Chapter 6

Ophelia

“Ryan, come here,” he giggled and ran behind the couch. I sneaked up to him and caught him, tickling his sides. His laughter makes me smile.

“Mama, stop,” he said amidst laughter. “Next time champ, don't stress mummy” I said, not stopping.

“Stop,” he said and ran away from me. I ran after him, trying to catch up to him. Instead of eating, he has been running around refusing to eat. 

“Dada,” I heard Ryan say, and I stopped running. I straightened my body and looked at the door. 

Ryder carried Ryan and kissed his head. His eyes met mine for a brief moment before returning them back to Ryan.

I returned to the kitchen to clear up the mess Ryan made. 

“Mum asked of you.” I heard Ryder's voice behind me, and I slightly jumped, not expecting him in the kitchen.

“What?” I asked while turning to him. Ryan was still in his arms. 

“We have a family function this weekend,” He said, maintaining eye contact with me, and I removed my eyes from his. 

Since the night he said I should stay away from him. I have avoided him like a plague, barely seeing him.

He leaves early to work without eating the food I prepare. He comes back late every night which made me surprised to see him back early. He takes Ryan with him every night so I had little interaction with him. 

Now seeing him, I didn't know what to do or say to him. 

“I will pack Ryan's bag” I nodded my head and wanted to walk out. 

“He is not coming with us. He will be with your mom” I raised my head.

“Why? You said it is a family function” I didn't want to go with just Ryder. Ryan has been the reason why I haven't been with him in the same space.

“I don't want Ryan to be sick on the long journey.” That made sense. I nodded and left the kitchen leaving him and Ryan. 

I hope this weekend goes well.

*****

“Ophelia darling, you look so beautiful,” Sandra said, hugging me and kissing me on my two cheeks. 

“Thank you. It is pleasant seeing you again” I smiled at her. Beside her was Jacob.

“Welcome my child,” he said, patting my head. I smiled at him.

“Come on, everyone is here already,” Sandra said and led the way. 

“Just stay quiet and smile,” Ryder said beside me as we followed Sandra and Jacob.

I looked at him and saw his attention fix forward. I nodded slightly and we reached a very big dining room. A very big long table occupied the middle with chairs around it. It was in a golden yellow color with ornaments. It looked so beautiful and cutesy.

My eyes landed on the people in the room. There were about 12 people in the room. Their eyes all fell on me making me uncomfortable under their gaze

“Everyone meet Ophelia, Ryder's Wife” Sandra introduced me to them. The silence in the room was unsettling.

Ryder looked comfortable and nonchalant while I was freaking out. Even without knowing, I held my breath, waiting for the silence to be broken.

“Ophelia? When did Olivia change her name?” My eyes widened. A girl about my age asked. I looked at Sandra to help me out but she didn't say anything.

“Ophelia is Olivia's twin sister right? Then why is she here and not Olivia? And as Ryder's Wife?” Another question came from another girl. 

I was confused. Didn't they know anything about Olivia's death and my marriage to Ryder? They are family right? They should know.

“We haven't told you, but Olivia is dead.” I heard Ryder take a deep breath. The others looked surprised except for 5 faces who looked at Ryder in concern.

“This is Ophelia, Olivia's identical twin. She is Ryder's Wife and Ryan's mother,” Sandra explained, and I couldn't be more grateful to her.

“Fucking hell,” I heard a curse out, and that was the beginning of the insults.

“She married her sister's husband?”

“I didn't know she was a slut”

“I can't believe they look so much alike, how come I didn't know her?”

“She isn't even pretty as Olivia”

“She must be fake”

Hearing all their curses, hot tears burnt at the back of my eyes and I barely was able to keep my eyes open. I looked at Ryder and saw him staring at the space.

He didn't even try to defend me or stop them from uttering such words against me. What did I expect? That he was going to claim me as his and defend me?

He made it clear on the first day. I would never be his wife. I will never take Olivia's space in his heart. But I was still married to him.

Sandra looked at me with pity. “Everyone” Jacob's voice bounced in the room, causing silence to descend. “That is not a way of welcoming someone. No one will speak a word against my daughter-in-law again. If you don't want to be here, you can as well leave”

I looked at him with teary eyes. I saw my father in him. He defended me when no one did. My respect for him doubled.

“Here, you can sit here.” A man with black hair pulled out a chair for me, and I murmured thank you before sitting. Ryder took the seat next to me.

“I would like to thank everyone for honoring this invitation and creating time from their busy schedule. And I would also like to welcome Ophelia into the family.” She smiled at me, and I smiled back faintly.

After Sandra addressed everyone, the chef and maid brought the food to the table. The take was full of different types of food. Even some I have never eaten.

“Let's pray,” Sandra said, and she prayed. “For this food, we are grateful to you, Lord. Provide for the needy and continue to bless us”

“Amen,” we all chorused.

Everyone started dishing their food. Ryder was talking to a girl who was sitting by his side. I took a plate of pie and dropped some for him on his plate.

I wanted to serve some for myself when a wincing voice stopped me.

“Don't you know Ryder doesn't like peanuts?”

I looked down at the plate of peanut 

“Erm, I didn't know,” I said, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment as everyone's attention was on me. The lady who spoke gave me a dirty glare.

“How are you supposed to know? Olivia knew all this.” I looked down at the food, my appetite was gone, and I dropped the plate of peanut pie.

I felt Ryder's gaze on me. He should have stopped me from putting it on his plate. He should have said something, but instead, he allowed them to compare me to Olivia again.

“I am sorry” I turned to Ryder without looking at him and stood up. “Excuse me,” I said to them and left the dining room. I walked towards the front door as I didn't know anywhere else in the house.

I sat beside the small fountain and dipped my hand into the water.

I closed my eyes and raised my face up, enjoying the sunlight on my face. I started relaxing, almost forgetting the earlier incident.

“Your skin is beautiful under the sun.” A voice frightened me, and I opened my eyes. I wasn't ready for another insult so I decided to take my leave.

“Hey, you don't have to run from me.” She smiled at me. “I am Elina.” She stretched her hand for a handshake.

I looked from her to her hand debating what to do in my head. What if she was just pretending? What if she wants to make a mockery of me?

But she seems nice. Looks can be deceiving though. 

“Oh, I see. You don't trust me, especially after what happened earlier.” Obviously, I wasn't just going to get with anyone who came for a handshake.

“You don't have to be scared. I am very nice and friendly. Please” she said, giving me a cute look. She did look innocent.

“I am Ophelia,” I said, taking her hand in mine. 

Her smile grew bigger. “I think everyone knows that one already”