…Lauren woods will cease to exist. You will become Michelle Byrne…
Lauren’s entire body was numb from walking but she didn’t stop. She was getting married.
I’m getting married! Her entire system screamed. From tomorrow, she would cease to exist. The world was cruel. The whole damn world was cruel. And then, she had thought living her entire life like a slave was the worst thing that could ever happen to her.
She turned and stared at the pond beside her. How she had gotten there was unknown to her; but well, she needed the privacy. With a sigh, she lowered herself unto the grass, still engrossed in her thoughts. She could only wish time came to a halt.
Bryan stabbed the vegetable on his plate with his fork. He wasn’t hungry one bit. He had lost his appetite. Last night, he had dreamt about her, his new friend.
He missed her.
He wanted to be in her arms again. Having c
“Aunty?”Lauren jerked and quickly turned only to see an overjoyed small boy jumping like someone offered his favorite bar of chocolate. “Bunny?” she was quite surprised. “Hello Aunty.” He waved at her.Lauren was suddenly reminded of her marriage. Will she give birth to a child who would be neglected by his father like Bunny? Suddenly, the tears she had been fighting welled her eyes again and unable to bear it, she gathered him into her arms, sobbing silently.Bryan couldn’t hide his joy as he saw her. He had already drafted out what they would do in his mind and how he would persuade her to follow him home and meet his Dad so he could convince his Dad to make her his new mom. Unfortunately, his entire imagination was burnt to ashes the minute she gathered him into her arms and began to cry.Huh?First, he was confused but soon, his confusion was replaced by
Gazing at the fading moon through the window, Lauren propped herself against her bed board with folded knees that carried the weight of her arms. She sighed. Ever since she returned back home the previous evening, she hadn’t had a wink of sleep.She couldn’t sleep.Not when in hours, a car would come for her and that would mark the end of Lauren Woods. It still hurt. Despite the fact that she reminded herself times without number that she had caused it by offending a big shot but in the end, it didn’t stop her from sobbing. Her stepmother had drummed into her the previous night not to spoil her face with her fake tears. For a minute, she tore her gaze from the clear sky to look at the expensive dress borrowed from Michelle’s wardrobe for her to wear. She didn’t want it. She didn’t want any of it. She only wanted to be free.Tears escaped down her cheeks.This was going to haunt her for the rest of her life. She could on
Malcolm walked up the stairs, hands buried in both pockets. A few distance away, two maids followed, carrying a tray of food and behind them, was Michael, the butler. They made sure not to come any closer to him. He walked till he came in front of a door. Halting, he knocked. “Go away.” A small voice belonging to Bryan answered from inside.Malcolm knocked yet again. “I said go away. Leave me alone.” He yelled in a tiny voice.Moving aside, Malcolm gestured to the butler who quickly provided a spare key and quietly opened the door. There wasn’t any soccer wallpaper or designs on the wall. The room looked like an adult’s room—neat and kept. Bryan laid in the middle of the big Victorian bed, tucked under the sheets. The minute the door opened, he turned and threw his father a spiteful glare. “Can’t somebody have some privacy around here?” He grumbled. The maids wal
Lauren walked languidly out of the bathroom, a large towel wrapped around her fragile body. Her once empty vanity table was now half filled with body creams and what nots.She hated this. She hated herself.As she lowered herself onto the stool in front of the mirror, her eyes caught sight of her ringless fourth finger. In a matter of hours, she would become someone’s wife. No, not wife. Perhaps the word ‘prostitute’ was a better substitute. In a matter of hours, she would be tied to some skanky old man—for life.A tear escaped her eyes.Carefully, she began to massage Michelle’s cream all over her body. Grace had brought all of Michelle’s creams and make ups from Michelle’s room. According to her, she had to smell like Michelle in order not to be caught. After spending more than an hour on the vanity table, she got up, letting the towl fall off her body and proceeded to wear the clothes Grace had prepared f
A wave of cold air hit Lauren the minute she entered the car, causing her to shiver a little. Grace, who followed closely behind her, also made to enter but was immediately blocked by the huge man in a black suit and dark sunglasses. “I was ordered to bring only Miss. Byrne.” He retorted.Lauren watched the drama with a dry chuckle. This marriage deal had actually brought her some good luck. Her grumpy, bossy stepmother actually smiled at her because of it. For the first time, someone carried her luggage for her and even opened the car door for her; not to forget, she was being ridden in a state-of-the-art car. The door closed and through its tinted window, she watched her stepmother shed crocodile tears and run into her husband’s arms for comfort. She looked past them to the house that started her miseries. Perhaps, it would be the last time she ever saw it.Goodbye Lauren. My name is Michelle Byrne.She sang it over and
Butler?!Lauren coughed lightly as she studied the man standing beside her. How could she have thought of him as her husband-to-be? His tailored suit was spick and span but it didn’t show affluence.If he isn’t her husband, then who is? “Who is…” Lauren’s voice trailed off when she realized Michael’s attention was no longer on her but the stairs. Reluctantly, she turned towards the stairs, and unconsciously, a gasp escaped her throat. The magical blue eyes belonging to the sturdy man alighting the stairs seem to captivate her and root her to the ground. She gawked unashamedly. Did such beauty still exist in the world? He was flawless and even the eyes that called out to her carried a devilish aura.Her feet wobbled as she stared on but she barely noticed that she was almost on the tiled floor neither did she notice when the butler helped her back to her feet, calling out to her if she was okay.
Lauren suddenly began to suffocate. This wasn’t happening, was it?This definitely wasn’t real.She was supposed to be married to an old, ugly, fat man—according to her imaginations—and not to the most powerful figure in the entire city. She looked at her poor signature that now looked like a piece of rubbish beside his polished one. Why didn’t she realize it from start? The blue eyes would have told her so but she had been so convinced because it was rare for a commoner like her to ever come so close to him.Unperturbed by her frequent glances, Malcolm added some ice to his glass of whiskey and gave the glass a shake before taking a sip of the strong liquid. “You seem surprised, Ms. Byrne.” “H..How can it be--?” She stuttered. “What? Am I not up to your class?” He threw back, catching her off guard.Lauren was at sea. He always had a way of forcing someone into
It was barely 6 a.m when Lauren woke up the next day. She had barely slept the night before; not when she was scared he might pounce on her. Grabbing her robe from the bed stand, she headed downstairs. She might as well give herself a tour before Mr. High-and-Mighty awoke. Walking into the sitting room, she bumped into Michael “Good morning, Michael.” She greeted. It was funny how she had thought he was her husband the day before. “Good morning, Ma’am.” He replied with a slight bow.She looked around the empty sitting room and chuckled, “Seems I’m the first to awake.” “The Master doesn’t come down until 8 a.m.”She mouthed an ‘oh’ nodding repeatedly, “And Bunn—I mean, Bryan?” “Breakfast is usually served by 8, so they both come down by 8.”Lauren’s brows creased, “Bryan doesn’t go to