Darkness Overruling

" Gary you can't do this to me! This is becoming too much for me to handle" Pheona pleaded with tears in her eyes.

Gary looked at her with an expressionless face. Gary Smith is bent on marrying his mistress, Nora Lynn and there's nothing anyone can do to change his mind not even Pheona, his legally wedded wife.

Pheona cried and pleaded with Gary not to go on with the decision he has taken as it will shatter their family.

Damien walked towards his parents' room as he heard sobs coming from there. He got there and to his surprise, he saw his father shouting at his mother looking pissed.

"I'm marrying Nora whether you like it or not. It's not like I need your approval to do anything"Gary spat.

Damien was beyond shocked when he heard his father's confession. He has always known that Nora was up to no good the first time he saw her with his dad.

"Dad!!!", Tell me it's a joke" Damien yelled.

"We don't need that slut in our house!" Damien went on enraged by his father's decision.

Gary slapped him on his right cheek hard

" Watch your mouth you little brat, don't you dare call Nora names" Gary ordered

"Gary!!!!!" Pheona exclaimed.

Damien stumbled back and slide down the wall, sitting on the floor, totally shocked by his father's reaction.

Pheona moved toward her son in shame and consoled him as tears began to trickle down his face. Gary walked out on them, took his car, and zoomed off to Nora's home.

"Damien, my dear, you know Daddy didn't mean what he did right? He just lost control, you know he loves you right?"

Pheona said, trying her possible best to suppress the pain she was feeling within her.

Damien couldn't believe after all his father did to her, she was still trying to cover up for him.

"Mum I'm not that little kid you knew no more. I'm old enough to understand what is going on and stop covering up for that monster always, I know he doesn't love any of us" Damien said bluntly

"I'm sorry... I just didn't want you to know I've been having problems with your dad" Pheona hiccuped

"It's okay Mum" Damien assured his Mum.

He assisted her in getting up and they went to the living room. Queenster and Gabriel were seated engrossed in the movie they were watching. The footsteps from the stairs caught their attention and they turned their heads to them.

They smiled at their mother and Pheona forced a smile back to avoid any suspicion but her swollen eyes as a result of the crying gave her out.

"Mum, are you okay? Have you been crying? Damien, what happened to your face? Can you guys explain what all this is about?" Gabriel demanded

Pheona tried her best to change the topic but Damien didn't give her a chance, he explained everything to Gabriel and Queenster leaving them shocked with their mouth wide open. Gabriel sighed not sure of what to do as Pheona began another round of crying, Damien and Queenster consoled her.

Pheona was devastated thinking about how sweet their family used to be together and now falling apart in the most horrible way she could ever imagine. They heard Gary's car move into the garage, and they all waited for him to enter as they wondered what next he was up to. Gary walked in, dragging a bag as he entered which got them confused.

The clicking of heels followed which caught their attention, a lady appeared at the door, flaunting her hair in the air, smiling devilishly at them.

"Hello family" she greeted sarcastically.

"Nora Lynn" Pheona muttered, her breathing intensifying and gradually she began to have difficulty in breathing.

"Damien get mum's inhaler, hurry" Gabriel yelled holding Pheona.

Damien rushed up the stairs almost missing his steps, Queenster couldn't do anything but cry her eyes out as she looked at her pitiful mother.

"I swear, you'll regret this and pray to your stars nothing happens to mum," Damien said as he gave the inhaler to Gabriel, looking at Gary and Nora with a murderous expression.

Gabriel snatched the inhaler from Damien and used it on Pheona, her breath gradually steadied and she began to breath normal.

"No...no....nor...ra" she stuttered, shocked that her husband's mistress is none other than Nora her own best friend who's more like a sister figure to her since high school.

" Tell me this is a joke, Nora? I should have known from the beginning this was all untrue right, stupid me"

she laughed madly as tears trickle down her face and she began to steady Nora clearly, Nora had a smirk plastered on her face as she watched Pheona get the shock of her life .

" Nora, You know I love you like a sister right? You can't do this to me, you're ruining the life of your best friend remember?" Pheona sobbed as Nora scoffed and rolled her eyes at her enjoying the show unveiling.

"It's okay with the interrogation Pheona. Let me introduce you properly, to the woman of my dreams, my soon-to-be wife, Nora Lynn. I need you to treat her with love and respect because she's dear to me" Gary ordered.

"Gracie did you prepare the room I asked you to" he demanded.

Gracie nodded and took the luggage to the guest room.

Nora interlocked her hands with Gary's hand

" Sweetheart can you show me around please" she pouted

"Don't you wanna rest? I believe you're tired, get some rest and I'll take you around the house later okay? I don't want my baby girl stressing herself " Gary said concerned.

Nora agreed and they went upstairs together. Pheona watched her husband get comfy with another lady in her sight and she knew all hope is lost, at this rate she watched them expressionless as they walked up the stairs till they disappeared from her sight.

Her knees give up and she began going down not able to take the pain anymore, the kids consoled her and assured her of their support. She decided to cook dinner to help her get distracted from all the drama today.

She zoned off thinking about how much has happened in the day, wondering how her own best friend could betray her and ruin her home. They used to be inseparable in high school.

The knife she was using cut her and she winced looking at the blood oozing from the wound expressionless.

Nora entered the kitchen to get water and met the pot on the burner bringing out smoke, she quickly turned it off and smiled dangerously at Pheona, she flaunt her hair in her face walking out of the kitchen.

Gracie came out of her hiding place and consoled Pheona, she gave her a hand, and they cooked dinner together.

Damien, Gabriel, and Queenster persuaded their mum to eat which they succeeded after a lot of trials. The footsteps from the stairs caught their attention as Gary came down with Nora hand in hand.

"We'll be eating outside like my darling here wishes, so enjoy your food alone "Gary announced, pulling Nora with him as they head out with his car.

Pheona didn't know when a tear dropped on her plate, that's when she realized she has been crying all along, she made a decision to stay strong for her kids and wiped away her tears.

Nora on the other hand had this feeling of satisfaction within her. She has always wished Pheona to feel how she did way back when they were together.

Nora used to be the second choice after Pheona as she was the center of attraction always receiving the best of everything. She forced herself to include in her happiness but it reached its peak when she realized Pheona had a perfect husband and family.

She decided to be selfish not thinking of her friend's happiness anymore by going after Gary who fell for her charms.

Pheona waited all night but Gary didn't return and she dozed off to sleep. Gary came back but spent the night with Nora in her room as she insisted.

Pheona woke up to see Gary getting ready for work, she tried convincing him to change his mind but it as all fell on deaf ears. He went out leaving Pheona disappointed, he ate Nora's breakfast which she made and kissed her goodbye.

Nora sat in the living room watching television, Pheona ate breakfast with her kids and they all left kissing her goodbye.

Queenster left for college as she is still in school, Gabriel went to work and Damien also went out with his friends. Gracie informed Pheona she needed to go to the market, Nora heard this and decided to unleash her plan to kill Pheona as she felt she is still a threat to her happiness.

As her best friend for ages, she knew Pheona couldn't stand the smell of strong scent as a result of her predicament. She went to her room and got a bottle from her closet which contained a substance with a strong smell. She sprayed the living room with it covering her nose with a handkerchief.

Pheona stood from the dining room and decided to go to her room to avoid any trouble with Nora. As soon as she got to the living room, she was met with a strong smell.

Pheona began coughing instantly, her breath intensifying, she took out her inhaler to use but it wasn't working. Nora had changed it earlier when she met it lying on the table with no one around. She waved the real one in her face as she watched Pheona gasp for breath.

"What...are you....... doing....no...ra, ?. please give me my inhaler. Nora please I'm dying "she struggled as Nora laughed evilly at her

"Awww, my dear Pheona you want this right. Come on then come get it to hurry" she teased

"Please Nora, what did I ever do to you to deserve this treatment?" She begged as she found it difficult to breath

"You don't know what you did? Okay, I might as well tell you as you're dying already. I hate you Pheona, ever since I knew you, I've not gotten anything good in my life. It has always been about you, all the guys came after just you as though I never existed. I had always been a second choice to whatever you reject, I hate you for having such a perfect life and family which I don't" she yelled in anger

"We were best friends and you were supposed to be happy for me as your friend"Nora managed to say

"Did you say happy for you? And what about me, I should continue sulking around huh? I'll only be happy if I see you don't exist anymore, goodbye Pheona" she said bitterly, she threw the inhaler across the room where she wouldn't be able to reach.

"No, I can't die like this. Someone help!" she whispered as her eyes began closing gradually, tears streaming down her face as she lay on the floor.

Pheona gave up the ghost and Nora came out dressed on her way out. She kicked her lifeless body and spat

"it serves you right, you moron".

She walked out and drove off to somewhere to cool her mind.

Gracie got home a couple of hours later and met Pheona on the floor. She moved close to her and seeing the traces of tears, she concluded maybe she cried herself to sleep

" Mrs. Smith please wake up I'm back, the floor is cold. Ma'am, please go and rest in your room, the floor is not good for you it's cold" she pressed on but Pheona didn't move even a finger.

She tried helping her up but she felt quite heavy, as soon as she left her, she fell freely with no restrictions. Gracie began to get scared that very moment and she began panicking

"ma'am Pheona...." she called but there was no response.

Gracie started shaking not sure what to do as she began sweating profusely, crying already.

Damien walked in that very moment and met the situation at hand

"Why is my mother on the floor?" he asked.

"I don't know I met her this way and I've been trying to call her but she's not responding" she explained

"What do you mean by she's not responding? Mum....mum?" he called, tapping her while squatting beside Pheona.

He began shaking her as she still wasn't moving. He became scared instantly.

" What the hell, Gracie call 911 ASAP. Mum, mum, mum what happened to you?" he sobbed shaking her vigorously.