Chapter 9 - Who He IS

RHEA

He released his grip and erupted into laughter. It was brief. The laughter stopped, and his expression went back to the usual cold and stern one.

“You are such a damn liar!” he deadpanned. “You’re shamelessly trying to shift the whole blame to the same Selene who helped you up and made excuses for you.” He clicked his tongue. “I’ve never come across a single honest human.”

I stared at him like a fool. He wasn’t lying about Selene helping me up and making excuses for me, but that didn’t mean I didn’t bump into her legs. From the look of things, Travis wouldn’t believe me. He would rather believe what he wanted than the words I spat out. So there was no use trying to make him see that the fall wasn’t intentional and that nobody was trying to hurt the baby. I should allow him to think whatever he wanted.

“Okay, Travis. Think whatever you like.” My voice was shaky. I clutched the hem of my dress tightly as I tried to suppress the mixture of anger and frustration swirling within me. He did the same as my father. He never believed me, no matter what. He chose to believe I cheated on Evan and wasn’t worthy of being his daughter.

Fighting the tears lurking in my eyelids, I leaned my head backward and blinked them away. “You don’t have to believe me, and I don’t think I’m ready to prove anything to you.”

He stared at me without batting an eye. I saw something different from the usual dark, cold emotions flash across them, but it disappeared before I could name it. Tucking his hands into his pockets, he went back to his seat and continued eating as if he hadn’t just ruined the atmosphere.

I stood there, uncertain of the next thing to do. For a fact, I knew I couldn’t stay in the same room with him. The sight of him would keep poking me and bring unwelcome memories back.

“Go back to your room. Your breakfast will be brought over,” he mumbled.

I left the room that second without responding. He shouldn’t have disturbed me when that was also a choice.

As soon as I got into my room, I collapsed onto the bed and let out the tears I’d been fighting back. It hurts when no one believes you. Why the hell would I try to hurt the baby? We had an agreement, and I would definitely not be the one losing.

Minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I mumbled.

The door opened, and two maids walked in with trays of meals. They placed them on the table and left the room afterward.

I scoffed. He still wanted me to eat after humiliating me? He must be nuts or just joking. If he accused me of trying to hurt his baby, then I’d better do it well.

Another knock came on the door. My face twisted. The maid came with more food. He wasn’t trying to punish me with overfeeding and constipation, was he? This time, I decided to open the door myself so I could send the maids back before they could step into my room.

Opening the door, I saw Selene standing there with a tray of food in her hands.

“Hey, Rhea. May I come in?” She flashed a genuine smile that I couldn’t stop myself from returning.

“Oh! Sure. Please, come in.” I stepped to the side and closed the door when she stepped in.

Her eyes wandered around the room. “Nothing has been changed here. Do you like the décor, or do you want it to be changed?” She put the tray on my bed since the only table was filled.

“I… uhm… I have no preference. Anything is fine with me,” I responded with a smile. Selene was the only person who welcomed me happily and also the only person I felt comfortable with. She seemed nice and not stone-hearted and emotionless like Travis and Darian.

“Okay. We’ll leave it for now since you have no complaints about it. Just let me know if you want anything to be changed. I’ll surely help with that,” she told me.

I grinned and nodded.

“Rhea, I’m sorry about what happened in the dining room. I should have stayed with you when Travis asked everyone to leave, but I was afraid he would hurt you if I decided to act stubborn,” she said, holding my hands. Her hands were warm. They resonated with mine immediately.

“You don’t have to apologize for that, Selene. It’s not your fault. I should thank you for standing up for me when nobody did. You didn’t make me feel alone,” I said, still looking at the hands she was holding.

“Come,” she said, dragging me to the bed and making me sit on it. “I asked the kitchen maids to make another breakfast for you since Travis didn’t let you eat in the dining room. I hope it suits your palate.” She handed the tray to me.

It wasn’t a heavy or special breakfast. It was just pancakes, honey, and milk, but I loved the thoughtfulness behind it. I hadn’t spent an hour with Selene, but I could already feel the kind of person she was—a good person.

“Thank you, Selene,” I muttered with an appreciative gaze and began to tuck into the breakfast.

“You’re welcome, Rhea. But…” She turned and started walking around the room. “You don’t need to keep thanking me. I’m doing what I ought to do. You are my priority, Rhea. Your safety is my priority. I need to make sure you survive no matter what. That’s the only way I can lessen my guilt over her death.”

The pancake I had just swallowed stopped in my throat at her last statement. I raised my gaze, complicated and confused.

“Whose death? Who is she?”

She stopped walking and faced me.

“Travis’s first surrogate mother.”