Chapter 3: I’m a whore?

I certainly wasn't expecting Kendrick to accept that I'm his wife so soon. Better still, I feel proud. I avert my eyes from Kendrick to Rose and the red-haired woman. I'm taken aback by their surprised looks.

It's almost like their faces were saying that they'd never seen him looking clean. Well, It's all thanks to me.

The red-haired woman's face turns to a scowl, and she leans into Rose's ear. "Ooh, she's the woman your father-in-law brought as a wife for your mentally deranged son," she whispers loud enough for me, and possibly Kendrick, to hear.

Rose nudges her and protests in a whisper "He's not my son"

Her statement makes me frown but I brush it off.

"Elodie," Kendrick calls, and I turn to face him. He walks up to me and says, "I'm clean now." he looks like he's expecting a reward.

I would pat his hair but he's taller than me. I straighten his collar. His clothes are still rumpled, but they're clean. He looks more like a growing child instead of an adult.

A maid walks in. "Dinner is ready," she says, and I notice the surprised look on her face when her gaze reaches Kendrick.

Kendrick walks past me, ignoring Rose and the red-haired woman, and heads for the dining room. I quickly follow behind him.

We meet Zoey already seated. Impulsively, I stop in my tracks, the stinging pain on my cheeks, a constant reminder of her. Zoey looks up from her phone and stands, surprised. "Brother Kendrick!" She exclaims.

Why does everyone seem so surprised when they see him?

Kendrick ignores her and sits down. With a pained expression, Zoey's face falls and she slowly resumes her sitting position.

I sit close to Kendrick while observing Zoey. I can tell from her expressions that she cares a lot about Kendrick; it's no wonder she hit me. She must see me as a threat coming into her brother's life for money.

Though it's practically true, I won't tolerate the attitude of an eighteen-year-old next time.

Luke, Rose, and the red-haired woman join us soon, and we all sit and dine in a deafening silence.

I look left at Kendrick. He hasn't touched his food yet? He's just staring at it. "Is something wrong?" I whisper with hopes that no one else hears.

He folds his arms across his chest. "Feed me," he says loud enough to earn us both stares from the others.

My face turns beet red with embarrassment. Why did he have to speak so loudly!? I started to feed him, and thankfully, he was responding positively.

Suddenly, the hair at the back of the neck rises. I can feel two pairs of eyes glaring at me but I'm too cautious to find out who they're from.

I take a glance and the spoon nearly falls off my fingers. I get why Zoey's glaring, but what have I done to the red-haired woman?

An unsettling silence steps in but Rose breaks it. "Zoey, how are your final exams coming up?" She asks

I feel Zoey's glare die down as she responds absentmindedly "Good"

"Does your neck still hurt?" I look up and meet Luke's soft gaze. I shake my head in response and look away. He's so good-looking it's hard to maintain eye contact.

He continues "You know, you don't have to give in to his wishes. I can't get a maid to feed him in your stead"

I open my mouth to speak, but Kendrick cuts in with a glare. "She's capable of feeding me herself. She's my wife, she's supposed to give in to my wishes"

Kendrick's sudden outburst causes everyone to stare in surprise—everyone including me. I feel a thud in my chest.

"It's okay, Mr Luke, I'm not bothered," I assure him to ease the tension. The red-haired woman snarls, but I ignore it.

Once the silence settles again, Zoey scoffs loudly. She looks at me with a scowl. "You must be happy now, right? Pretending to care for brother Kendrick while all you want is his money"

All eyes are now on Zoey, and she continues, "I bet it feels like an achievement, you're sitting and dining with one of the wealthiest families in Serenade City. It feels good, doesn't it? You don't need to pretend, we all know you're just a shameless golddigger so act like one"

After her harsh statement, silence follows. It's almost as if they're waiting for my response.

I avert my eyes from Zoey and stare down at the meal, my appetite gone. It's hard to oppose when all she has said is the truth.

"Zoey, we've talked about this." I hear Luke's voice, and I look up in surprise. My heart skips a beat, he's standing up for me again.

I give Kendrick a side glance and he's seeming unbothered.

Zoey slams her hand on the table, startling me and everyone else, as she stands angrily "But brother, that woman is a whore!" She spits, her eyes burning with hate.

Her words sting my heart but I clamp my lips shut, swallowing the pain her words inflict.

"Go to your room," Luke orders sternly prompting the rest of all to stare with widened eyes.

Zoey's glare shifts from Luke to me, her eyes burning with hatred. She lets out a menacing hiss before storming out.

I bite down on my lower lip, my eyes glued to my food.

"Luke!" Rose's scolding voice makes me flinch, "You dare send your sister away because of this outsider?"

I keep my head low even though being called an outsider hurts. I listen to Luke's voice, but I hear the red-haired woman's sneer instead. "Zoey and Rose are right, Luke. You're taking sides with this….woman when you know she truly is only after our family's wealth"

My face hangs low, shame and self-doubt washing over me. I can't see Luke's expression. They're right, I'm merely an outsider who's in a pretend marriage with their eldest son for money.

I don't know why Luke would take my side and act so kindly towards me. He's opposing his family all for me. The thought of it warms my heart with unimaginable gratitude.

I glance up at Luke; his face is indifferent, and so is his voice as he says, "Should I send you upstairs as well, Camila?" He asks, revealing the red-haired woman's name to be Camila.

Camila snarls as she stands. "Fuck you, Luke" she exits the dining, leaving the four of us to eat in silence.

Not wanting to cause more trouble for Luke, I force my meals down my throat in silence even though I already lost my appetite.

The stairs, everyone had gone up except me, Kendrick, and Luke. I stand in front of Luke, my fingers intertwining nervously as I say "I'm sorry for causing much trouble during dinner"

He smiles and I avert my eyes. Why is it so impossible to maintain eye contact with this man? There's something about it that makes me feel exposed and vulnerable.

Whenever I try to, his face seems to exude an irritable charm. His scent has a malevolent aura to it, and his eyes are like an abyss and I fear I might fall in if I stare.

"Elodie," the sound of his voice gently calling my name breaks my thoughts. I look at him, and we lock eyes; I'm unable to look away, sinking into alluring blue eyes.

"You haven't caused any trouble. You're a member of our family, Elodie, you mustn't let them bully you. You're kind, beautiful, and considerate, too bad the others can't see it"

I stare at him, speechless. I feel a warm clutch in my chest, the syncing of his lips playing on repeat in my head.

My silence urges his continuation, "I know you're doing this for your father. Don't give in to their hurtful statements. Whenever you need anything, I'm here. One call, Elodie. That's all it takes"

He taps my shoulder before ascending the stairs.

Luke's gentle smile is still fresh in my mind; I arrive in Kendrick's room.