Chapter 26: Chapter 26

The moment Nora opened the door of her bedroom she got the biggest shock of her life. She couldn't believe her eyes. She was frozen. She tried to calm herself down and then closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and then opened her eyes again. Still the same. Her eyes weren't deceiving herself. Everything was real. In front of her in her bedroom Lara was sleeping. She was naked. She could hear the shower running and someone was in the washroom. The blanket which was used to cover her and her husband's body was covering Lara's body. Anyone could tell what happened there by looking at the state of the bed and Lara.

"Eleonora? When did you return? Why didn't you wait for me? I told you I will pick you up. And wait, why are you stand-" Zanvil who came out of the washroom after taking a shower, couldn't finish his sentences as his eyes landed on the figure sleeping on their bed. Naked. He felt like his eyes would pop out any second. His heart started beating faster as fear crept in his whole being.

"What the fuck!" He cursed loudly in a shocked voice which seemed to awaken up Lara from her slumber. Lara opened her eyes and it landed on the two figures standing near the door.

She hastily got up and tried to cover herself with the blanket. Her face turned red as she looked down seemingly guilty. Nora looked at her blankly. Her eyes turned cold.

"Nora! I-I.. Uhmm." Lara fumbled with her words when Nora cut her off.

"Get dressed. We need to talk." Nora said in a cold voice. Her face was void of any emotion. Lara looked up at Nora in confusion but Nora already turned around and left. Nora's calm demeanor scared her.

Zanvil who was standing there in shock came out of his zone and glared at Lara coldly.

"You don't know with who the fuck you are messing up. If my wife misunderstands me then be prepared to face the fucking consequences. And trust me it won't be good." Zanvil said in his booming angry voice and left the room after his wife to clarify everything.

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"Eleonora!" Zanvil called his wife who was sitting calmly in the living room. He was afraid. Afraid that she would misunderstand him. He didn't want to lose her. For God's sake she was pregnant. Any kind of stress would be harmful for her and their unborn baby. When her eyes met him he felt like his world had stopped. It was empty. There's no warmth, no love, no adoration like before. It's just cold. He moved towards her and cupped her face with his hands before speaking. His voice was full of desperation.

"It's not what it looks like. I swear I don't know how she ended up in our bed. I swear I didn't cheat. Please trust me. I love you so much. I could never cheat on you. Heck why would I look at other women when I have you. Please love trust me. I woke up in the morning and went to shower but when I returned I saw you standing there. I swear she wasn't there before. Please trust me. I-" He couldn't finish his sentences as Nora averted her eyes and looked behind him. He paused and turned around to look. His jaw clenched when he found that damn thing standing there looking like a white Lotus. Nora moved away from his embrace and stood in front of Lara.

"Explain." Nora said calmly in a cold voice making Lara look at her in shock. She gulped before speaking.

"Nora. I- we. Uhmm I'm sorry I didn't want to hurt you. It just happened. Last night we were drunk and out of our sense so we didn't know what we were doing. I'm sorry Nora. Please forgive me." Lara finished her sentences with a sob. She looked at Nora with a pitiful expression.

"What the fuck are you saying? Nothing happened between us. Stop spitting nonsense otherwise.." Zanvil who was standing behind Nora couldn't finish his sentences when a loud sound of slap rang in the whole room. Then again another slap. Then another one.

"Stop! What the hell is wrong with you. Are you crazy, Nora." Lara yelled painfully holding her burning cheeks. Nora had slapped her not once but thrice. She was so shocked. Her cheeks were paining so badly making her eyes tear up.

"The first slap was for betraying my trust. The second slap was for separating me from Zanvil 10 years ago and the third slap was for trying to use the same trick on me again." Nora said in a calm voice. But inside she was boiling. She wanted to murder this bitch.

"What are you saying? I didn't do such things. How could you say something so disgusting about me Nora. I'm your sister." Lara almost yelled at Nora. Her whole body was shaking. She couldn't believe her plan backfired. She couldn't believe Nora that dumb girl didn't fall in her traps. But no. She couldn't give up. Never.

"You are really a good actress, I must say. But your biggest mistake is trying to frame my Zan. My husband. That man over here loves me. Only me. There's hundreds of bitches trying to snatch him from me. But none of them ever succeeded. You know why? Because this man loves me. Only me. He feels disgusted when someone else than me touches him. I have spent five years of my life with him and you think you could just sneak in my room and then sleep on my bed naked when my husband was in the washroom and break what we have built over the years in an instant? I knew something was wrong when I got a text from Rose' number telling me to come home ASAP. Rose never texted me in those past five years. Then I thought that because you weren't here in those past five years. How pathetic. Never. I love him but above that I trust him. I trust him unconditionally. He would never do such things. Why would he look at you when he has me and our children? And if you think I didn't notice the advance moves you threw towards my husband and children then you are wrong. I noticed every single thing but I thought you would change. But I forgot a crow could never become a peacock." Nora finished her sentences with a soft chuckle. Lara's face became pale as she kept sobbing. She couldn't understand how everything turned out like this. She had planned out everything perfectly. She had sent that text from Rose's phone when she was busy cooking. The had sneaked into Zanvil's room the moment he left for the washroom. Everything was perfect but Nora didn't believe her for once. How could that dumb bitch turn out to be so smart. Her heart felt heavy due to anger and jealousy. She was jealous of Nora. She had always been. Nora got everything she couldn't. She was more beautiful than her yet everyone liked her the most. What was so special about her she couldn't understand. She clenched her hands due to anger.

"I'm giving you 10 mins to pack your bag and leave my house. Otherwise I won't mind throwing you out all by myself." Nora said as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. She glared at her bitch of a cousin. She didn't change at all. It was useless giving her a chance.

"No, Nora! You can't do this to me. Where will I go? Derek will find me and he will kill me. Please don't do this to me. I'm sorry. I won't do this again. I was just being stupid.." she couldn't finish her drama as Nora laughed humorlessly. She looked at Nora in fear and confusion.

"Really Lara? Derek? That guy is in jail. Remember? I feel pity for him. He married such a gold digger who made him go bankrupt, had affairs behind his back and killed his unborn child." Nora said dryly.

"How do you know? Wait what are you saying?" Lara asked in fear. She was shivering. She was afraid her secrets were out.

"I know everything Lara. Your every lie. Derek isn't your husband but boyfriend. You didn't know he was a drug addict. All you cared about was his money and looks which brought you to your doom. He abused you because you were cheating behind his back and finished all his money in gambling. You even aborted your child. But I doubt it was even Derek's. When Derek got arrested you feared he would also frame you so you ran away here and made up that dramatic story about your marriage." Nora finished with a shake of her head. On the other hand Lara couldn't believe her ears. Nora knew everything. She was shocked to the core.

"If you knew everything from before then why did you let me stay here." Lara asked straight, dropping her pretense. Nora looked at her blankly.

"I didn't know it from the start. I just ran a background check on you a few days back and got to know it all. I believed all your shits at first. Silly me. I thought you had changed. I thought you were wronged and I needed to be a filial sister but Alas! I was wrong. And trust me I wouldn't have suspected you if you didn't try to take my place in my family's life. You pretended to always take care of my children making it look like you were a better mom than me. But they are my kids. I won't tolerate anyone trying to snatch what's mine. And this is my family. You are no one here. So pack your things and leave. I don't want to see Shadow near my family." Nora said in a firm disgusted voice. The threat in her voice was clear which made Lara shudder. She unknowingly took a few steps back.

Zanvil who was mesmerized by his wife's boldness came out of his la la land. He never knew his wife was such a tigress. Her love and trust towards him made him feel warm. He couldn't help but admire her. He knew from the beginning that damn girl Lara was a trouble but he tolerated her because of Nora. He didn't want to hurt her. But now he wouldn't show any mercy. He would make sure that witch regretted being born.

Nora turned around and smiled at Zanvil who instantly smiled back at her and wrapped his arms around her. She too hugged him back. She trusted him with her life and he himself earned her trust with his life and action.

"I never knew my love was such a tigress. For a moment I feared you might misunderstand me." He whispered, kissing her head.

"Never." Nora simply replied with a smile.

Their love was more than what anyone could ever imagine.

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