Seconds *COMPLETED*

Chapter 12

Tiara Qaleesya

A week had passed. Yet I had not been able to extract the truth about Daniel from Isma. I was growing desperate. I wanted to know the truth before Rats got to know it by any chance.

I was walking out of my bedroom one evening when the doorbell rang. I stopped in my tracks and stood by my bedroom door as Narissa walked over to open the door from the kitchen. I couldn't see who had come, standing by my bedroom door, but I heard Narissa chatting away in delight to the visitor(s).

"Ray had come over to visit me. He was about to leave. That's when I decided to bring him over here so he could meet you too before he leaves," Uncle Harris's cheerful voice made me cringe backwards in fear.

Was Rats here?

I stood still by my bedroom door. They were standing at the front door; they would not be able to see me for sure.

"Hey Narissa, how are you?" Raymond's voice sent shivers down my spine today.

"I'm fine, sir, thanks a lot for dropping in. How are you, sir? Would you like to come in and have a seat?" replied Narissa.

No! What are you saying, Narissa? Please don't let him in!

"No thanks, Narissa. I've got a few things to do. Just came over to see you since Uncle kept telling me you're right next door, we can just drop by quickly," responded Raymond.

Phew! Waves of relief washed over me.

"Are you alone at home, Rissa? Where is everyone else?" inquired Uncle Harris.

Narissa, please don't say my name. It's better for all of us that Rats doesn't know about my presence here.

"I'm here, Grandpa!" squealed Mila, running up to him from behind Narissa.

Mila? What are you doing there? Thank God, Rats doesn't know your name or how you look.

"Aww, Mila baby! You're so sweet! You're looking after my daughter well, aren't you?" teased Uncle Harris.

"Yup, but my Mommy looks after her better," answered Mila.

Uncle Harris laughed before asking Narissa, "That reminds me, how's Tiara?"

The bomb was dropped. My name had been uttered. The moment I had feared since the day I had landed in this house had arrived.

"Tiara?" Raymond's astonished voice confirmed that he had heard Uncle Harris pronounce my name.

"Yeah, she's Mila's mother. Poor girl, she came to San Diego in search of her husband. But she hasn't been able to find him. She's been staying here with Narissa for a few months now," explained Uncle Harris.

Great! Just perfect! Thank you very much, Uncle Harris. Sometimes, just the words a person says in mere innocence is enough to ruin everything forever. Like the words I spoke in haste to Rats when he was a baby, "I'll be your mommy, sister, friend and everything you'll ever need from now."

"Alright Narissa, I better get going. See you soon," stated Raymond.

He was leaving? He will be back.... His words "see you soon" confirmed it.

I retreated back into my room and locked the door. It was time for me to leave. Leave this house or Darien's life? My heart questioned me. I wouldn't be able to let myself leave either.

My heart palpitated as I remembered the gun in Raymond's hand four years ago.

Four years ago, I had been lying on my bed in the comfort of my room in my house. I was tossing and turning in bed in the dark, unable to sleep. My marriage had been fixed with Darien? How could my parents do that to me? I didn't want to marry him. I mean, I don't dislike him but I don't like him either. The way he snooped around my room without my permission the other day searching for Rats' bag, I certainly didn't like him after that incident.