CHAPTER 5: In Danger

Elaine stepped out of the supermarket holding two bags full of fresh fruits and vegetables in her hands. A smile settled on her lips as she remembered how her and Alexander had spent the last three days…..

He had taken three days off in order to take care of her health and he had done more than 'taking care' of her. Elaine laughed and shook her head as she remembered how they both couldn't keep their hands off each other.

If only they could just leave his parents' villa quickly and have their own house. If only his mother would just treat her better, then maybe this happiness she felt would last.

A cab stopped in front of her and she entered and gave the driver the direction to her parent's apartment.

Elaine sighed. Alexander would not be happy if he discovered that she went out with a cab again. He would whine and complain about how he had a fleet of expensive cars and drivers waiting to take her anywhere she wanted but she preferred the stress of waiting for a cab.

But that wasn't true. Who liked stress? Who didn't want an easy life? Elaine just couldn't bring herself to use Alexander's money in any way ever since his mother implied that she was a gold digger.

When it came to his mother, she always walked on eggshells. She had to make no mistakes or give his mother something to 'talk about'.

"When you get to that junction with the blue signpost, stop. I'll walk down" Elaine signalled at the driver.

It had been a while since she saw her parents face-to-face. She called them but sometimes calls were not enough. She was so excited to see them this time and didn't plan to return back till evening time.

The car halted at the junction and Elaine stepped out. She paid the driver and walked down the road leading to her parent's house. It was a simple mini-flat with very small space covered with low quality paint that had started peeling off.

Elaine had tried convincing her parents to move out to somewhere better but they had insisted that she was feeling inferior to the family of the man she married.

Elaine shook her head as she walked down the street. Maybe her parents were right.

She reached her parents house, standing in front of the brown gate that secured the house. Elaine looked closely at the gate and a feeling of dread coursed through her….

The gate was slightly open and the huge padlock that held it together was broken and tossed on the floor.

"That doesn't look like something my parents would do to their own gate" She whispered to herself. It was just 12pm. Why would they break through their own gate when they had the key?

Suddenly, a memory sliced through her mind. It occurred to her that when she was at the beginning of this road, two men in black overalls ran out of a house but she didn't pay attention as she was distracted by her endless thoughts.

With a shaky breath and full of fear, Elaine pushed the gate wide open and ran inside. To her dismay, the main door leading to the sitting room was wide open and her elderly parents were on the floor shivering in fear…..

Her father sat on the floor with his head bowed while her mother wrapped her arms around herself and was shaking.

Elaine's eyes scanned the sitting room and she gasped at the mess. Broken furniture, a shattered vase and a scattered bookshelf.

Unable to hold it in, Elaine asked "What's going on here? What happened?"

Her mother glanced up "Elaine, you are here. Oh my dear Elaine"

Elaine stared in confusion as her mother hugged her tightly, refusing to let go. "What happened here? Say something."

Her mother continued hugging her tightly, staring at nothing in particular "T–they said they would kill you after killing us if you didn't leave her son. Th—"

"What?!!" Elaine yelled and pulled herself away from her mother. She held her mother's shoulder, looking at her. She knew who was behind this without thinking twice. "That crazy woman! Did they touch both of you? Did they hurt you in any way?"

Her father, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "Do you love that man so much to have yourself treated like this? This is an embarrassment to you. The family of your so-called husband treating your family like trash. Don't you have shame? Don't you have some pride left, Elaine? Is this how I raised you?"

Elaine pulled her gaze away from her father and focused on her mother.

"Why are you looking at me? Do you expect me to support you? Your father is right'' Her mother voiced out, still shaking. "What else do you have to put up with just because of love? Is he the only man in this world—?"

"H–he treats me well. It's just his moth—"

"Stop it already, Elaine. Stop it!" Her mother yelled at her in rage. Rage mixed with terror. She was afraid and she had reached her limit.

Her mother hit her own chest in pain "You are not a foolish girl…..We didn't raise a foolish child. I will not allow you to disgrace yourself by settling for a family like that. Never!!"

"Mom, calm down first, okay?"

"They will be back…."

"I know." Elaine replied. She sat down on a sofa, exhausted. Thanks to her crazy mother-in-law, what was meant to be a happy visit to see her parents had turned upside down.

"What do you mean?" Her mother asked, surprised by her answer.

"His mother already threatened me with your lives but I didn't take her seriously"

Her mother covered her mouth, a shocked expression on her tired face. "She abuses you. She hurts you, doesn't she? So you've been lying to us all along that she was treating you well? Elaine! Answer me!!"

"I—I am sorry. I thought I could endure it for a moment. I didn't know it would get to this."

Her mother held her chest, hitting it in pain as angry tears ran down her cheeks.

"Mom….d—don't cry. You're making me feel terrible"

Her mother shook her head and looked at her. "No! No! You will not remain there. You can't stay with that man anymore. I refuse to allow you to destroy your life. You are too bright for this"

Elaine held her mother and patted her back. "I know. I know. Mom, it's alright."

A few minutes later, Elaine's phone dinged. She picked it up and saw the notification of a new message from an unknown number…..

________ I am outside your filthy gate. Don't keep me waiting. You have just three minutes to come outside. Alone. If not, whatever happens from now will be your fault. _______

Elaine didn't need anyone to tell her who was behind the anonymous message…..

That tone.

There was only one person who spoke to her like that.

Elaine sighed.

Her mother-in-law, the person behind all this chaos, was outside the gate.