Chapter 5

Emily's POV;

When I woke up, I was in Mr Hamilton's room. How did I come here? I was in the garden and looking at those flowers, right? Did I fall asleep in the garden?

Mr Hamilton walked in and removed his coat and looked at me. I sat straight on the bed after getting a stare from him.

He walked over to me and touched my forehead and said when he parted his hand from my forehead, "The temperature drops quickly when the sun sets since it is the winter season. So, don't fall asleep outside the house."

When he touched my forehead, it felt like Deja Vu. Like it happened before. But how?

"I'm sorry…"

Before I finished, he said, "No need to apologise. Just be aware of the weather. Did you eat dinner?"

I shaked my head while looking at him.

"Go down. I'll join you in a few minutes after taking a shower."

I nodded and headed downstairs while he was removing his tie.

At the dining table,

I was staring at the food since there were so many different kinds of food on the table. By that time, Mr Hamilton took a seat across from me and started plating his food from different dishes on the table.

"Aren't you eating?"

I took some spaghetti and placed it on my plate and started eating.

Mr Hamilton called Henry and asked him sternly, "Where were you while she was sleeping outside?"

"I was inside the house, sir."

"Did you know she was outside?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then, why did you let her sleep outside?"

"Sir, I thought she came back inside so…"

"I don't want to hear excuses. Don't make this mistake again." And continued eating.

I called, "Henry."

Henry stopped and looked at me, "Do you want anything, mam?"

"I'm sorry. I was the one who fell asleep in the garden. I'll be careful next time."

He gave a smile and said, "It was my mistake for not paying attention so I'm the one who should apologise, mam. Do you want anything?" After i shook my head, he walked out of the dining room.

After Henry left, I looked at Mr Hamilton who was seated across from me. He looked like he was more concentrated on the food in front of him. I continued eating my spaghetti too.

In the middle of the night, I sprang up from the bed because of a nightmare with a scream breathing heavily. Mr Hamilton woke up because of my screaming and asked, "What is it?"

"Nothing." and tried to breathe properly but I couldn't. he patted on my back and said, "You're awake. You're awake now. You're awake." And he repeated those words to me.

After I started breathing normally, he asked, "Are you alright now?" while caressing my back.

I nodded while looking at him. he had this concerned look on his face.

He made me lay down on the bed again and said, "Go to sleep."

I covered the blanket up to my neck and closed my eyes to go to sleep.

No matter how many years passed, I still have nightmares of my real parents dying in front of me. Where I couldn't do anything but watch them suffering. Those blood and screams remained inside my head from that night of that accident and I've been dreaming about it since then. I started taking sleeping pills after consulting with a doctor to stop having those nightmares. Since I stopped having those nightmares for a while without the help of a tablet, I thought it was over but it wasn't.

I got up from the bed and opened the cabinet from the table beside the bed and took out my sleeping pills. I took the required amount and went back to sleep again.

The next morning,

After I got ready for my college, I came downstairs for breakfast and saw Mr Hamilton at the dining table.

"Good morning, Henry."

Henry gave me a smile and said, "Good morning to you too, mam."

I took a seat at the dining table and greeted Mr Hamilton, "Good morning."

He gave a nod and continued eating his vegetable salad. I've seen him eating vegetable salad three days in a row for breakfast. Is that his favourite food or what?

Henry placed the plate in front of me but with a closed lid. He took the lid while saying, "I hope this food is to your liking."

I smiled as soon as I saw the food on my plate. It's my favourite fried bacon and eggs.

I took a bite and said, "Wow! It's delicious. I liked how the bacon is crispy. Thank the cook for me. I love this food. It's yummy. Henry, do you have more of this?"

"Yeah, there's some."

"Can you please pack some for college?"

"Okay." And he walked into the kitchen.

While I was eating, Mr Hamilton asked, "Which year are you studying in?"

"Third year."

He gave a nod and continued eating his vegetable salad.

Once I finished my breakfast, I started preparing for college. While I was checking the books, Henry gave me a box and said, "Here's your friend bacon and eggs. i put some steamed vegetables too. Don't forget to finish it up."

I received it from him saying, "Thanks, Henry." And kept it inside my bag.

Henry said, "If you want to have lunch for your college everyday, I'll inform the cook to do it."

"I asked for this food since it tasted good. It's fine. I got used to eating at the cafeteria, I'll take care of it. Thanks for asking, Henry." And walked out of the house.

Keith, "Shall we go, Mrs Hamilton?"

I walked past the car avoiding him. He came to me and asked, "Where are you going, Mrs Hamilton? Let's go in the car."

I stopped and said, "I'll get inside only if you stop calling me Mrs Hamilton."

"Then how should I address you Mrs Hamilton?"

After I gave a stare at him, he asked, "How should I address you, mam?"

"Call me by my name. Emily."

"But…"

"I'll take the bus. Bye, Keith."

He stopped me and said, "Emily, come with me. I'll take you to college."

I gave a smile at him and started walking towards the car.

Keith, "Can I call you Mrs Hamilton in front of Mr Hamilton? He'll get mad if I call you…"

"Yeah, you can do that. Hurry up, we're getting late to the college."

At the college, Keith stopped the car in front of the college and turned off the car after i got out of the car. "What are you doing? Aren't you leaving?"

"I'll wait here."

"I'll call you when I get off. You can leave now."

After Keith left, I walked into the college. Someone closed my eyes from behind but I found who it was since I knew whose hands it was.

"Madison."

She took her hands off and asked, "I wonder how you find me everytime." She lifted my hand and looked at the wedding ring while saying, "Looks brighter than before. Must cost a lot, right? Definitely, it should. The guy looked loaded." She gave me a hug while saying, "I couldn't believe my friend got married already." And squeezed me while saying, "But I'm still mad at you for ditching us after you got married."

"Only for two years."

She broke the hug and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"My father signed a contract with the guy I married. With a duration of two years."

"What the hell! I know your parents are sick but I didn't know they'd do something like this to their daughter. Shit! I'm sorry, I couldn't stop myself from cursing at them. Well what happens after two years? Are you going back to your parents again?"

"No, I came out of that house because of this marriage. I'm not returning back no matter what."

"Yeah, don't go. What if they sign another contract with some dickhead and ask you to marry him too?"

I laughed and said, "Yeah. They're capable of doing that too. Well, for now, after graduation I have to get a job to live on my own. It's not new since this was the plan while I was living with my parents too. So same plan, same goal."

She hugged me and asked, "I wonder how you handled this Emily? I feel bad."

I patted her back and pulled apart while saying, "You should see where I was living. It looks like a castle out of a fairytale. It has a very big yard like an estate and inside the house, there are a lot of different rooms…"

While I was talking with Madison, I saw Sarah walking towards us so I whispered to Madison, "Don't tell anyone about the contract. Keep it to yourself."

She whispered back, "Okay."

Sarah asked, "What are you guys talking about?"

Madison answered her, "I was telling her what happened when she missed the classes. By the way, did you start working on that project?"

She rolled her eyes and said, "I got Dylan as my project partner? It'll be a miracle if the project was started by now."

Madison and I laughed along with Sarah when she told us about Dylan's laziness. He's one of our gang too along with Carter and Luke.

Sarah asked me in a teasing way, "And, how's your husband, Mrs Hamilton? Does he treat you well?"

"He does. He takes care of me very well."

"Really? How does he take care of you? Will you be more elaborate on that?"

Carter pinched her ear and asked, "Finish elaborating on your project first."

While Carter and Sarah were fighting, Madison asked me, "I didn't ask about him. How is he? Does he really take care of you well? Or are you lying?"

"It's true. He takes care of me very well." Said while smiling at her.

She tapped on my shoulder and said, "It's nice to hear but don't get attached to it. Remember that it's only for two years."

i nodded at her.

Sarah, "Hey, what are you guys whispering about again?"

I asked, "Where's Luke and Dylan?"

Carter, "I saw them heading to the class. Now, shall we?"

Sarah, Carter, Madison and I headed to the class together.

After hearing it from Madison, I realised the reality between me and Mr Hamilton. Maybe he's being good towards me because of the duration for two years.