Mukala Kagina-Authoress

Shadows of The Past

Chapter Three

I drive smoothly navigating through the traffic faster than I usually do. It's not yet time for peak hours of the day so there is less traffic. I will get to the apartment in less time.

I park my car and carry my goods to the elevator. I hit number five on the buttons and in no time I am on the fifth floor. I take out my keys to open the door but it is already open. I push it in and it's like someone is in the house.

I become alert because I don't know who is in the house. Ethan is not home yet right now, he told me so. He will be back by his usual time. Could it be that thieves broke into the house? But the door isn't broken anywhere and there isn't any sign of recklessness in the house. Everything is in place where it is supposed to be. I can hear some voices from the bedroom so I decide to walk stealthily towards the side of the bedroom.

The voices keep getting clearer as I get closer. They don't sound like someone in distress and I wonder what kind of thing it could be.

I get to Ethan's bedroom and put my ear against the door so as to listen carefully. I can hear a woman moaning but the voice sounds familiar. Ethan's voice, which I can't mistake, is encouraging whatever they are doing inside.

I open the door furiously and the sight that meets my eyes leaves my mouth open and the shopping bag that I had drops to the floor.


I remain rooted on the spot not knowing what to do or say. “Can't you at least knock the door before you come in?” Ethan asks and my blood starts to boil.

“Ethan, what are you doing?” I confront him.

“What does it seem like he is doing?” Ivanka asks and I feel like slapping her right now. “Your turn will come very soon. Right now I am not talking to you, I am talking to him. Now Ethan, tell me, what the hell is going on?” I ask sternly. “Why are you here? I thought you were still at work,” he says.

“Oh? So you are asking me? Aren't you the one who told me that you will be off work at your usual time?”

“Your fault. You haven't answered me what you are doing here at this time,” he says. “Ethan, I had planned on surprising you on your birthday so I decided to get off work early, but here you are,” I say. “So, it's now that you have remembered my birthday,” he says. “I have never forgotten about your birthday Ethan and that is not the issue here. What are you doing with my sister? She is not even my sister, my stepsister!”

“Vanessa, I looked for someone who has the same interest as me. You weren't giving me what I needed so Ivanka proved to be useful,” he says. “Ivanka? Did you usually discuss our matters with strangers, Ethan?”

“She is your sister. And no, I just wanted someone who is even with me and you weren't the right fit for me, you pushed me. I found Ivanka and yes, we are planning to get married,” he says and Vanessa gives me a smug smile. “What? You were planning on getting married to my stepsister while you were still dating me? Ethan, how can you do this to me?”

“Yo heard him Vanessa. If you are not capable, just stay away. You aren't his class even, you should go back to the gutters where you belong. I love Ethan and he loves me so please get over it,” Ivanka says.

“Were you lying to me, Ivanka so you could spend quality time with my boyfriend? Is there even a family dinner tonight? I don't think so. How evil are you?” I ask and she laughs and says, “your boyfriend? Oh Vanessa, just take a look at yourself. You are nothing but trash so don't overrate yourself and yes, do you think I was ready to sit at the same table with you and eat in peace? Not a chance, I feel suffocated just being around you,” she says with disgust.

“I knew it, I could have trusted my instincts that you couldn't have become friendly to me all of a sudden. I could have known that you knew I trusted easily so you only took advantage for your selfish gain. How long have you been doing this?” I ask. “For as long as you can remember. The first time we saw each other, we knew we were meant for each other,” Ethan says.

So they have been dating for years now. And the first time they seem to have met is when I took him to my father's house for the first time when we were in college, although I was two classes behind him.

“Ethan, tell this woman to get out of this house right now because I think it's like you are playing a prank on me,” I say in hopes that they could be playing games with me. “No games Vanessa, do we look like children to you? The one who should be leaving this house is you. Your welcome is overstayed,” Ethan says while Ivanka smiles devilishly, clearly impressed with how he is treating me right now. “Ethan…?” “I said leave! Don't worry about your belongings. I will have them delivered to your apartment tomorrow,” he says, not even with a hint of remorse for the way that he is treating me. He isn't even sorry.

“I hate you Ethan, and I hate you Ivanka. Don't you ever talk to me again,” I say.

“I hate you Vanessa, ever since you came into our family and broke that I shared with my father. You brought nothing but misery you bastard. Nothing you do will ever make me love you.”

“What have I ever done to you, Ivanka?” This hatred is too much.

“Everything. You shouldn't have come into our lives,” she says.

I was the fool here for years without noticing what was happening. I take my disappointed self out of the apartment.

# # # #

Shadows of The Past

Chapter Two

Ivanka is my elder sister, or rather my stepsister. She is two years older than me. I was born out of wedlock when my late mother got involved with my dad, and as a result I was brought into this world. I have lived with my mother since my childhood, I never knew who my father was until some years ago when my mother died. I was in highschool then. I don't know how my father got to know that I was his child and I always wondered if he knew but didn't want anything to do with me. His sincere care towards me after my mother's death proved me wrong, my mother could have not informed him of my existence.

My father is a well-known businessman, he is a public figure. Anything that could show him off as wayward might be kept a secret so as not to tarnish his name.

I remember vividly that he had come to the hospital where my mother was admitted and she pleaded with him to take care of me. He didn't fail her, he made a promise and he has fulfilled it since the first day that I met him.

I was brought to his mansion after my mom's funeral and he introduced me to his family. He even went ahead to announce to the media that he has another younger daughter, that is me, apart from Ivanka.

My stepmother and sister started showing hostility towards me from day one but I couldn't blame them then. I could imagine my husband cheating on me and even having a child with another woman when we are married. I wouldn't take it easy too and Ivanka followed in her mother's footsteps when she saw how dad treated and pampered me endlessly.

I stayed in the mansion, enduring their harsh treatment towards me because I didn't have anywhere else to go and given this is my own father's house, I had to stay.

My father paid my school fees until I graduated from college.I secured a job immediately after that at the same company where I did my internship. I have been working there ever since and when I had earned enough money to rent my own apartment, I did so without hesitation. My dad persuaded me to stay at the family villa but I saw it fit to leave, for the peace of the family.

I am on my way to the shopping mart to collect some ingredients so as to bake a cake for Ethan. It's only half past two in the afternoon so by the time Ethan reaches home by five, I will have prepared the surprise.

I had to ask for a few hours off work, it's only three hours before we close for the day. I was happy that the manager didn't deny my request, not his usual self. I decide to call Ethan first to know his plans before I get to carry out my plan .

“Hey Ethan, how is your day going?” I ask my boyfriend after connecting on the call.

“Hey babe, my day is fine. How are you?” He asks me and his voice makes my stomach flutter. “Are you forgetting something?” He asks and I already know what he is talking about. He probably thinks that I have forgotten about his birthday.

“I don't think so, or do you have an idea of what I might be forgetting?” I ask, not giving him any hint. “It's okay, don't bother,” he says. “Where are you right now?” I ask and he pauses before answering me.

“I am still at work. Why do you ask?” “I just wanted to tell you that I will have to attend a family dinner at the family mansion. When will you get home?” “The usual time. Will you be coming to my house before you go?” He asks.

“Yes, I have to get out of these official outfits and change into something casual. I might even stay there for a sleepover so I have to have a change of clothes for tomorrow.”

“I wish I could join you but given that it's family dinner, I guess I am counted out,” he says.

“I wish too but it's Ivanka who called me and told me about it. She said that it was my father's idea of having a family dinner. She sounded excited about it though and she was friendly to me as well,” I say.

“I am happy that you are getting along well with your sister. I will get to see you before you go, bye,” he says and hangs up. Come on, I am not done talking to you, why are you in a hurry? Could he be in a bad mood that I deliberately forgot about his birthday? No worries, he will get better when he comes home.

I have my own apartment although I usually like to spend time at Ethan's. I rarely sleep over at his house and when I do, we usually sleep in different rooms. He even had to tell me not to stay at his house since I always get him disappointed when I do stay.

I met him in college and we started dating ever since and he was this calm and collected guy, a gentleman that you couldn't want to stay away from. I was attracted to him and crushed on him and when he approached me, I couldn't resist him. We eventually fell in love with each other and he asked me to be his girlfriend.

My family knows him, he has met them several times and he introduced himself as my boyfriend to them. Ivanka usually leaves whenever he comes home and I don't know if it's dislike for him or her hatred towards me. I really don't care. I don't need her approval inorder to date a man.

I am done with my shopping and now it's time to go home. I am off to his house, I have the key to his apartment. Our apartments aren't so far from each other, I usually stay and eat dinner together with him before going back to mine.

With everything that I need in place, the flowers, candles and the ingredients I need to bake a chocolate cake for him, I am good to go. I get into the car and hit the road. Chocolate is his favorite, I hope he will like it.
# # #

Shadows of The Past

Chapter One

“It's my boyfriend's birthday today!” I exclaim happily, drawing the attention of my colleagues. “Oh Vanny, you are making me jealous,” one of my colleagues, Elise, comments, making me chuckle. “Come on, you just broke up with yours not so long ago,” I tease her.

“Are you throwing a party for him? Are we invited?” Max asks. “You can't be serious, it's supposed to be a romantic candle lit dinner for two,” Elise corrects him. “I haven't planned yet but that is a perfect idea. I will try that one,” I say. “Alright then, we are waiting for the cake tomorrow,” Elise says.

“Back to work, enough of the chitchat,” our manager disrupts the cheerful dialogue that has taken root in the office. Everyone buries their head in their computers and pretends as if nothing had happened, except for me, whose thoughts aren't even here. I am thinking about the surprise birthday dinner that I have to prepare for my boyfriend.

“You seem so distracted,” Elise nudges me with her elbow during the lunch break. “I think I have an idea where this is coming from,” she continues and blinks one of her eyes.

Elise is like a friend of mine, we hit off from the first day that I started working here as an intern. She was the one who made my first days in this office comfortable, helping me navigate through the requirements for the employees of this company, a few years ago. We eat together and she is the one who encouraged me on carrying my own home cooked food rather than having the one being sold at the cafeteria. So we are here at the office kitchen enjoying our meal.

“You are actually right, I am thinking about what to give my boyfriend for his birthday. I also don't know what to prepare for dinner. I want something captivating, that will make this day a memorable one,” I say.

“Dinner? Just prepare his favorite meal and add some exquisite touches to it. Arrange your table well, add some red wine if he loves it and use candles, switch off your electricity tonight and everything will be top notch,” she says.

“Alright but he usually gets home earlier than me, maybe my plan could be sabotaged.”

“Plan a strategy that could disrupt him for sometime before he gets home. Send him on an errand or something like that,” she says and I high five her. Elise the strategist.

What do I tell him that could keep him off from coming to the house early? Should I send him for grocery shopping? No, that won't work because we went shopping last weekend and it's only on Tuesday. He could think that I am crazy. Should I talk to his sister and ask her to keep him busy while I carry out my plan?

“I hope he proposes after this,” Elise says, making me nervous all of a sudden.

“Your phone is ringing,” Elise says handing it to me. It is on silent mode and she saw it since I placed it near her. “It's your step sister. I have never heard you two talking to each other over the phone. Has she suddenly grown to like you?” Elise asks. “We hardly talk. In Fact she has never called me on the phone and I always wonder why she has my number saved in her phone book when she can't even make an effort to call me,” I say. “She probably was waiting for such a time, the right time,” Elise says. “Right time you say? I don't think so, she probably is calling to make trouble. She is really good at that. Let me hear whatever she has to say.”

“Ivanka, what is it?” I ask the moment I pick up. “Vanessa, can't you even greet your sister,” she purrs from the other end. “Hi Ivanka, what do you want?” “That's more like it. Don't be so hostile, okay. Daddy wanted us to meet and have a family dinner today so I thought it would be best if I called you and told you about it,” she says. “Oh? That is so nice of you, but I don't think so. I have plans later today so it would be better if you postponed it. Tomorrow could be okay,” I say. “Can't your plans wait? This is a family dinner Vanessa, please?” She is pleading, something that I have never heard from her before. “Are you sure you are not high because the last time I checked, we were on bad terms and you called me a bastard who only wanted to live off your father's money,” I say, vividly remembering the heated exchange that we had before I moved out of the house.

“Don't dwell in the past, Vanessa. Things can happen and change everything overnight, don't you think? Anyway, what time do you usually get off work? Or rather you could just go there directly from your workplace,” she says. “Alright then, I will be there,” I don't want to continue this conversation with her. I am only going because I love my dad and it's been long since we interacted closely with each other. We have only been talking over the phone.

“Any problem?” Elise asks.

“No, she was just calling to let me know that we are having a family dinner tonight and that I should make myself available,” I answer.

“Wow. I thought you weren't on good terms with her.”

“We sure aren't on good terms. I wonder what changed her all of a sudden. Could a person change overnight?”

“Maybe she discovered the gem that she was throwing away. She might probably want to get close to you to get a glimpse of your skin care routine,” she says and I laugh at that. “Don't be so sarcastic, I might be the one who envies her skin care products,” I say.

“She might have the most expensive product but you have the best skin. What about your boyfriend's surprise?” she asks. “For the dinner, I will go later but for now,” I signal for her to come closer, “I have a plan,” I whisper. “You do?” She asks again. “Yes I do. I have to see the manager after this lunch,” I say and she gives me a side eye, completely aware of my plans.

# # #
Welcome.

Happy Birthday to me! Today marks not just another year, but a fresh chapter filled with boundless potential. My journey so far has not been perfect but what’s truly exciting is the path I am about to carve as I expand my opportunities.

Each year is a chance to reinvent self, to explore new horizons, and to push past limits. The ambitions I have set are the stepping stones to the greatest achievements. Embrace each challenge as a lesson and each opportunity as a chance to grow.

As I take bold steps toward my goals, dedication and passion will fuel my progress. Gonna stay curious, remain resilient, and never underestimate the power of persistence. The future is mine to shape, and with my drive and vision, there’s no limit to what I can achieve.

I celebrate today with the confidence that I am moving toward a future rich with promise. Here’s to a year filled with growth, success, and endless possibilities. Happy Birthday to me and cheers to the incredible journey ahead.

PS: I would appreciate it if you follow my page. I will be posting stories here for fiction lovers and day to day lifestyle and even stories about me. Stay tuned!