“Oh. My. Goodness, Emily! Are you serious?” she finally whispered, her voice rising slightly with each word. I nodded, biting back a smile. “Yes, Stella. I wouldn’t lie about this.” Her hands flew to her mouth, and she shook her head, blinking as if trying to process the information. “How could you just...drop that bomb on me like that?” She chuckled, slowly starting to regain her composure. “Alright, alright. But seriously, Emily, you have to give me a little more than that. How did this happen?” I settled into the chair beside her desk, smiling as I folded my hands in my lap. “It turns out that our families are acquainted, so they made they arrangement for us to meet, and the rest is history,” I said, refusing to give more information away. For a moment, Stella was silent, her eyes studying me as if seeing me for the first time. “Emily, if you hadn’t told me, I never would have known you came from a rich family” she finally said, almost to herself. “You’re so…down-to-earth.
“Oh...” I drawled, barely able to keep the strain out of my tone as I wonder the nerve my mother had to report that to me. It seemed to me that with her favourite daughter back at her side, she has forgotten what she did to me, and Christopher’s warnings as well. “See you soon then!” Mum chirped, oblivious as ever, and hung up without waiting for a response. I stood there, staring at my phone, the brief conversation echoing in my mind. My fingers tightened around the edges of the phone, the familiar bitterness rising up, tainting the sweetness of the day. Tessa noticed my change in mood immediately, her eyes narrowing. “What happened?” I took a shaky breath, glancing between her and Christopher, who was watching me with concern. “Brenda’s back home,” I said quietly. “And they want me to come over early to… celebrate,” I add with a strain in my tone. Tessa’s mouth twisted in annoyance and Christopher’s expression darkened. He took a step closer, his hand resting gently on my
Christopher is right, I need more energy to face my enemies, so I pick up my cutlery and continue eating, but who would have known that I would throw everything up after that? “Emily, are you that upset?” Tessa asked as she uncapped a bottle of water and passed it to me. I took it from her weakly and used some of it to rinse my mouth before handing it back to her. “Trust me, I’m trying to be strong here, but it looks my system recognizes that I can’t pretend anymore,” I said, looking Tessa in the eye. She noticed how tired I was and grasped my arm before helping me out of the washroom. “If you don’t want to go back home, you can follow me to my place. Emily, you know I hate to see you like this,” Tessa said to me with a tinge of bitterness in her tone. I can tell that she’s a little upset with me for exerting myself, but there isn’t much I can do. I don’t want to start staying away from the house once the situation is unfavourable for me because I don’t want to give B
Mum supported Brenda by wrapping one arm around her waist while the other hand held her by the arm. As I took in the scene before me, anger overwhelmed me. Brenda looked so frail, and I wonder the reason she chose not to stay in her bedroom and insisting on coming down for dinner. Maybe she was expecting to see me so she could show me how well she’s being taken care of. I know Brenda like the back of my hand, even if she was dying, she would always find a way to incur pity from others. She was very good at it. Brenda just got out of the hospital after undergoing a serious surgery. If it wasn’t for her insistence, she would have had to spend more time in the hospital. But now that she had forced her way back home, she was not supposed to make vigorous movements when her body wasn’t ready. Mum would never force her to come down for dinner, so that leaves Brenda on the spot for orchestrating all these. I feel very tempted to tell her to her face to stop incurring pity by ma
By the time I was done, Mum had already exhaled more than five times. And I don’t doubt that she is relieved that didn’t let Christopher in. In her mind, she’s still probably thinking that I am unaware that he warned them against me. “Next time, don’t drive out special guest away, no matter the time of the day it is,” Mum said with her gaze on me. “Christopher is your fiance, and will soon be your husband. In fact, he’s my son-in-law already. You have to treat him with respect. This is his second home now. Understand?” I nodded in compliance at Mum’s statement. I bet she is relieved that her head is still attached to her neck. The tinge of nervousness in her tone, already gave her away. “Tomorrow, shampoo your hair and put it in a ponytail, it will make you look simple and homely,” Mum instructed. I believe that she is trying to turn me into a traditional wife just to suit the Moore family’s core values. Although I don’t have any problems with that, but I hope Grandpa Mo
I met Christopher outside the restaurant and together we walked into the restaurant, holding hands. He confirmed that I was really fine and wasn’t being bothered by my parents as he led me towards our table. “I need to make sure no wrong would come to you under my watch otherwise I won’t be able to forgive myself,” he explained as he pulled out a seat for me. “I understand,” I said, smiling at his kind gesture. “And I appreciate your intentions. Thanks to you, I can breathe after several years mistreatment.” Christopher’s smile warmed me up and after a while of staring at my face, a move I didn’t quite understand, he told me that our breakfast was buffet style and we had to actually serve ourselves. I had to hold back from asking him why we wasted all that time for. Somehow, I think this buffet style is just his way of trying to see more of I like to eat. Christopher can be very intentional, and he deserves his flowers. I mean, he deserves a reward of his kindness. Ch
Mum had already called me more than three times before I could finish packing and go down to the underground parking lot to pick up my car. There are still three hours and twenty minutes left before the time the Moore family would be coming around, but it seemed like she couldn’t wait already. When Mum called me for the fourth time, I had already driven out of the parking lot and hit the expressway, and only then did I connect my phone to my car’s Bluetooth before taking her call. “Where did you keep your phone all these while I’ve been calling you, or did you see them and deliberately ignored me?” She asked, sounding pissed at the other end. I ignored Mum’s rants and directly tell her that I was on my way home. “I’m on my way home, did something happen?” Mum ignored my question and directly asked, “How many minutes away from home are you?” “I wouldn’t know. I just left the office,” I replied curtly. Then I heard Mum inhale sharply from the other end. I knew what was
A subtle frown appeared on Mum’s face at the command Dad had given. “Why is that? Brenda is a part of our family, why do you want her to stay in her room when the Moore family arrives?” “You are always taking things too far. Did I say that Brenda isn’t a part of our family? She is our daughter, of course, I wouldn’t short-change her!” Dad said, looking offended. He was clearly unhappy about Mum’s insinuation. “Our daughter had just returned home after going through a serious surgery and according to her doctor, she is not allowed to be moving about. Stress should be far away from her,” Dad added, staring at Mum squarely. “Tell me, what would you do if she were to faint in front of the Moore family? How will we redeem ourselves?” Dad’s question had Mum sealing her lips and the hard expression on her face, softening. She must have thought that made a lot of sense since getting the More family’s favour was more important. “Brenda has fainted in front of them before. Imagine
Emily.It is with so much relief on my heart that Christopher and I are walking right next to each other without any other human to interfere.Tessa is my best girl. She read the situation and then proceeded to an act. Mum almost ruined it though by trying to make Brenda follow us.I don’t know what she was thinking when she brought up that idea. I bet she didn’t know she looked empty in front of the Moore family for what she did.If I wasn’t so sure that Mum would never want to jeopardize her bidding relationship with the Moore family, I would have thought she was thinking of making Christopher interested in Brenda. I hope I’m not wrong.Because, I haven’t forgotten the fact that Mum was going to help Brenda marry Christopher instead after Brenda found out Christopher’s identity and cried to her that she wanted him.To think Mum had been foolish to even consider her request and even proceed to act on it.Today made me realize that there was probably nothing Mum could not do fo
Tessa.Mrs. Wilson being unable to read the ruin angered me in ways I didn’t know was possible.Even that fool naked Brenda pretended to be oblivious to the situation and sat there next to her mother, fluttering her lashes innocently; like she was some pitiful unloved lady ostracized by her family. If I didn’t know what Brenda was like, I would have fallen for her stunt but thankfully, I would never be deceived by her. But my family was different.They don’t know Brenda is a white lotus and a green tea bitch.And although I would like to expose that witch right in front of them, now wasn’t the time as it could ruin things for Emily. Besides, I can still deal with Brenda on my own.She doesn’t know whose lands she is stepping on.The awkward silence stretched enough to erupt Chris’s anger. He wasn’t a fan of Brenda, thanks to the true stories I told him about how Emily used to be bullied by her, and her mother.But before things could get out of hand; like Chris displaying an
Tessa. Grandpa’s talks were getting boring. From taking about the wedding, he shifted focus to business, engaging Emily’s dad in the conversation.Mr. Wilson’s eyes was full of smiles as he immediately connected to the conversation. After all, the business deal was the reason for his happiness, not his daughter’s marriage. I rolled my eyes inwardly as the silence on my part stretched. And that was when my gaze fell on my cousin, Chris. He was looking my way but I could bet it wasn’t me he was staring at.There was someone he had come to adore who was sitting next to me.From the corner of my eyes, I caught Emily looking back at Chris. And instantly, a smile appeared on my lips.These two looked tired of sitting at a place with no opportunity to interact with each other. Unfortunately for them, Grandpa was so old fashioned that he doesn’t have any innovative ideas in regards to this aspect.He doesn’t understand that the future couple need to spend more time together to know
While I’m happy someone from the Moore family came to my defence which is proof they had accepted me, I couldn’t help but be mad at Mum.What she just displayed was evidence of how bias she was to Brenda. She just showed the Moore family that I am the less preferred. Which is stupid.I don’t care that Mum loves Brenda with all her life. At least, she should tame her emotions and obsession outside. Even Dad who was alert, seemed to disapprove of Mum’s actions in front of the Moore family. I could tell by the way he touched the back of her hand while gazing elsewhere.And I would like to think that he was more disappointed because she and Brenda had indirectly told them they didn’t like the work they did with my wedding invitation cards.Soon, the awkwardness hanging in the air disappeared along with Tessa’s presence. Tessa arrived with a warm smile on her face , especially after she saw me. But the second she noticed Brenda, I saw her smile crack.I perfectly understand my fri
I felt Brenda’s discomfort as Grandpa Moore engaged me in a conversation. I think she’s crazy for even wanting the Moore family’s attention on her. Brenda is nothing short of a heavily delusional psychopath who doesn’t have a limit to her actions. Why on earth would she be mad that all attention was on me now? Somehow, I wished that Brenda will be taken away from my side. I don’t like sitting beside her and assimilating her negative energy. It makes me more mad. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other option. From talking about work, Grandpa shifted the conversation, mentioning the wedding which was in a few weeks. Uncle Frederick’s wife mentioned the wedding invitation cards were ready. A minute later, their family butler brought a square-shaped box with a red ribbon at the top. “They arrived this morning,” Grandpa Moore revealed with a smile before turning to Christopher to give him a glance. Then Mum used the opportunity to say her thoughts. “I think we should unveil the
“Thank you for caring this much about my daughter,” Mum said, her eyes lighting up like fireworks. Then almost immediately, she dragged Brenda into the conversation. “Brenda, you have to thank Mr. Moore.” And as if Brenda was just waiting for the right moment to show herself, she took Mum’s leading and turned her attention to Grandpa Moore. “Thank you, grandpa for your well wishes,” she said softly before turning to Christopher’s uncles to do the same. “... I deeply appreciate your concern.” It was so hard keeping a straight face when anger was about to consume me whole. Brenda spoke so endearingly as if she was the one marrying into the Moore family. It can’t be jealousy driving me at this point. Also, I’m not being paranoid. I have every reason to be furious at Mum and Brenda. I don’t know who is more dumb between the two but finally after analyzing the situation, I realised that Mum was the foolish one because how can you try to get Brenda into the Moore family’s good bo
“The patriarch and his family are all waiting in the living room. I will lead the way,” the butler informed Mum and Dad while gesturing towards the building’s entrance. “Sure,” Dad muttered as he and Mum quickly started to walk behind the butler and in no time, my steps and Brenda’s fall into place behind our parents’. The Moore residence was nothing like anything we had seen. It had this vintage style to the building whereas inside the house, the decors and styles were modernized, making it look like there have been a renovation in recent times. Brenda and I couldn’t help staring at the intricate designs on the walls, and the beautiful sculpture pieces inside the building. But I made sure my fascination was masked with a subtle elegance. Stepping into the grand living room with a splash of pure gold used in the interior decor, we meet the members of the Moore family rising to their feet with welcoming smiles on their faces. Within a few seconds, my gaze swiftly moved from on
As Mum and Dad went over to the first car, Brenda got in next to me and slowly secured her seatbelt. Next, she turned to me, her lips parting several times before finally bringing forth a word. “Emily, how do I look tonight? Do you think my lipstick is a little too dull?” Instantly, my eyes narrowed into splits as I briefly turned my gaze to her. What nonsense?! Is this witch actually asking me how she looks tonight? Is she on something? What kind of delusion gave her the effrontery to even say a word to me, talk more of trying to make me gauge her looks tonight? There could be only one reason for Brenda being high this evening. Her senses have returned. I feel Brenda deserves a beating for her annoying thoughtless provoking actions right now. She only acts out of point and looks for my trouble when she was her usual self. I guess she has actually made full recovery from the surgery. My stare on Brenda conveyed my deep hatred for her and I guessed just for a tiny
My question seemed to stop Mum right in her tracks. She stared at me for a moment and finally, Dad broke the silence. “We are going to be late if you two keep arguing,” he said with a tight frown. I bet he was only trying to end this fight because it wasn’t beneficial with his plans to keep time with the Moore family. “Darling, we are leaving in just two cars. What’s the sitting arrangement?” Mum asked as her gaze darted towards the cars before shifting back to Dad. As soon as Mum asked that question, Brenda interrupted with that annoying harmless smile on her face. “Mum, you and Dad can ride in the first car while I ride with Emily,” she suggested, taking Mum’s arm as if to please her and get her to agree.I’m not surprised Brenda made that suggestion. If anything, I had been expecting it. And if she hadn’t made that suggestion, I would have questioned her.Brenda likes attention. She can’t do without making others look bad as long as it would elevate her in other people