Chapter 2

"I'll be there in 30 minutes. I'm still preparing. Inform Mr. Cho that I would be busy this week, I have no time for his complaints . . . Yes . . . Confirmed. Plus, remove my 9th appointment, Mrs. Aragoza cancelled the meeting."

I kept on scanning the new set of cosmetics above my cabinet while this man in my room is talking to his secretary on the phone.

I am now a captive, jailed in his mansion walls. I can sense the setting sun, but I want to go in the woods away. I want to escape. Always have been.

I heard that their conversation ended. In my peripheral view, I saw him put his phone in his pocket. He slightly came closer.

"I'm leaving. Ymir is downstairs, you can approach her if you need something."

I faced him, slowly closing the MAC lipstick I am holding and placed it on the bedside table. Our eyes just met and I feel like I was thrown inside of a heated microwave. His effect on me is still the same. But if there is something that has changed, I no longer care whatever effect he injects in me.

I stared at my fingernails that seem to be in need of cleaning. "What if I ask her to let me go because that's actually the only thing I want, would she let me?"

"Eren and Reiner is in-charge of the gate," Lord replied. He did not pay attention to what I have asked him. This tadpole! "Don't try to leave the house. I'll be home tonight and I would probably get late. Don't wait, just in case."

I scoffed. "As if I'll be waiting. I don't mind even if you totally forget to come home. And about that two guards of yours that you're bragging about, I have the ability to convince them enough to make the gate wide open for me. How's that?"

His eyes are lifeless as he placed a look on me. It's the opposite of the eyes I have seen in the past, when we are nothing but students aiming for a diploma . . . and rest. "You're 23. Don't be so hardheaded, Hid."

"Hardheaded? You're treating me like a kid." I tried to hide my annoyance. "And do not call me Hid," I aggressively added. "We are just married. It does not necessarily mean that we are close. Remember this: our marriage was merely on paper."

He remained stoic despite my insensitivity. "You talk like an idiot."

"Of course, I talk like an idiot. Otherwise how could you understand me?"

In the end, he let out a frustrated sigh. "I can give you everything you need, even freedom. But the freedom you are asking is beyond the limitation. You are free in doing anything inside the house, free in giving orders, free in getting and using anything you want. But going to places looking homeless and lost, that's what I can never allow."

I badly want to laugh - laugh that makes him cringe and annoyed to the extent that he will lose interest in me. But in the end, I remained emotionless. "The Lord Lavigne, stupid enough to give me the kind of freedom I don't even need. The only kind of freedom that I need is the only kind of freedom you don't want to offer. What's the use?"

"Enough." I was taken aback by his strange cold and serious voice. "You think everything you say should be followed? You think you're always right? You never wanted to be taught, nor be in someone's subjection. You act so mighty and righteous that you think everyone's inferior. Seriously, how perfect can you be?"

"Oh!" I gave a genuine laugh. I turned my back and mindlessly jumped on my bed. "I can't be perfect, especially that marrying you have already made the devils laugh."

I don't remember the details of how our not-so-normal discussion came to an end, but I am sure of one thing: I gave my husband a headache before he could even start his tiring work. Uh, the term 'husband' urges me to shriek.

Well, I grew up having these kinds of conversation with other people, and sometimes worse. I am aware that others may see me as a nonsensical conversationalist. Yet too bad, I'm not going to change for them.

Those close-minded people never understood me, no single person ever did. My mom, she seldom understood me, but she's the best in my circle. She taught me that sometimes, there are things we don't understand but still respect them.

I have no idea what exactly happened, because when she turned her back from the world, so as her beliefs flipped upside down. It quite gave me the memory. And not only she left memories, she also left a single belief that I need to carry wherever I am.

For one, I felt disappointed how she managed to inflict me her developed reasoning. But when I already lost her, even without anyone reminding, I chose to heed her words.

As far as I remember, these are what she said:

"Never let anyone tell you what to do or what to say. Never let anyone control you. You should never be surpassed by anybody. Because all my life I have been caged in my weakness, and I was under the subjection of the rulers who aren't even righteous from the first place. You, Hid, should never attempt to touch the trace of my footsteps. You go to the opposite direction, you should rule. If I grew up treated worse than a peasant, you should live your life with sovereignty. DON'T BE LIKE ME, and I hope you won't disappoint me. Heather Cassia, my one and only daughter, remember: even though you are wrong, you are right."

***

It feels like every second is doubling, the tick-tock of the clock seems to be getting slower. It's too funny that I am now wasting my very precious life waiting for the night to eat the light and for the sleep to come visit me again. I remember that I did nothing today but to stare at my cup full of hot coffee until its smoke totally disappears.

Seriously, why did my existence ended up like this?

When the hands of the clock pointed at exactly twelve o'clock noon, I called out for the housemaid, Ymir, despite of not knowing whether she's around or not.

Fortunately, a minute has passed and I can already hear her fast footsteps climbing the staircases through the second floor where my room is located. She is old. It's a surprise that she still moves energetically.

"Is my lunch ready?" I asked immediately as soon as I gave her the permission to open the door.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm done preparing it. Will you be eating now?"

I did not respond to her question. I went downstairs and headed to the kitchen. Ymir, who was following me, immediately started to fill my plate with the food she readied.

I looked around. "What about Lord? Did he perhaps tell you if he comes home or not?"

She stopped for a moment. "He did not mention any, Ma'am."

My eyes automatically rolled. "Forget that I asked it." I lifelessly took a bite from the cut of steak she put on my plate. "I just want to know, for in case he's coming home, I'll better eat in my room."

I heard the sound of swift flowing water from the sink's faucet. Ymir is cleansing some fruits for me. "He seldom takes his lunch here, Madam. I don't think he's coming home."

She placed a plate beside my meal with the apple she cut into two and pieces of green grapes. I didn't bother to thank her and just ate.

My eyes are glued at the vintage-looking chandelier, and its glow reminded me of the life I used to enjoy.

"I miss travelling. Normally at this hour, I am just taking a stroll around a 187-foot yacht with my favorite Caffé Americano in my hand. But now, I am here, inside of the walls of Lord Lavigne's mansion, jailed and controlled." I shook my head disappointingly. "Unbelievable. I will surely make his neck a faucet during his sleep."

Ymir has paused from wiping something inside the built-in cabinet above the sink and shockingly turned her gaze at me.

"What?" I snarled. I stood up and went in a wide space so she can see me head to toe. "Look at these clothes. They are cheap! Here, here," I pointed at my lower pajama, "the hem is ruined, and here," I referred to my upper pajama, "the color is clearly fading. What kind of store did you get it? Do I look so cheap that you guys even made me wear something that only the beggars can deserve? Lord Lavigne is hopeless! If I just let him manipulate my life, I will end up looking worse than a trash! Some will also probably think I came from a squatter area, or that I am living in a shabby shack." My face turned sour by the thought of it. "Not a chance."

I crossed my arms as I glanced at Ymir who did not hide the sound of her seemingly loud exhale.

"I am from a squatter area. I lived in a crudely built cabin that is almost couldn't consider as house. Our walls are made of small cartoons that were tied together. Our ceiling is nothing but a thin cloth that cannot even prevent us from the sun's heat during daytime.'

I could not stop pursing my lips upon hearing her statement. I know myself that I offended her, but apologizing is the last thing that a Heather Cassia Del Puerto would do. I will never say 'I'm sorry' and 'I was wrong'. Like, never.

"That's absolutely fine," I replied, it sounded more as a defense to my insensitivity. "You grew up in a poor environment, you have nothing to adjust. But my case is different. I was born with a golden spoon. I grew up in riches and fortune. For example, my phone. No matter how expensive and new it is, if it already fell from my hands and touched the ground, I will never pick it up again. Yes, I lived a luxurious life where even a paper money can be used as a fuel to a firewood." I opened my arms outstretched, emphasizing how much this life disgusts me. "It wasn't like this. I was far from this!"

"I apologize, Ma'am Heather," she just said. "I do not know how to help you."

I flipped my hair very slowly, a devilish grin was formed on my lips. I took steps closer to where Ymir is, and she consciously looked at me.

"Don't worry. I know how. It's too simple that you won't even sweat."

She stopped from what she's doing and faced me. "Tell me about it."

The right side of my lips curved upward. I guess this is victory. "Let me go. Tell those guards outside that Lord permits me to go."

"About that-"

"Thank you!" I clapped my hands. "I'm gonna get ready."

I excitedly marched out of the kitchen. I ran towards the stairs, but just as I am about to reach the second floor, I heard a car entering our garage. I hurriedly went down and took a peek outside through the window that exactly faces the garage.

My face almost crumpled when I confirmed that it is Lord. Of course, no need for assumptions. Who will be here aside from him, anyway?

I was about to go up once again when he turned to the other side of the car and opened its door as if someone's inside. And it's true.

My eyes grew big the moment a pair of feet came out of the car's door, and when the whole figure appeared, I saw a woman wearing a blue fitted dress with a hem that barely reaches the half of her thigh. She seems proud with her decolletage, letting her cleavage show off.

Hmm. Her height is not something admirable. She looks like a mushroom. Wait, why am I describing her?!

I started to feel alarmed when I noticed that they are now heading through the entrance. Holy Mary, Lord shouldn't bring a girl without informing me!

I hurriedly turned and went back climbing the stairs. Whoever that bitch is, she should not see me here.

Unfortunately, exactly just like earlier, I could not able to reach the floor before I heard another sound - and it's clearly the voice of a woman I do not want to welcome.

"I did not have the slightest idea that your mansion looks like this, Lord. I can help you if you want to renovate it. Isn't it better if we change the design in a more modern way?"

Again, I found myself going down the staircase. I do not even want to think now if I will still be able to accomplish my plan of escaping this rotten place.

I crossed my arms as I calmly yet elegantly leaned on the banister. I secretly watched the woman who is now busy roaming her eyes around the place as if familiarizing the home she will eventually live in. Yuck.

"I know you are a great architect, Bridgette. I appreciate your suggestion."

It feels like something thumped inside my ears listening to Lord's sweet way of talking to the woman he brought. It was just like that. That's how he also talked to me three years ago.

I did not move from my place until the woman's eyes landed at my direction. Shock is written all over her face.

"Lord, I didn't know you hired a new maid."