Chapter # 2

Rebecca POV:-

I sat in the corner of my room while hugging my knees close to my chest, all the servants went to their quarters and I am all alone filled with extreme anxiety. I hid my face in my knees and began to shake.

“Please, Marianne, come soon. Please. Please.”

I repeated that like a chant so that I could give my scared form any consolation but, to no avail.

“Please don’t leave me alone, please, Please…”

I know the only thing that can eradicate this fear of being alone is to have someone by my side, someone who loves me and the only person who loves me is Marianne.

"Mari-Jane-Acca."

"Mari-Jane-Acca."

"Mari-Jane-Acca."

I repeated those words as if my life depends on them.

When father knows I can't spend a second alone, how could he leave me all alone?

How much of a burden does he think of me?

I, who made him who he is today.

“Please.. Anyone..” I put my head on the bed while sitting on the ground and shut my eyes wanting to receive a lull from it. Cold sweat formed on my forehead as my breath became heavy.

“No, not you. It was not me.” I clutched the sheets tightly and buried my face in the sheets and before I knew it, I found myself losing in that dread.

"Rebecca!" My eyes fluttered as I was greeted by Sunlight penetrating through the window, igniting my room.

“Rebecca.” My eyes narrowed as I could barely open them because of the lack of sleep.

“Hey, Hey, I am here.” I rub my eyes and comprehend the slender figure before me and the scent was enough for me to know that it's Marianne.

“Please don’t leave me alone.” I hugged her tightly, never wanting to let it go. She ran her hands in my hair and kissed my forehead.

"I am home, Sweetie. You don’t have to be afraid anymore." she said in her sweet voice. I smiled widely and wiped the tears pricked in the corner of my eyes.

"Welcome home. " We smiled and pulled away. She caressed my cheeks and asked, "How are you? "

"Now that I have seen you, I am better."

"Me too." We stood up as I asked, "Breakfast?"

"Come downstairs, We'll cook together." I grinned and hugged her tightly and beamed in blithe. She chuckled and patted my head.

"You get ready. I am waiting. " I nodded and quickly freshened up and walked down.

We began to make pancakes for ourselves and do random funny stuff like decorating each other's face with flour and eating Nutella with a spoon instead of applying it on the pancake.

"Stop it! You need to maintain your figure." I said sitting on the counter while eating Nutella.

"Come on, a single spoon won't do that much, give it to me." I clicked my tongue as she sighed and took the jar and used her own spoon to dig in. We began to laugh as the kitchen was in a mess.

"Don't go soon… Please. " I said sadly to her.

"I have no new shoots, rather I canceled all of them. So, I am free for the rest of the week and I am staying with my sister." She smiled and my face lit up in happiness.

"My attendance is also quite good so If I take a week's day off, it wouldn't affect my studies that much. "

"And what about notes and lectures?" she asked.

"Do you think ‘I’ need lectures? One reference is enough for me." I replied, getting down from the counter.

"I know, but do not forget you are not what you used to be. You'll deliberately score low." She said, eyeing me.

I just hummed in response. She turned her attention towards me and held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze and began to say,

"Look Rebecca, You are a gifted child, if you don't use those skills and let them rust, it would be fatal for you in future. You cannot hang up on something that happened years ago. Please even Jane wouldn't want it."

"Marianne, Jane took her life right in front of me just because I was the most loved child of the family. Do you think I want to be who I am after what happened?” I snapped.

“She was my twin, my talent ignited the fire of envy in her and took her life. How can I use it again?” My voice softened in dejection, lowering my head.

“And even Papa left me alone when I needed him just because I can't help him grow Garnet Enterprises anymore. He is just an insensible guy who loves money and you." I said coldly. Marianne remained quiet and lowered her head.

"What did you just say?" A growl can be heard and it's enough for me to know it's Papa.

"Age took its toll on you, Papa. Do you want me to repeat my words?" I asked- mocked, closing my arms at my chest.

"Ungrateful Kid." Papa hissed. I took a step forward and gave him an icy look.

"It's clear who is the ‘ungrateful’ here."

"Get out of my sight."

"I have no intention of ruining my day. " I said emptily and took my plate of pancakes and passed Marianne a smile and left.

I ate my food in my room and after eating I washed my plate and passed by Papa's studies and heard him saying, "I just want to settle that disgrace."

And the word 'disgrace' is enough for me to know he is talking about me.

"For God’s Sake, Father, Stop calling her this, she is your child. Did you forget what she has done for you? For us?" Marianne defended. A smile crept upon my lips to know that at least I have some support in my life.

“Who she was died long ago, talk about what she is now. What is she? Can’t even spend a second alone.” Papa argued, clenching my heart.

"She was a gem. Someone who can dominate everyone but that idiot shut herself out from the world!" I sighed and shook my head.

You would never understand.

"Have you ever tried to understand what she felt? "

"Can she even feel? I have decided I'll arrange for her in a marriage. " My eyes widened when I heard it.

Am I that useless…?

"Don't do this to her." Marianne pleaded.

A silence fell upon the room and I lowered my head and walked away to my room.

Later, Me and Marianne are watching a movie but then Papa came looking stoic as usual.

"Both of you. Be ready tonight. We are having guests."

"Tell them you have only one daughter, others died. You surely don't want them to meet your disgrace. " I said coldly.

"Shut your mouth for once. Be ready." He said and left. The look of horror on Marianne's face is enough for me to know that it's about me.

I should be angry, sad or maybe happy about it but I am feeling none of it. As if my heart can't feel. I do feel sorry for my future partner for having a toxic person like me in his life.

"What's up with that look, Marianne?" I asked, sitting up and being oblivious.

"I don't want to marry... and I don't want you to marry too... for now. Why am I so weak? Why can’t I speak for any of us?" She said worriedly, pulling her hair in frustration.

"Huh? What do you mean?" I blinked.

"Father told me some people are coming to ask for my hand in marriage. I refused but still he invited them for dinner. "

All my feelings aside, if it's about Marianne, I will not tolerate anything. She is so fragile and innocent, I don’t want anyone to taint my sister.

“No one is forcing you. I will see who would dare to do this.” I hissed and took a hold of her hand and took her with me to see Papa.

“Rebe-” She tried calling but the strict expression on my face shut her mouth.

I burst in and glared at Papa, the insensitive asshole who does care about anything.

"What the hell do you want from her, when she doesn't want it, you cannot force her and if you dare you, I will become your downfall myself." I growled, warning him and he knows I can do this.

He closed his book making a 'thud' sound as he stood up and walked towards us in pure bewilderment.

"Care to tell me what you are talking about?" He asked.

"About that marriage ordeal." I hissed.

I know it if he'll force Marianne, she'll agree but I know she doesn't want it and I will never let her.

"It's ‘your’ marriage, Rebecca. "