Chapter 1: Elowyn

More sweat trickled down my forehead as I looked down at my plate. I swear to God when I'm done with college I'm gonna leave my mom. She conceived me for 9 months without proper knowledge how to take care of her child. She lacked knowledge of everything except being a complete slut and a professional gold digger. 

"What is wrong with you ELOWYN REYNOLDS!?" She shouted banging her hands on our wooden dinner table. The plates rattled with grimace. 

I hate her. 

She should be looking after me! Taking care of me. This bitch is forcing me to live with her new husband and her step son that she prefers to call a "new humble family". Humble my ass. 

"You can't force me to live an awful life with you mother! I can live and support myself please. I want my freedom, I'm already nineteen!" 

I can sense she's already losing her patience against me. To what extent can she force me so that I can live with my new step father and step brother. 

My dad only passed five months ago but she already got a new boyfriend. I know she's been cheating to my dad for God knows how long. But dad kept the idea of leaving his unfaithful wife for the sake of his daughter. My heart aches for him, the only person who loved me wholeheartedly. 

"Roman, please handcuff her before she loses her mind and runs away." Mom smiled at me and wiped her lips with the table napkin that has the same color as her soul. Black. Madness of black. 

My lips quivered as my breath shook. My eyes glistened with tears. 

"You are my ticket to live in the Winston mansion you know. I still don't understand your step father for asking you to come with me, you know." She turned her back scratching her arms as if she's thinking like a psychopath. 

My stomach turned, but even worse, my heart ached like it was ripped from my chest. This is supposed to be my role model in life. The light of my future, my mom.

I watched Roman as he handcuffed me while maintaining his ridiculous blank face. He is my dad's assistant who became my mom's personal guard. We lived a peaceful and glamorous life because of my father's fruitful success in his business field not until he had cancer.

"You should obey your mother Winnie." Roman mimicked my father's usual tone that's a combination of command with tenderness. 

"Well look how she has grown so fast only to inherit her father's attitude. Feisty and most ironically rude." She spat those words like a total hypocrite. 

She turned her back and Roman tapped my shoulder and urged me to stand up and follow my mom. 

The house is peaceful as usual because everyone is evacuating. From our maids, laundry tenants, gardeners and even the spare personal guards. 

"I want you to remember our rules, Elowyn. I don't want you to be a dumb slut in that house, okay? And don't flirt with Ryan's child or else you'll find yourself laying beside your father's resting place." 

Carmela and her stupid house rules. What does she expect? I will be her prim and proper doll in the house? 

I followed them silently, my head facing the ground. 

Our drive to the Winston's mansion took about one hour and thirty minutes of a peaceful ride. 

When we arrived my eyes were glued to the Victorian mansion facing us. It's literally five times bigger than our house. Multiple kinds of cars and trucks were aligned in the right wing of the manor. They even have a huge fountain with a sculpture of a mermaid's tail. I think it is for goodluck. 

A middle aged man is standing in the front of the mansion. Mom waved at her and we walked towards him. 

Don't tell me this is Ryan Reynolds. Ugh mom you're nasty. 

"Good morning madam, Mr. Winston forgot to mention that he has an important meeting in Dubai that he doesn't have time to wait for your arrival and welcome you home." His forehead furrowed when he eyed me head-to-toe. 

His wrinkly skin is projecting the rays of the sun. Too soon to judge Winnie. This is Winston's assistant I guess. 

"Alright then, we will make ourselves at home. Thank you for your help." At least mom has manners. 

He grabbed my backpack and he forced a smile at me, "I'll be sending you to your new room ma'am."

Roman removed my handcuffs and I noticed bruises forming from the trance of the handcuffs. 

"I'll be heading out after this, make sure you eye this young lady Roman." Mom said while glaring at me. 

How I wish she would die in a car crash later.

Roman nodded at her and he forcefully dragged me inside the house. The butler stayed in the back of our trail while I let Roman drag me until we reached the second floor. 

I didn't have enough time to analyze the place. But one thing is for sure they have spent billions in this house. Even the ceiling of the house is marble. The pretty and sure expensive wall paintings and stairway railings are gleaming in the reflection in my eyes. 

We stopped in a double door room and the butler let me stop for a couple of minutes while he patiently waited for me to open the door.

When I opened the door a huge bedroom with the smell of lilacs welcomed me. 

"It looks empty." I said, trying to scan the whole place.

There's a queen size bed, a bedside table and a huge closet mimicking the aesthetic designs I've seen in p*******t.

At least the theme of the room is gray, I'm okay with this. There's even a TV to kept me entertained when I choose to locked myself in. 

"When you need anything you can come downstairs and get it yourself. Just don't bump into Rhett and be rude. He has anger issues." The butler warned me that's kinda pretty exaggerated. 

I rolled my eyes at him before shutting the doors and completely trashing myself in the comfy bed.

I grab my phone from my jeans pocket and turn it on only to see the blank inbox. 

I sighed in confusion at Myra's sudden coldness. Maybe she hates me for transferring into a new school that is a walking distance from this house. 

I jolted when someone bangs at the door. I quickly stood up and opened the door when a man greeted my eyes.

"So you're the gold digger's daughter? What a coincidence." 

My heart hitched, stopping my breath. He had my full attention, but I didn’t look at him yet. Simply because I know I cannot handle his presence. I was shocked to hear him and see him again. 

It's like I'm pulled back in the past. 

When I had the courage to look at him. It didn't disappoint. It's him.

"I'm not really sure about that, maybe you can run some tests? And if you'll find a piece of gold in my blood then you must have a point." 

The sight of him was a punch of fire to the stomach. Some kind of visceral, animal reaction to the mere attractiveness of the man. The memory of the last night I’d seen him rushed back, of his hands on me, and warmth hummed between my legs.

He’d been the last man to touch me. And he is the first.

"Feisty, the way I like." His voice hummed as a smirk plastered on his face. 

The hint of his dimple coming out. 

"As I remember I don't care what you like. And this? I didn't sign up for this. So stop going for my ass and insult me while you don't know what the real deal asshole." 

"Your father died, you went bankrupt. You can't pay for your college so your mom found a way to not let you starve, baby." He recited like he's been practicing it for months.

The pain of my father's death came rushing back. I bit my lip not to show how his words ached me like I'm being stabbed in the heart.

How once I fancied this guy and trusted him but now, his true colors are getting out.

Arrogant and rude. 

I gave him a glare, a death glare he won't forget.

"Throwing shades at your step mom's daughter? Maybe that why your mom died. Because of her loser son." I retorted.

His jaw clenched then he grasped me tightly by my jaw.

The shock and pain made me gasped. 

"Keep my mom out of your fucking mouth." He shouted at my face. I can feel his blood burning for the desire to kill me right now. 

He released me and shut the door in front of my face. 

My body slumped on the floor. 

How life has treated me bad. 

That's the man I've been looking for!

I blushed when I remembered the night five months ago.