for there's One crown awaiting the ambitious enough and one grave lies in wait for the ignorant. Who among you still wishes to wear the crown?"

I didn't realize just how learned my daughters had become. They understood everything, at least Livy did and that was a mistake.

As the days went by, the company kept taking more and more hours of my days, until there was none for my children.

I knew I had to teach them to be strong and independent, able to weather the storms of this greedy world of men on their own.

I thought they were too young to understand. I wished I had never got an answer to that question that night.

"I'll wear it, mama." Livy replied with pure eyes.

Imagine my horror at her proclamation, but I didn't let out my surprise. For all I know, she could have only heard the fancy word 'crown' from all I said.

"Of course you will my darling. Your crown will be beautiful and someday, you'll have to lead our empire." I replied with a smile while tickling her.

"But I want to wear the crown too." Sophy bickered and on the verge of throwing a tantrum.

"And you will baby, but your sister's crown would be weightier than yours because she is the heiress." I replied with a smile, stating the fact that Livy is Luthel Inc's heiress.

"But... but I want mine to be wealthierrrr" Sophy dragged sadly.

I couldn't help but chuckle at how she misheard the word 'weightier' with 'wealthier'.

"You can't because one day I'll rule our empire and you'll be my subject. My crown will paint this castle red, but your crown will be buried in a grave... na-na-na-nana," Livy teased her sister, unaware of how dark what she just said was.

"But mama, I don't want...mine in the graaave" Sophy cried out surprisingly, so I tried to pacify

"Of course yours won't be in any grave. You will have your crown just like your sister's, ok?" I stated trying to calm her.

"Mine won't be either, so who's crown will be in the grave mama?" Livy asked curiously, starring up a knot in my stomach.

"Olivia, that's enough. Neither one of your crowns would be in any grave, ok? It's just a stupid riddle, forget it." I said.

Even though it was just a story, that story brought down hell on my household.

(Present day)

Just as Livy stated she was going to be the one to wear the crown, she also fought for it.

Even though she seems all calm and quiet now, for years I've felt like everyday is just the calm before a storm and all it takes is a little push for her to snap.

Darkness resides insides my daughter, and I dread to imagine what hell she'll rain down on a mother that forced her into an arranged marriage, when she finally regains her memories.

Livy will pay back my bad for evil, but at least I won't be leaving my legacy to a weak, softhearted, goody two-shoes of a successor, who stutters and trembles in public.

All I've been working for has always been hers, but i know if she shows any sign of weakness whatsoever, she will be eliminated by wolves waiting patiently in the shadow.

I've witnessed first hand how suffice but blood thirstyly these businessmen trade. They are ruthless and ply on the weak, until they've suck them completely dry.

So, I admit to been a terrible mother. I've had to put my kids through some terrible things, but i'd rather have a heartless survivor as my successor than a weak dead one.

The gamble I played with my daughters' lives have a punishment waiting for me in hell, but there's no better way could have done things.

So, yes. I'd do it over and over again if it means the Luthel Legacy would move on with Olivia.

I've been anxious ever since Daniel showed up here and I know I should have told Markian about it, but the last thing I wanted is to ruin his mood on their honeymoon.

My daughter is already getting the shorter end of the stick and that bothers me.

LIVY

One of Anwela's stories about this village that caught my interest was the story of Princess Rowena.

Rowena was the 6th daughter of the Village Chief, but the ancestors choose her to become the next Chief after her father's death amongst her 5 older sisters.

But she had to prove herself worthy of the throne and a crown that has bathed in the blood of its enemies for centuries.

Rowena's older sisters feared her ambitiousness and crudeness. They knew if she sits on the throne, she would eliminate any and everyone that she perceives as a threat, as well as anything that makes her seem weak.

That was the Sedavers way- a rite of passage. A leader can't be weak or put anyone or anything before his people. It's seen as a threat on its own.

and the village their only priority. And if he or she refuses to kill

oath that no matter what, when the time comes

into making an unbreakable

to lead a tribe, Rowena was a little too wise

but went ahead and took the oath anyways, promising her sisters

of Sedaver. And on that day she was given the task to prove herself and show how much she can sacrifice for her

6 deep holes to be dug and everyone wondered what she was going

had a grand celebration in honor of her coronation

the hole, but never expected what happened next when Queen Rowena

made an unbreakable vow not to hurt us when you become Chief. If you kill us you'll die too." Her eldest

to hurt any of you. I only swore that I would not perceive any one of

are you doing this to us? We are family."

family is what I cherish most. I'm ending your lives because my love for you all has to be annihilated in other to put my people first." she stated before she personally closed up all 5 holes,

that the day she'll ever love anything so much that she can't kill it, that’ll

people of Sedaver with so much anger and bitterness. No one dared to

and bore a son, whom she loved

when her son turned 1, she told her trusted commander who was also her husband that

for not completely fulfilling her pledge to serve, she was beheaded before

the terrible Sedaverian law that a leader must prove his worth

because, her sisters refused her a place in their midst

sure that no son or daughter of Sedaver would ever again sacrifice their love for greed of power and ambition, thereby keeping Sedaver and its people

as to remember the ultimate sacrifice

I wondered just how much harm an emotion like love could

a monthly financial transaction to my psychiatrist

hospital with no memories of whatsoever 16years ago, it left me with

week for 3years after the incident, just to be able

I started regaining my memories and begin to act out, my mom would sent me to Dr. Joe and have him use some unorthodox means like hypnosis, to take

the trauma from 16yrs ago caused me to develop a dissociative identity disorder. So to keep my dark side in check, I'm not

away by hypnosis

to take back my life. But in return for Dr Joe's silence I have to deposit a monthly fee to his account, to shut him up about telling my mother know that I know what she has been doing to

thought of making him disappear a few times in the past, but I can't because he

would be getting married to Markian, I was so terrified at first and I doubted

love him, so if we would have

and just be happy with him.

under my mom's shadow, I was safe without my memories and my enemies were afar off but now, they're closer than

a happy life with Markian won't be possible after all. I wanted things to work but, no matter how much I try to mask

who are now after my life and my crown, so

just how much things will change once we get back to Minnesota. I'm done being weak-

mine and for so long it has kept me alive till date. For my survival, I'll have to return to being the very evil I was known to be.

after my thought, I could feel his presence as his familiar scent filled my nostrils. Markian

since it was already so late. He can't keep doing these

him if I don't focus on those his heartbreaking comments, names calling and his distrust

want to give my love another chance. But my love is my weakness and I can't be weak

doing out

comfortable on the sand as he sat

You?" I

I'm out here looking for you." He replied irritatedly as he clapped his hands

you care?" I asked,

because he couldn't stop

was never mine and never

depends on your decision tonight, on

my responsibility. I can't even shut my eyes to sleep when you're not by my side,

words always seems to cause in my heart. But this is good. This

back, it's already very late." I apologetically stated as I moved in to give him a kiss on his cheek followed by

anything for Markian Winfrey, I

back to the lodge together silently,

service and we both

and Mr Gracía's

MARKIAN

at the Gracía's mansion for Felicity's funeral service, but Livy have been acting really strange since this

me all morning, excep on our way back from Sedaver, and few moments ago when she requested that I forgive Mr. Gracía and continue

that Mr. Gracía had sent her an

me this morning was on the cruise yacht from Sedaver. Even then she had said something that had freaked me

to get me last night? And...before you answer,

something was different today, and she was surprising calm and bold- just like her mother Judy. I shuddered at the

wasn't looking for just any made up reason like the ones I've been giving her lately. She truly wanted

why I was really out there last night looking for

shut my eyes to sleep. I kept on seeing her

Then the strong urge to see her came and it overpowered me,

I've ever had in a long while, and strangely enough for the

my life before. You can call it a gift but i've been able to scale through the international market even as an inexperienced

knack of reading people and knowing exactly what their real plan might

manipulative and ambitious, I can't help but desire something more- something deeper between both of us. So, I had to stop myself every time because she can't know about what I'm really thinking. If she does,

i? You are my responsibility to keep safe. Your mom would go ballistic if she finds out that about all the troubles you've been

was disappointed by my reply but she didn't turned pale as usual. She just became very cold from then on, making it hard for me to read her

but I think you're falling in

Who the hell does she think she is? And let's say it's remotely possible, why did she

yourself hon, I don't mix feelings with business. And I've said this several times but I'll say it again. Sophy is the only woman I'll

is wrong

meant it then, but now I can't help thinking it's

be possible that I've

that's possible. I can't just flip, it's not like me

that I'd give my heart to, but if I'm flipping for Livy

get divorced, you won't regret it? You'll just go on and live your life as you had wanted without a care in the world?" She asked

to think properly these days without her clouding my mind. I can't be

care for her when there's nothing between us- 'that was

divorce thing at the party. I felt like

thought it was just because my pride was hurt, but when Daniel told me that Livy almost kissed him, I realized what it