Blood 2

 – Lie With A Straight Face 

“What are you talking about, Kira?” Donald asked, stepping toward me, his tall frame blocking out the light. 

I quickly hung up the phone, my hand trembling so badly I almost dropped it. My cheeks were wet, streaked with tears I hadn’t realized were still falling. 

‘I… I was just talking about planning the best surprise wedding anniversary,” I lied, my voice shaking. “But now you know.” 

The lie burned my throat, but I forced a smile through the tears. 

Donald exhaled softly, as if relieved, and reached for me. Instinctively, I flinched back. Too fast. His eyes widened at the movement. 

Is there any problem, love?” he asked, brows creasing in false concern. 

My chest cracked open with grief, and bitter words slipped past my lips. “Besides being betrayed and losing my parents?” 

Donald’s sigh was long, heavy, practiced. “Kira, we don’t know if you were betrayed. It could have >een a random attack. The police are working hard. In the meantime, you should rest. You need strength for when you’re discharged tomorrow.” 

His voice was warm, gentle-too gentle. If I hadn’t overheard his conversation, I would have irowned in that tone, letting him cradle me into safety. But now, every word was venom. Every ook, a lie. 

How does he do it? I wondered, my stomach twisting. How does he stand there, holding my jaze, pretending to love me when I know he ruined me? When I know he ruined everything? Kira… why are you crying again?” 

His voice was soft, puzzled, but the question sliced me. My hand went to my cheeks-wet, rembling. I hadn’t even noticed. My body was weeping on its own, mourning what my heart still efused to accept. 

I’d like to see my mom,” I choked out. 

Donald’s expression hardened for a flicker of a second, then melted back into a mask of care. Princess, I don’t think you can see her right now. She’s sedated. And you-you need to rest sc ‘ou’ll be strong tomorrow.” 

No.” My voice cracked. “Please, I need to see her.” 

His lips curved slightly in disgust but it quickly vanished and he smiled sweetly. “If it’ll put your heart at ease, I’ll ask the nurse. But only for a short while.” 

He led me down the corridor, one arm steadying me. The weight of his hand on my back made ny skin crawl. 

When we entered the room, my legs almost gave out. 

My mother lay on the bed, pale, lifeless. Both her legs were wrapped in thick casts. Her eyes- once so full of warmth and laughter-were wide open, staring blankly at the ceiling. Empty. 

“Mom!” I rushed forward, grabbing her hand. It was ice cold. “It’s me-it’s Kira!” 

But she didn’t blink. She didn’t squeeze my hand. She didn’t even flinch. 

“She can’t respond,” Donald said quietly behind me. “The trauma was too much. The doctors say she may never recover.” 

My chest split apart. “No… no, that can’t be true…” 

I pressed her hand against my cheek, begging for warmth, for life. But she stayed frozen, broken. 

The woman who once held me when nightmares chased me now lay trapped in one she could 

never wake from. 

And Donald just stood there, his face painted with concern. 

The same man who broke her mind. The same man who ordered this. 

Tears blurred my vision until I couldn’t see her face anymore. 

As Donald gently pulled me back toward the hallway, another voice rang out-sweet, syrupy, 

venomous. 

“Kira?” 

| froze. Lily stood there, one hand resting on her barely rounded stomach. Her eyes glistened with crocodile tears. 

‘I came as soon as I heard… Oh God, cousin, I’m so sorry. If I could give you my strength, I would. 

You still have me.” 

The sight of her made bile rise in my throat. Pregnant. With Donald’s child. 

My knees weakened, but I forced a smile. My lips trembled, but I said nothing. 

Donald’s arm tightened around me, and I felt Lily’s smug gaze flick over me-her lips twitching upward for the briefest second before curving back into a mask of sorrow. 

‘I’ll leave you both to rest,” Lily whispered sweetly, brushing past me. But as she moved close, she bent slightly and murmured so only I could hear: 

‘Take care of yourself, cousin. You’ll need all your strength… to watch me give Donald the family you never could.” 

Ice shot down my spine. My nails dug into my palms so hard I almost drew blood. My chest heaved, breath sharp and broken. Before I could think, my palm cracked against her cheek. 

“You bitch!” I snarled. 

Lily howled in sorrow, cupping her cheek, sobbing pitifully. Donald was by her side immediately, glaring at me as if I had struck him. 

“How could you do that to her? Lily donated her bone marrow to save you and this is how you repay her!” Donald roared. 

“It’s alright, Donnie. My cousin is stressed and sad. I don’t mind if she takes her anger out on me,” Lily whimpered, her voice thick with crocodile tears. 

Donald cradled Lily in his arms, shielding her as though she were the broken one. “You should be ashamed, Kira. Lily hasn’t even been discharged and you’re already bullying her.” 

“Don’t yell at her, Donnie, she’s hurting,” Lily whispered, playing the martyr. 

“If you’ll keep acting this way, then I won’t come see you until you’ve apologized to Lily,” Donald snapped. 

I scoffed, my chest tight with fury, and walked away, ignoring them. But not before I saw it- Donald gently cupping Lily’s face, wiping her tears with such tenderness. “Don’t listen to her, Princess. She doesn’t mean it.” 

That word-Princess. That’s what Donald used to call me but now I realized his real Princess had been Lily all along. 

Those same hands destroyed me. That same voice whispered to me the same promises he gave Lily. How could I have been so stupid not to see it? 

Something inside me shattered into sharp, jagged glass. By the time I got to my hospital room, my breathing was coming in sharp gasps. 

My phone beeped and I opened it, it was a message from Ginny. 

‘I’ve drafted the divorce agreement, it will be mailed to you tomorrow. I’ll book the flight soon Shall we cancel the annual ceremony?’ 

I replied quickly, ‘No, the annual ceremony stays.’ 

I curled up into a ball, my shoulders shaking with tears. I’ll cry and let myself be broken for today because by tomorrow, there’ll be no room for tears, just revenge.