Chapter Three

Genevieve.

Marcus stood in front of me, his eyes moving from Dahlia to me and then to Dahlia again who was still sitting on the floor.

I don’t know when it has suddenly become comfortable for her.

“What’s going on here?” He asked, bringing his gaze back to me.

Dahlia sniffed and looked at him with teary eyes, “I was only trying to help her but she pushed me,” she said.

She was lying, that wasn’t what happened.

I wanted to scream out but I kept quiet.

I have done this with her for so long now that I’ve known her tricks, she should keep on acting.

“Why would you do that Genevieve?” He asked, already taking sides.

“I don’t have any reason to explain to you Marcus,” I said and started walking away but he stopped me from moving.

“I’m not done talking to you Genevieve,”

“Look Marcus, one of us has to be downstairs with the guests, after all this is our engagement,” I tried to take my hand from his but he wouldn’t let me go.

“You aren’t leaving until you tell me why you pushed your sister,” his tone turned cold.

“I didn’t push her….she….” He cut in.

“Liar! All you do is tell lies and more lies, aren’t you tired of doing that? Why can’t you be like your sister and own up to your mistake,” he lashed out.

I closed my eyes to stop the tears from coming out. I am a fool to think I am strong, I wasn’t strong at all. I don’t think I can bear to hear another person compare me to Dahlia, I wasn’t her and there is no way I would like to be like her.

“I know you wouldn’t believe me,” I whispered as I tried to take my hand from his.

“You won’t leave until you apologize to Dahlia,” he said and I looked at him in shock.

He wasn’t serious, right? He wasn’t going to make me apologize for something I didn’t do.

“Don’t make me repeat myself Genevieve! Apologize to her right now,” he demanded.

I took my gaze away from him to Dahlia who was busy holding his arm like she would fall off if she didn’t do that. She smirked at me but quickly made her face look sad when Marcus looked at her.

“Genevieve….” Marcus called but Dahlia stopped him.

“Don’t worry about that Marcus, Evie isn’t going to apologize besides look I’m fine. I didn’t get hurt apart from the little pain in my ankle,” she said and it seems like that angered Marcus more.

“Apologize to her right now!” His grip on my arm tightened causing me to wince in pain.

“You are hurting me,” I mumbled with my eyes focused on his hand on mine.

He didn’t seem to care, all he cared about was me apologizing to Dahlia.

“Do it now Genevieve!” He shouted, and I winced. Moving backward so he wouldn’t hurt me more.

I looked at Dahlia and quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to push you,” I murmured.

Gosh, I feel so pathetic right now and the victorious look on Dahlia's face was making me feel worse.

“That wasn’t so hard,” he finally let go of my arm.

I didn’t stay there any longer, I rushed and without looking at where I was heading I bumped into a hard wall or rather a hard chest. I quickly apologized without looking at the person and then tried to go outside.

“Genevieve, is that you?” I paused when someone called me.

I knew the voice too well and I couldn’t ignore it because doing so would make me a much more mannerless girl in her eyes.

I took a deep breath then forced a smile before looking at her,

“Mrs Meyers, I….I didn’t see you there,” I lied.

“Where are you going? You know this is your engagement party and you should be around so people can see you.” She said.

I don’t see your son around either, I wanted to say but I stopped myself.

If I want to be in a good book then I need to work harder.

“I was only going to take some fresh air, Mrs. Meyers that’s all,” I lied.

She frowned and then gasped dramatically when she saw the dress I was putting on.

“What on earth are you putting on Genevieve?” She asked, staring at me with wide eyes.

I wanted to roll my eyes, I see nothing wrong with this dress so why was everyone talking about it like it’s bad?

“A dress, Mrs Meyers,” I answered sarcastically.

“I know it’s a dress Genevieve,” she snapped.

“But what I would like to know is why you decided to wear something so slutty and disgraceful tonight.” She added.

I opened my mouth to say something but before I could she interrupted.

“Are you trying to bring shame to mine and your family, is that what this is all about Genevieve?” She asked and from the corner of my eye, I could see Marcus and Dahlia making their way downstairs.

The surprising part was that Dahlia was still clinging to Marcus and he was allowing it.

She smiled as she saw me and whispered something to Marcus, Marcus also looked at me but he had a scowl on his face.

I was pulled back to reality by Mrs Meyers’s harsh words, gosh I don’t know when this woman would ever like me.

“Are you even listening to me, Genevieve?” She asked angrily and so to appease her I decided to answer.

“Yes, Mrs Meyers, I can hear what you are saying,”

She scoffed, “I doubt it. Because if you are truly listening then you wouldn’t be standing here still waiting for me to say more disapproving words about this damn dress. Why can’t you be just like your sister? Why didn’t you dress like a proper lady instead of dressing like a slut!” There she goes again.

This was the third person for the night who had compared me with my sister. I don't know what’s so good about her that everyone else likes.

And speaking of the devil, Dahlia and Marcus walked toward us.

“Mom, what’s going on here?” Marcus asked.

He didn’t even bother to look at me.

“I can’t believe you would let your fiancée wear something like this Marcus,” she started and I so badly wanted to roll my eyes.

There is nothing wrong with this dress!

“I also said the same thing Mrs. Meyers but you know how Evie is, she wouldn’t listen to a word any of us say,” Dahlia said, like she was the one being spoken to.

“I would advise that she change the dress, Marcus. I can’t have her accepting our family ring tonight in this dress, baby,” she said sweetly.

“You have to change your dress, Genevieve,” he said, like always taking everyone's side but not mine.

“I don’t think that’s possible Marcus,” I faced his mother.

“As much as I would love to change into something else, I don’t think we have that much time. The party is about to start,” I said, sending one of my sweetest smiles to them.

I noticed Dahlia tensed beside me, her eyes wouldn’t leave Marcus and like he knew she was staring at him, he cleared his throat and then turned to his mother.

“I…..I think we should let this go, Mom, the party is about to start and we can’t make a scene,” he said, and I looked at him in surprise.

I can’t believe he just said that.

“What? But baby….” He cut in.

“I know Mom but we have to do this because of our guests. We have to respect them but later we will discuss this,” he enunciated the last part while staring at me.

I shrugged, his mother huffed but didn’t say anything again.

“It’s time for the party Genevieve, I don’t want you to disgrace this family any longer by standing here. Move to the front," Mrs Meyers grabbed my hand as she dragged me to the front. Tightly. And I tried not to wince or show any discomfort.

I can’t wait for this party to be over.