CHAPTER 3

THREE

Audrey's POV

“Nothing Dad, I was just clumsy” I lied in a bid to defend my mother.

He picked a paper towel and wrapped my hand with it to stop the blood from dripping. “Go get that cleaned up” he said as I nodded and I scurried out.

I stepped into the hallway and I saw Ava’s laundry where she had left them. I struggled to pack the clothes when one of the guards walked up to me. His name was Melvin he had always been nice to me.

Melvin helped me pack the clothes. “Let me help you with that,” he said. He noticed my bleeding hand as the paper towel father used to wrap my hands was already soaked.

“Let’s go get that cleaned up” He said as he led me to the laundry room.

“Now you are as good as new,” he said with a smile.

He turned to leave when I held him back. “ Why are you always nice to me?" I asked and he laughed and walked out without saying anything.

With a sigh I turned to the clothes and I struggled to put them into the machine with my hands. I was supposed to heal immediately but with how weak and malnourished I was, I had stopped healing up immediately and my healing frame was now the same as a normal human.

I looked at Ava’s panties with irritation, she had always requested that her underwear be hand washed. I suddenly began to wish I knew my real parents .

The moment I had turned eighteen I was so happy I was going to get my wolf and my mate and I thought I would be able to escape this hell hole but I never knew it'd set another dimension o f pain and sorrow.

I never knew there was any Amount of reason for a mate to be this heartless and ruthless towards their mate, I guess my own world of fantasy blinded me. I sighed sadly as I allowed the tears to roll down my face.

My stomach grumbled and realization hit me. “Damn it! I haven’t eaten all day” I mumbled as I held onto my stomach and my wolf whimpered.

“It's okay Lyla, we will go through this together. There will be hope and freedom for us one day” I assured my wolf.

I looked at the stupid and dirty panties “We can use the machine to wash them, I bet Ava would even notice” Lyla said in my head and I chuckled.

“She would know and I can't risk being punished again” I told Lyla.

I sigh as I dipped my hand into the water, I pick a cloth and a stinging pain shot through my brain.

“Damn!I can't do this, '' I scoffed and sat on the floor.

I  began to doze off when I got a kick by my side, I saw that it was Ava “What do you want?” I asked.

“My dad asked that I call you” she said emphasizing on the ‘My’, she was obviously trying to let me know that I was an outsider as usual but that wasn't news to me, I struggled to my feet and I followed her.

She led me to the balcony and we met father there, “sit” he ordered and Ava quickly sat down while I stood “You too Audrey”

I also sat down beside Audrey and she shifted like I had some disease, father cleared his throat and he began “Ava you are good in communication and marketing” Ava grinning from ear to ear nodded. 

“you would begin as an assistant in the marketing team tomorrow” he informed her as her  grin quickly cleared off her face.

“But dad…” she started but he waved his hands dismissively and he turned to me.

“You Audrey, your computer and hacking skills are very good, you will start as a junior cyber security tomorrow, you will both start from scratch and work your way up to the top I do not want people to think that you will get favors because you are my kids”

I was surprised as I wasn’t expecting a job at the family company, Ava and mother were definitely going to be pissed.

Ava and I walked down the stairs when she pushed me and I stumbled but I was able to regain balance without falling. “What was that for Ava?” I asked, she walked up to me and she stared at me with venom in her eyes.

“I will make sure you do not last in that company, I will make sure father sees you as the dumb and good for nothing whore that you are '' she spat angrily as she walked out on me.

I thought of going back to the laundry room to finish up but I was extremely tired and I went straight to my small room. I wanted to lay on my bed so bad but I decided against it and I went to take a shower instead.

The warm water cascaded down my back as I heaved a sigh of relief, today was over but I knew my pathetic life would continue the next day.

I stepped out of the bathroom and I went straight to the bed without even putting on my nightwear and I drifted off the sleep.

I woke up to the ray of sunlight shining brightly across the room, I checked the time and I saw it was past seven, I was to begin work today and before that I needed to do the house chores.

This was unusual, I had never slept past six o’clock before without being woken up with a slap or a bucket of water. Then I realized they deliberately made me sleep in so that I would be late on my first day.

“shit” I cursed. I can’t afford to be late, I couldn’t allow myself to disappoint my father.

How was I going to make it on time? What will I even wear? I asked myself asI sprang to my feet and I hurriedly put on a dress. I pulled the door knob but it was locked, my heart began to race.

This wasn’t the first time I was being locked inside my room, I picked up a pin from my dresser and skillfully unlocked the door.

I ran downstairs to meet mother sipping a cup of coffee at the kitchen counter “The princess has finally decided to grace us with her presence” Mother said with a smirk.

“Good morning mother” I greeted 

“Give that greeting to your mother in the grave, I am not your mother” she said in disdain.

“What would you like for breakfast?” I asked her respectfully as I decided not to let her words get to me.

“Nothing, get out of my sight” she said which surprised me as I stood there confused. “Are you going to stand there like a fool?” she asked 

“I…I …” I stuttered.

“I heard you are starting work today” she began and I nodded.

“I have something for you” she added and I knew she was up to something, she stood up and she picked up a gift bag which was beside her, she handed it to me. “Here”

I reluctantly collected it and I pulled the contents out and it was a black dress. I was still shocked to the bone. I knew I was going to pay for this dress In one way or another and I was scared but I couldn’t reject it “T… thank you mother” I said and she ignored me and went back to her coffee.

I  turned to go prepare for work when she called back “ One more thing” she said as my heart skipped a beat.

“Kevin was complaining of a headache, take some aspirin and a glass of water to him, '' she ordered and I let out  a sigh of relief.

“Alright” I answered as I took a sachet of aspirin from the kitchen cabinet and a glass of water and I headed to Kevin’s room.

As I approached his chambers, the sachet of aspirin and glass of water in my hand as I was scared because Kevin had warned me several times never to come close to his bedroom, I couldn’t shake off the fear that consumed me.

I cracked the door open, on the luxurious bed, was my mate but he wasn’t alone, another figure lay beside him as they kissed each other passionately and they didn’t even realize I was standing there as they were engrossed in their kiss, my mate was entangled with another man, both naked in bed. The scene in bed before me was like a surreal nightmare.

My breath caught in my throat as I stumbled backwards, dropping the glass of water I had brought along with the aspirin.

Kevin's eyes widened in shock, as he turned towards me. My heart was pounding in my chest and without a second thought, I turned and fled the scene.

Tears blurred my vision as I raced through the halls, I was in shock , betrayal burning through my soul.

I heard him calling my name but I couldn’t bring myself to face him, not now and not ever. With each step my resolve hardened, I had to leave, to escape the pain and heartache that filled my world.