BLACK CARD, SOFT HEART.

The clock kept ticking. Tick..tock.... Every minutes felt like it has been carved out just for me.

3:00am and still no sleep.

I waited for the sun to rise, to tell me that what i overheard wasn't real. That the whispers on the hallways wasn't meant for my ears...

...

My heart tightened:, it felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on my chest. I sat on the edge of the bed staring blankly at the celling, praying, begging that everything was just a dreams.

...

LEILA.

Morning didn't feel like morning.

it felt like laying down underwater,slow, heavy, and suffocating.

" My family is planning to ruin me?. The person I love the most, derrick was part of it".

"Maybe I misheard".

"Maybe it's a misunderstanding".

"Maybe just maybe am fooling myself again".

Thought kept flooding my head so fast I could barely breathe

...

Then...

" Knock knock".

A soft yet irritating bang on the door.

My step mom Walked in, dressed in her favorite red dress and heels. Her sugar coated,venom tipped tongue preceded her as she peeked head inside.

"Breakfasts is ready. Please put on something decent. Everyone is downstairs waiting for you. Don't keep them waiting,

there's important annocement to be made".

"Annocement" I crooked.

"Oh yes annocement.

Just dress up and be downstairs. You will see when you get there".

The door shut even before I could ask more questions. A cold wash over me.

...

" Today". Today is the day they all plan for me.

My stomach clenched".

I dress quickly, with a simple brouse and that one jeans that have been wearing for ages now. My hair tied to the back, everything on body screaming run.

Well I chose to stay anyways. That's how have been surviving my whole life, by staying even when it hurts.

...

Downstairs was buzzing with unusual excitement. Even when I knew their plan still I choose to put on a smile face.

Lydia dress in her usual straight out magazines editorials emeralds slik, diamonds dancing on her skin. Confident dripping from every breath she took. Inside those glamorous appearance, only I knows the serpent beneath those diamonds .

She majestically walk in excuse of caring for me just to scheme.

" Leila you were born with everything I wanted ,but you are too weak to use any of it. Someone like you don't deserved power. You are fits for playing the useless one".

I wasn't surprise at all, because I'm use to those smirked of hers, I just wanted to know what she meant by I don't deserve power.

"Leila sit" my father ordered with a harsh tone. I obey, my heart kept pounding so hard, suddenly a stack of documents was slipped on the table.

" You all know that I visited the company some days ago. I checked into the finance department,and there is a financial decrepancies within the company account". He looked at me in cold and dissatisfied gesture. I remain calm, the he added " Leila we discovered that all those transaction are linked to your account". Sweat drained down my face, I get instant cold feet. "But I don't handle company finance!!".

" Exactly Lydia cut in sweetly, that's why it's confusing; dad/mom blame me, I am the one working at the company. I should be blame not Leila". I can clearly see through her her schemes,but my dad choose not to see them. " Leila non of us understand why your name appears on every suspicious transaction, but please, just admit you did it, mom and dad will forgive you" she sneered. " What" I gasped out loud.

"Leila you are responsible for the missing funds, why let your innocent sister take the blame?. Can't you be like her?, that's why she better than you, beside it was derrick that reported it, will he also lie about it". My step mom added.

" What derrick?. He will never do a thing like that to me, he might cheat on me but he will never accuse me, I think there's a mixup up let me just call him over for clarification".

" Sister why not just admit it, why calling outsiders in family matters? Lydia chimed,her eyes gleaming with triumph.

My dad slammed his hand on the table.

" We cannot keep this ungrateful brat in this house. You'll leave until the investigation clears your name. And don't even think about running away."

"Dad"I cried.

" Do not call me that!. You have disgrace this family. Look at how obedience and promising your sister is! Why can't you be like her?.

" Dad let me just derrick. Please, he'll expla....."

" No need" a cold voice interrupted. Derrick walked in.

My last strand of hope shattered.

"Derrick please," I rushed to him,tears streaming."Tell them it's not true.Tell them...."

He didn't let me finish.

" This time, I choose love over everything",he said calmly. And whoever gets hurt.... deserves it".

My blood ran cold. I never believe he'll do this yet I ran t

"Derrick, what are you saying? Please clear this up".

He met my eyes with the coldest look I'd ever seen.

"Leila did it.She made the transactions. She said since no one values her, she'll bankrupt the company, I tried stopping her but she refuse, sorry I wasn't able to persuade her".

"What?! Derrick,no!" I sobbed. " Why are you doing this?"

Lydia's poisonous smile widened as she leaned close to me.

"Sister"she whispered ,"you were always meant to be the shadow. I'm just making it official".

At this point I knew nobody was coming to save me from them. I could only

cried for help. Yet no one listened to me.

I turned to derrick, voice breaking.

"Did you ever love me ? were all those moments ...all those words...part of your plan?"

He smirked.

"I never loved you, leila.The one I've always loved is Lydia. You were just too easy to deceive, so I used you to get closer to her"...