CHAPTER THREE

That night.

Ericka was about to lay on the bed, when her phone suddenly buzzed. She picked it up and found it was a text from Tony Braden, her boyfriend.

[Hey babe, what's up?. I've been tryna reach ya, but you ain't picking, any problem?.]—Tony.

Ericka ran her finger across the message. She had met Tony two years ago. He liked her and she liked him so they started dating.

Tony was not from a very rich background but he wasn't from a poor one either, you could say he was financially stable. Once, he had proposed to her but she rejected it. Back then she had wanted to focus on her studies.

So later on, Tony proposed for the second time and she immediately accepted. The only thing left was to plan a marriage, so how will she explain to him that she has to marry someone else and not him?.

[I'm fine.]

[If you are, why aren't you picking my calls?.]

Yes, she had been avoiding his calls.

[I've not been with my phone. Just saw the missed calls.]

She lied and by now Tony had figured there was something wrong.

[Ricka...tell me if there's a problem. Is it your mom?, did she do anything to you again?. I'm on my way right now to pick you up.]—Tony

Ericka massaged her temples and smiled softly before dialing his number.

"There's no need for that. I'm fine, I promise, it's just a headache."

"Oh..." Tony did not seem quite convinced.

"I'm really fine. You should go to bed, it's quite late."

"Hmm. Fine then. Good night."

"Good night."

Beep...

She ended the call before succumbing to sleep.

———

The next day, Ericka woke up early as usual. Her eyes slightly red due to sleeping quite late, but Catherine didn't care about that. In fact, she was more worried about the dress Ericka was currently wearing. With a slightly disgusted look she asked.

"Gosh!. don't you have something better to wear?, first impressions matter. Go change!."

As usual, Ericka nodded quietly and obeyed, even though what she had on was perfectly okay. She changed into a new set of clothes but Catherine was still not satisfied.

"Come with me!." Catherine dragged her into the room before selecting a see through red skimpy gown.

"B-but—" Ericka's eyes widened at the sight of the dress.

"No buts. Your husband will love it. It's the new fashion anyways. Now quick!, get dressed. The taxi is waiting outside."

Streams of tears ran down Ericka's fair cheeks. She reluctantly wore the dress but not before sneaking in a jacket into her bag.

———

Inside the taxi..

"Yes, this address." Ericka showed the card to the driver and the man nodded, his eyes locked on her chest. Noticing this, she immediately put on the jacket she had brought making the man clear his throat.

"W-which adress?."

Ericka gave the card to the man before sinking into the seat, her hands grasping the jacket tightly.

Some hours later.

"Ma'am i'll have to stop here. The road ahead is damaged due to the rain."

Ericka nodded before coming down and paying him.

"This is not the full amount." The driver said with a raised brow.

Ericka looked at him sternly."If you want your full amount, then get me to my destination. It's still an hour away and i clearly think this amount is fair."

The cunning driver hissed before driving away and at that moment the rain started pouring.

And unfortunately, Ericka had forgotten to pack an umbrella.

'What unfortunate i have.' she said to herself before walking.

An hour later.

Ericka gazed up at the large mansion. Her mouth slightly slacked due to the beauty of this ancient like building. Dragging her little luggage with her, she walked into the house.

Ding.

She rang the door bell and it instantly opened, as if her time of arrival had been predicted.

"Come in...young miss." The butler gave out a complicated look when he saw the exposing dress Ericka was wearing.

Noticing the change in the butler's expression, her hands gripped the jacket tighter.

"Who's at the door?."She heard a deep husky voice speak and she halted in her steps. It couldn't be...

———

Xander turned to face the door and as expected, she had arrived.

"What kind of immoral clothes do you have on?!."

Jessica, Xander's foster sister shouted.

"Is this the type of lady you plan on getting married to?!. I'm so disappointed big brother!."

Xander gracefully sipped the the wine he had in hand. Ignoring his sister, he turned to face Ericka.

"You're here..."

Ericka's heart almost skipped a bit hearing his voice, the reason?, she had no idea. Everything about him had changed drastically. From his missing tooths to his skanty hair, everything.

He looked..handsome. No, handsome was like belittling him.

There was nobword to deacribe his beauty. Over the past few years she had tried her very best to find him, but it was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth.

"X-xan?."

"It's Mr Hart."

Ericka was slightly taken aback by the tone in which he spoke to her.

"I guess you were trying to seduce me with this outfit?." He scanned her up and down with a disgusted look.

"But how can a shapeless dog seduce someone, is that possible?."

Everyone bursted into laughter, even her soon to be mother in law and father who had been sitted at the corner tried to stiffle their laughs.

"How could you say such a thing Xan?, I didn't teach you to talk in such a manner."

Grandpa Hart said, his gaze at her pitiful.

"Oh dear, you must be feeling cold. Madelyn take her to her room."

Madelyn, the head maid of the Hart mansion nodded before taking Ericka upstairs to her room.

All the while her eyes were glued to Xander who did not even glance at her once, what had changed so much?.

———

Once in her room, Ericka took a warm bath before slipping into her most comfy clothes. She packed her hair into a messy bun before quickly heading downstairs. Xander had already gone to work.

"Oh, the sl*t is back." Jessica said arrogantly, eyeing Ericka.

Ericka ignored the rude statement and instead smiled at her before walking over to help Madelyn who was in the kitchen, cutting up some vegetables for dinner.

"Oh no young miss. Please don't worry. Leave this to me. It would be such a disgrace on my part if i let the young miss of the Hart family do such chores."

Ericka was not convinced so she insisted.

"Let me help. I don't have any other thing to do anyways."

"Just let her do it. I guess she wants to become the maid." Jessica said and Madelyn sighed.

"Fine young miss."

Some minutes later, Ericka could be seen in the kitchen swiftly cutting up vegetables. Madelyn who was sterring the soup looked at her in amazement. She thought the new miss would be some spoil brat but she was completely wrong.