Chapter Three

Sylvia sat on a stool by the island of her kitchen while stirring the cup of tea in her hands.

Her head jerked up, her attention drifted from the cup in her hands as she heard the door bell ring.

The maid who was in the kitchen with her left to check who was at the door and returned shortly.

"Who was at the door, Jess?", Sylvia asked not looking up from her cup.

"It was Miss Marano, ma'am", the maid replied fiddling with her fingers nervously.

"Wasn't my daughter at home?"

"No... I mean...it's not your daughter"

Sylvia's head jerked up, this time aggressively.

"It's the older miss, she.....", the maid didn't get to finish what she was saying because her boss stormed off.

Sylvia walked into her living room, a livid look on her face as she spotted her step daughter sitting down on a chair engrossed in a conversation with her father.

She made her heels click loudly on the tiles to announce her presence as she went to have a seat beside her husband.

"Well, if it isn't our dear old Selena", she said, a sly smirk plastered on her face.

SELENA'S POV

I fought myself to not roll my eyes at her. If I was going to get any form or iota of help from these people, I might as well be on my best behaviour.

I gave her a faint smile instead.

"What brings you here after so long?", her irritating voice rang in my ear.

I didn't know if I felt comfortable saying the reason for my visit to her.

"She doesn't mean any harm, dear. She just came here for some help", Mr. Marano said.

You're probably wondering why I'm addressing him by his name and not as my father.

It had been that way eversince he left us. I no longer consider him as my father but as the person who donated a part of his body for my reproduction.

Wait...yes..yes... that's right.

"And what sort of help could that be?", Sylvia asked.

Bitch..you couldn't just eat up the first piece of information and rest?

Pardon my language

"Um...", Mr. Marano started.

"Mom's in the hospital and I need some money", I said as I handed her the document that I was given by the hospital showing the cost of the operation and the list of drugs that she'll need and their prices.

She looked at it for a while and I swear I saw a smirk, then she dropped the document on the coffee table and passed it to me.

"Sorry, but we don't have that kind of money", she crossed her hands across her chest.

"Please, I'll pay you back"

She scoffed as if to say, 'Ya right, like you can afford such, you peasant'

"I suppose we can help them out, dear", Mr. Marano said to his wife as she shot him a glare.

"Don't tell me you're still thinking about your ex-wife?", she squinted her eyes at him.

Jealous much.

"N-No.. how can you say that?", he tried to defend himself even though I could see right through him.

I don't know what he was trying to aim at with that guilty look on his face but it would be better for all of us if he remembered that he lost a place in our lives years ago and he shouldn't be having flashes of guilt and regret in his eyes.

He should count himself lucky to see my face after all these years. I wouldn't even be here if I wasn't desperate and I'm really in need of their help so I'm trying very hard to swallow my pride.

"If it isn't my loser sister", my step sister, Adelaide strode in with her hands crossed across her chest.

I fought back an eye roll and scoffed inwardly.

Loser? That's rich coming from a dropout.

No offense.l

Adelaide is a college dropout and she was just in her first year. She believed she didn't need to go to school if she was going to get married to Timothee Chalamet.... and she flunked all her courses.

And no offense but, Timothee has better taste and shouldn't be cursed till death does him part.

"We'll give you the money", she said causing everyone to look up at her even me.

I know I should be happy and all but..... this was unexpected especially coming from her.

Being able to overrule your parents' decision sure does take a lot of bitchy power.

"If......", she continued.

I knew there was a catch. Was beginning to wonder when Adelaide started having compassion. That almost sounds like a nightmare.

"You get married to someone in my place", I slowly turned from the document on my hands to meet her gaze. The corner of her lips tugged up forming a smirk as she raised her brows a bit.

"Have you ever heard of the Guillaume family?", she asked circling my chair.

"No"

"Of course you don't", she scoffed. "Well if you must know the Guillaume family is one of the richest families in this part of the world and Mr. Guillaume, a very rich and powerful business tycoon wants his bastard son to get married to me"

"Like can you imagine that"

"No", I muttered.

No, I can't imagine a poor man having to suffer for the rest of his life.

"Exactly", she turned to face me. "That's why you my dear have to take my place.... that is if you want the money for your mom's bills"

I need the money but I'm not gonna throw my life away to someone I barely know. What if I get married to him then....no, I'm not one for divorces. And I don't want want them to be happy and feel like they've got the upper hand.

Oh c'mon Selena, they do have the upper hand if not you wouldn't be here. You have to swallow your pride for mom's sake.

"I heard he's so not good looking and poor... and diseased", Adelaide snickered behind me.

My hands balled into fists.

"Oh Addy dear, don't speak so ill of your sister's future husband", Sylvia retorted slyly.

"Take your time in making that decision Selena...just kidding you don't have a choice, you have to marry him, he's in the same class as you anyway"

As much as I would hate to say this, but Adelaide was right. I didn't have a choice.

I watched as a satisfied smile spread across her face as she saw mine in turmoil.

I turned slowly to face Mr. Marano who hadn't said anything eversince, listening quietly as the controlled his home. His eyes held unspoken apologies and emotions that I wouldn't want him to show.

Standing up, I walked towards Adelaide, "I'm sorry, but I can't do it"

"Oh c'mon, don't be like that Selena. You know you need the money, and I need to not marry an old bastard who should be questioning his life choices", she snapped a little.

I turned to leave when I heard her say from behind me, "The offer is still open, better hurry before I change my mind "

And with that that, I left the house.