King of My Heart

33. "I never expected this from you."

(1114 words)

"Elsa?" My head turned to look at her, shock dripping from my tongue and bewilderment reflecting from my eyes. "What- you- what's going on?" I stuttered, baffled, clutching my aching head.

"I can't allow you to get to him. You've had your fairytale. It's over now." She said, her voice full of scorn. I had never seen such an expression on her face, neither had I ever experienced her speak to me in such a venomous tone.

"What are you saying? I don't understand anything." I tried getting off the ground, but she pushed me back. Wincing at the impact, I looked up at her in astonishment once more. "What are you doing, Elsa?!" I exclaimed incredulously.

"You wouldn't be going through this had you just stayed home quietly." She spat, her voice full of hatred.

"What even is wrong with you?!" I raised my voice. This couldn't be her. This couldn't be the girl I called and considered my best friend. How could she treat me like that? How could she look at me with so much contempt?

Trying to get up once more resulted in me receiving another push back. "Elsa, please! I'm pregnant!" I found myself screaming in despair.

"So what? Let it die!" She yelled back at me. My mouth hung open at her insensitive words, flashbacks of her congratulating me on my pregnancy coming to my mind. The way she had jumped up and down and flung her arms around me in excitement.

This is a nightmare, right?

"Elsa, I'm your best friend." The words left my mouth slowly, in a soft tone as I tried to process what the hell was going on.

"Best friend, my foot!" She exclaimed scornfully. "I'm just so fed up of you, Ana! I'm fed up of you being the best at everything, of everyone admiring you, all your achievements!"

"What are you talking about? Are you saying you're doing this because you're jealous of me?"

"Yes, yes! I never let you know but yes! I've always been envious of you! Always great in academics, everybody's favourite, heck someone like you- an average girl like you ended up being THE Ethan Woods' wife! Heck your family was even financially stable, besides that you ended up marrying a billionaire! Whereas I had to work my ass off to afford college! You had everything handed to you on a golden plate!"

"Elsa... I- I can't believe this." I tried to fight back my tears.

"Despite all, I didn't wanna hurt you, Ana. You walked yourself into trouble. You just can never sit in peace, can you?"

"How did you get here? What exactly is going on here?" I inhaled a sharp breath, trying to keep calm. I could feel myself getting angry, but I also simultaneously wanted to cry.

"All of the things I told you happen here. The only difference is that I am not a victim. I'm one of the people participating in it." She smirked evilly.

I was at a loss of words. "H-how? How could you? You... how did you get here? Why would do this?"

"Long story short, I just happened to discover by chance who exactly was behind this all. Blackmailed him a bit. He offered me a share in his fortune. Luck finally smiled upon me; I couldn't refuse."

"Just for money?" I asked in disbelief, glaring at her.

"Yes, for money." She responded nonchalantly.

I took in a deep breath. "I understand you being jealous of me. But I don't understand how you can be so insensitive and stoop so low as to actually take part in such inhuman acts!"

She rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap, Ana. Let's make a deal, okay? You weren't supposed to get hurt in the first place. You can leave quietly. Forget about Ethan and save your life."

I glared at her. "Where is Ethan?"

She huffed, rolling her eyes again. "Saying it again, in case you didn't hear or understand before. I'll let you get out of here. You can save yourself and your baby. Consider Ethan a sacrifice for your child's safety. Ethan would want you two to be safe too, no?"

"Elsa, where is Ethan?!" I demanded through gritted teeth, reciprocating her hatred with my eyes.

"He's probably dead by now, Ana. Even if he isn't, be assured that he doesn't have much time left to live." She said in a nonchalant mocking tone.

"Shut up!" I reprimanded, finally getting onto my feet. "Take me to him this instant!"

"I. Am. Not. Your. Slave. Do not talk to me that way!" She said menacingly.

I scoffed. "Yeah? But you're some scumbag's slave? Doing as he says. Helping him with all this like a little servant."

Her eyes blazed with anger and nostrils flared. "Shut the fuck up!"

"You know what, Elsa? You—" I paused abruptly, looking behind her.

"What?" She looked at me, confused, before turning her head to see what I was looking at. Which was in fact nothing at all. I wasn't looking at anything. Picking up the small metal rod near the window sill that I had managed to notice, I hit her with it and watched her body fall to the mucky ground.

"I never expected this from you." I muttered, shaking my head, planning to not give a damn about a deceitful best friend and focus on finding my husband. I could cry about that betrayal once I was in my lover's arms.

Spinning on my heels, I took up long strides, even though I had no idea where exactly to go.

I'll scour the whole place if I have to, but I'll take him back with me.

As I walked with my determined strides, my path was abruptly blocked by a well-built man. I looked at him in fear as he revealed a gun. "Please let me go." I said softly, hoping he'd show some mercy.

You're an idiot. Are you seriously expecting kindness from these scoundrels?

His finger on the trigger and my pounding heart were all I could focus on. Clenching my eyes shut, I pictured Ethan, me and our unborn baby. A happy family. I'm sorry, Ethan. I lost.

A scream spontaneously left my mouth as I heard a gunshot. I awaited any sensation of pain, but felt nothing. Slowly opening my eyes, I was bewildered at the sight of that man lying on the floor with a bleeding abdomen. But I was more bewildered at the sight of the person who had shot him and saved me.

"You?!" The words left my mouth after I recovered from my baffled state.

"What are you doing here, Ana?"