Chapter 7

Ophelia 

It turned out Elina was different. She was free with me and she eventually made me free with her. She brought my food alongside hers to eat with me.

She had a good sense of humor, cracking me up every time. “You know you can stop smiling sheepishly,” she teased.

“Your story is interesting” I shrugged my shoulders and continued stuffing food in my mouth. 

She shook her head, making her blond hair fall on her face. I took time roaming my eyes through her features. She was beautiful. The kind of beauty that makes men turn and gasp.

“If you don't stop staring at me like that, I might think you are gay” 

“I might as well give it a thought,” I said, and she rolled her eyes. “Flirt,” she teased. 

“Want to see something?” She asked when we finished our food. I nodded my head and she took my hand in hers, taking me with her.

We stopped in the middle of an array of roses. “A garden?” I asked, looking around in awe.

“Yes, this is my mum's favorite place in the house. She comes here to clear her head,” she said and I went to the white roses. I picked one and inhaled deeply, savoring the delicate scent.

“I want to stay here forever,” I said happily, running to the red roses to pick one. I inhaled the red roses, savoring the delicate scent also.

Roses are my best flowers. They have their way of consoling you and making you feel beautiful and loved. 

While others loved either the white or red roses, I love the combination of the two. It meant a lot to me.

 “I have always wanted my own garden as a child, my dad would always buy roses for mum and get one for me as well. I will keep them beside me when I go to bed” I smiled at the memory.

There were memories I wanted to relive. “You can have one, just tell Ryder” I gave her a forced smile and nodded my head. 

There was no way he was going to do that for me, so what was the point of asking? “Let's stay here for a while,” I said and sat down on the grass.

She looked at me surprised. “What?” I asked when she was still standing. 

“I just thought—” she stopped and shook her head. “Nothing” she finally said and sat down with me.

I found it amusing, but I didn’t say anything. I just sat there, feeding my eyes with as many roses as I could

At one point, I was lost in the sweet memories I had when I was little. 

It was a beautiful morning when Dad and Mum took me and Olivia to the pack to play as they had an urgent errand to attend to. The pack was my favorite place because there was a small garden there with different flowers.

Olivia was not a fan of flowers so she always went to the playgrounds to play.

I picked a handful of roses and went to where I was playing, dumping it all over her, laughing humorously at her expression.

“Stop it, Lia,” She whined, stamping her feet on the ground. “You are disturbing me”

“I am tired of playing alone,” I said, giving her a sad face. “Let's pick roses,” I suggested.

“I don't like picking Roses. How is that even interesting?” She asked as she went back to playing.

I went back to the little garden and sat down all alone. 

“Lia” Olivia screamed my name. 

“I am here,” I yelped back, and she found me. 

“Why are you sitting down here all alone like a loner?” She asked, sitting down next to me. 

“You don't want to play with me,” I sulked, and she pulled me closer, hugging me. “I am sorry. Should we pick roses for mummy?” She asked and I nodded eagerly.

“I will pick for Daddy also.” I stood up, and she groaned. 

“Roses are for girls and not for boys”

“I don't want Daddy to be sad we got only Mum roses” 

“Okay. Let's pick them before they find us.” We both giggled as we started picking the roses.

The memory brought tears to the back of my eyes. 

Even though Olivia wasn't a fan of Roses, she still helped me pick it when I asked her. We were so close until I fell sick. Then we grew distant and her marriage with Ryder drew the last line.

“Ophelia” I jolted back to reality when Elina touched me. I blinked back my tears and faced her, plastering a forced smile on my face.

“You were lost in thought for a while,” she said.

“I was just remembering one of my childhood memories.” She didn't ask further.

She only smiled. “Let's go back inside. We have been gone for a while”

“Sure” I stood up and dusted my clothes.

When we reached the door, we met Ryder and the guy who pulled out the chair for me, standing by the door.

My eyes met Ryder's own. His eyes were soft which was something I don't get to see very often. “What are you two doing here?” Elina asked.

“It was getting late and we were getting worried. You two were gone for a while” The guy who I haven't still gotten his name said. 

Was Ryder really worried about me? I tried searching for the truth in his eyes but he moved his gaze to Elina.

“Hi, I am David, Ryder's best cousin” I moved my eyes to David. He was tall with a lean body. He had dark brown hair with a sharp nose. He was handsome but not as handsome as Ryder.

“Liar,” Elina teased, interrupted my thoughts, and I had to shake my head to remove the thought of Ryder from my head. Him staring at me wasn't helping at all.

“Just admit it. You don't have to be jealous” I smiled at their bickering.

“Sorry for what happened earlier. It was like a bomb on them” he turned to me. I smiled at him and nodded.

“Nice meeting you David” 

“You have a beautiful smile,” he complimented me with a soft grin, and I felt my cheeks heat up. Before I could respond, Ryder cleared his throat, taking my attention off David. 

His eyes were no longer soft but it was replaced with his usual indifference look.

“Let's head inside,” he said, and we all nodded.

“I am going to introduce you to everyone in the–” She didn't get to complete her sentence when a sudden crash rang out. It was sharp and shattering as if something heavy has smashed to the floor. I felt a cold splash hit my face and I froze. I felt the liquid trickling from my face to my neck and some on my cloths and the rest inside my clothes. 

I heard Elina gasp behind me loudly. I looked down at my clothes already ruined. 

What on earth is happening?