The door opened abruptly and was closed with a loud bang. Mrs Elena sat calmly, sipping tea as though she was oblivious to the presence of her husband who had just walked in.
Mr Bryan-Hills walked straight up to her and without warning, he gave her a very terrible slap.Mrs Elena was surprised. She stood up quickly.
"Did you just slap me?"
"Dare me,Elena and I would repeat it over and over again."
"You slapped me because of that wench."
"That wench is going to be my daughter in law and she is carrying my grandchild. I told you to stay your hand."
"You are going to regret this, Bryan. You are going to regret ever raising your hand on me."
"The only thing I regret aside marrying you was allowing you access to so much power. It is true what they say. Absolute power controls absolutely." By this time, his breathing had become fast paced so he calmed down and took a deep breath.
"Let this be the last time you ever do something stupid."
"Or else what?" Mrs Elena challenged.
"Or else I will bring you down to where you actually belong. Don't forget that this is my empire and that I made you." With that, Mr Hills walked away while Mrs Elena sat down smiling confidently.
"The games have just begun and it's going to be a tough one….."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jasmine was in bed crying. Daisy and her mum were beside her. Davidson was also in the room. They were trying to calm her down to no avail.
"That was my legacy. How could your mum just destroy it with the snap of her fingers?"
"Stop crying, Jasmine. You are doing yourself and the baby more harm than good."
"I under your pain and I feel hurt too but once this is over, I promise, I would build a bigger restaurant for you."
"That restaurant was an embodiment of my sweat and preservation....I….."
Jane moved closer and hugged her daughter.
"It's okay. Everything is gonna be okay."
Davidson signaled Daisy and they both left the room.
"I'm sorry." Daisy apologized.
"For what?"
"For not being able to do anything. I know how much Jasmine values her restaurant and I wasn't able to save it. Seeing her in tears make me sad."
"This wasn't your fault, Daisy. It was all my mother's. There was nothing any of us could have done." Davidson said, patting her shoulder lightly. "Was there any casualties?"
"A few. Jayden is sorting them out."
"Okay."Davidson nodded.
Daisy remained hesitant for a minute before speaking.
"Hills, I know how much you love Jasmine but your love for her won't keep her safe anymore."
"What do you mean?" He raised a brow.
"Why not relocate? Move abroad with a few of your most trusted guards. At least, she would be away from the direct influence of your mother. You would protect her better that way."
Davidson remained reflective for a minute.
"You think it will work?"
"I don't know but do we really have any other option worth considering?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mrs Elena sat quietly in her study. She was restrategizing on what to do next. She was expecting Davidson to strike back now that she had burnt Jasmine's restaurant to ashes. She needed to be ready for whatever obstacle he might pose. He was still her son and it would be very stupid of her to underestimate him, knowing what he was capable of. But still, she was the Queen of this game and she must come out in the winning side at all cost; no matter who dies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jasmine was laying down in the bed. She had stopped crying now but her eyes were still swollen. Jane sat beside her; her figure resting over Jasmine like the mother and confidant she was.
"How is she doing?"Davidson asked the moment he stepped into the room.
"She has calmed down." Jane smiled warmly and then stood up. "I'll leave you two to talk."
Davidson walked up to the bedside and sat beside her.
"I'm so sorry, Jasmine."
"It's fine. It's not like there was anything any of us could have done. I was just hurt that it happened," she replied and he nodded in understanding.
"There is something I want to tell you and I don't know how you would take it."
"O-Kay." She replied and sat up. "What is it?"
"I want to protect you, Jasmine and I swear with my last breath that I will but I think that the country is no longer safe for us. I want us to relocate abroad. United Kingdom. United States. Dubai. Hawaii . Just name it. As long as we are far away from all these heat and madness..." Davidson was saying when Jasmine hugged him.
"I love you," was all she could say.
"I love you too, Jasmine. I'm sorry that you have to go through all these." He said as he released her.
"When are we leaving?" She asked a surprised Davidson.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah I am. I would give anything up to be somewhere I can breathe and walk freely without worrying for my life."
"I'll book our flights and we would leave immediately. Is that okay?"
"Yes." Jasmine smiled. Davidson leaned forward and kissed her. She opened up, kissing him back. It had been long since they last shared a romantic session and were just about to do so when the door creaked open.
"Am I interrupting something, Hills?"Daisy said with a smirk planted on her face.
Davidson turned towards her grumbling.
"You sure do know how to ruin a good moment, Daisy."
"Trust me, I've got a PhD in that." She smiled and opened the door wide to make room for Jayden and Jane.
"Mum, Davidson and I are going to relocate abroad. For the time being."
"That's great. At least your child gets to be born far away from a war zone."
"I guess so." Jasmine shrugged.
"Chin up, Jasmine. It's all for the best. Besides, it would give me an opportunity to stretch my legs when you finally put to bed."
"You are not coming with us????" Jasmine asked wide-eyed. "Mum!!!!"