1

The loud blaring of the alarm made her groan in annoyance as she grabbed her phone and turned it off before pushing her head back into the comfort of her pillows. Barely a sigh of relief escaped her lips when there was a loud knocking on her door.

"Go away." She mumbled but she already knew what followed so she covered her face in the quilt when her door opened and light footsteps were heard, followed by the opening of the curtains, so evil rays of sunlight would destroy her peaceful slumber.

"Martha, stop!" Catherine complained groggily as the middle-aged woman started to pull her quilt making her clutch it even more tightly.

"Wake up young lady. You'll be late for University." Martha said as she abruptly yanked the quilt away from her causing Catherine to squeal when cold air caressed her skin. 

God, she hates this.

"You are evil," Catherine complained as she sat up on her bed and rubbed her eyes while yawning and stretching. 

"Of course. I know that honey. Now go take a shower and then wake up your brother, I'm going to make breakfast." Martha said and left the room with a small smile.

Catherine strutted to the restroom, getting rid of her nightgown, she did her business and took a relaxing shower. Coming out draped in her towel,  she wore her clothes, a knee-length skirt, and a button-up shirt tucked in. She blow-dried her hair. 

She walked out and went to Adriel's room and started being evil like Martha as she opened the curtains and started pulling his quilt.

"Honey bunny crunchy Monkey. Wake up." She said in a sing-a-song manner causing Adriel to groan. Like a sister, like a brother.

"Don't call me that." He groaned as he pulled at the quilt more tightly.

"Okay chipmunk." Catherine giggled when Adriel grumbled in annoyance.

"My name is Adriel." He complained while clutching the sheets oh so tightly. 

"Of course, Sloth." Catherine laughed but it changed into a squeal and then she groaned in pain when Adriel let go of the quilt at once and as she was pulling it with all her might, she went flying on the ground landing safely on her big butt but it freaking hurts.

"You dumbhead!" She growled and before she could charge at him, he already dashed into the restroom closing the door behind her and locking it.

"You have five minutes. And don't you forget this. I'll get back to you on it, have my word. I'll settle the score between us."  She grumbled while pounding at his door.

"Yeah blah blah sissy." Adriel the evil, sang from inside as she scrunched her nose up in annoyance and then shook her head with a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Five minutes." She yelled before going out and went downstairs into the hall and then into the large dining room which could accommodate at least twenty people. 

Martha was already setting the breakfast for two. "Pancakes! Martha, I just love you." Catherine said while plopping down on the chair and ogling the food with wide eyes causing Martha to chuckle at the gleefulness of her miss.

"Love you too, sweetie." Martha mused. 

Catherine smiled when Adriel walked in still looking sleepy. Catherine is 19 years old and her little brother Adriel is 10. They both live in this magnificent palace-like mansion alone with their father. Well not her father. 

Amelia was a single mother, Catherine's father abandoned Amelia because he didn't have the balls to be a young father, so Amelia raised Catherine alone. Amelia was 18 years old when she had Catherine. Catherine was 8 when Amelia got the eyes of a wealthy man. Richard Hill, a 30-year-old bachelor. As Richard used to say, he instantly fell in love with Amelia at first sight. Amelia was 26 then with an 8-year-old daughter and Richard accepted them both with open arms. They got married and after a year Adriel was born. Their family was complete. They were so happy but on Catherine's 14th birthday...

Amelia met with an accident. She wasn't alone in the car, Catherine was there with her. But God saved her and took her mother away. Catherine never talked about the accident to anyone. Amelia's death shook their happy home.

But they cope with it. Things changed. Catherine started to take care of her brother and Richard started to drown more in work, distracting himself from the loss of Amelia.

The absence of Amelia became a constant in their lives and heart but they had found a way to live with it and Catherine found happiness in the smallest of things.

Martha has been working for them since Amelia came into this mansion as a bride. Martha was a second mother to them and they both love her so much.

"Why do you always make her favorite food, this is cheating Martha," Adriel complained and Catherine only let out an evil laugh causing Martha to smack her head playfully, making her pout.

"I'll make chicken steak for dinner." Martha mused, causing a big smile to appear on Adriel's face and Catherine smiled sheepishly looking at her brother.

They eat their food while Catherine banter how she and her squad pranked the university's Janitor by becoming ghosts, wearing a wig and costume. Adriel laughed while hearing his sister.

After breakfast, Martha handed a lunch box to Adriel who ran out of the mansion and left with the driver in his car for school.

Catherine kissed Martha on the cheek as she too went out. Her driver was waiting for her on the porch. Mr. Steve opened the door for her. "Good morning Mr. Steve." Catherine smiled as Mr. Steve replied with a genuine smile.

The girl was like the only source of light in the whole mansion, who spread smiles and positivity everywhere. Just by looking at her breathtaking smile people felt like smiling back. 

She was a jolly person. The one who spreads kindness, love, and joy. She was full of fun and thrill. Just look at her and you feel like falling for her charms already.