3: Two Faced In Laws

ROSHIDA

Sophia had been with me for so many years. Back home, she'd been my personal maid and she'd proven herself to be my friend and the sister I never had.

She was there for me when my father, brothers and mother died, helping me get through the grief I thought would envelope me.

That's why I knew I could trust her with everything.

She rushed to my side before my knees buckled and I fell to the floor.

“Luna, you're not doomed. Don't tell me you plan to let him marry that other woman? You're just going to give into the pressure?”

What other choice did I have?

He was already set on it. And he sure as hell wasnt considering me. It didn't matter to him. I didn't matter to him.

“He doesn't care, Sophia. They want me to take care of the wedding. What do I do? I can't stand by and watch him marry her.”

What did she have that I didn't? Why did he feel the need to humiliate me this way? After everything I did?

“Luna, don't tell me you're going to let them do what they want with your inheritance. They'll take everything if you let them. They've surely already taken a whole lot from you.”

That may be true, but I couldn't possibly fight him. I didn't have anyone on my side that could do something.

“Why don't you speak to the King about it? I'm sure he can do something about it.”

The King? All the way in the Capitol?

How was I going to get there and how would I get access to the king?

I was just a Luna. Well, I was about to lose my position so I would soon be nothing.

“My inheritance is all they're after. And they won't stop until they get it. There's little to nothing that I can do.”

She didn't understand what I was talking about and I didn't want to risk it because in this house, there was no privacy.

It's not like I could just get up and leave. This was my new home and besides, I couldn't let another woman come in and make herself at home here.

My mother had gone through a whole lot trying to pick out the perfect husband for me.

She dropped the towel and walked over to me.

“I never knew you to be weak. You would always stand up for yourself just like the King taught you to. Why's this being any different? Do you love him?”

I turned to her immediately.

Did I love Felix?

So much has happened in the past few months that I hadn't had the time to think about it.

There were no feelings, no time for feelings.

“What do you want me to do? Fight them and get kicked out? Where will I go? What do I have left?”

She grabbed my shoulders, turning me to look at her.

“Roshida, get a hold of yourself. You have your inheritance. Your father's throne, your people, they look up to you. How would you be able to look at yourself in the mirror if this goes on like this? They'll take everything!”

My brain was clogged and I couldn't even think right. All I could do was cry.

The door opened and Sophia stepped away from me like I'd burned her.

There was only one person that could get that reaction out of her. She curtsied and stepped out of the room, leaving the dense atmosphere to settle between me and the witch in front of me.

“You two looked like you were in a heated conversation. What were you talking about? Planning the wedding so soon?”

She could go to hell.

Without turning around, I went to sit on the bed.

“Nothing that will interest you. What so much want?”

I cleaned my tears so she won't see that I had been crying. I didn't want her to think that she had won.

She should be downstairs, ogling her new daughter in law. What did she want with me?

“Its no news that your husband has brought home another woman. He was never really your husband, was he? What are you going to do about it?”

Did she overhear our conversation? I tried to play it cool.

“What do you want me to do about it? You guys seem like suck a lovely family already.”

It still marvelled me that she made me carry her back down the stairs earlier and here she was standing in my room unaided.

“Well, I'll tell you this. It will be in your best interest to go ahead with whatever Felix has planned. He will marry her and the best you can do for yourself and for peace is to go along with it. I don't want you giving them any issues.”

I finally looked at her and all I could do was laugh. Of course, did I expect her to tell me to fight for my rights?

How predictable.

“I mean, with someone with your…defect, I don't think you should be wandering around alone. It's not safe for you. So you can stay here and rot.”

She knows.

I couldn't hide my surprise as I looked at her.

“You didn't think my son would marry someone and not tell me everything, did you?” She laughed, obviously proud of the hold she had on him.

She didn't know that she was raising him to be sissy.

“I’ll do just fine on my own. I don't need advice from you, trust me. I already know what I am going to do.”

That was a lie.

She was just here to play some sick game and get me to tell her what's on my mind. I had a couple of things I wanted to say to that sick son of hers.

She scoffed.

“Don’t tell me you see that girl as competition. That girl…she's a sickly one. Put her side by side with you and she doesn't even hold a candle to you, in appearance or status. I can't believe you're letting her get to you.”

At this point, I didn't know if I was supposed to be surprised at what she was saying or expect it.

Grace was like this. Two-faced when she needed to be. One could never really know her true intentions.

“Bad-mouthing her so soon? That's too bad. I thought she was a delight.”

Poor girl, if only she knew what she was walking into. This family wasn't a treasure, it was a prison. I'm sure she thought she had won the lottery with this family. How sad.

I knew she was only doing this because she knew that I was the only one who could pay for the damn wedding.

But she surely won't get into my head.

“Do you hate her? Kelly, don't you find her a good fit for him?”

She took her time with answering.

“Why do you find that important? I mean-”

“Do you dislike her? Yes or no.”

I could see the panic in her eyes.