Chapter 6

“Ms. Cattleya… Aren't you going to get up yet?”

My brow furrowed in response to the unfamiliar voice I heard, but I remained my eyes firmly closed.

My body is literally in excruciating pain right now. Especially my feet that I can barely feel anymore. It's even worse than walking around in high heels all-night.

I gently twirled from my lying posture because of the stiffness that I felt on my left shoulder. I grant my hand to crawl and caress the soft bed as it feels so unusual.

My nose crinkled when an unfamiliar smell sheathed my nose.

“If I were you, Cattleya, I'd better get up and get myself ready before being called down to the garden.”

Wait… that voice is familiar to me…

“Aunt Elsie?” I jolted my eyes open as my palm flew over my head when I felt a minor pain.

“Yes, Cattleya, you're not hallucinating.” She stated discreetly, “I am real. — And I came up here because she mentioned that you haven't shown any signs of waking up yet. You didn't show up to the Madrigal’s morning buffet earlier. However, Matienzo instructed me that I had to go to their lunch, with no any excuses.” Aunt Elsie added.

Wait a moment… Did I just sleep in bed?

But how did I?

The last thing I can recall last night was dozing off on that moving couch.

Is it likely that I was just dreaming? That things really aren't moving and I was just exhausted?

My eyes landed on the couch near the big doorway. “It seems just ordinary though.?” I mumbled.

But— how did I manage to move into this bed?

Did… Jaxson came last night?

“Ms, Cattleya. I'm sorry for trying to disrupt you, but you must get ready and hurry down as quickly as possible,” said a young, innocent-looking woman standing next to Aunt Elsie.

She's about my age, I guess.

“Ah, this is Lovely. She’s my daughter.” Aunt Elsie snatched my attention. “She is also one of the servants here in the Madrigal and lives with me.”

A smile flashed on my lips as I stared into her eyes, “It is not easy to work at such a young age. I admire your hard work, Lovely,” I muttered before going up to obey everything they said.

It is just comforting to know that you weren't really the only one who struggles in this world. Many people out there must also strive to achieve the satisfaction they desire just like how you feel.

___________________________

It didn't take too long for me to get ready. All I did was comb this curly hair and wore the dress that Auntie Elsie lent me. She mentioned that this is her daughter Lovely's best dress, which they even had to save enough to buy. I honestly felt sorry for wearing it even before Lovely wore it herself since she saved up for this. But I couldn't say no when they insisted and warned me that I would regret not wearing a beautiful dress to lunch.

I was perplexed as to why I should dress up for lunch when I could just wear a comfortable shirt since I am staying at home anyway. Aunt Elsie made me realize how much my life had changed since I moved in, and that living a normal and simple life is impossible for me now.

When I started to feel the hunger of skipping breakfast, I didn’t contend with her any longer and instead worked on my appearance. I didn't try to fix myself as much as I do whenever I go to the nightclub since it will take me a couple of hours to straighten my curly hair.

me.

I find myself wondering why no one had shown up for lunch when I eventually got down and walked over to the table where we had dinner with the Madrigal family.

Please tell me they aren't finished eating yet... I'm going to die of hunger.

When my sight was drawn to the people outside the glass window, I grimaced.

Why is there such a large crowd outdoors? Their family seems to be hosting a large number of guests today. I wonder who’s birthday is it?

Wait— didn't Aunt Elsie say something about calling me and inviting me down to the garden?

Perhaps that's where we'll have our lunch? But, is it really necessary for there to be a large gathering of high net worth individuals?

It'll be almost as though you're dining with a whole village.

Despite my embarrassment, I began strolling towards the garden where I noticed some guests. If I do nothing, I will starve to death.

I checked my reflection on the glass window before approaching them. Maybe they won’t notice me if I walk in there and quickly get something to eat?

It's just that my curly hair stands out a lot.

“Catt! There you are,”

When I turned to face the person who was calling my name, I recognized Jaxson's stepmother.

I'm not sure whether I want to flee back to their house or simply be eaten whole by the ground when I see her face.

Her obnoxious stepmother is the last person I want to cross paths with. At least she remembers my name though, and she even calls me by my nickname.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Madrigal,” I said, forcing smiles on my face as she approached where I was standing.

“Oh my goodness, dear! What’s good in the afternoon?” She blurted, brassily.

Because of the unusual tone she was giving me, I started rolling my eyes to see if anybody else could hear her.

I think they did hear her, but people just neither know my face nor my name so they don't even dare give me an ounce of their precious attention.

“- And where did you get that filthy outfit from?” she added, drawing my gaze shifted back to her.

I took a closer look at the dress that I am wearing to see if it was truly nasty.

My forehead made a crease as my eyes narrowed. I tried to keep a feigned smile so as not to be rude to her. “But, there's no stains or anything to make it look dirty-”

I was taken aback when she poured red wine from her glass into the dress I’m wearing.

“Now it is filthy,” she clamored.

I didn't pay her any attention as my concern was instantly drawn to the white dress. When I saw the red stain spreading across the fabric, I panicked and wiped it as hard as I could.

“Oh my God... This dress isn't mine…” I murmured as I rubbed it with my bare hands. “Aunt Elsie will surely be furious with me…”

“Hello, everybody! The person you've all been anticipating has arrived!”

My hand froze when Jaxson’s stepmother’s shrill voice reverberated, bringing everyone's attention to us.

I'm not stupid for not grasping what she's trying to convey to them. Because she came from an anonymous family, Jaxson's new lover is filthy as mud.

“That’s… her?”

“That dress was like, released a few centuries ago! Where did she come from? 1980’s?”

I could hear so many voices merging together with every laughter that it was a tormenting sound in my ears.

My eyes slowly lifted and met people dismissive glares at me. The flare of disgust is seen in everyone's eyes and it felt as if I had done something terrible that caused them to despise me completely.

I wanted to escape and hide, but my feet seemed stuck to the ground, making it impossible for me to move.

My eyes fell to my feet again. I couldn't even put on shoes because I assumed we'd only dine inside. It's totally my fault for undervaluing Madrigal's life.

I huddled them together because I felt self-conscious about my bare feet in their exquisite footwear. I'm well aware that I'm not one of these wealthy families. And I won't even try squeezing myself into their narrow views and way of living. I just want my brother to get the right treatment that can help him recover.

I simply stare at my bare feet in a daze. I felt warm as tears began to well up in my eyes, and my vision became fuzzy.

No, I'm not going to cry in front of them...

When I translucently saw feet moving closer in front of me, I was perplexed. I can't tell because I can't see it very well, but I know it wears the same high-end shoes as the other guests.

My chest heaved up with tears when I saw Jaxson's face as he knelt in front of me.

After he opened the tiny box and unveiled a dazzling ring, I was almost dumbstruck by how I would react.

It's not the same ring he asked me to put on last night. It's a completely different ring than the one with the huge diamond stone, and it's plainly less complicated.

“Cattleya, I know we just found each other for a very short time. But from then, I know I found the right person to love…”

My brows crumpled in confusion because I couldn't understand what he was saying.

Why is Jaxson suddenly acting like this?

“Catt,” he began softly, “I want to ask you a question in front of these people who value and respect me… Will you marry me and be a Madrigal for the rest of your life?” A smile flashed on his lips as his eyes gleamed looking up at me.

I never thought Jaxson would do this for me. I know that the words coming out of his lips are just a bunch of lies, especially to be a Madrigal for the rest of my life. But that was enough to make me smile and lift my mood from being a shame.

I feared I'd lost this once-in-a-lifetime moment since I'd never marry the man I truly loved. Yet, he still gave it to me. He’s willing to get down on his knees in front of all of these people for me.

Jason allowed me to have my first taste of it, and I am grateful that he was the first man I decided to marry.

I answered him with a hearty nod. “Yes!” I exclaimed.

When I felt the ring glide between my fingers and reach the knuckle of my ring finger, my heart felt like it was going to burst into flames. I seem to forget about everyone who is around us and just see the two of us.

So this is how it feels when the person you're going to marry hands you a ring for the first time…

Our eyes met with grins on our lips when Jaxson finally rose from his knees. My lips are on the verge of tearing from the immensity of my smile.

When he brought his face closer to mine once again, I grew uneasy. My breathing came to a halt as my shoulders elevated. I barely hear anything but our deep breaths and heart pounding.

His head moves slightly tilted to avoid colliding with our noses. Jaxson's face was so close to mine that our lips were almost touching, making me feel his breath through my skin. I shut my eyes right because I couldn't bear staring at his face so close to me any longer.

As I felt his sweet lips brush over my temple, my eyes slowly loosened.

“Thank you…” I heard him whisper to me, “—for playing along.”

After hearing his words, I felt a twinge in my heart that I couldn't explain. “That’s how it should be… isn't it? I’m a really good role player, Jax.”