The odd one

Elle Hamilton

The youngest of three children in the family, Elle was always the odd one.

Her elder brother Thomas was a university topper and now a top neurosurgeon. He got his looks from his mother and with those grey eyes and brown hair, he was a heartbreaker for sure.

Her elder sister Rosaline Hamilton was the epitome of female perfection. With blonde hair and grey eyes, she was a top model in New York City. Her commercials going on day and night on the TV and her posters everywhere you go.

The youngest one was our dear Elle Hamilton,25 years of age with average looks.

Brown hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin unlike the white pale of her siblings and parents.

She was not soft-spoken like her sister, instead, you may call her a disrespectful brat if you get to have a bad encounter with her.

But still, she was the sweetest of all, her heart was pure and she could do anything for those she loved.

She wasn't as successful as her siblings and she did get to hear from relatives that she was a disgrace on the Hamilton's.

She loved helping and indirectly became a maid to her sister's orders.

She gave everything but got nothing in return.

Her brother and sister were overprotective or disgraced of her she couldn't distinguish.

She avoided going to parties because she hated hearing others talk about how undeserving she was.

She held a degree in veterinary, which was a great career according to her, but others just laughed at her ambitions.

"One child is saving lives, the other is a top model, and the third one? She is working in a barn, covered in hay, giving deliveries to a calf."

These were the words she heard some elite women at a party laugh about and that too at her face.

She loved animals and her career gave her happiness but these people could never understand this.

Elle was without a doubt the odd one out in her family but this didn't make her any less special.

She was gold and only the eyes of a goldsmith could see her true beauty.

...........................................

Hamilton Mansion

10:42 pm

The whole family was sitting in the living room with Mrs. Hamilton's voice screaming at a high pitch.

"Didn't I say not to go Elle! You were grounded! Now, do I need to lock you in your room next time?"

The girl rolled her eyes but kept silent. In no mood to argue.

"Elle child you should listen to your mother. You are no longer a kid, rolling eyes like a 12-year-old are not acceptable."

"But dad-"

"Not a word Elle! Your dad will not take your side this time! Just look at your sister. Learn something from her at least.!"

"Like how to be a bitch?"

She said slowly but her mother heard her.

"Elle! Don't you dare call her that when you can never be like her! She is soft-spoken, gentle, and has etiquettes unlike you who is just an embarrassment to our family name!"

The last line came out low but Elle still heard her.

"Softly spoken my foot! It is just a veil! She is double-faced and I can never be like her! "

"Elle, just say sorry and let it go! Why are you making it a big deal?"

Her brother Thomas said, speaking for the first time.

"I am making it a big deal? You were making it a big deal when you dragged me out of that club and told her !"

Elle said pointing towards her mother.

"Elle, you can't go to that club alone! Why don't you understand!"

"I was not alone! V was with me and what's the big deal? You never stop Rose from going? Then why me!"

"Stop comparing yourself with Rose Elle, you are not her!"

"Exactly my point mom! I am not like her so stop Fu**** comparing me with her every damn time!"

With this, she was gone and next they heard the sound of a door slamming shut in the silent hallway.

"This girl is just a disgrace! The words she uses! God forbid if anyone from my royal family hears her!

I don't know what to do with this child!"

"Maybe if she gets married, she will learn to be responsible?"

Mr. Hamilton suggested and everyone saw a point there.

"I will begin looking for suitable matches tomorrow only but I don't want Elle to know about this"

Everyone nodded and went their way to call off the night.

...........................................

Her pillow was wet with teardrops, her eyes were swollen and her mind in turmoil.

This was nothing new, since childhood she was always neglected and ignored.

Her mother never gave her kisses like she gave Rose,

Her mother never tapped her head and said she was proud of her like she did for Thomas.

She never prepared her favorite meal and soon her brother's and sister's favorite became her favorites.

She lived in their shadows and that's how her life has been till now.

"Why can't I be like them? Why am I such a disgrace"

She said in sobs and fresh tears trail her cheeks to salted her lips.

Soon her eyes got dried of tears and she found peace of sleep at 1:00 clock at night.

With a throbbing head and a broken heart, the poor soul accepted her fate.

If only she knew it was all going to change in the next few days.

...............................................

Ashton Lockwood

Heir of Lockwood Industries and an only child.

His parents pampered him with everything he placed his finger on and he was no doubt an arrogant one.

He was a speaker of few words and his face devoid of any emotions.

You can crack your best joke and still he will not smile.

Smirking is his favorite and he does it quite often.

He had everything now as he has taken over his father's business and is running it well.

Everything except one.

His wife.

He was 27 already and his family wanted him to settle down.

He also wanted the same as he was himself quite bored with one-night stands and possessive whores.

He wanted a perfect wife and finding her was as difficult as it sounded.

Beautiful was at the top of the list, family and qualification all came later.

He wanted to feel proud to call her his.

He wanted a beauty that would turn heads, but little did he knew that beauty is not always external.

Oblivious to its true meaning.

..........................................

"The way he saw beauty was just a veil

If only he had the eyes to see what lay underneath."

.................

Lockwood Mansion

11:30 pm

He stood at the roof of his mansion with hands placed on the railing.

His mother stood behind him a bit afraid of his reaction to what she was going to say.

"Your Dad has made it clear Son, you will have to marry the girl of his choice."

He didn't react, instead, his eyes didn't even leave the sight of the moon which he was eagerly staring at.

"I know Ash it is your life, but your dad is quite adamant on this, he is just afraid of you choosing the wrong girl and ruining everything."

Mrs. Lockwood sighed at her son's lack of response.

It was nothing new, she was expecting this already.

He has mastered the art of not showing his emotions, no matter what the situation is.

"Son...please don't be angry -"

She placed her hand on his shoulder and he reacted.

"I will talk to him myself mom, you should rest. It's late."

She sighed as what he was suggesting was going to be disastrous.

She could already predict a fight the next morning.

But she knew her son's decision is final, she can't argue with him any longer and it was better to leave with a heavy heart.

"Okay, son.If you say...."

She was going to leave when she felt a warm hand holding her wrist.

As she turned she was engulfed by his body and he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You need not worry mom and avoid taking those sleeping pills every night"

He whispered in her ear and she nodded with a warmness in her heart.

He didn't show but cared a lot for her.

She could see through his every word and emotion, as she was his mother after all.

Soon he receded and before she could catch any other emotion on his face again, he had already turned his back on her.

Making her way downstairs she just prayed for one thing.

Please help the son and father reach a conciliation on this tomorrow.

Or the consequence will not be good.

He stayed there looking at the moon watching its beauty and wondering when he will find her, the one he is looking for.

The next day.

9:46 am

"You think I don't know of your ways? How you tarnished my image by being a casanova! Even if you have stopped now, it doesn't mean you are responsible! I will not let you bring a gold digger into this house and ruin everything I earned working my ass off!"

"You can keep whatever you earned. I am not keeping a penny of it!"

"Oh! Don't you forget now that I was the one who gave you money to start your business! "

"So what? Every father does that, you are no special Mr. Lockwood! I also worked hard to make this company rise! Don't you forget it!"

"I am done arguing with you son! My decision is final! I will choose a girl for you and it will be final! "

"She is going to be my wife! Why the hell will you decide it? Do whatever you want to do! But I will never accept your choice!Never!"

"You will son.,you will and I will make sure of it!"

"I am not someone who you can threaten! I am your Son not some fucking competitor Dad!"

"I know Son and that's why you will listen to me or else forget that I am your Dad!"

"What kind of an emotional shitty game are you playing dad?  I said I will not!"

"Then forget that you are the heir of Lockwood Industries! Forget everything you did building this empire along with me!"

Ashton knew his father was not joking, he knew he will not back down now.

"Congratulations Dad! You were again able to control my fucking life! Congrats but keep in mind, I will make you regret your decision!"

With these final words, he was gone slamming the door shut in anger.

Mr. Lockwood sat on his seat and smiled filling his glass with French wine.

"I will never regret my choice my Son because I will choose an angel for you "

He said smiling to himself and sipping the drink.

..................................................

A few days later.

Poultry farm at outskirts of the city

"That one there is the one which is not giving eggs..."

"Is the hen eating a proper diet? Is there enough calcium in the diet?"

Elle asked staring at the hen the poultry owner pointed at.

"Yes the diet is the same for every hen, the calcium intake is rich."

"Then I need to check it once."

Elle said making her way through the room full of hens to reach the particular one.

As soon as she reached it, the hen began running in a full splint.

Elle didn't wait for a second and started chasing it like a madwoman with the caretaker of the farm doing the same.

"You stand near the gate, Sir! It is coming your way!Hurry!"

She screamed but to her horror, the hen escaped from in-between the person's legs and was out of the room.

Shit!

Both screamed with horror and followed it while locking the door behind them.

It was a farm and that also without a boundary, they couldn't wait another second.

Elle being young was much faster than the old poultry keeper and soon she was running after it blindly jumping over the gardened vegetables and vibrant flowers.

Finally, the hen stopped at the road to eat a worm and Elle slowed down catching her breath.

"You nasty little creature! I will kill you and have roasted chicken in my dinner tonight! "

The hen replied with a clucking sound and Elle picked it up in her arms.

Ahe was so engrossed in catching the hen and now scolding it that she was oblivious of the fact that a sleek black car was coming her way, honking at her continuously.

As soon as she turned around to leave with the hen now secure in her arms, her eyes widened with fear as she saw a back car meters away from hitting her.

The screeching sound of the tires was heard and she involuntarily stepped back making her legs wobble and the hen escape from her grip.

Her body hits the rough gravel and she could feel a sharp pain in her elbows.

Looking up she saw a black expensive-looking car, just a few inches away from her.

She sighed in relief and closed her eyes.

Thank God she is fine.

The farm keeper approaches her asking if she was fine. And she politely nods at him, asking him not to worry.

The black door of the car opens and she held her breath for a second.

"I am doomed for today! He will kill me! How stupid of me to just go and stand on the road calling for death! I am not suicidal for God's sake!"

But all her thoughts were brought to peace when a man stepped out of the car with a look of worry on his face.

He had black grey hair and blue eyes, his business suit fitted perfectly and his long confident steps screaming power and respect.

Unexpectedly he crouched down at her level and started examining her wound.

"I am sorry my child! Are you fine?"

"No...sir.....I mean Yes sir! I am completely fine! Don't worry, it's just a scratch...It's fine....nothing is broken.....I am good to go...see...."

She said getting up on her feet and moving her arms to show that she was fine.

The man laughed at her childish behavior and act of bravery.

It was not just a scratch, the gravel had drops of blood showing it was deeper than it and she needed immediate medical attention.

"Come I will take you to a hospital nearby, it requires some antiseptics and bandages"

"No Sir! I will not like to trouble you! I have already caused enough trouble for you.  I have tri-'

"No child it's okay...come"

"But Sir!!"

"I insist miss...."

"Elle"

"I insist on miss Elle, I will feel relieved once you have been properly treated"

She was reluctant but then the farm keeper nodded asking her to go.

She obliged and soon the driver opened up the passenger door for her as the man guided her.

She had feathers in her hair, hay in her clothes and she must be stinking so bad but still, this gentleman helped her.

She was thankful for him and decided to voice her words.

"I am sorry Sir, actually that hen just ran off, and I had to check it, so I followed and finally she stopped on the road, and I didn't hear your horn, oh no..how stupid I ca-"

She stopped when she heard the sound of rich laughter and looked up to see the man looking at her with a glint of amusement.

"I said it's alright child... don't be embarrassed about it..I don't judge. I promise..."

"Eh okay if you say so..Sir"

She said timidly and continued staring at the trees going past them.

"By the way what were you doing there..do you happen to live on the farm?"

"Oh no, sir...I am a veterinarian and I was called to check on the hen as it was not laying eggs"

He again laughed and she couldn't help but join him.

"Interesting job you got there....it explains the feathers in your hair at least"

As soon as she heard his words she placed her hand on her hair and started pulling on the feathers

Oh god, it was so embarrassing she thought!

"So miss Elle who is in your family....?"

"Mhmm my father, mother, an elder brother who is e neurosurgeon...., my elder sister, Rosaline Hamilton is a top model and then there is me Elle ...the youngest one..a veteran.."

"Hamilton......you are David's daughter?"

He asked amazed.

"Yaa...you know my dad?"

She asked now afraid of presenting herself in such a way in front of her father's associate.

She was again going to tarnish their family name she thought.

"David and I go back to college days...but recently he has been so busy that he doesn't have time for me! Tell him I am angry with him!"

She nodded with a small smile and saw the hospital approach.

"Thank you so much, Sir...I am sorry to cause you trouble..."

"Let me take you inside child.."

"No..no Sir it's fine...I will manage from here"

"Okay ..be careful then."

He said with a gentle smile and I returned it.

"By the way ...what should I say.....who..is angry with my dad?"

"Tell him, Henry Lockwood, his college best friend is."

With that, he was gone and she stood there staring at the retreating back of the car.

Did he just say, Lockwood?

As in the owner of Lockwood Industries?

I am dead!

Dad is going to kill me!

...................................................