CHAPTER THREE.

EPISODE THREE.

JENNA'S POV.

Two days later.

I stood in front of the mirror and adjusted the tiny silver necklace Lana gave to me as my 15th birthday gift, I've always hated it because of how tiny it is, but she was so sincere with the gift and I wore it for years until we fell out.

It took me a while to find it amidst my other stack of jewelry.

Today is her thanksgiving service in church and I can't believe I'm wearing the gift she gave me to me there.

Life is so funny, one minute, I'm beefing Lana on how she wasted her life and potentials trying to satisfy our parents, the next, I'm trying to figure out ways to satisfy them better which is what she's always hated.

Lana prefers to be the pawn, she preferred to be the villain in our stories, I never understood her resilience and intentions and it broke me so bad.

I slicked my hair to a tight bun, outlining my spectacular face features because asides going to that event to give her my final respect, I want to please Ryker too.

It's the only way to get into his skin, we've always hated each other, and I can't wait to see the expression on his face when I finally become lenient with him.

Mom walked in with a smirk on her face, she's definitely pleased with how immersed I am in this facade I'm putting up today.

"You look stunning!" She compliments and claps her head hysterically as she struts across to the room.

I roll my eyes mentally, because there's no fun in this, I just want to be with Arlene and get out of everyone's hair

"Is Dad ready? Let's get over this stupid arrangement." I cursed under my tone, wiping off the satiated grin on her face earlier.

Mom walked closer to me and smoothened her hands over my shoulders down to my dress.

"No, darling. You should not anticipate for the end, but how well this thing will play out." She admonished in a softer tone.

I almost cackled at how the word of endearment sounded when it rolled out of her mouth, because it's so unlike her."I will be in the car." I mumbled and wriggled myself out of her grip.

After a long tiring drive filled with Dad and Mom shenanigans, we're finally in front of the large well decorated church where the event will take place.

A few cars were parked in front of the building and I wondered who are the people that are actually kind enough to send Lana one last time.

Tears pricked the corner of my eyes again but I fought them back so it won't smear my makeup.

Walking into the building after making sure Dad and Mom are a few steps away from me, I scanned through the room, hoping to find Ryker and luckily, there he is.

Sitting down with Arlene with his head bowed and Arlene in his arms again.

My heart pulled in bitterness which almost made me clench my fist but I relaxed myself and carried my body gracefully closer to where they were sitting.

I occupied the seat which is the closest to him and Ryker almost jumped out of his seat in surprise.

His jaw tickled and his eyes almost popped out of its sockets.

Poor him, he's probably wondering why the girl who threatened to kill him is giving him a sickening smile right now.

"What do you think you're doing?" He growled in his usual grumpy tone.

"Paying my sister her last respect." I grinned fully.

Shit. My mouth aches now.

"What?"

"Pay attention to the service, Ryker. we're not getting something like this again." I cut him off softly and took the sleeping girl in his hands carefully without giving him a heads-up.

Luckily and thankfully for me, he didn't object due to the people around us, but his siren eyes were on me throughout the service.

After we were done, a handful of people came to greet us which I answered in unity with him, giving them the hint that we might be together.

I think Ryker woke up at the right side of the bed today because he played along so well with me that it almost got scary.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ryker repeated as he dragged me by my arms in a tight grip.

"Are you recycling questions now?" I throw back at him in a daring tone.

"You know doing this in front of a child is the most despicable thing you've ever done to me?" His sharp voice heightened in the room, causing Arlene to steer in her sleep.

"You want to start mentioning how much of a bitch I am?"

He rolled his eyes and squinted them under his glasses then sighed.

"I won't give you a chance to be around Arlene. She's mine, get that into your skulls." Ryker growled with so much possessiveness in his tone that almost made me shiver.

My eyes bore into his face, as if I'm trying to filter the other emotions he's trying to hide, I swore I could almost see fear in his eyes but it disappeared like it was never there.

"Let me remind you of how much of a sully person you and your father is if we're going to keep going down the memory lane, Ryker. You forced my sister into a marriage contract all in the name of preserving our family legacy, you...."

"What did you just say to me?" He cut off me with a confused expression on his face.

My goodness, he's trying to play the good cop right now. How much longer is Ryker going to pretend to me that he's not the villain in my sister's story?

"Oh, deny it as much as you can because the only witness is dead!"

"And I don't fucking care about that! I don't want to see anyone that relates to you around me or my daughter, because you are good as a dead person."

My shoulders went lax immediately and anger surged through me, because this man didn't only admit that he doesn't care about Lana's death but I can go to hell too.

My lips trembled at the new realization of the kind of person Ryker actually is, he's ready to fight teeth and flesh just to have Arlene in his custody. A child he didn't deserve to be with because someone like him deserves nothing but death.

"You want me out of your life? Bad for you, Ryker because all I've ever done is defy your orders, watch me how I weasel my way into your life and take everything that gives you a purpose to live." My words dripped with maliciousness, causing him to give me a condescending stare which only fueled my anger more.

Without warning, I angled closer to Ryker like a panther and stood on my toes to lock my lips with him.