Chapter Two
>THE DEVASTATING BETRAYAL
...The Vitale Mansion
Muse fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she drove back to the Vitale mansion.
Her mind was occupied.
She had been unable to find her family today, again.
All of her clues has led to a dead end like always, and she wondered if they really existed.
She could no longer be a Vitale.
Her supposed sister made sure of that.
Ever since Colleen joined the family, everything had taken a turn for the worse.
Colleen was doted on by everyone.
She seemed polite and respectful at first. But her evil side had slowly been revealed.
She took every opportunity to paint Muse as a jealous and insecure person.
She made everything seem like it was Muse's fault if there was an altercation between them.
She wanted everything that Muse had.
And if Muse refused to oblige, she was tagged as an ungrateful and selfish person.
It was infuriating.
When Muse voiced her concerns about Colleen's attitude, she was reminded of how she had been in Colleen's place for years and how everything that she now owned supposedly belonged to Colleen.
There were things about Colleen that made Muse deeply suspicious.
She had a feeling that she was evil.
She would see her smirk slyly -sometimes at her, the family, as if she had some sinister plans brewing.
Colleen tried to fit in and the family helped to make it rather seamless.
She wanted to know and be involved in everything.
And when Muse pointed out her sudden involvement in family affairs, it was interpreted as petty resentment.
Colleen would complain sweetly to their parents who had started to look at Muse differently.
Their warm smiles were replaced over time by cautious glances.
Her brothers were no different, they reminded her everyday that she was not superior to Colleen.
And even Reed, her fiancé, had began to spend more and more time talking with Colleen than with her.
Muse shook her head in a bid to push the bitter thoughts aside.
"Everything will be fine," she whispered to herself as she turned into the driveway and parked her car.
She would find her family soon, and maybe she would get to leave here.
The house was silent as she carried the grocery bags in through the side door. She walked towards the kitchen where set the grocery bags on the kitchen counter.
The quietness unsettled her because normally the staff would be bustling about.
But there was not even the sound of conversations or music echoing through the halls.
It felt like an evil omen.
She was climbing the stairs to her bedroom when faint noises caught her attention.
She slowed down, realizing the sounds were coming from Colleen's bedroom on the other side of the corridor.
She turned and headed there.
The noises grew clearer -muffled moans and hushed voices.
Her heart raced as she approached the partially open door and took a peek.
Her breath caught in her throat.
There was Reed, in bed, with Colleen, their bodies entwined on the large bed.
Colleen was moaning while holding her legs open for Reed who was fucking her slowly, missionary style.
She stood there in stupendous shock while silently watching as Colleen orgasmed from her fiancé thrusts, crying out his name.
Muse hands shook and anger washed over her in huge waves.
Reed followed right after, collapsing onto the bed beside Colleen.
"I love you," he whispered.
Tears slipped down Muse's face.
She clenched her palms into fists, her entire body trembling with fury.
Colleen she could understand.
But what she did not understand was why her fiancé had betrayed her.
It was like a dagger to her heart.
"I love you too." The words twisted the dagger deeper into her heart.
"Muse would soon be here."
She knew instantly that this was not the first time it was happening.
They did this whenever she was out?
Fuck each other?
"When will you leave her and come to me?" Colleen whined.
"When you have taken over all that she has Colleen." Her sister laughed.
"I told you that it would be easy," she purred. "She won't see it coming. And before today ends I will displace her."
Muse instantly raised her hands to her mouth to cover a gasp.
But it was still loud enough for the both to hear.
They looked towards the door.
"What was that?" Colleen asked.
There was no need to hide any more.
Muse pushed the door open and came into the room, shaking with rage.
Both froze, their faces pale with shock.
"Muse? What are you-" Reed began. She instantly cut him off.
"How could you, with her?!" she demanded.
"Don't be so dramatic. You had this coming," Reed shrugged.
Muse eyes burned with unshed tears. And from the corner of her eyes, she saw as Colleen's lips curled into a smirk.
"Get out of that bed, both of you!"
Reed climbed out and began to pull on his clothes while Colleen lay back complacently. "There is no point carrying on this pretense. I am going to end our engagement."
The words were like a hard blow, hitting her square in the face. "What? You are going to throw our four years of relationship for her?" She gestured towards Colleen.
"Yes," he answered in an ice cold voice.
Muse heart broke, the pieces falling to her stomach like lead.
"But, but-"
"Muse," he interrupted her. "You are fake, a substitute. Colleen is the real deal. And I can see now that it is something that you clearly do not understand yet."
But before Muse could respond, the sound of car engines filled the air, unmistakenly her mother's. She must have returned.
She dashed out without thinking, down the stairs with her thudding heart.
This time, they would listen.
The moment her mother stepped in, she went up to her with the tears spilling out of her eyes, down her cheeks.
She frowned at the sight of her crying face.
She felt a little comforted at her mother's reaction. Maybe she didn't need a new family after all.
"What is it Muse?" Her voice was laced with concern.
"It's Colleen and Reed. I caught them together, in bed. Colleen is sleeping with my fiancee!" she wailed.
"Oh!" Mrs Vitale said. "Is that it?" She asked. Muse glanced up at her at the sudden shift in tone.
"Mum? My sister is getting Reed's dick and all you can ask is that?" She demanded in anger.
"Oh Muse, please do not make a scene." Muse gasped in surprise as her mother waved her off. "I am tired. And besides, what is wrong if your sister sleeps with Reed?"
"Mum?"
Shock was choking her, wrapping its hand around her neck with its claws digging into her flesh.
"She is my daughter and whatever she wants she can have, even if it is Reed. He should have been hers after all. You are not worthy of such a suitor."
Muse staggered back as disbelief clouded her eyes. She tried severally to speak but she was too flummoxed to do so. She could only grip her chest which was constricting tightly. She struggled to even breathe.
"Mum," Colleen said dashing down the stairs and into her mother's arms. Her mother's expression changed as she embraced her.
"My baby, how are you doing?"
"I am doing fine." Muse watched heartbroken as her mother patted Colleen's head.
"Do you want Reed?"
"I do mum. But I did not sleep with him. He is still Muse's fiancé." Colleen sighed dramatically.
Muse's jaw dropped. "You are lying! I saw you with him!"
"You know how she is mother," she continued, ignoring Muse. "She's been trying to oust me. She told Reed she would tear me down. I understand it is hard for her. But accusing me of such things is too much."
"Muse, this jealousy has to stop. Colleen is my daughter and I will not tolerate you trying to slander her."
Muse was bewildered.
How had it turned against her quickly?
"But it was she who was telling Reed how she would tear me down mother!"
The front door opened and Michael strode in angrily. "What have you done Muse?" he demanded.
Muse gave him a confused look.
"What is that?" Their mother asked.
"Muse has been siphoning company funds through a fake paper company. But we have recovered all of the funds thanks to Colleen."
Muse blinked, flabbergasted. "What do you mean Michael?"
"Muse, is that true?" her mother demanded with a grim expression.
"No, it is not!" Muse defended. "I would never do such a thing!"
"The evidence says otherwise!" her brother snapped at her with furious eyes. "You are unbelievable!"
But before, Muse could speak, Lucas came in and scanned the room. "What happened here?"
"Muse is the culprit who has been siphoning company funds," Colleen explained to him.
"Muse?" Lucas said with surprise.
"Tell them Lucas, tell them that I would never do such a thing!" She cried. She was the closest with him.
"I can not tell them that. But I can tell them how you leaked sensitive information to our rivals. Our business partners are pulling out because of you!"
Muse's legs wobbled.
"That is a lie! I did no such thing!"
Michael glared at her. "Enough of your lies Muse! We are fed up of your stupid games."
"You are ruining everything because you are jealous of me!" Colleen said in a fake distressed voice.
"Don't blame yourself," Reed said coming up behind her. "Muse is just being stupid."
"She will no longer be part of the company, have her shares transferred to Colleen," Her mother said.
"No! Mother no!" Muse screamed in panic, kneeling afore her.
"I might reconsider when you learn how to cohabit with her."
Muse's world shattered.
She knew that it would never happen.
A glance at Colleen caused her to remember her words to Reed.
This must all be part of her plans.
"Mother, please… I am innocent."
"This conversation is over."
Everyone turned their backs on her, leaving Muse standing there, alone with the bitter taste of defeat.
Maybe she needed a new family after all.