CHAPTER 03

ELYSIA. 

In the next two days before Mom's wedding, I was choked up. I helped Mom out with her fittings, organized the seat charts, helped out with choosing flowers, went for cake tastings, I was practically buried in busy schedules, phone calls, and checklists. 

Nova helped out as much as she could and I felt grateful to have her. It was even hard to see Mr. Steele. 

Zane was nowhere around, don't get me wrong, the house felt very comfortable to be in without his haughty stares and hubristic aura. 

It made me think; maybe moving in won't be a bad idea, I'll barely see him. 

Nova thought the same. Since Mom and Mr. Steele didn't plan on doing any bridal shower night, I finally had my time to breathe. All the exhaustion from hopping around for the last two days hit me like a ton of bricks. 

Mom had to hire a masseuse to help massage all of my stiff limbs and aching muscles. Nova felt delighted to be a part of the indoor spa. 

And that night, though I knew I'd still have to wake up early to do my last rushed hour preparation for the wedding, I was able to sleep like a baby. 

*

The wedding was short and simple. No ambiguous words, just a short word from the priest and the exchange of rings. I joined the guests in clapping, grinning widely while observing the genuine happiness on my mother's face. 

She looked so much at ease, like she finally found her resting place, her home. When was the last time I've seen Mom this way? 

It looked like she would finally be able to loosen up a bit, to take off the excess responsibilities and lean on this man, Mr. Steele. 

With the way Mr. Steele held my mom's hand--

"I think they're really in love with each other," Nova whispered beside me. 

Did she notice it too? She practically spoke out my thoughts.

"Do you think they've known each other before now?" She asked again but I shrugged, shaking my head. I really had no idea. 

In that moment, I realized I didn't even know anything going on in my Mom's life. Her love life especially. I only know I tried to encourage her whenever I caught her in the middle of the night, sitting in the dining room and holding a bottle of either whiskey or any strong alcohol. 

She's raised me alone for over seventeen years, she's been strong all through. Or maybe she acted like it in front of me. I rarely see Mom break into tears, but today, she was crying. And she was hugging Mr. Steele. 

There was something about both of them that seemed unspoken. Unexplained. Nova seemed to notice it too. 

Well, there was nothing to overthink. Mom was happy, and that's what matters. 

"Say, I don't see your stepbrother around," Nova spoke again, looking around. 

The guests were roaming around, some speaking to Mom and Mr. Steele. 

"It's none of my business, and I really don't care." I haven't seen Zane around either, did he seriously miss his father's wedding? 

"Why would he miss such an important day? He's a real jerk." Nova shook her head. 

I couldn't agree less, but I didn't want to talk about Zane, it would ruin my day. 

During the reception slash after-party at night, Nova and I changed into a matching outfit. It was a blush-pink, floor-length satin dress with delicate straps, a lace-embellished bodice, a subtle off-the-shoulder tulle accent, a ruched waist, and a side slit. 

The after-party had taken place at the back of Mr. Steele's mansion, and trust me when I say it's the perfect spot for an occasion like this. 

There were more guests now than in the morning. While Nova and I quickly blended in with the crowd, Nova tugged on the hem of my dress. 

"Look." She was pointing with her head in a direction. "Look who's here." 

It was Zane, and he was speaking to his father. Almost immediately, Mr. Steele left him to go join Mom and Nova's mother.

My feet moved immediately, following Zane. "What are you doing? Where the hell are you going?" Nova was racing behind me. 

I needed to confront Zane, we all know he's an asshole, I mean, he's made it obvious but missing his father's wedding and coming after the main event was over? Only a wacko would do that. 

Zane picked up a glass of cocktail from a table and I yanked it from his hand before he could take a sip. Though I was careful enough to not spill it on either of our clothes. 

He stared at me. "What are you doing?"

"You need to be taught a serious lesson. Must you let the whole world know you're a psycho?" I placed my free hand on my waist demandingly. 

"Take your insane friend out of her." He said to Nova and turned to leave. 

"Is there a valid reason why you didn't attend your father's wedding?"

"I don't think that concerns you..."

"Of course it does!" I snapped. "He's your father--"

"My father, not yours. When you're done ranting, you can have the cocktail." He slowly walked away, but I was still able to catch his last words. "I don't know how much you've drunk to make you misbehave like an unhinged animal, don't bite anyone."

I scoffed in shock and slowly turned to Nova. "Did he just call me a dog?" 

"Why did you go to him?" Nova muttered. 

"I needed to confront him--"

"And you got insulted instead. Let's go, people are staring already."

For sure, those last words of Zane's lingered around me the way his scent does. He just knows how to leave an impression, doesn't he? 

Nova and her mom left the after-party in one of Mr. Steele's cars, and I retired to my room in exhaustion without having dinner. 

The next morning, I overheard Mom and Mr. Steele talking about their honeymoon trip tonight. 

"It'll take just a few days, sweetie," Mom replied when I asked about it. "And I need you to do me a favor. Stay back until we're back, it might even give you and Zane the chance to bond."

My tongue went sour when she gave the last sentence? Bond? I'd rather rehabilitate with pigs than bond with that man. 

But I couldn't refute, I just nodded. I just have to go with her words to make her happy. Zane was barely home to start with. 

"That reminds me, can you go call him? His room is the last door on the left at the end of the hallway."

Why me? The housekeeper is here, why do I have to--

The loud sound of the chair scraping against the marble floor echoed in the dining room, so I walked out in anger. 

In a few minutes, I was standing in front of the door. I really didn't want to do this but I obviously have no choice. 

I knocked on the door once, no response. Twice, still no response. By now, my patience was running thin. I knocked the third time but still got no response. 

In anger and snapped impatience, I twisted the doorknob and the door opened easily. I paused, contemplating whether to go in or just knock some more. 

Forget it! 

I opened the door wider and stepped into the dark room. The thick blinds were pulled shut, blocking the light from the window. The entire room reeked of him, the smell was overwhelming that it could easily subdue any other fragrance, mine included. 

The room was even darker from the dim paint with a few traces of gold. A shelf stood at the corner, filled with-- books? 

I walked to it, my footsteps silent against the floor. I pulled out a book, I never knew the jerk and psychotic Zane was into books. 

That's unexpected. 

"Do you move into people's rooms unannounced?" I jolted at the sudden sound of his voice behind me. 

I turned immediately and the book fell from my hand and my eyes widened. Did he just come out of the bathroom... Naked?