One Wild Night

Without being told, Anita knew that what she was about to do was going to affect her in more ways than one, and she would never be able to move around freely anywhere in Ludus with her head held high after doing this. But she also knew that she needed to go through such extreme measures to get both Tom's and Lucy's attention and seek their forgiveness.

How else could she speak to them? She couldn't show up at their home or office. That would be too much. She doubted they would want to see her let alone give her the chance to speak. Not after the stunt she had pulled at the spa.

No matter how long she spent thinking about it, doing this was the only way she could really prove that she was sorry, and by so doing, she could also make a statement to her mother to leave them alone.

Thinking about Rebekah, she knew her mother was going to be livid if she found out about this. How were her sisters going to react? She mused as she adjusted her phone stand on a stool.

Looking at the phone stand, she was reminded once again of one more thing her mother had deprived her of. She had purchased the phone stand some years ago because she had wanted to start a personal vlogging YouTube channel, but her mother had forbidden her from doing so.

"Don't put your business out there, darling. People are drawn to the mysterious. You'd be like everyone else if you did something like that. And I can't stand any daughter of mine doing something so… ordinary. I won't have it," Rebekah had said, and as the foolish daughter she was, she had obeyed.

Anita smiled, wishing she could see the look on Rebekah's face when she saw the video she was about to make. The mere thought of going against her mother so publicly made the embarrassment she was about to face worth it.

Seated on one of the couches in her living room, Anita took a deep breath before tapping the record button.

"Hello, there! My name is Anita Miller, but I have no doubt that by the end of this video, many of you are going to forget my name and probably stick to calling me a bitch. I deserve it. Only a mean bitch would dig into someone's past and use their pain against them. Mr Thomas Hank, and Ms Lucinda Perry, I hope you both get to see this. I wasn't sure you'd be willing to meet with me or listen to me, so I had to resort to this open confession and apology to get your attention…." Anita started before going on to talk about how she had been behind the scandal involving Lucy's past as well as Bryan and Sonia's scandal.

From there, she progressed to explain why she had done that by talking about her relationship with Tom and how she had ruined it because her mother raised her to always go for money and not love.

"…. I had to go into details for the benefit of the public. Tom and Lucy, I'm sorry for everything. You both did not deserve the lies and evil schemes. You have something amazing going on between you, and I'm ashamed of myself for ever trying to come between you both. You don't have to forgive me if you can't, Lucy. I know how much my actions must have hurt you, and I'm deeply sorry. Tom, you're a wonderful guy, and Lucy is so lucky to have you. Thanks for remaining professional and not letting our personal issues get in the way of my job this whole time. I've submitted my resignation letter. Kindly honor it. Lucy, please end whatever contract you have going on with the She Can Heal Foundation. My mother is behind it, and she is looking for ways to tear you and Tom apart. I'm not a party to that. At least not anymore. I hope you both have a beautiful life together."

Without saying another word, Anita ended the video and posted it on all her social media handles, tagging Tom and Lucy's social media handles to the videos. It was only after doing that that she allowed herself to give in to her tears. Her entire body shook as she wept.

She couldn't believe she was such an awful person. How could she have stooped to such a level and do such terrible things to someone just to get a man? There was no iota of pride or class in her actions.

Just as she tried to compose herself, she heard the sound of her doorbell, and her brows pulled together as she hurried to the bathroom to run some water over her face while wondering who could be visiting.

Was it Lisa? Their mother? Or was Bernice out of the hospital earlier than planned? She didn't really have friends who could show up at her house unannounced, and she wasn't all that friendly with her elderly neighbors either.

She spied through the window and was more than a little bit surprised to see her uncle. Dressed in funny-looking clothes that she supposed were meant to be a sort of disguise.

"Uncle Wyatt!" She exclaimed as she opened the door, and the man walked in immediately with a wild look in his bloodshot eyes. He smelt of sweat and alcohol, but he seemed sober.

Immediately she shut the door behind him; he went to the window and spied outside to be sure no one was coming.

"You can't tell your mother that I'm here, okay? You can do so after I'm out of here. I will be quick, and then I will leave, so listen," Wyatt said urgently, and Anita frowned.

"I'm not on talking terms with her, so you don't have to worry. Are you okay? You look like you've not been feeding well. I should get you something to eat," She offered with a concerned frown.

"There is no time for that. Your mother is after my life," he said, and Anita looked at him incredulously.

"Yes, mother is searching for you, but she is not out to harm you…."

"You don't know your mother so well, Annie. You don't know her or half of what she is capable of. She has some dangerous people looking all over for me. I want to know why. What did she hear? Did she find out about the gambling, or did she get to know I told Thomas Hank about what you did?" He asked, and Anita paused.

"What are you talking about? What did you tell Thomas Hank?" She asked in confusion.

He raked his fingers through his thinning hair, "Remember our last phone call? He made me call you. He knows you are behind the scandal. Thomas Hank has to be the reason your mother is looking for me. Damn him! He threatened me. He blackmailed me, and even after I did what he wanted, I can't believe he told your mother the truth," Wyatt swore, making Anita's eyes widen in shock.

She remembered her uncle's last phone call and the way he had kept asking her to know if she was behind the scandal. That explained how Lucy knew she was behind it. But if they had known for that long, how come they did not do anything about it? Were they waiting for something or planning something?

"Are you listening to me?" Wyatt asked impatiently, and Anita tried to refocus on him.

"What did you say?" She asked as he took her hands in his sweaty palms.

"I'm sorry I betrayed you. I just couldn't let him tell your mother about my gambling. If Rebekah gets me, she is going to kill me. I know it. And I can't let that happen. You know you're like a daughter to me, right? You're the only one I could think of coming to. I don't have enough money to leave the country, and even if I did, I don't want to leave.," Wyatt said, his lips set with determination.

"You're not making much sense. Besides, she might be a lot of things, but she is definitely not a murderer. I don't think she will do that. Why did you come here? Why do you think I can be of any help to you? What do you want me to do for you? Is it money you want?" Anita asked with a frown.

"No. No. I can't take money from you, Annie. I already feel embarrassed showing up before you like this. I came here because you are the only person I can trust. I want you to pass a message to her. I don't want to speak with her. She terrifies me, your mother, I swear. Always have. Tell her to call off the men she has searching for me, or else I'm going to expose her secrets," Wyatt said, confusing Anita even more.

"What secrets are you talking about? If I'm going to deliver such a message, I should at least know what you know," Anita added when he hesitated, and Wyatt took a deep breath.

"She is not the only one keeping an eye on me, you see. I also made it my business to keep an eye on her business when I had the money to do that. Tell her I know about her numerous affairs, and tell her I know she killed your father. Tell her to stay away from me, or else I'm going to expose her before killing myself. I'd rather take my life than die by her hands," Wyatt said while Anita looked at him in stunned disbelief.

She wasn't exactly sure if her uncle was making things up or saying what he knew, "What do you mean she killed my father? It was suicide. Everyone knows he took his life. So what are you talking about?" Anita asked in confusion.

"I can't get into that right now, Annie. But trust me it's the truth. Your father never killed himself. Your mother made it look that way. I never planned to use any of it against her. She is my sister, after all, and I was going to take her secrets to my grave and accept her flaws, but now I can't do that anymore, can I? Not when she is refusing to be understanding of my flaws. Not when she is after my life. Tell her to leave me alone else I will ruin her life before she gets the chance to kill me. I won't die quietly like your father!" Wyatt said, and with that, he walked away, leaving behind a stunned Anita.

Anita collapsed on the couch, her face pale even as a shudder ran through her. There was no way that could be true. Rebekah might be immoral and controlling, but she wasn't a murderer. She couldn't possibly have killed her own husband, could she?

Even as she asked herself the question, she answered it within herself. As much as she hated to admit it, Rebekah Miller was capable of anything.

Anita's gaze shifted to her phone when it started ringing and she shuddered when she saw the call was from her mother. It was an Instagram call.

Since she had blacklisted her mother's phone number it made sense that she would find an alternative means to reach her.

Anita declined the call, and decided to check her DM for messages and sure enough she saw that her mother had left her several messages, the last one being a voice note.

She took a deep breath before playing it. She winced involuntarily when her mother started by yelling.

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? ARE YOU CRAZY? WHY DID YOU DO SOMETHING SO STUPID AND ANNOYING? I was going to give you a couple of days to get over whatever you're feeling, but seeing how stupid you have acted, I don't think I should. No daughter of mine is going to ruin everything I've worked hard for!"

Anita took a deep breath as she pushed her phone away from her, and almost immediately it started ringing again and this time she received the call when she saw it was from Lisa.

"Are you okay, darling? Mother just drew my attention to the video you made. That was a huge step you took, sweetie. I'm so proud of you," Lisa said, and Anita took a deep breath.

"Uncle Wyatt was here a short while ago. He said father was murdered. It wasn't suicide," Anita informed her quietly.