I can barely recognize myself in the mirror when the make-up artist finally steps away from my face.According to mum’s order, she had made me look a bit mature with the powder and concealer just to fit Mr. Austin.I guess she is ashamed of the man just like I am for her to go to this extent.“I have a few jewellery pieces, I will bring them now,” Mum says to the makeup artist and leaves immediately. Few minutes later, she returns to my side with three different jewellery pieces “Which one would suit her outfit from amongst these pieces?” Mum inquiries, in deep contemplation. Then I see her eyes linger on the pearl necklace.A scoff escapes my lips. I would never have believed that she would one day care about my looks enough to give me something from her expensive jewellery collection if a day like today didn’t come by.Anyone who doesn’t know Mum will think she loves me so much and want me to be presentable, not knowing that she has a selfish reason behind her attitude.Some
“Go on!” I snap. “Go ahead and rip it so you can finally prove to mum that things go horribly wrong when you are with me otherwise, I’m well behaved. Also, the maids are outside and can clearly hear out conversation.”Rolling my eyes, I add, “Even if they can’t hear out conversation, the subject remains that the jewellery ripped after you walked into my room. Let’s see how long Mum will continue to feign ignorance.”Instantly, the smirk on Brenda’s lips disappear and finally, I can exhale in relief, knowing that my threat worked.Although I’m not confident about finally proving a point to mum because it might end up backfiring since she is so biased, I don’t take any risks.“I don’t need to cause any troubles for you today because you are already in one,” Brenda sneered, folding her arms below her chest. “You are getting married to an old man who wouldn’t even treat you well, so it’s fine if you play a little dress up game today with Mum’s stuff. I can put up with that.”“Get the
Mum’s actions doesn’t surprise me. I was never expecting her to punish Brenda after all, she has loved her for almost twenty years.It would be an impossible thing to expect her to suddenly punish or hate Brenda. But I am content with the seed of doubt that has been successfully sown.Arriving at the private tea house where the family meeting was scheduled, one of Dad’s bodyguards holds the car door open for me, something that I have never experienced.Brenda snorts and walks past me to go hold Mum’s hand, but right as she is about to cling to her, Mum turns to me. “Hurry up and come here!” As soon as I get to her side, she takes my hand. “You better put up a smile today. Don’t look like a robot in there and disgrace your father and I.”I don’t say anything in return as my eyes search for Brenda, wanting to know how she must be feeling to not receive our parents attention. I see her with a scowl sitting on her face immediately my eyes find hers. At least she hasn’t fainted yet.
Tessa, Christopher, Brenda, Mum, Dad and I are overwhelmed by different reasons known to us, but I try to take a guess starting from me.I had prepared my mind that I was meeting an old man based on the facts Brenda had spewed, but to my surprise, it turned out that she was mistaken. But the shocking fact is that the arrangement is with Christopher, my Boss.Now, Christopher is not just my boss, he is my one-nightstand partner! And I had just submitted my confession to him yesterday. I’m not even sure he has watched the clips, so who dare I try to gauge his current thoughts?A breath gets caught in my throats as the waiters start to serve the dishes and I immediately grab the glass of water sitting in front of me to chug it down.I don’t even dare to lift my gaze feeling Christopher’s eyes on me. I bet he wants nothing more than to murder me.There is a high chance that he will reject this arrangement. My job is not even safe, then how can it be a marriage with him given the weig
The ambulance soon arrives, and Mum goes with Brenda first while I stay with back with that for a few minutes.“My apologies, Chairman Moore, for the disruption. Brenda has not been well lately. And with your permission, I will take my leave now,” Dad says to Tessa’s grandfather and I catch a tinge of regret and embarrassment off Dad’s eyes.It must have shook his pride to experience this abrupt situation in the Moore family’s, and he is in no way happy about it.“The situation is understandable. Give me a call after you have settled your family’s business,” Grandpa Moore says to him.Dad bows gratefully to me before taking me along as he left the private room.I somehow manage to catch Tessa mouthing ‘I will call you later’ before Dad drags me away.Dad doesn’t say a word to me on our way to the hospital. He is both anxious and annoyed but as for me, I sit back and relax without a care in the word.I think that Brenda chose this moment to faint just to ruin the meeting. She de
Today must be one of the happiest days of my life because what in heavens is going on here?I was eavesdropping to know if Brenda will say anything bad about me so I can know their next step, but instead, I got something wonderful.Who on earth will believe that Mum and Dad will scold Brenda and blame her at the same time and ask her not to join in the next family meeting?I chuckle within myself and straighten my back with a big smile on my face. Finally, there is something more important to Mum and Dad than Brenda, and that happens to be the connection with the Moore family.At this point, I’m not even worried if Christopher will cancel the engagement or not, I just feel so happy to know that Brenda doesn’t rank the highest in Mum and Dad’s life.I reel in my happiness for a moment, but when I press my ears to the door again, I hear Brenda crying and sniffing.“It’s all my fault,” she says, taking the blame. But I know that she has only got started with another emotional bla
“Austin,” Grandpa calls me and immediately corrects himself. “Treat your fiancée well at work. You both will be engaged after the second family greeting.”I don’t say a word in response to that instruction, and he doesn’t bother because he knows that I will not defile his instructions.Tessa chooses to ride with my back to the family residence and I can’t get her to shut up knowing that was the exact reason she chose to join my car.“Wow! I am the happiest woman on earth today. I will go to church for a Thanksgiving prayer and offer arms to the poor. I won’t even get man if anyone offends me today.”A deep breath escapes my lips. This is what I have been hearing her say for the past five minutes since we got on transit.I don’t see a point in her happiness but as a thought occurs to me, I quickly turn my sharp gaze to her. “Did you know Emily was the woman the family arranged for me?”“No!” she denies immediately with a small furrow to her brows. “Believe me, I am as shocked a
SUNDAY.Emily’s POV.Brenda regains control of Mum and Dad’s love at the breakfast table but at least this time, there is peace.Everyone seems to be in a good mood except for Brenda and I.Well, Mum and Dad are happy with the family meeting with the Moore’s and the agreement half-reached that they can’t smiling from ear to ear.Brenda looks a little moody; still feigning weakness and unwell but otherwise, she is eating well. I bet to think that she doesn’t want to ruin the atmosphere today with her usual targets at me after being scolded for the first time in her life.On the other hand, I have no reason to be in a good mood regardless of the peace at the table. Even if anyone makes a rude remark at me, I won’t even battered an eye or be angry about it. I will simply focus on finishing my dinner and leaving.I am yet to get a call from Christopher regarding the marriage agreement or the one-nightstand case. I am very worried because I can’t even tell his thoughts or his plans.
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