Hypocrite

"It's fine, Aunty. We did not take any offence at all." Thalia said, smiling kindly and patting Racheal on the shoulders.

"No. She embarrassed us." Danna Sherrod said angrily. "Soon the whole country will learn that the country's First Son is married a common thief."

"I did not steal ma'am." Racheal said politely.

"Then how did it get in your purse of all places?" Danna Sherrod barked.

"I don't know." Racheal said honestly. She was beginning to feel trapped. Last night she wondered if someone could steal without their own knowledge.

Like Skylar had observed yesterday. She had not even gone near the vice president the whole time. So how could she have stolen his cufflink?

And what would she need a cufflink for, especially one that had the family initials on it. She could not sell it to anyone.

It had to be someone trying to frame her. She suspected Thalia. As far as she knew, only she had enough motive to frame her, except she had other enemies.

She broke into a sweat.

Did she have unknown enemies? Could she be in more danger than she thought?

"You have no proof. Then how can you say you are innocent? Do you think we would believe that? Do we look foolish to you?" Danna Sherrod asked, practically spitting fire.

"I believe her." Skylar said, appearing at the door.

Everyone turned to her.

"You don't count." Her mother said angrily. "Of course you would support a thief."

"Mom." Skylar said, although she did not look surprised. Just hurt.

"Enough all of you." The president finally said. He turned to Racheal. "I will ask just once. Did you steal the cufflink?"

"No. I did not." She said firmly.

He looked at her with uncertainty. Then he took a sip of water. "You know, your country does not have the best reputation. Just take care."

"Are you all not being too hard on Racheal?" Skylar said. "This is unfair."

"I agree." Thalia said. Racheal grabbed a glass of water to calm her raging nerves. "Maybe she did not know the cufflink was valuable." Thalia continued.

Then her eyes widened like she just got an idea.

"Perhaps she has a medical condition. Are you a kleptomaniac" Thalia asked sympathetically and at the same time discreetly knocked the glass in Racheal's hand.

Water poured all over the front of Thalia's dress.

"Oh my world." Danna Sherrod gasped.

"I was just trying to help. Why will you throw your water at me." Thalia asked. She looked surprised and hurt.

Racheal could not understand all that was happening. She did not pour any water on her.

Thalia was the one who knocked her glass.

"It just keeps getting worse and worse." Danna Sherrod said standing up. "How dare you disrespect my guest like that?"

She lifted her hands up to strike Racheal when they heard a voice boom. "Mother!"

Everyone froze at the deep authoritative voice. It was Steffan.

"Please do not lay your hands on my wife." He said walking in quickly. He was so tall he covered the room in a few strides. "Ever!" He warned.

"Then tell YOUR WIFE." She said sarcastically. "To behave well. YOUR WIFE knows she is no better than a hostage here. I will not tolerate disrespect from someone like her."

Racheal's eyes began to burn with tears. She had anticipated that life here would be bad. But she never knew it was going to be this bad.

She felt Steffan's hand on her arm. She looked up at him. "It's okay." He whispered to her.

The president gestured to the maids hanging around to serve eveyone.

"I'm sorry my darling." Danna said as she soothed Thalia. "Clean your dress and come sit besides aunty."

Thalia nodded and left.

Steffan and Skylar took their seats. Skylar sat to the right of her father who was at the head of the table, and Danna Sherrod sat to his left.

Racheal was sitting closely beside Skylar, so Steffan sat on her right side.

They had just begun eating when Thalia returned. She sat beside Danna Sherrod, across the table from Steffan.

She smiled sweetly at Steffan but he looked away.

The family ate in silence. The room was tense and awkward.

Finally, the president cleared his throat.

"Are you ready for the press conference this morning?" He said looking at Steffan.

"Yes. We are." Steffan said, briefly glancing at her. In truth she was not prepared but she nodded in agreement.

It could not be that difficult. She would just follow Steffan's lead.

Danna was looking at her.

"Those journalists will ask difficult questions, especially about your life before you married my son. I only hope you do not embarrass us further on national television." She said.

The table was silent.

"I won't ma'am." Racheal responded.

"What did you do between college and when you married my son."

Racheal was embarrassed. This was one of the embarrassing facts about her life. It was not like she wanted to lazy about. She really wanted to work.

But how could she explain that her stepmother had ensured she never worked a day in her life. How could she explain all the maltreatment she had to endure from her stepmother.

Would that not encourage the Sherrods to treat her even worse than they currently do.

"Nothing." She said finally.

"Nothing?" Danna Sherrod asked, putting down her cutlery in surprise. "What did you study in college?"

"Law."

Everyone turned to her in shock and surprise. Was that fear and respect she saw in their eyes or was she imagining it.

"I was to be a business lawyer." She clarified.

Danna Sherrod burst out laughing.

"Aunty. I am sure she is as intelligent as she is extremely beautiful." Thalia said

"You are such a hypocrite." Skylar said glaring at Thalia across the table.

Thalia gasped in shock. "Why would you say that?"

Racheal heard Steffan growl silently. He suddenly pushed his chair back and stood up. "We will be leaving now." He said, reaching for Racheal's hand.

Racheal was not done with her meal but happily stood up anyway. This was a horrible way to dine.

She shivered when she thought of the fact that she would always share a meal with these people.

"Are you ready?" He asked her.

"Yes."

They began walking away when she heard her mother-in-law say.

"You really have no class. You want to go on national television looking like that?"