Chapter 3: Lily & Amoy

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Chapter 3: Lily & Amoy

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It was the next day, the sun had barely risen but Amoy was already up, getting ready for the challenges ahead. Darius, on the other hand, was still in bed, trying to sleep but he couldn't, as he had been woken up many times.

"You're up, finally." He mumbled something not even he understood as he stretched yawning. " The coffee is yours, I bought you a suit and some new shoes, they're in the bathroom." He looked at the nightstand where the coffee stood, he immediately took a sip feeling his body waking up.

"Thank you." She nods painting her lips a dark red. "Did they tell you what the challenge will be?" She shook her head brushing her hair.

"Then why are you dressing so formally? For all, we know the challenge could be outside." She scoffs.

"As if grandmother would go outside when it's the rainy season." He shrugs looking out the window seeing a group of maids taking horses from the stable.

"You never know, maybe she has a change of heart."

"Trust me, her heart can never change." He smirks as he saw her grandmother come into view, she looked very displeased with the current situation she was in, Amoy was right about her not liking the rainy season, as she seemed grumpier than usual, a knock on the door tore his gaze from the window. "Stop idling and go take a shower," Amoy ordered as she opened the door revealing Shawn.

"Ms Tyler, today's challenge will be taking place outside, you'll be riding a horse." Her eyes met Darius as he smirked.

"Thank you, Shawn." The butler nods walking away, she closed the door, looking at Darius curiously.

"How did you know?" He shrugs.

"I have my ways, you better hurry, we wouldn't want to be the last to arrive." There was a ghost of a smile on her face as she shook her head.

"No, we wouldn't."

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Soon Darius and Amoy were outside, with Shawn, her grandmother and her father. "Where is everyone?" Elizabeth asked impatiently looking around.

"Still getting ready madam, they weren't expecting such a choice from you, especially since it's the rainy season." Amoy sent Darius a look that said 'I told you' making him chuckle softly but Elizabeth caught this.

"Are you laughing at me, you farm boy-" William cuts her off.

"The man hasn't even looked at you, mother, take your anger somewhere else." She glared at her son, Darius could see the slight, embarrassment but of course, anger overpowered it.

"William, I invited you into my home and you've disrespected me not once but twice." He looked at her confused.

"I did no such thing." Elizabeth scoffs.

"You have." He shook his head.

"No, I've merely spoken the truth from what I've observed over the years, but I'll go, Darius will stand in my place as he's already here." Amoy was about to stop him but the look her grandmother shot her stopped her actions.

"Amoy, please pick the horse you will be riding, Darius, help her," Shawn ordered, they did as told.

Darius watched amused as she kept her distance from the horses. "This one." She said point at the brown coloured horse, he shook his head.

"No, Henry is a very stubborn horse, he doesn't like to be ridden." She raised her eyebrow asking how he knew that.

"I am a farm boy aren't I?" A chuckle left her as she moved onto the white one.

"How about her or is it him?"

"It's him and Kenth is a very playful horse, he likes to do tricks, he loves to show off."

"Now you couldn't possibly have known that by just looking at the horse, have you ridden them?" He shrugs, smiling.

"Maybe." They moved to the next one, it was a very familiar black horse. "She is my personal favourite, I call her Lily and she is perfect for you." Lily neighed nudged Amoy to get on, this made her smile.

"Shawn, we choose this one." The butler nods writing something down, Elizabeth whispered something to him making him frown but he nods, Darius had the feeling they were up to no good.

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A good 20 minutes had passed everyone was finally outside. "Today's challenge is about riding the horse, as you all know our family is notorious for our Polocrosse competitions, I want to see your skills on a horse."

Darius focus wasn't on Elizabeth, it was on Shawn, he watched as he gave each horse water once he reached Lily he took something out of his pocket, pouring it into the water.

Darius shook his head, disgusted, he still didn't understand how this family could tear each other apart.

"Good luck to everyone, Shawn are the horses ready?" Her butler nods, keeping his eyes on the ground, Darius knew he was feeling guilty.

"Give me a second." Amoy looked at him curiously, but let him go as she walked over to Lily smiling at the horse.

Darius walked over to Shawn before he could go back to Elizabeth. "What did you do?"

"I-I don't know what you mean."

"What did you feed Lily?"

"I-I-"

"Shawn stop talking to that farm boy now!" They heard Elizabeth, he gave Darius a look of sadness and regret as he rushed back to her, Darius strolled over to Amoy stopping her from mounting the horse.

"Amoy, you can't ride."

"I can ride." He shook his head.

"Your grandmother made Shawn put something in Lily's water, he won't tell me what, so it's not safe." She sighs as she already expected it, one of the maids walked over with Lily handing Amoy the reins.

"I have to ride." He watched as she mounted the horse. "Wish me luck." He nods brushing Lily's mane softly.

"You can do this." He whispered to Lily, she neighed in response, Amoy walked her over to the starting line.

"READY, SET, GO!" Shawn shouted all the horses rode off.

To Darius's surprise, Amoy was in first place, Elizabeth angrily whispered something to Shawn, but as soon as Amoy's reign began as soon as it ended since Lily slowly stopped running letting everyone past her, Darius cursed softly, as the horse stopped all together falling, a group of helpers rushed over to Amoy helping her up.

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A few hours had passed since Amoy fell off Lily, she had hurt her shoulder but luckily it was nothing too serious, she had -40 points meaning her rank was still 6th, her sister had won the race, she was now number one.

1- Trinity - 40

2- Olivia - 35

3- Zavana - 33

4- Paul - 31

5- Thomas - 28

6- Amoy - -40

Darius was currently sitting in the living room with the men who married into the family as he did.

A few of them treated Darius like a human being, the rest treated him like shit. "How's Amoy?" Henry asked Darius he was one of them who treated him with respect.

"She's fine just resting, I should go check on her, excuse me." Darius quickly left the room before anyone could stop him.

When he entered their room Amoy wasn't in bed in fact she was in the bathroom putting on her makeup. "You should be resting." He told her.

"Grandmother is hosting a ball, a charity event, really, I can't miss it," Amoy told him as if her injury wasn't more important, but he knew to her it wasn't. "Don't just stand there take a shower and change into the suit I bought you." She packed up her makeup brushing past him going into her closet.

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End of Chapter 3: Lily & Amoy

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