CHAPTER 6: A Relentless Enemy

Elaine found her way out of the sitting room as fast as she could. Her breath came in short gasps and she held her chest for a moment as she reached the gates to her parent's house.

She had to control her temper no matter how angry she felt…..

Yes! What she really wanted to do was to smack down the woman behind the gate in rage and never see her again.

But the thing is her mother-in-law was clearly going crazy at this point and was very obsessed with the idea of getting rid of her. And even though Elaine did not want to admit it, it was obvious that she was on the losing end fighting against her mother-in-law.

Elaine took a deep breath and opened the gate. Her eyes didn't miss the irritating smirk plastered on Margaret Roger's face. Very irritating.

"Did you like my surprise?" Margaret met her eyes.

Elaine took a deep breath, the expression on her face straight and unreadable. "How old are you?"

Margaret blinked, taken aback by the random question. "What does that have to do with this?"

Elaine walked out into the roadside through the gate and shut it tightly. She didn't want her parents to catch sight of Margaret unless there would be no end to today.

Elaine brought her gaze back to the immature woman in front of her. "You know, it's weird. This is something I would expect Suzy to do, not a fifty seven years old woman."

Margaret scoffed. "I see you don't still have some manners when talking to your elders."

"It's not like you respect yourself too" Elaine glared at her. Even though she was afraid and worried about what Margaret would do next, she would not let it show.

"I wonder what it feels like…." Elaine continued "....to have so much money but still be so bored that you go around hurting other people's parents. What did you think you were doing by sending men to threaten my parents?"

"You asked for it, my dear Elaine. Talking to you directly has gotten tiring" Margaret smiled. "You never listen anyway. Now, I prefer using the people close to you to communicate and see…..it's working"

Elaine fisted her hands, her face contorting in her rising rage. "You know this is harassment. I can file a case against you a—"

"Go on." Margaret cut her off, peering at her through her round, determined eyes, daring her to 'try' going against her. "I'd like to see what you've got. I wonder how long you'll stay at the police station before getting kicked out."

Elaine raised an eyebrow. How could she have forgotten? Most of these filthy rich people were friends with police officials who could help them cover up their 'dirty' actions for some extra cash.

Margaret was just like them. No wonder she felt so comfortable and unshaken doing something like this.

"You think I'll be the one to report you…." Elaine muttered. "...it's better if Alexander does that. He will never take your nonsense."

"I dare you!" Margaret yelled under her shaky breath. "You want to push me to fight against my only child and son?"

"Wouldn't that be interesting, dear mother-in-law?" Elaine muttered calmly, completely annoyed. Just because she was acting cool didn't mean she was not terrified.

Gosh! No one told her how much of a stressed out wife she would be just by getting married to this woman's son.

Not like any of this was Alexander's fault but ugh! She was so done with this woman!

She wished Alexander had another mother. A better one. Instead of her putting up with a crazy woman like this. She wished she could go somewhere where she would never see this woman again.

Margaret laughed after a moment. "You are not very smart. You still don't get it, do you? You think you can fight me. Elaine, this is just the beginning….."

"....I heard your friend, Jessica Davis is part of the participants for the upcoming international video editing competition, which will be held in a few days. I heard she worked so hard to apply so she can make her portfolio better for her growing career."

Elaine blinked, confused. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"It's obvious you don't know my husband's company is the main sponsor of that competition….." Margaret looked at her finger and flicked off an imaginary dirt on it. "....there are ways to make a winner become a loser, if you get what I mean."

Elaine bit her lower lip and her fist grew tighter. "Can you be any more shameless than this?"

"You pushed me to this point."

"Stay away from my friend. My family too" Elaine tapped her chest repeatedly. "If you want to fight someone, face me."

"Stubborn people like you must be removed by all means. No matter the cost."

"Mrs Margaret!"

"Elaine Smith!"

Both women glared to death at each other, sparks of pure fire glazing across their eyes as the rage beneath their glare intensified.

"Mrs Margaret…." Elaine gritted out through her clenched jaw. "....you should do the right thing!"

"Elaine Smith…." Margaret moved a step closer, "....you must know your place! I can assure you of one thing I am sure of with every fibre of my being….."

A distant thunder rumbled in the darkening sky.

"....this is not the end of my madness. You see, one thing about me is that I see through anything till the end as long as I have made up my mind about it. That's how I survived in this crazy tricky elite world of the rich so far despite my hidden background."

Margaret continued. "Don't even think for a moment that I will stop what I have started. I will see to it till I get what I want. You will leave my son alone and I will pick an acceptable bride for him. A bride fit for him publicly and privately."

Elaine sniffed back the sad tears that gathered in her eyes. She would never cry in front of this woman. Never.

"You are so mean."

"Truer words have never been spoken" Margaret mumbled, uninterested.

"You've never imagined that you could be at my mercy one day. Life is weird"

Margaret flipped her hair to the back and laughed so hard, waving her off with her hand.

"Don't be silly. Stupid things like that only happen in dramas and movies, not in real life. That's what movie directors do to sell poor people like you the dream of having power and fame. Wake up, Elaine. I will never be at your mercy."

"I will never forget what you did today." Elaine muttered quietly.

"That's none of my business. Do as you wish."