Marriage Of Secrets

Freya

Freya stood in the gloomy living room, holding her three year old son to her chest. The family was silent. No one said anything all through the wake keep, and it was obvious the family was going through a lot. The Stones! They were unshakable! They had the wealth no one would ever think of. Who would have thought, the death of their infant daughter would shake them this hard. There was a casket kept under pink neon lights, and people were sobbing. Mrs Stone hadn't looked towards Freya's direction all through, and her eyes were red and swollen.

"I am sorry you had to see this," Mr Stone told Freya as he approached her and her child. "Our first child just died and my wife is really devastated."

Freya gave him a soft smile. Her hands caressed her son's hair and she nodded.

"It is fine...I...I...understand," she said.

"If you want, you can come back in a week's time," the nice man suggested. "The atmosphere will not be favorable for you."

"No, it's okay," she needed that job badly. Her skinny look and collar bones showed how badly she starved herself. "My son and I haven't eaten for days. We really need this job."

"You have just come, Freya," Mr Stone had a calm tone. "Let us do this. One of the servants will take you to the servant's quarters and you will stay there for a while. We cannot afford you to meddle now."

Freya nodded and pulled her son's cheeks. The boy giggled. Her eyes went back to the small sized open couple and the wailing mother. How heartbreaking it must be for the family. If rumors were true, Mrs Stone would be forever traumatized. Because it was said that she couldn't conceive again. What exactly would she do without her baby girl?

"Boss told me to take you inside," one of the servants met her.

"Yes, of course," Freya nodded and stood up from where she sat. Barely had they left, when one of the visitors knocked the coffin down and everyone gasped. No child fell. The coffin was basically empty. The guests murmured curses while they helped place the casket back on the table. As if that wasn't weird enough, everyone went back to mourning. What the hell?! There was no baby in that coffin.

This got disturbing for Freya and she couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Their daughter's body was never found," the servant explained to her, seeing her questioning look.

"What?!" Freya was shocked.

"The girl was proclaimed clinically dead in the hospital due to pneumonia. It is funny how her body was never found. The doctors aren't saying anything," the servant explained.

Freya saw that as a mystery. In fact, she couldn't sleep and her heart throb against her chest. The thought of the grieving family gave her an unsettling feeling.

Well...things were going well until it all went downhill. Mrs Stone found solace in her son. It made no sense why, or why she loved the young boy all of a sudden. She asked to spend time with him, and took him almost everywhere. Soon, she enticed him with wealth and showed him all he could get if he chose her.

That was straight up manipulation, and Freya hated it. But the family didn't give a damn about her thoughts. Her sickness was getting worse, and she could barely watch over him anymore.

"Give us Anderson, and we will take good care of you," Mr Stone brought up an offer.

This made no sense to her. Why would she give away her son like that?

"I am sorry...I can't..."

"We are in need of an heir, and your son is smart enough for that," Mr Stone explained. "Do not worry, we will take good care of him and make sure you do not regret it."

Freya had no say anymore. The more they fanned a bundle of cash before her nose, the more she felt enticed to give him away. The night she would never forget was the night Anderson came to her himself. He was 6 years old at that time. He had a bracelet on his hands, and had given her as a gratitude for all she has done.

"Thanks ma'am for taking good care of me," he said with a grin. "Mum said you tried for me."

Freya heartily collected it sniffing back her mucus. The family successfully brainwashed her son. They freaking turned him against her and made him believe she was doing them a favor.

"Come here, Anderson," she said in tears and hugged him tightly. The boy agreed and wrapped his small hands around her.

Since then Anderson considered her as nothing but a caretaker. He saw her as someone who once helped him, but couldn't see her beyond that. Her life had been a mess, and she could do nothing but wallow in pity.

"This is not fair, Mama," Karla cried, finally realizing what was happening. "I married my freaking brother!"

"He is not your brother!" Her mum clarified. Karla cleared her tears.

"What?!" She was more confused now.

"Can you not see? I didn't treat you well all these while because you aren't for me. I adopted you from the streets, but you are not my child! Anderson is my real child here!"

Karla sunk into an existential crisis and she could barely think anymore.

"Mama...pleasee...please stop...," she sobbed.

"Just leave me alone you ungrateful child!" Hee mum pushed her off. Now it all made sense. Everything was beginning to fall into place.

Her mum didn't have bipolar. Her mum just hated her.
She hated her because...because of a child she once lost. Karla reminded her of him.