The second wife

7. after that

Hanna pov

My world came crashing down. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. It was supposed to be a night filled with sweet memories. But now, it is the worst day to remember. As soon as I was told that it was confirmed that it was my parents, the world seemed to have stopped spinning.

Everything happened like a dream. I could sense that the people were busy and running around, but I was in my own world. I don’t remember anything. I don’t want to remember anything. I just want to go to sleep.

Zak pov.

Ever since it was confirmed that it was her parents, Hanna has silenced. She doesn’t talk, she doesn’t do anything. She keeps staring blankly in to the space. I informed her brother who was studying abroad about what had happened.

He was shocked of course. But he decided to come home. He said that right now, his family was more important to him than his exams. Perhaps, they will allow him to resit his exams considering the situation. If not, he was ready to repeat this semester. He managed to get tickets for the earliest flight and was scheduled to arrive at Mal'e in two days.

The bodies of my in laws were not in a condition that could be kept in the mortuary for a long time. So we had to hold their funeral as soon as possible. I didn’t leave Hanna alone even for a moment. I knew that she was not stable at the moment. Maybe when she meets her brother, she would start to feel better. And soon as her brother gets here, we will hold their funeral.

During this time I spent my time to think. Maybe I shouldn’t have held the reception at my mansion. Because the invitees were arriving, the guards at the gate didn’t mind people coming in and going out. There were lots of people in our house, that made things very difficult for all of us. Hanna’s stalker must be the killer. I couldn’t think of anyone else.

I clenched my fist. I should have broken his legs that night. Maybe then he wouldn’t be able to walk soon. Then perhaps he wouldn’t have been able to do this damage to us. And then perhaps, it would have been easier for the police to catch him.

I looked at my beautiful wife. Life had completely drained from her eyes. The smiled that I had fallen for was now non existent. I miss my old Hanna. I want her back. I would do anything to bring her back. I never thought that it would be possible for me to love someone to this extent. But here I am. I love her more than I love myself. If I had to give life for her, I gladly will.

I kissed her hands. “My love. I promise you. I will get back to that person who did this to you, who ever it is. I will make sure that he is locked up. And if I have to use all my wealth for that, I will.” I said.

Though I received no response from her, I knew, that she was listening to me.

Just then my maid came and knocked on the door. “Mr. Miller, someone called Hamza is at the door. He is asking for you.”

Yes. Hanna’s brother is here. Hopefully his presence will help Hanna.

“Yes. Bring him here. That’s madam's brother.” I told her.

Two days have passed already. And Hanna is still in the same condition. She doesn’t eat nor drink much. She just keeps staring blankly into the space.

“Mr. Miller?” I heard a male voice. That must be him.

I stood up from beside Hanna. There stood a young man with striking similarity with Hanna. They shared the same eyes and facial features. Had he been a female I would have mistaken them to be identical twins.

I smiled and extended my hand towards him. “Hi. I’m Zak. Hanna’s husband.” I told him. “No need to call me Mr. Miller. We are family.” I said.

He smiled and shook my hand. “Where is she?” he asked.

I pointed toward to chair which was facing towards the window. I had place her there So that at least she would see the outside from that window.

Hamza took quick steps towards her. “Hanna?” he called. I could see that he was genuinely worried about her. “Hanna. Look at me. It’s me your brother.” He pleaded as he held her hands.

I silently prayed that she at least turns her head towards him. It broke my heart to see her like this. After sitting like that for a while she did turn towards him. I saw a small tear roll down her cheek.

“Hanna......We should be in this together. We need each other. We have to be strong.” Her brother kept talking to her.

“You know, we must fight for them. We can’t let the killer get away.” He said.

More tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t say a word. She got up from her chair and walked out of the room. She headed straight to the room where her parents were supposed to stay. We followed her. Not knowing what to expect. She opened the door to that room and looked around. Me and Hamza watched anxiously. What was she doing?

She walked towards the bed and took a book I suppose that belonged to them. She looked at it and held it close to her chest as tears were now streaming down her cheeks. Soon she started to cry hysterically. She sat on the bed and let out all the emotions that she had been keeping inside for the past two days.

Yes. At least now, she has let those tears out. Her brother went beside her and hugged her. He let her cry on his shoulders. I watched, trying to keep my own emotions in control as I watched the siblings mourn in each other’s arms. I sighed. I will double the security of this mansion from now on. I don’t want my Hanna to be in danger.

I gulped and looked at my shoes. I was worried that she might hate me. This had happened in my house. The very place that I had promised that she will be safe. I just hope that she doesn’t stop trusting me.

“Zak.” I was pulled out of my own thoughts when I finally heard her voice. This is the first word she had said in two days. She extended her hand towards me. I hurried to go to her. I knelt down in front of her and held her hands. I wanted to apologize for not being able to protect her parents.

I looked in to her eyes. “Hanna. I’m so sorry.....” she put her hand on my mouth.

“There is nothing you could have done Zak. Lots of people were coming anyway. How could anyone have known?” She said. “That stalker has been stalking me for a long time. I don’t want you to take all the blame on yourself Zak.” She said.

“But...” I tried again

“No. Not a word more.” She insisted. She looked at her brother and then at me.

“When is the funeral?” She asked.

“Tomorrow.” I replied with a sigh. “I was waiting for him.” I told her. She nodded.

“I hope he gets caught soon” she said silently.

“So do I Hanna.” I said.

The rest of the day was just as gloomy as it could be. At least now Hanna is back. At least she is talking now. I know she would need time to get over the death of her parents. Specially when their lives were cut short like that. And she had witnessed how brutally they were mutilated. This killer, whoever that was, surely was heartless.

We had dinner and went to sleep, as if we were programmed to do so. No life remained in the house. Even the servants seemed to be silent. They too were shaken by the incident. I lied down beside my wife and looked at her sleeping form. We will get out of this Hanna. I will make sure that the person who had snatched away our happiness pays for what he had done.

The next day we hurried and got our selves prepared for the funeral. We went to the cemetery. They were already put in the caskets and covered. Looking at their faces will only bring back bad memories. We prayed for them and buried them soon, because the condition of their bodies were not in a state we should keep it out there for a long time.

All our family members and friends came to give us their condolences. Each of them said a word of hope to Hanna and Hamza. Sometimes they manage to smile a little. Sometimes they don’t. Hanna keeps wiping her tears. I stayed beside them. That was the best I could do. Tisha and Diem were the last ones to leave. Tisha too was crying. She too stayed beside Hanna. Diem had come with his wife Laila. Maybe Tisha now would have understood that he was a married man.

But that didn’t really matter to us at the moment. We had bigger problems to deal with.

Hanna pov

When everything was over we went to our car. It’s time to go home and try to continue life. I sighed. It would never be the same without our parents.

I kept looking outside through the window. I was reminded of what my parents had taught me. No matter what happens, life has to go on. Life is full of ups and downs. Even if you fall you shouldn’t think that you be down all the time. Getting up maybe hard, but you must never give up.

I will never give up. I promised myself. Never.

Just then my phone dinged. It was a text from an unknown number. This time, I opened the message with anger. I have had enough of this person. How dare he kill my parents.

It read, YOU’RE NEXT.