~Agathe~"Seduce an old codger with heaps of money so that you can, at long last, fund your mother's surgery."Settling down the emptied platter of highball glasses on the countertop, I glanced at Grazie to show her my baffled expression. "You are in desperate need of cold cash, aren't you? It's all over your pretty face."I looked down, choking sorrow radiating from my sapphire eyes. Grazie must have detected that something was rattling me ever since this morning.My mind is in utter shambles. I received a call from the sole hospital in our village.The chief doctor told me that my mother's condition had gotten worse. Her medications aren't working anymore and she needed to have her surgery as soon as possible. And, it must transpire tonight or it would be too late for my poor mother. The sole complication was, I still don't have the ready money."I don't know what else to do, Graz." I muttered, and a lone tear fell from my eye. I hastily wiped it. Working in a teensy restaurant l
~Agathe~"Where is my mother, doctor Farah?" I inquired as soon as I arrived at the Snowflake Hospital fifteen minutes later.I almost forgot to pay for the cab. Good thing the cab driver knew me and let me off the hook. Sprinting inside the hospital's premises, I was an utter mess. Still in my waitress uniform and my long, wavy reddish locks were disheveled all over my face.A runny nose and dried tears adorned my cheeks but I couldn't care less. I was shaking like a leaf, utterly frightened that something unacceptable happened to my mother. "For now, she's stable, Miss Capucine."Thank god. "We did everything to stabilize her condition. But, I'm afraid that one final attack and your mother won't make it again." I unconsciously dropped my knees on the floor. I sobbed, crying my heart out. Bawling like a wee child. Shoulders trembling from too much weeping. "She was at her limit. Her fragile body can't take the medications anymore. The surgery she needed cannot be performed here
~Gunther~"Could you clarify that for me? I don't think I understand, Atty. Schneider."I was having a light breakfast on the front porch of my villa together with my deceased grandmother's most trusted lawyer, Atty. Spencer Schneider. It has been two months since my grandma passed away at the age of eighty one. It was a very grim moment for my family, especially for me. It took me weeks to recuperate. Mind, body and soul. The most unbearable time to bounce back to my old self after my cherished Abuela had crossed the Styx. Under those circumstances, Atty. Schneider had been patient with me. He had been dying to read me my grandma's last will and testament. "You heard me right, Gunther." Atty. Schneider took a sip of his piping hot coffee. Panting merely because I just finished working out, I rested my head on the back of my seat. I was sweating hard, in spite of the frosty weather. "I can't claim my inheritance if I am not married. Yes, I heard you. Loud and clear, Attorney."
~Agathe~"That bellend! What a stony-hearted imbecile! Such a nincompoop! I hated his guts so much! Argh!"I should have done more than slapping and pouring cold water on his face!How could he humiliate me like that? Does he own my body or something? I was inside the lift. Weeping in the corner, hugging my knees. Like a wee lassie whose sanity had gone astray. I am so terrified. I haven't got the faintest idea of how I can acquire the bloody cash for my mother's surgery anymore. I was so sure that I would get that sponsorship no matter what. Yet the exact jiffy that bastard asked me to get undressed, like a whore he picked up on the streets, my stomach turned upside down. Who cares if he was a tycoon and must have been rolling in money all his life? Who cares if he was handsome and totally my type? "He should rot in hell for being the male chauvinist pig that he was!"The lift dinged and opened, silently apprising me that I had arrived on the ground floor. Enfeebled, I almost st
~Gunther~"Sadly. I don't give second chances to people who wronged me, love." I couldn't care less if she was an important key for me to claim my inheritance. She slapped me, she is deserving to shuffle off this mortal coil. No woman had ever put me to shame like that. That, my bruised ego couldn't forgive. Cocking the hammer of my special revolver, the sound of the cylinder rotating is like music to my ears. I stared back at the woman kneeling in front of me. "Any last wishes?" She closed her tear-stricken eyes as if uttering a prayer to her God. Holding my horses, I waited for her. Until I got bored. "Nothing? Alright, then." Positioning my revolver near her head, I was about to pull the trigger, almost. But, she murmured something that had me blown away. "Can I get a kiss?" Flabbergasted, I asked. "What?" She opened her eyes and gazed directly at mine. "Kiss me, Mr. Silvestri. That is my last wish." What the fuck? What is she playing at? I lowered my gun and contemplate
~Agathe~Damn that voice. Shoulders slouching, I looked behind me and gasped softly. It was the bellend! A tall dog was wagging its tail beside him. "Right. This is Mishka. Mishka, meet my bride."Mishka wagged her tail more. As if she was thrilled to bump into me. "She likes you already? Strange." The bellend patted his dog's head. I groaned in frustration. "I am not going to be your bride." He stood up properly and stared back at my weary eyes. "Why not? I don't think you have a choice." His gaze shifted to my body, blatantly ogling at my exposed cleavage. "Hmm." "Sicko." I uttered, crossing my arms over my chest. His eyebrows arched. He was offended. Well, serve him right. "It's all greek to me why you act like that when I was certain you fell in love with me at first sight." Dang it. Here I thought he didn't notice that. Whatever. There was no point in denying that now. "I did. But, my attraction to you merely lasted for a second the moment I realized how obnoxious you are
~Agathe~"After we get married, you are not allowed to go back to Snowflake Village for the time being. Furthermore, you are not allowed to see your mother. You will be staying at my side. Rain or shine, day and night for the next three months." The nerve of this guy. How could he have the pure talent to annoy the hell out of me? He is so good at this. "If you're asking why? We have to make our setup much more believable to my parents and my grandmother's attorney. Any more questions?"My hands nearly dropped the pen he provided for me. I was right. From this moment on, I am his prisoner.It would be sealed once I sign this marriage contract."Nothing at all, your highness."My voice was hardened by sarcasm, and could not even conceal my resentment. Upon scribbling my signature above my name on the document, I tossed the paper and pen back on the table. It was his time to sign it. I watched him do it like a hawk, his hand gracefully moving up and down. When he was finished, he de
~Agathe~"We are gathered here on this night to witness the union of Mr. Gunther Percival Silvestri and Ms. Agathe Clementine Capucine in holy matrimony. A night of great celebration and blessing."Blessing, my ass. Bad luck? One hundred percent. "Take each other's hands and get ready to exchange vows and rings." Vows? The bellend grasped both my hands, tight and firm, while we were staring into each other. His dark amber eyes were shining, and his pinkish lips curved in a gorgeous smile. He was playing his part as my loving husband. Can't deny he has dazzling skills in that specific area. "Mr. Gunther Percival Silvestri." "Yes, father?" "Do you pledge to love this woman, to be loyal and truthful to her, and to comfort and keep her, to cherish and accept her, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"I can't for the life of me understand that standing in front of a priest, declaring lifetime vows, was so nerve-wracking.I am not in
~Agathe~“Baby, can you forgive me too?” Gunther asked our daughter when she had calmed down a little. “I’m so sorry for failing to be your father for the past four years. I’m so sorry that I tried to push you away and rejected you so many times that I lost count.”“I understand, Daddy. Yennie would always tell me that you were just hurting because of Mommy's disappearance.” We were both silent after that, but Carlyle went on.“I love you so much, mommy. I love you so much, daddy. I forgive both of you.” Carlyle told us, intertwining her hands with mine and Gunther's. “Please, mommy, don't ever leave us again. Don't ever leave me and Daddy again. Daddy and I need you here. We need you.” I nodded at her.I know it will take her a lifetime to truly forgive me, but I am still willing to do anything just to make up for the time I spent without her and Gunther.“I love you so much, too, my sweetheart.” When Gunther's gaze met mine, I whispered to him as well. “I love you so much, too, Gunt
~Agathe~[Present Time]I opened my eyes in haste and furrowed my eyebrows when I heard something inside the house. The flashbacks playing in my mind had stopped but I couldn't care less since I suddenly got worried.The sound seemed to be a commotion, and the only people left inside the house were Graziella and Thaddeus.I quickly stood up and ran towards the house, not looking back at my parents’ graves. I opened the kitchen’s backdoor and entered the house, desperately searching for Graziella and Thaddeus.What if Gunther had followed us and hurt Grazie and Thad because he couldn't find me inside the house? “Grazie? Thad?”I gasped and felt as if my soul had been ripped away from my body when I noticed Gunther and Thaddeus brawling on the floor. My heart tightened in pain when I also noticed Gunther's handsome face was covered in bruises and scratches.“Where is my wife, Thaddeus!” Gunther punched Thaddeus in the face, sending him flying into the wooden coffee table.The coffee tab
~Agathe~I remembered growing up with a lot of hatred engraved in my heart.Despite being surrounded by good people, I never forgot the promise I made to myself when I was five years old.[Flashback, five years ago]“You're late again, Miss Capucine.” Our English teacher said as soon as I entered the classroom.“I'm sorry, Miss Kim.” I apologized and went to my seat. I opened my literature book to page fifty three as instructed on the board.As expected, my classmates began whispering about me. “Goodness. I cannot stand her. She is so pitiful. She makes our village look cheap with her cheap clothes.”“Her beauty means nothing if his father is already dead. Who dies in an avalanche anyway?” Then everyone laughed, and Miss Kim did nothing to stop them.“Everyone knows you have a sick mother and work in a restaurant. But, do you really have to be late to my class every day, Miss Capucine?” Miss Kim replied angrily to me, her nostrils flaring.“I'm sorry.” That was all I could say again.
~Agathe~“You should take a shower first, Agathe, and change into clean clothes.” Graziella reminded me as we finally entered the house.I gasped, and tears nearly welled up in my eyes again. Everything inside my house was immaculately clean and organized.Graziella patted my back. “I come back here every day to clean and water your plants, hoping that one day you will return home. I know you were only gone for a few weeks, but the thought of not seeing you again tormented me.”Graziella quickly put some shoes on my feet. “I figured you would want to visit your mother and father first, so you should wear these. God, your feet are so cold.”She wiped away the tears that had fallen down her cheeks and stood up again. She guided me to the kitchen, where the backyard door is located.Thaddeus was quietly following behind us as we opened the door to the backyard, and my mouth opened wide in amazement once more.“How on earth. .” That was all I could say as I stared at everything in front o
~Agathe~This definitely changes everything.How am I going to look at Carlyle now that I have killed her own grandparents?I was shocked when Graziella snatched the papers from my hand and threw them back on Thaddeus’ lap.“She is not going back to that mansion. Drive us straight to Snowflake Village, Silvestri. I'm going to hide her so that no one can hurt Agathe again.”A tear fell from my eye until I could no longer stop it. I suddenly burst into tears and broke down.How is this possible? How did Carlyle become my daughter?How did someone so cute and adorable come out of me?How will she forgive me now that there's a possibility she saw me unaliving her own grandparents?“Grazie. Carlyle is my daughter.” I said with a hint of happiness in my voice. But, I know they can sense the utter devastation deep inside me as well.Graziella adjusted her body to stare at me from the passenger’s seat, and her eyes welled up with tears as she spoke to me.“I know, pookie. And, I am really sor
~Agathe~I was astonished when Yesenia gave me a weird look. Her eyes reflected a faint hint of disappointment.My heart fell when she gave me that look.I expected her to be the first person to understand that I did not intend for any of this to happen.I thought she would defend me and assure me that everything would be fine.“Arghhh. .” I heard someone groan behind me and when I glanced, I saw Calixto slowly sitting up.His eyes remained closed as he gently held the back of his head, even though it was still bleeding a bit. I wanted so badly to show how grateful I was that he woke up and even wanted to ask him if he was feeling alright.However, as I turned my attention back to Gunther, I noticed that his gaze never wavered. He continued to look at me with the same, even colder eyes.I felt like my whole world had turned upside down. I do not want to live any longer after everything I am experiencing right now.My eyes widened when he tried to take a step toward me while still hold
~Agathe~I felt Gunther straighten his body after seeing the gun being pointed at me. He dropped my arm that was holding him and shielded me with his body.“You have the audacity to point a gun at my wife, father? Seriously, where is all of this confidence coming from?”“You are full of debts, your life is hanging by a thread, and the only thing keeping you alive is me. And, yet you have the audacity to point a gun at my wife!”I tried to look at Gunther's father, but Gunther would not let me. He held me in place by placing his arm in front of me.“You caused me to be in so much debt, you fucking piece of shit!”“And, whose fault is that, father? You are the one who gambled away all of your money! You weren't forced to do that! I only set the trap for you! It was still your decision to do such a thing!”Before anyone could say anything else, I noticed how quickly Calixto walked towards Gunther's father and snatched the gun from the devil’s hand.Then he kicked Gunther's father in the
~Agathe~I scoffed when Gunther ignored my question as if I was not there. He didn't even flinch, and kept doing whatever the hell he was doing.The nerve of this guy. Am I a joke to him?He bent down a little to sign some documents on the coffee table, holding a pen in his hand. When he was finished, he stood up and casually slipped his hands into his pockets.Afterward, I saw Atty. Schneider gathered the papers and carefully placed them inside his attaché case. Then, he stood up as well and casually shook Gunther's hand as if I had not just threatened his client.“Congratulations, Gunther. You are now the rightful owner to all of Madame Hester's three hundred fifty billion dollars worth of wealth, assets and properties.”Atty. Schneider was smiling from ear to ear. He seemed genuinely happy for Gunther.“Thank you very much for all of your help, Attorney Schneider. I owe it all to you. Without your assistance, I would be unable to claim what is rightfully mine.” Gunther said in his
~Agathe~[Present Time]I could hear faint voices talking around me. I looked around the darkness that surrounded me but saw no one.I felt like I was floating, but my feet remained on the ground. I felt hopeless.I want to go back to my mother because she still needs me. My father just died, and I am the only one she has left.“Her finger moved, Doctor Wright!” I heard someone say something beside me, but when I looked to my side, I saw no one.“Hello? Who are you? Where exactly am I? Where is my mother?" I asked in a loud voice, without even opening my mouth.“She's regaining consciousness. Quickly, call Gunther.”“But, Doctor. He is downstairs, discussing something important with his family. What are we supposed to do?”“Check her pulse. Check everything.” Before I could respond, I felt something powerful catapult me through the air.“Arghhhhhhhhh!”Before I knew it, I opened my eyes again to see a bright light aimed directly at my eyes. “She is awake! The patient is awake, doctor!