The Devil's Sweetheart

From the time Leena began hearing the conversations between her mom and mother-in-law, goosebumps were crawling upon her skin. Until now, Leena thought her mom loved Max. No, it's the perception created by her Francy. There are no secrets that time does not reveal, and today's revelation shocked Leena beyond recognition. ''Mom loves Francy. Francy loves mom. So, their feelings are mutual,'' Leena whispered. A lump formed in her throat as the raw emotions poured out of her heart. Her mom struggled and faced humiliation to bring her into this world. ''Who is this person targeting, mom? What did they gain, harming her?''

Just then, Harley entered the room, pulling Leena out of her thoughts. ''Did you listen to everything?'' Harley asked. When Harley was rummaging Evelyn's walk-in closet, she heard Heather talking about Devin and the cruise ship. Her interest immediately shifted to the juicy conversation, and she made a phone call to Leena for a live hearing.

''I managed it, although the voices were little unclear,'' Leena said.

''Are you going to search for your biological father?'' Jumping onto the bed, Harley questioned with curiosity.

''No.'' With a sigh, Leena added. ''I instead cook up some ideas to unite mom and Francy. Anyway, mom is already adamant about finding the person. Let her search.'' Leena has no interest in finding that man. In her eyes, she only considers Francis as her father. What's the use of putting her efforts into finding the man when she doesn't want to acknowledge her biological father.

''I don't want to talk about it in this happy time. Let's go, Harls,'' Leena said out of the blue. "I am hungry.''

''Lunch would be ready by now.''

Leena's mouth watered at the mention of food, and readily she shot out of bed and went along with Harley. As Leena was heading to the living room, her eyes darted to Adney's bedroom. As the door wide opened, she could hear Nick and Adney cackling like chimpanzees. ''What's with these two?'' 

''What else? A Chimpanzee joined with the monkey.'' Harley lazily added with a scoff. 

''Please don't compare them with my favorite animals. I love chimpanzees and monkeys.'' Leena said in a serious tone. 

''You are right!.'' Harley giggled. ''Let's search for a creepy deadly name for the two when we come back.''

''Okay, done!'' Hungrily Leena and Harley went to the kitchen, but the dishes were still in the process, so they grabbed the diced carrots to munch on them for now. ''I will go and talk with uncle Arthur.'' Heather excused herself and went out.

''I will be right back,'' Harley said.

The moment Heather and Harley walked out, Leena poked Evelyn's hand to get her concentration. After succeeding in getting Evelyn's attention, Leena spoke up. "I want to talk with you about Adney.''

''What did he do?'' Evelyn asked in a whisper, taking a peek at the sides. 

''Not here,'' Leena muttered, playing secretive.

''I will wait in the backgarden then.'' Having said that, Evelyn walked out.

With a triumphant smile, Leena lazily strolled into the garden where Evelyn was waiting for her. The moment Evelyn heard the footsteps, she urgently asked. ''What did that scared cat do, Leena?

Settling next to Evelyn, Leena started taking her time. ''I heard a rumor about him.''

''What is it?'' Evelyn surprisingly asked. Did everyone know that her annoying son can't sleep alone even at this age because he was scared of ghosts? That would be the worst face slap to her.

''I heard Adney is dating Max Hayes's daughter,'' Leena revealed. If any other girl, Leena wouldn't have bothered, but she doesn't want that dimwit to enter into the Wang family.

''He is dating that sc.u.m's daughter! Why didn't I know this?'' Evelyn shot up from the bench, clenching her mobile. ''I will not let that girl enter the Wang family's doorsteps,'' Evelyn called her son's number demanding his presence.

Adney arrived at the back garden, cursing at her mother for disturbing his peacetime. To his surprise, the monster sister-in-law was sitting next to her mom. Adney knew she meant no good, and there is a possibility that she would have complained against him. 

''What is it, mom? Why did you_''

Not before Adney completed his words, Adney yelped in pain when Evelyn twisted his ear. ''You are still scared of those boneless creatures but have the gall to date a girl already? Who is she?'' Evelyn demanded an answer.

''What!'' Holding her mom's hand, Adney freed himself from Evelyn's tight grip moving far away. ''Who told you that I am dating?'' He felt strange! His life always runs around computers or reading ghost stories, and there is no time for dating. Suddenly remembering something, Adney shot a glare at Leena. His mood dampened when he saw her triumphant smile. ''It must be your work, right?''

''Give respect to your sister-in-law.'' Evelyn reprimanded her son and turned to face Leena. ''What's that girl's name, Leena?''

''Emerie, aunt Evelyn.'' Feigning all innocence, Leena replied.

''Ma, don't believe Leena. I am not dating that fatass. It's a rumor.'' Adney said, maintaining a distance from his mom. He doesn't have to surprise if his mom would beat him to death. Losing his pride in front of Leena was the last thing he wanted. Who spread the rumor about him? He hated that fatass who keeps running around him despite his ignorance.

''I am warning you, Adney. If you bring that woman to this house_''

''I would rather live with the scary ghosts than her.'' Clasping his hands together, Adney begged, wishing his mom would leave this matter.

''Let's leave the matter aside this time, aunt Eve,'' Leena said, feeling sad for the poor soul. ''My Brother-in-law seems to be innocent,'' Leena added, looking at Adney with a mock.

''Alright, Leena dear.'' Turning to her Adney, Eve sternly declared. ''Clear the rumor first.''

...

Adney strolled into his bedroom with full-on revenge mode, and the moment he saw Nick, he screamed at the top of his lungs. ''Nick Bro, I need your help in getting revenge on that nutty fruit cake.''

''Your brother would come for your head,'' Nick replied without pausing the game he was playing. ''But on a serious note, we can take revenge on her.''

''How?''

Throwing the laptop aside, Nick turned serious when an idea popped into his mind. ''Let's play with the family members hacking into her account.''

''What if she finds out?'' Adney questioned. ''Devin bro will kill us if she complains to him.''

''Let's be serious, Ad.'' Nick hooted with laughter before continuing. ''That crazy doesn't know a thing about computers, leave about hacking. How on earth will she find us? Except for eating food and running around the shops for dresses, she does nothing.''

''You are right.'' Adney tittered, nodding his head in approval. ''Now I understand why she chose to become a model.''

''Why?'' Curiosity aroused in Nick.

''She wouldn't have landed in any IT company with her mediocre technology skills despite her heavy background,'' Adney added with scorn to satisfy his ego. A surge of happiness overflowed in Adney as he criticized Leena.

''That was a nice one, Ad.'' Nick's mood elevated at once. Both bitched a lot about Leena's IQ and EQ before they started to execute the plan.

''Can you check if Leena is using her phone?'' Adney said, opening his laptop.

''Alright.'' Nick hurried out of the room, and within a minute, he arrived back with the news. ''That crazy is busy chatting with Harley, and I know she will not stop for a while.''

''Very well then.'' Running the suites in his system, in no time, Adney found Leena's IP address and hacked into her account. ''Who is our first target, bro?'' He asked, searching for a picture on the internet to photoshop.

'''Grandma Margaret. She is sitting on the lawn chatting with grandpa Arthur. Let's target both.'' Nick advised. ''Later, we will go with Francis and Fredrick.''

''I am in.'' Clapping his hands in excitement, Adney quickly photoshopped and sent the picture to his grandfather from Leena's mobile. ''Let's watch the show now.''

Nick and Adney high-fived each other in excitement.

....

While sitting on the lawn, Arthur and Margaret were fighting over Leena and Devin's wedding location when all of a sudden, Arthur's mobile beeped with Leena's text message. He grabbed the mobile, and upon opening it, he slammed his t.h.i.g.h with a peal of roaring laughter. ''Hey Margaret chimpanzee, you look like a clown in this GIF picture which Leena has sent to me.''

''Which GIF, Gorilla Arthur?'' Margaret snatched the mobile from her friend's hand, and when she saw the picture on the mobile, she screamed in horror, throwing the mobile onto the ground. ''What on the earth happened to my glorious face.'' Her jaw dropped to the floor, watching weird octopus tentacles unleashing from her eye sockets.

''Crazy Granddaughter, I am going to kill you today.'' Margaret was breathless with anger. Not before Margaret shot up to reprimand her granddaughter, she received a mobile notification. The angriness she had earlier was replaced with glee as she watched Arthur's toothless picture with two side ponytails at either side of his head. ''My octopus tentacle picture is better compared to your toothless picture, Gorilla Arthur.'' Margaret teased, showing his picture.''See for yourself.''

''My handsome face!' Arthur shouted at nobody, his heart pained to see his face in such a state. In seconds, his pain turned into fury. A fresh swell of rage rose within him, as he looked at his pony tailed picture. ''Leena! You are dead meat in my hands today.''

"She even added ponytails on your head, Gorilla'' Margaret added fuel to the fire with a grin. ''You look nothing less to a gorilla now.''

"You look worse than a Chimpanzee." Arthur screamed at Margaret.

Next it started with Fredrick and Francis.

...

Nick and Adney started with Arthur and Margaret, and then they went to Francis, Fredrick, Callison. Next, they moved to Sharon, Evelyn, and Heather. They left out Devin when they knew it would yield them no good.

....

With all the commotion happening around the house, Leena was in her world, blabbering and boosting herself to Harley without knowing everybody inwassouse were fuming in anger.