14

Sophia's POV

I threw my dance bag to the floor at the center of the living room before collapsing on it.

My feet felt as if I had been walking on sharp nails and my body was just too heavy for me to lift.

“Beautiful Sophia, you've grown up to be a perfect national championship material, bravo.” A smile appeared on my face as I remembered the comment my dance coach gave. She hardly praises anybody, but she did praise me today, and that took me straight to cloud nine.

Another sigh escaped my lips. I felt my heart crush as the reality hit again that I won't be able to compete.

“You're back, Sophia. Perfect, I need you to—”

“God, I bet you now see with your butt because if not, can't you see that I'm so dead tired? I can't even go upstairs.” I groaned, cutting her off.

“And am I the one who sent you to dance? Instead of you being at home, glowing and preparing for your wedding…”

“I'm outta here.” I cut her off again, dragging myself and my bag upstairs.

I could hear her mumbling some words, but I was too tired to even listen.

I collapsed on my bed as soon as I came out from the bathroom, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

“Wake up, Sophia, you've got a visitor.” Mom's voice woke me up.

“Who's that?” I asked, lazily rubbing my fingers against my eyes.

“Ethan…”

“Which Ethan?” I gasped.

“Ethan Blackwood, of course,” she replied.

“What's he here to do? What happened?” I asked, confused.

“Have you forgotten the rules? He is to bring flowers to you every Sunday.”

I really wished I could just ask someone else to get the flowers for me instead, but Mum forced me downstairs.

And there he was in a white shirt and black pants.

“G.. good evening.” I tried so hard to steady my voice, but obviously, it betrayed me.

“I'm here to give you the flowers Dad asked me to. Here…” He couldn't even say a simple ‘Evening’. I collected the flowers from his outstretched hand.

“Thank you, but you know you don't have to do things you don't want to.” He stared at me for a while, then nodded.

“I'd take my leave now,” he said, and I nodded. He turned around and walked out.

I picked up the rose and inhaled it. The smell in it almost threw me against the wall.

“What the fuck?” I shouted.

“Seriously? You thought Ethan was going to send a sweet-smelling thingy to you?” Lisa chuckled wickedly while I stamped my foot on the flower.

“I bet he sprayed it with fart spray,” she continued laughing.

“It's okay, it's not funny. It's expected!” I glared at her.

“Yes, totally expected. It's written all over your face, Mrs Blackwood.” She grinned.

“I'm Miss Carter, not New Blackwood. We still have two months to go, and I just pray something would change his dad's mind before then.”

“You're getting married to him, young lady. There's nothing you can do about it,” she sang.

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes while staring at the flower. Lisa walked to the window as soon as she heard the roar of Ethan's car.

“I wonder when you would stop this busybody activity of yours,” I sneered.

“And I wonder when you would finally develop some brain cells in that skull of yours.”

“What do you mean? Granny used to say I am so much more intelligent than you are.” I stuck out my tongue.

“I see. That's why you couldn't tell that wasn't Ethan.” She rolled her eyes.

“What are you saying?”

“I'm saying that the man who came in is a clone actor. Can't you see it? That's not the real Ethan, my dear.”

“I get you are just looking for something to say because I can clearly remember that you came in right after you left.” I smirked.

“Oh… please, I was behind you the whole damn time.”

“God! Eavesdropping again?”

“I don't have any choice since my sister is proving to be a dumbass. I just have to watch and save your ass every time, and I wonder when you will finally grow up and start standing up for yourself instead of being here and exchanging words with me at home.”

Even though she was just joking, her words hit me somehow. I looked down at my fingers, wondering how I couldn't notice. Maybe it was because I was looking down the whole time.

I felt something was off when he told me he would take his leave. I'm so sure Ethan would never tell me he is leaving.

I really need to build up my confidence. This is the man I might be spending the rest of my life with.

I sighed again.

“Sophia, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings or something.” Lisa noticed my mood change.

“You're right, I'm just being a lame ass,” I muttered.

“Yes, you've always been, but you're improving. I'm proud you even have the guts to ask him to stop the flowers. It's a gradual process and you have two months. I believe you would.” She patted my head.

I nodded slowly.

“Where is your phone?” Lisa suddenly asked.

“It's in my room upstairs. What's up?”

“We really need to call Mr Charles Blackwood and report his dickhead son to him. Remember Mr Charles stated that you should call him whenever he breaks one of the rules, and him sending a clone actor is surely an act of defying the rules. And I also bet he hasn't been sending the good morning messages.” She smirked.

“Well… I don't think we need to report or something. I'm cool with it.” I shrugged.

“Cool with it? Arrrghhhh! Must you be cool with everything? Sometimes just get tough and ignore the fact that you are a short rat. Jump up, and also that stupid face of his.” She pulled her hair dramatically.

“Sophia is right, Lisa.” Mum suddenly appeared behind us.

“You can't keep calling the man and disturbing him about this and that. He won't take her seriously when it gets to a point, and that will only make Ethan hate her more and start behaving more wildly,” Mom continued, and I nodded.

“So Sophia should patiently endure it, right?” Lisa sneered.

“We have no choice, and we also need to find a way to be on his good side,” Mom said.

“Mum, don't use that pronoun. Just say ‘I and Sophia’, and maybe Dad.” She rolled her eyes.

“Lisa, mothers' advice are the best.” I smiled at her.

“Of course, I know they are gems. So listen to your mama, be that ‘yes sir, I'm sorry’ wifey to your dear husband and endure every single thing he does. Even if he gives you his urine, you gotta drink it.” She kicked out as she walked away.

“Yuck!”

“Lisa had always been tough since I was pregnant with her.” Mother smiled.

“She would have made a great wife for Ethan instead of me.” I sighed.

“No darling, you are beautiful, unique, and enough in your own way. I also strongly believe that things would work out pretty well between you and Ethan.”

“I do too,” I said, but the lie tasted bitter in my mouth.

Ethan would never smile at me, talk more of ever loving me, and the idea of having a husband that hates me just shattered my heart into pieces.