Shattered_An Innocent Wife

Her poor soul

Her big emerald eyes watched her father's stoic and serious expression while driving. She realizes that whatever happened at school had put her dad in stress. And she knew what she needs to do.

"I am sorry." She mumbled while tapping her fingers on the water bottle she was holding.

"It's fine. It's just maths. There is always a next time." Mr. Brown answered, curling his lips a little while his attention was still on the road.

Somehow the answer from her father didn't put her at ease. Because Mr. Brown noticed a little pout on her lips. The reason behind his bad mood could never be his daughter. It was just his usual workload. But knowing that his daughter can sense his stress at such a young age of 5 made him proud of his daughter even more.

He let out a loud laugh. And this made Sydney look at him.

"You should listen to me when I run after you to make you eat vegetables." He tried to make a point in the hope to let her believe she could do good at maths just by eating vegetables.

This made her look at her father with furrowed brows and Mr. Brown broke into a laugh while pulling over his pick up truck in front of their little heaven.

"But let's do it tomorrow because today I already got you fried chicken." His father said while getting out.

"Yay!" Sydney exclaimed in joy and didn't wait for her father and ran to the door clearly showing her father that all of his efforts for the lunch will be appreciated with an open heart. Her mother died the day she was born. Though her father Mr. Brown was devastated when he lost the love of his life, he found his reason to live. Sydney, his beloved daughter. She looked just like her mother. With her green emerald eyes and auburn natural wavy hairs, she was the cutest kid in her whole town.

Everyone in the town, Huntsville, which didn't have more than 2000 people, knew that she was the apple of her father's eye. Her father was always found to be talking about her. Not very rich like most of the people of their town but still Charlie Brown was doing great with his carpentry business and his line of work was also the reason that he was quite well known in the town.

Every passing day was bliss as it came with a lot of giggles and stupid jokes. His daughter was his pride and the reason for his every smile. She was a kind, sweet and shy kid. She always had this difficulty in socializing with people except with her father. But that never made his father worry. He knew she will do great.

She wasn't super smart in her class and people always find her mute if her father was not around. So, for Sydney, there were never many friends around.

But spending time with her father, the story was entirely different. She used to be too talkative. She told her father about her always changing dreams and goals. She used to complain that she is not growing faster. She wanted to be old enough to wear her mother's dress. Her father lacked very much when it came to doing hairstyles for his little angel. And how much time her hairs would take was the deciding factor about either she is going to be late for her school today or not.

She liked listening to stories about her mother. But she never missed her so much. She never knew her. The only thing that ever mattered to her was her father.

The days went by and she was eight years old. Blue was her favorite color. Even her room had a night sky theme. Her mother's elder sister Jennifer along with her daughter Addison came to her place. They start living with them. Sydney was not explained why? But she liked the change. Addison was so beautiful and 16 years old at that time. She was a rebellious teen. She was everything that Sydney was not. After two months both girls were informed about their parents getting married.

Sydney was a kid. She was told about all the good things that will come after this wedding and she was more than willing just in two hours. Her soon to be stepsister was not. She envies Sydney for her father. Addison's father abandoned her. While Sydney was blessed with this world's best father.

The day her father wedded her aunt was such a beautiful day. Sydney got congratulated by everyone and got so many gifts for herself. Her father seemed more happy with each passing day. Aunt Jennifer was always kind. Sydney started calling her mother on Aunt Jennifer's request.

Their happiness was short-lived. As aunt Jennifer soon start telling her father that he doesn't earn enough. Jennifer was so careless with the money. She kept pushing her husband to move to another place. She was still kind to Sydney, cook her meals and asked about her day. But her father doesn't seem all that happy. He always looked anxious.

Addison was never home. In school, Adi was the most popular girl. Though both girls always left for the school at the same time, Addison always abandoned her shortly after their house was out of sight. The day Mr. Charlie Brown came to know about this he was beyond furious. He took the responsibility to drive the girls to school himself.

Sydney noticed as his father was not his old self anymore. He spent less time with her. And she became more silent. Whenever she looked at him. It always felt like that he doesn't want to talk. Soon, aunt Jennifer started telling Sydney to ask her father to move out somewhere nice. She didn't. Because she liked this place too. But Sydney started getting bothered. The nights she will wake up from their arguments became more frequent. All of this made her more reserved and reluctant.

She was 11 years old when her father got into an accident. Unfortunately, her father's whole body got paralyzed except his right arm and leg. Sydney cried for hours. Watching her father like this was killing her. She believed that it was her fault. She should have done something for her father.

Jennifer was devastated but only outside. Inner her knew that she was saved. No one will ever know about what really happened. It gave her an opportunity to leave this man for her newly found lover. She was ready to leave this man for once and all.

But it was when Addison stepped in. Addison, now 19, was a changed girl. Mr. Brown was her ideal. Her mother was so busy to ever notice her own daughter. Addison started taking care of Mr. Brown's business. Though her relation was still strained with Sydney. Addison never tried to mend things with her but she told her one thing. "I will try to provide you the way your father provided for me. I can't promise anything but I will try." Sydney believed her every word. Though they were still not in talking terms, they shared an unseen connection.

Aunt Jennifer was so bitter about the whole situation but at least now she could see her lover without any worries. Her lover was providing her with enough money. So, she stopped nagging about money. Girls believe that change in their mother was a positive sign. Mr. Brown could not talk anymore. So, for Jennifer, he was easy to deal with. Soon, Mrs. Brown hired a man to take care of him. Making herself more free for her affair.

Addison soon took over the business successfully. She comes on to very good terms with the whole town. And this is how she met Caleb Wilson. Her one true love. They fall for each other so hard that they can't be separated even for a second. Caleb was one of the rich guys in the town. The rich families in their town were always landlords and own animal farms. Caleb was always hanging around in Adi's shop and tag along with her everywhere. Soon they were the most famous couple in the town.

Sydney tag along with them once or twice but could not fit in. She couldn't talk to that guy about anything. She only talked whenever she was asked a question. Addison never pushed her to like him. So, Sydney spent all the time with her father. She always spent her time talking to her father about all the nice things, holding his right hand. Her father never forgot to squeezed her hand telling her that he was listening. Her father's eyes always shined. It was his way to tell his daughter that he was fine.

Though life didn't seem bright anymore, time passed in the hope of the better days. She missed her dad's company. But she knew she wasn't alone. With the help of Adi and Jennifer, she knew one day her father will be fine. What her childish brain didn't know were the plans of fate.

She was 12 years old when something so weird happened. It was past her bedtime. But she was busy with her school assignment. She dims the lights so no one knows that she is awake. She heard someone talking. The voice was coming from her own house. So, She went down to see. It was Jennifer and she was kissing some man. Sydney could not compose herself and fell gaining their attention. She was scared but when that man came forward she knew who he was. He was James Hunt. Everyone in the town knew him.

"Are you hurt?" He asked.

She didn't reply just shake her head saying no and ran to her room.

Sydney woke up the next morning quite early and got ready for school. Aunt Jennifer was still sleeping while Addison was waiting for her in her car like every day. Sydney seemed upset visibly while Addison looked so happy that she didn't notice Sydney.

"We are getting married," Addison announced once she started the engine.

Sydney looked at her with wide eyes. She almost forgot what happened last night. She was happy for her.

"When?" Sydney asked.

"In one week," Addison said sheepishly.

She wanted to ask why so soon but couldn't. Addison knew that Sydney is being curious.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone," Adi warned her.

"About your marriage?" Sydney asked with confusion.

"No, blockhead. I am pregnant." She announced with glee. And they were in front of her school.

Sydney looked at her with a blank expression but then came forward to give Addison a hug. Addison was surprised by her gesture.

"You better look the best," Addison warned her when she felt like it's getting corny.

"Hey, I forgot to tell you. I gotta go shopping. Can you come back with your class fellow Elle today."Addison asked her with pleading eyes and Sydney nodded in yes.

Sydney didn't show in front of her but the news was so much for her to take. If Addison was going to leave, her life was not going to be the same. Jennifer seemed distant after her father's accident. And now there was another man in her house.

She couldn't focus on the classes. And she also didn't realize that she never told Elle to wait for her. The moment she realized, Elle had already left the school. So, she started walking toward her home.

There was so much in her mind that she never noticed the jeep that started chasing her until it stopped in front of her. The window rolled down. A very familiar face appeared sitting in there, Arthur Hunt. The elder brother of the same person who was in her home last night. Hunt's were famous. They literally owned the whole town. Most of the time her father had work from Hunt's. So, she knew them.

"You are Charlie's daughter right?" He asked.

She didn't reply instantly but when she does it was just a simple nod.

"Get in. I will drop you." He said. He looked so weird to Sydney. There was something in his eyes that told Sydney to run. But she behaved.

"It's not so far, I will walk." She said and was about to start to walk.

"It was about your father's condition. I think there is one remedy." He said with concern in his eyes.

Adi and Caleb get to the stores out of the town. Buy the things they liked. Order their cake. And was having the time of their life. So, Adi came home late and tired. She got to bed and pass out the moment she reached home.

No one noticed the absence of the poor soul except her father. He waited for his daughter and her stories all night.