The impact of the slap sends shockwaves through my face. I reel backward, my eyes widening in shock, locked onto hers.
A mix of surprise and embarrassment swirls inside me. What…just…happened? My cheek is still stinging from the force of Zoey's slap.
Her glaring eyes size me. "Classless women have no shame," she spits, her voice laced with irritation. "First, you married poor brother Kendrick for money, but that's not enough; you're here in Brother Luke's room to seduce him. How dare you?"
I blink, my mind still struggling to process what's happening. How does Zoey know I'm married to her brother? And what makes her think she can jump to silly conclusions and accuse me?
I take subtle breaths, calming my agitated nerves. Retaliation will only lead to difficulty; Violence is never the answer.
I calmly say "You're mistaken, Zoey, I'm not-"
"How dare you utter my name with your filthy mouth?" she slaps my right cheek with another equally resonating force.
I purse my lips. The stinging pain incites a teary sensation, but I bottle it up. I manage a smile, "You're jumping to conclusions and hitting me without knowing the truth. It seems to me you're not as intelligent as people claim"
To me, violence is never an option, but my words can tear you apart.
Zoey's face twists in anger "You!" her hand flashes out again, palm open and fingers extended. I see it coming and I'm prepared to dodge.
She swings at me, but Luke intervenes and grabs her hand in mid-air. "That's enough, Zoey," he says in a stern voice.
"But this woman-" Zoey argues and he cuts in "I said it's enough" Luke gives me an apologetic look, "I'm so sorry about her, I'll send someone to take you back to your room"
I nod at him and watch as he drags Zoey out with him.
That didn't turn out the way I imagined. Now, my husband and sister-in-law detest me, but I can't blame either. A neatly dressed maid comes in and escorts me back to Kendrick's room.
I stand before the door that evokes an uncanny sense. Why am I only noticing now? Kendrick's room is different and smaller than the others; it's almost like a storage room.
I enter and see Kendrick lying peacefully on the bed. I don't blame him for attacking me; he's mentally ill, after all, and besides, I did lie. The only feeling I have towards this man is pity.
I spend about an hour or so cleaning the room. I crouch near the bed, watching Kendrick.
I'm sure I have a long way to go, but how am I supposed to make this man sleep with me? I've never tried seduction and I'm afraid if I don't do it right, things might end up with him strangling me again.
Sighing, I reach out to his hair, but he catches my hand mid-air, causing me to jerk. "What are you doing touching me in my sleep?" he stares at me with cold eyes.
I lean back "I wasn't touching you," I merely wanted to arrange his hair. He gradually gets up, still holding my wrist "You want to rape me?"
What??? My cheeks turn rosy red. "N-no, of course not!" I retrieve my hand and look away. Does he not remember what happened earlier?
I recoil, he still stinks of alcohol and dirt. "You should get a bath, Kendrick," my thoughts escape my lips.
He tilts his head "What? Why?"
Well, I don't know, maybe cause you reek? "Um.." I must pick my words carefully. I recall, "Ah, you said earlier that only Charlotte can love you, right?"
"Yes, so?"
"Well, would Charlotte love a man who hasn't had a shower in days?" I ask with raised brows.
Kendrick frowns "Charlotte loves me even if I'm dirty"
I stare at him unbelievably, perhaps Charlotte is his imaginary companion? I sigh in frustration "Well, I can't stand it. You must take a shower, I insist"
Surprisingly, he listens. Pouting like a child, he gets up and goes into the bathroom. My phone rings, and I swipe the answer icon. It's my father's ward nurse.
"Elodie, hurry! Your father is having another seizure!"
My stomach sinks. Swiftly, I pick up my bag and rush out of Holland's mansion to Serenade City's general hospital.
With anxious breath, I ran shabbily through the hospital's corridor "Where is my father!?" I barge into Dr Louis's office. He's attending to people but I don't care.
Dr Louis apologizes to them and joins me to my father's ward. "Father" I whisper upon seeing him.
"Your father is fortunate, Elodie; this is his third seizure this week," says Dr Louis, and I turn to him. "I don't understand, the money's been sent, so what's delaying his surgery?" I ask angrily
"Calm down Elodie, finding heart and liver donors isn't as easy as it seems, but I swear everything is going to turn out well"
My brows crease at his words, and I look at Father.
"Excuse me." Dr Louis leaves, and I sit in a chair next to Father's bed.
The corner of my eyes crinkle with tears as I place my hand on his. He squints his eyes open, calling out gruffly "Elodie?" My heart tightens and I whisper back "Father"
He studies me, and his brows pucker. "Elodie, what has happened? Your wrist, your face, your neck, what happened?"
I'm unsurprised, father is very observant and sees the littlest of things. I can't tell him about the contract or how I was recently abused; who knows how his heart will react to it?
I answer "It's nothing, Father, I tried to help a stray cat and it scratched me, that's all"
His eyes peer before he laughs heartily "Oh my dear Elodie, always trying to help the needy. Don't stress too much for this old man, okay?"
I nod at him, my eyes gleaming with tears. I blink to stop the tears, I need to be strong.
I stay with him till he sleeps before going out to buy a well-packaged dinner meal. I pass it on to his ward nurse and instruct her to feed him when it's time.
Getting back to the Holland's mansion, I admit it feels weird to call this place my home now. I'm officially part of one of the wealthiest families in Serenade City. I'm Mrs Holland.
After confirming my identity with the guards, I step in. I walk with small steps, occasionally passing by maids and servants. It's late; I should get dinner—for Kendrick and myself; he's my responsibility now, after all.
Reaching the staircase, I hear a woman sneer behind me "Ugh! Who is she?"
I turn to find two women standing at a distance from the stairs.
Both their faces hold disgust as they stare at me from head to toe. No way, it can't be me; I'm not wearing anything dirty, so why would they look at me with such expressions?
The woman on the left, older looking with lengthy black hair, is Kendrick's stepmother, Rose Holland. But the busty, red-haired woman next to her, I've never seen her before.
"Good evening," I smile despite their sour looks.
"Who are you?" Rose asks
"My name is Elodie Rykard," I respond.
"Elodie?" Rose arches her brow. "Well, why aren't you in your station? And where's your maid uniform?"
My maid uniform??? They don't know who I am.
"Maybe she's new?" The red-haired woman shrugs.
I force a smile, my lips twitching. "Sorry, you're mistaken, I'm not a maid." My statement prompts them to stand erect.
"Then who are you? And how did you get in?" Rose asks
"I'm-"
"She's my wife." I look behind and see Kendrick at the top of the staircase, staring down at us with an indifferent expression.