A subtle frown appeared on Mum’s face at the command Dad had given. “Why is that? Brenda is a part of our family, why do you want her to stay in her room when the Moore family arrives?” “You are always taking things too far. Did I say that Brenda isn’t a part of our family? She is our daughter, of course, I wouldn’t short-change her!” Dad said, looking offended. He was clearly unhappy about Mum’s insinuation. “Our daughter had just returned home after going through a serious surgery and according to her doctor, she is not allowed to be moving about. Stress should be far away from her,” Dad added, staring at Mum squarely. “Tell me, what would you do if she were to faint in front of the Moore family? How will we redeem ourselves?” Dad’s question had Mum sealing her lips and the hard expression on her face, softening. She must have thought that made a lot of sense since getting the More family’s favour was more important. “Brenda has fainted in front of them before. Imagine
Dad chatted with Grandpa Moore and Christopher’s uncles for a bit before leading everyone to the dining room and somehow, I ended up sitting next to Christopher. Actually, it wasn’t a coincidence since my best friend Tessa decided to play some tricks just to make it happen, and I have to thank her for the opportunity. It’s as if she already knew what I wanted, but I know she just thought to do what was necessary. She can’t help bringing her brother and I close. It’s just in her nature. Nothing much is said during dinner as Grandpa Moore gave off the air of someone who doesn’t speak while eating, and the rest of the Moore family seem to follow his lead. The Moore family and my Wilson family have a vast contrasting difference, especially in manners. They maintain dining etiquette and don’t talk while eating unlike in my family where Mum will choose that opportunity to scold the peace out of me. I bet dining together is one of the only opportunities she has to see me and te
“I haven’t visited Emily is years. I want to see her bedroom,” Tessa said, rising to her feet while meeting her Grandfathers gaze with a big smile on her face. A subtle of confusion smeared my face as I tried to understand the situation. I really don’t know what my best friend is up to, but whatever it is, I’m sure it will benefit me. “Of course, you can go,” Mum said immediately, getting Grandpa Moore’s nod of approval. Then she turned her gaze to me. “Emily, go on, take your best friend to see your bedroom. You can as well take a walk outside and talk about girly stuff.” “Good,” Tessa said and then turned to drag me to my feet before shifting her entire attention to Christopher. “Cousin, you are coming along. Let the elders conclude on the rest of the wedding plans.” Without waiting for anyone’s approval, Christopher pretended to have no choice but to honour his cousin’s invitation, and rose to his feet. No one said a word to stop him and just like that, we left the sitti
Brenda’s POV. My heart slammed against my chest as I strolled back to my room in anger. The way that Emily’s best friend, Tessa, embarrassed me was uncalled for. I have no doubt that Emily must have been giving her details about me otherwise why would she be so bitter towards me and even speak to me with words that hurt in the right places? Oh... Emily, you shouldn’t have done that, now you are going to see what I will do to you. I don’t need to wait until I’ve fully recovered, I just know the right things to do and the right people to use. Just in case you’ve forgotten what I can do, I will remind you, and while at it, ensure that your wedding to Christopher Moore never holds. If I don’t marry Christopher as I rightfully should, then you can’t! You are not allowed to have happiness, not after how your parents made me an orphan! The rims of my eyes turned red and my teeth gritted as I recalled those painful memories from years back, but as quickly as my tears came, they dis
Oliver continued with his pretence. He apologized to me and promised to visit me the very next day. Honestly, I don’t love Oliver, and I definitely do not care about him. The only reason I worked so hard to be with him was because I didn’t want to see Emily happy in any form. I was unsatisfied knowing that she was getting love and attention from someone else after blocking the road to receiving those affections from her parents. I had to do something to break her completely and by snatching Oliver from her, and letting her find out in the most cruel way, kind of got the job now but seeing Christopher Moore in the picture, has threatened to ruin my hard work. If Christopher wasn’t meant for me from the very beginning, then I wouldn’t be going so hard against Emily now. “I will come with my parents to visit you in the evening, and I will let my Mum call yours to inform her about our plans,” Oliver stated. “Okay,” I sniffed, sounding completely dejected. “I will wait for you tom
Emily’s POV. “I see that you are happy and satisfied with your best friend,” Christopher said with his gaze on me as he crossed his leg over the other while sitting on a chair as Tessa and I walked into the room and shut the door. From the shameless attitude he displayed back in the dining room, I thought that I would see him on my bed by now, but it turned out that he could be a gentleman when he wanted. “Of course, she’s always proud of me,” Tessa jumped in before words could form in my mouth. “Are you jealous that you don’t have any good friend like they way we do?” “Who said I don’t have good friends? What do you take me for?” Christopher retorted. Meanwhile, Tessa pretended to think for a moment before saying, “Oh... I remember now. All your friends are living abroad, so you are back here alone and lonely.” Tessa wriggled her eyebrows playfully after finishing her remark and I bet she’s very proud of herself while Christopher remained unaffected with her teasing until th
THURSDAY. Christopher’s POV. Thursday was a busy day for me and I barely had the time to check on Emily. But to make up for it, I invited her to have lunch with me during lunch break. Emily looked a bit stunned by the offer as she set my food down. “I have my lunch already. Also, while it’s true that Stella won’t say anything since she knows we are together, we can’t disrupt the work ethic” Emily said to me with slightly furrowed brows. If this had been any other day, I would have let her escape unfortunately for her, I’m not in that mood, so I pinned my gaze to her and ask, “Are you sure you don’t want to have lunch with me, and would prefer eating with others?” I asked her that question, I rubbed my jaw subtly with my fingers and licked my lower lips without doing as much as blinking. How could Emily resist this temptation? I am not always proud, but some special occasions calls for it, like today. Emily let out a deep sigh and plopped herself on the couch.
Barbara was a bit uncomfortable with my out-of-the-blue question. Her lashes fluttered lightly as she looked towards her father for help, but he either didn’t see her since he wasn’t looking her way, or he pretended not to have seen her subtle gesture.Whichever one it was, I am still waiting for Barbara’s response because I won’t let her get away with this. Her actions are annoying and the sight of her is irritating.Seeing that she couldn’t get away with my interrogation she smiled sheepishly and returned her gaze back to me.“I took a half-day off from work today.”“Why?” I probed, leaning out of my seat with all manner of curiosity as a deafening silence hit the room. And I’m glad that everyone apart from Barbara knew better but to be silent.Barbara looked anywhere but at me as she answered my question. “I wasn’t feeling too well, but I’m all good now.”A scoff escaped my lips before I could gauge my reaction. Nothing infuriated me more than this woman’s nonchalance at my
Tessa.“You don’t know me.” Brenda shook her head. “You don’t know me at all. You belittle me.” I didn’t care to find out what she meant by that. I simply ignored her and watched from the corner of my eyes as she sat down on one of the couches.Finally, I crossed my leg over the other and met her heated gaze.Soon, we will know if I overhyped or belittled her.A few minutes passed and I was up on my feet again. “We are heading back into the house. It’s time for Dinner,” I announced.Brenda glared at me while standing on my feet. But she had no choice but to follow me.We were right on time for dinner. Everyone had moved to the dining table and were seated when we arrived.Emily’s mother, Mrs. Wilson as I preferred to call her because I didn’t like associating her with my best friend, grinned as soon as she saw us walk in.“Brenda, how was the tour?” she inquired, already trying to help Brenda pull out a chair beside her at the table.I didn’t care if Brenda was going to l
Tessa.I couldn’t believe that Brenda would dare try to follow after Emily and Chris without shame.Did every explanation I gave to her dumb adoptive mother who didn’t know how to read the room, escape her ears? Brenda stopped in her steps and turned to look at me before shifting her gaze to the right path and glancing back to me.“Isn’t that the way out?” She asked, pointing towards that direction.A scoff escaped my lips as I took a few steps forward closing the gap between us.‘God, please keep me sane enough to handle this lady with patience until the very end,’ I prayed silently in my head.Brenda will make you lose your calm and your years of dedicated home training within minutes.“Brenda, be careful not to get on my nerves. Unlike my best friend Emily, there is nothing on the path, stopping me from dealing with you,” I warned, trying to keep my voice down.Brenda furrowed her brows, pretending to be confused by my reaction, as if I had just flared up out of the blues
Emily.“You know, sometimes, I wonder what you saw in me,” I said to Christopher as we suddenly stood at a spot, staring into each other’s eyes. But in the end, I had to look away. I couldn’t hold his gaze for long. “What is there not to see in you? So you need me to spell them out to you?” Christopher asked me.I caught his amused gaze from the corner of my eyes and quickly shook my head. I don’t need to hear him telling me all those sugary-coated words. Even if he meant them. “You don’t need to. I think I already get them. And your stare says a lot,” I said, meeting his gaze briefly before swinging his arm, gesturing for us to continue the walk.And when I thought that he was going to lead me into the driveway properly, he lead me to take a turn by our left and it immediately, it occured to me that he might just be taking me towards the backyard. “Emily, tell me what my stare says?” Christopher probed, tilting his head to the side.A sheepish smile lightly masked my face
Emily.It is with so much relief on my heart that Christopher and I are walking right next to each other without any other human to interfere.Tessa is my best girl. She read the situation and then proceeded to an act. Mum almost ruined it though by trying to make Brenda follow us.I don’t know what she was thinking when she brought up that idea. I bet she didn’t know she looked empty in front of the Moore family for what she did.If I wasn’t so sure that Mum would never want to jeopardize her bidding relationship with the Moore family, I would have thought she was thinking of making Christopher interested in Brenda. I hope I’m not wrong.Because, I haven’t forgotten the fact that Mum was going to help Brenda marry Christopher instead after Brenda found out Christopher’s identity and cried to her that she wanted him.To think Mum had been foolish to even consider her request and even proceed to act on it.Today made me realize that there was probably nothing Mum could not do fo
Tessa.Mrs. Wilson being unable to read the ruin angered me in ways I didn’t know was possible.Even that fool naked Brenda pretended to be oblivious to the situation and sat there next to her mother, fluttering her lashes innocently; like she was some pitiful unloved lady ostracized by her family. If I didn’t know what Brenda was like, I would have fallen for her stunt but thankfully, I would never be deceived by her. But my family was different.They don’t know Brenda is a white lotus and a green tea bitch.And although I would like to expose that witch right in front of them, now wasn’t the time as it could ruin things for Emily. Besides, I can still deal with Brenda on my own.She doesn’t know whose lands she is stepping on.The awkward silence stretched enough to erupt Chris’s anger. He wasn’t a fan of Brenda, thanks to the true stories I told him about how Emily used to be bullied by her, and her mother.But before things could get out of hand; like Chris displaying an
Tessa. Grandpa’s talks were getting boring. From taking about the wedding, he shifted focus to business, engaging Emily’s dad in the conversation.Mr. Wilson’s eyes was full of smiles as he immediately connected to the conversation. After all, the business deal was the reason for his happiness, not his daughter’s marriage. I rolled my eyes inwardly as the silence on my part stretched. And that was when my gaze fell on my cousin, Chris. He was looking my way but I could bet it wasn’t me he was staring at.There was someone he had come to adore who was sitting next to me.From the corner of my eyes, I caught Emily looking back at Chris. And instantly, a smile appeared on my lips.These two looked tired of sitting at a place with no opportunity to interact with each other. Unfortunately for them, Grandpa was so old fashioned that he doesn’t have any innovative ideas in regards to this aspect.He doesn’t understand that the future couple need to spend more time together to know
While I’m happy someone from the Moore family came to my defence which is proof they had accepted me, I couldn’t help but be mad at Mum.What she just displayed was evidence of how bias she was to Brenda. She just showed the Moore family that I am the less preferred. Which is stupid.I don’t care that Mum loves Brenda with all her life. At least, she should tame her emotions and obsession outside. Even Dad who was alert, seemed to disapprove of Mum’s actions in front of the Moore family. I could tell by the way he touched the back of her hand while gazing elsewhere.And I would like to think that he was more disappointed because she and Brenda had indirectly told them they didn’t like the work they did with my wedding invitation cards.Soon, the awkwardness hanging in the air disappeared along with Tessa’s presence. Tessa arrived with a warm smile on her face , especially after she saw me. But the second she noticed Brenda, I saw her smile crack.I perfectly understand my fri
I felt Brenda’s discomfort as Grandpa Moore engaged me in a conversation. I think she’s crazy for even wanting the Moore family’s attention on her. Brenda is nothing short of a heavily delusional psychopath who doesn’t have a limit to her actions. Why on earth would she be mad that all attention was on me now? Somehow, I wished that Brenda will be taken away from my side. I don’t like sitting beside her and assimilating her negative energy. It makes me more mad. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other option. From talking about work, Grandpa shifted the conversation, mentioning the wedding which was in a few weeks. Uncle Frederick’s wife mentioned the wedding invitation cards were ready. A minute later, their family butler brought a square-shaped box with a red ribbon at the top. “They arrived this morning,” Grandpa Moore revealed with a smile before turning to Christopher to give him a glance. Then Mum used the opportunity to say her thoughts. “I think we should unveil the
“Thank you for caring this much about my daughter,” Mum said, her eyes lighting up like fireworks. Then almost immediately, she dragged Brenda into the conversation. “Brenda, you have to thank Mr. Moore.” And as if Brenda was just waiting for the right moment to show herself, she took Mum’s leading and turned her attention to Grandpa Moore. “Thank you, grandpa for your well wishes,” she said softly before turning to Christopher’s uncles to do the same. “... I deeply appreciate your concern.” It was so hard keeping a straight face when anger was about to consume me whole. Brenda spoke so endearingly as if she was the one marrying into the Moore family. It can’t be jealousy driving me at this point. Also, I’m not being paranoid. I have every reason to be furious at Mum and Brenda. I don’t know who is more dumb between the two but finally after analyzing the situation, I realised that Mum was the foolish one because how can you try to get Brenda into the Moore family’s good bo