Chapter 2: The Rejected

Caroline's Pov 

The amount of glares I had received since we got back to my father's house was enough to make my face hot, making me look anywhere but at their judgmental and glaring faces. 

What I was more concerned about was how I got myself in this mess. Unfortunately, I can't seem to remember anything from last night.

“You… you dare soil my name!” Father who was pacing angrily in the living room finally cut the deafening silence that had filled the room. “What has gotten into you, Caroline!”

“I… I… I don't even…” I attempted to explain myself but sadly, all that came out of my mouth was a stutter, followed by Ana cutting me off.

“Uh… cat cut your tongue?” She scoffed, earning a glare from me. “I always knew all your goodie-two-shoes was nothing but a pretense. You're actually a whore, going around sleeping with men…”

Rolling my eyes, I said, “You're one to talk.”

“What was that?! Fucking slut!” She attempted to reach me but Wesley held her back, whispering sweet nothings to calm her down, sending a pang to my heart.

“It's bad enough that you have brought disgrace to this family and yet… you show no sign of remorse?” It was mother that spoke this time around and I could see the hurt in her eyes which pierced through my soul. 

She was the one person whose love I craved for but she withheld it, showering Ana with it and disregarding me for years. For years, only father showed an ounce of care towards me but still I never felt like I belonged to this family.

 “You're even throwing jabs at your sister?”

“She started it mother, she shouldn't have called me a whore!” I exclaimed and the next thing I felt was a stinging pain from a slap that mother gave to me. 

I held my left cheek as I looked at her, tears building in my eyes. “Mo… mother.”

“Perhaps I should give you another slap to knock some sense into your thick skull!” She exclaimed.

My eyes stung, tears threatening to fall down. I knew I had messed up but the least they could do was listen to me. They could at least ask why I went to the club in the first place.

“What do we do now? The press is going wild and the company shares are falling,” Wesley said, not sparing me a glance.

“This is just preposterous! With you and Anna's wedding coming up, this is exactly the last thing we need right now!” Father said to Wesley with a huff.

I whipped my head at him, shock rushing through me. I didn't want to believe what I had just heard. Could it be that…?

“You… you knew?” I asked, my voice low as the hurt of yesterday started creeping into my mind again, making my heart beat unstable. 

This can't be. Father wouldn't support this.

“Of course he knows, dummy!” Anna fired.

“How… how could you? Father!” 

“Have you gone nuts?!” Father's baritone voice thundered. He walked close to me and grabbed my arm, squeezing it hard and roughly, making me wince in pain. “Don't you ever raise your voice at me again, got it?!” I nodded, begging him to let me go. 

He released me and I used my palm to rub the already red arm, trying to soothe the pain. Silence followed as they all seemed to be in deep thoughts.

I allowed the tears to flow like a river. Not only have I been betrayed by my own family, I am clearly not even allowed to protest. What kind of life is this? Why did life have to be this cruel towards me? Why?

As I met the glaring stare of my father, I couldn't help but ask myself where it all went wrong. 

I had always seen him as the reasonable parent, he was the only one who at least had my back to some extent, but now, I couldn't believe he gave his blessing to Ana and Wesley- the two people responsible for my predicament instead of reprimanding them.

“Now what?” Mother asked.

“Now we wait for that imbecile to get here and correct all his wrongs. I can't have him soiling my name and causing my business losses.” Father walked to the mini dining table upstairs and sat at the armchair while mother and Wesley followed suite.

I stood frozen on the spot, tears flowing down my eyes as memories of how I was once loved by this family flooded my mind. 

But now, now, I was the reject of the family. I was the black sheep and it hurt so bad. I tried wiping away my tears but it won't just stop spilling. My heart ached and I forced myself to steady my breathing. This was just too much for me to handle.

“I thought you had a good taste in men but clearly you don't. You couldn't even at least get in the bed with the big shot of the family. Rather, you went for the adopted child, just like your pathetic self,” Anna’s venomous voice rang. 

“I guess the saying birds of the same feather flock together applies to you, uhn? Try doing better next time, Car. You poor thing.” She tsked and started walking to the dining room.

“Why do you hate me so much, Ana, why?” In response, she giggled, revealing her beautiful dentition.

“I don't hate you Car, I just want everything you have and, yes, I want you gone, vanished into the thin air. That's all.” She smirked and walked past me but she stopped, walked back to me and added. “Wanna know a little secret?”

I furrowed my brow in confusion as she leaned closer to my ears and whispered. 

“I planned all this as my little farewell to you. But you made it easier. You just happened to walk into his room yourself and got yourself into this mess, sister, although the alcohol did a great one on you. Thank you for making my work easier.”

 With that, she walked into the dining room, giggling on her way.

What did I just hear? She planned it all? What the actual fuck?! No, no, no. I have to say something. I have to prove my innocence. This was a mistake.

“There's a guest requesting your audience sir,” the butler, John called, gaining my attention.

“Send him to the dining room and tell Caroline to get in here, now.” 

Before John could inform me, I already started walking towards the dining area, wiping off my tears and walking fast, hoping I could reveal the truth to father before the guest gets here.

“Father, I have something to tell you. There's been a mix up,” I said, glaring at Ana who simply smiled, acting unfazed.

“What is it now, Caroline?”

“I'm innocent. This whole thing, it was all planned. Ana…”

I couldn't finish my statement because he walked in. No, he wasn't the one I had a one night stand with but he was the scariest of the Jones brothers. 

My mouth fell at how handsome and breathtaking he was. It felt like I was face to face with an angel, a feared and notorious angel.

I looked around the table and saw fear flash through father's eyes while mother and Ana gawked at him, drooling and Wesley looked… pissed.

“Hello Mr. Rodrigo,” he said, offering his hands for a handshake to father. Then he added, “I'm Anderson Jones and I'd be the one marrying Caroline.”