Chapter Three

“Hello, Dorian,” Slyvia said as soon as he picked up the call. She had been pondering how to avoid getting punished , and finally, an idea had clicked.  

“Did you call to let me know she's available or to tell me where to find you?” he asked impatiently.  

“She's available, Dorian,” she said. “She's home alone.”  

“So?” Dorian asked more calmly.  

“You can go home; our butler is here with us. The pin to our house is 23025,” Slyvia called out while looking back repeatedly to be sure no one was around her. “Dorian, this is all I can do. The duplicate keys are at the back of the shelf in the sitting room…” she whispered, and without a reply, Dorian ended the call. Sylvia called his line again, but he didn't pick up this time. She made a short prayer and went back into the party, to socialize but bumped into a man.

   “Watch your way” he said and she looked up at him, he was Captivating, she could swear she hadn't seen anyone more pretty than him. His lips, eyes, height everything was intriguing even though he had a huge irritation look on his face.

“ I am sorry” she whispered at his back 

he had already walked past her, she stood still staring at the dark road he passed and without thinking, she started walking after him, maybe she would catch a glimpse of him again .

  “Sylvia” she turned 

 Her mother was calling her to introduce her to a guest, she straightened her gown and went to her mom but her mind wasn't relaxed all night.

Lyra was in her room, reading a book with the light on when she heard a car screeching.  

“That's early,”She muttered and stood up, turned off the light, and went to open the window to peep out, only to see an unfamiliar car pulling up in their compound. She stood there and watched as a man came out from the front seat to open the door for a man in the back seat, but when the man stepped down, she froze. Dorian. 

The physique wasn't one she would forget in a lifetime. When did he get back in town? She watched him walk to their building, and then she ran out of her room, leaning over the from the upper railing to look down . He had really gotten in, with two bodyguards; he really was the one. How did he have their passkey? She staggered back, realization hitting her that she was home alone. She watched him walk straight to their shelf, then he pulled out a bunch of keys. 

“No!!” 

Her brain screamed at her, and even if she couldn't think of what he came to do, she didn't want to stay in her room. That was unsafe for her. She ran to the back stairs, one of her shoes falling off, but she didn't care.

She ran down, and once she got to their backyard, she looked around for a place to hide. She was traumatized, and whenever she felt helpless, tears flowed naturally. She ran back and forth, and then her brain clicked. Her doghouse was there; her dog had died years ago. She threw her other shoe in the opposite direction and ran to the doghouse, trying to squeeze herself through the gate.

She succeeded and stayed hidden. Her heart raced as she prayed. Her mind drifted to six years ago when they had gone to Bowers’house for a business dinner, and Sylvia had asked her to escort her upstairs, only for her mouth to be covered out of nowhere. He had assaulted her with full force, hitting her until she remained still, and afterward, he played the victim, claiming she had come to seduce him. Sylvia supported him, and together, all the blame was placed on her. His parents insulted her, and her father considered her a shame, but that wasn't enough; he never took her out. She was homeschooled in this building all her life.

Footsteps pulled her back to reality, then there was the bodyguard finding her shoe and Dorian's screaming order to find her at all costs. She stayed there, afraid to see his face. It was her trauma, so she facepalmed herself,she had lost her phone and had no one to ring even if she hadn't so she just let the tears flow while her heart raced. She didn't know how long she had stayed in the doghouse, but she knew the house had quieted down. She heard the car leaving, but she didn't come out; she was there, and slowly she fell asleep. When she woke up, it was morning. She squeezed herself out and walked back into the building,as she walked up and toward her room, she saw her step-mother coming after Slyvia. 

   “You will marry him, Sylvia"Ramona said 

  “I will not, what do you mean I should marry a man that is that scarey. Heaven knows he's ugly” Slyvia said as she gave way for them to pass. Her father was coming up after them.

  “ You, where were you last night?” Taylor asked as soon as he saw her, she stopped and looked at him. Had he sent Dorian? For what reason?

    “ I stepped out,” she said. Ramona and Slyvia stopped their argument and turned to her.

  “ What in the world are you becoming? You take every opportunity to have someone fuck you” Ramona fired disgusted 

   “ what in the world I am becoming is a whore, a bitch, a prostitute” Lyra fired back at her then turned to her “ Your business should be your daughter, mind her” Ramona gasped

  “ You will not talk to my wife in that manner”

  “ How dare you talk back to my mother?”

They said in unison but Lyra was exhausted.

  “You will not be a bitch in my house, you will marry Remy Hawthorne”Taylor said angrily and Lyra scoffed and turned to him she had never heard of the name, she doesn't know who but she smiled.

 “ Yes, I will marry him” she said surprisingly “ I will marry Remy Hawthorne. I will marry anybody” she declared “ now can you get out of my way” she screamed, pushed her way past her father and stormed into her room jamming it after her. Ramona turned to Taylor.

  “ What do you mean she's getting married to Remy Hawthorne? Sylvia isn't married yet and she wants to get married”

  “Do you want her to turn into a bitch in my house?” 

  “ Dad, did you just ask her to be the bride of Remy Hawthorne?” She asked turning to face her mother “ it is me, I am supposed to be the bride. It is me” 

  “ You were just saying…”

 “ That was me deciding"Sylvia interrupted “whether or not”

    “ Then you are the one” Ramona said “ she will marry Remy Hawthorne and not your useless loose daughter” she said walking away. 

~¥~  

“Hey Grandpa,” Remy said as he walked down the stairs. Sebastian looked up from the dining table, surprised.  

“You… you… when did you get back?” Sebastian asked, and Remy smiled.  

“Last night,” he said, and Sebastian pointed his fork at him.  

“Last night, and you didn't bother to join my party?” Sebastian said. Remy smiled, pulled out a chair, and took his seat before gesturing to the butler to bring his meal.  

“It was so crowded,” Remy said, “and you know how everyone tries to be on their best behavior whenever I'm around. I don't want to kill the fun,” he said, smiling, and Sebastian laughed.  

“I have to keep telling Marcos that my son doesn't bite. Just because you killed Kate doesn't mean you're wrong.”  

“That is the spirit,” Remy added, and they both laughed.  

“On the note of Kate, I met a man last night,” Sebastian said, turning serious, and Remy looked at him. “He's decent and growing a small business, and he has wonderful kids,” Sebastian said, trying not to look at Remy.Remy relaxed and watched his grandfather through squinted eyes.  

“When you start getting clumsy, something is fishy,” Remy said.  

“Oh please, just get dressed after breakfast. I told him to come over by the weekend, but since you are here, what happened to going there?” Sebastian said.  

“I have something to…”  

“Don't do that,” Sebastian cut in. “For my birthday, just dress up and follow me.”