Chapter 4

"Where are you coming from? Where have you been? Do you know what time it is? It's two hours before noon. Two hours!"

"Why are you not speaking, Sarah? Where have you been? I won't ask again."

After standing outside my father's house for twenty minutes, I finally decided to go in, but the atmosphere I met inside the house was much more intense than I imagined it'd be. It seemed my stepmother and my father had a fight. I met her fuming and cursing my father when I came in.

I don't know why they fought, but I'm happy that they did. Yes, I'm beyond happy. Today is Saturday, so my father is home; he won't be leaving for work today. This means that my stepmother will feel restless throughout today and even tomorrow. They rarely fight, but whenever they do, they don't settle their differences immediately. It takes days and sometimes weeks for them to get back together. This is great! I don't see Genesis around either. She must have left the house when she saw them arguing.

She loves my dad as much as she loves her mom, so watching both parents fight causes her heartache. Well, her pain is my happiness. I should have seen the look on her face before she left the house. The look of pain. I should have seen it.

"I said, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" I was still deeply in thought and didn't quickly realize that my stepmother was now standing before me. Before I could open my mouth to tell her my cooked-up story, I felt a sharp sting on my left cheek, quickly followed by another on my right.

"Do you think I'm playing?!" She landed another slap close to my ear, and this caused me to go deaf for a split second.

"Do you see me as a fool now?!" Another slap quickly followed the last one; it landed close to my eyes, causing me to move back quickly as tears filled my eyes.

I forgot something; I forgot to tell you the most important thing that happens during this period: whenever she and my dad fight, she tends to take out all her frustrations on me. The punishment, the beating, the emotional and physical abuse—they all increase. She takes everything out on me. 

I literally become her punching bag. This is why I hate her. I'll forever hate her. There's no way I'd ever forgive her. Absolutely no way!

"You left home yesterday; you left your house chores; you didn't even spread the clothes you washed; you didn't clean the kitchen or make dinner; you left everything for me. Who do you think you are? What gave you the audacity to behave so unruly?" My stepmother advanced closer and continued hitting me, but I didn't make a single sound.

She was busy hurting me and didn't notice when my father walked into the sitting room with a palace messenger.

"What are you doing?" My stepmother was taken aback by the question, leaving her hand hanging in midair.

My father's attention moved from my stepmother's and settled on me for a brief moment before moving back to the palace messenger.

"Please have your seat," my father offered the palace messenger, but he declined.

"I've brought a message from the palace; I need to quickly be on my way," the man announced.

"A message from the palace?" My stepmother's eyes widened in excitement. She moved closer to the man and also urged him to have his seat, but he declined her offer once again.

Just as the man was about to make the announcement, the front door opened, and Genesis walked in.

"What's going on?" Her eyes swept across the room the next minute.

"Come here, sit down; he brought news from the palace," my stepmother pulled her daughter closer and held her.

"It must be good news; the palace must have made their decision," my stepmother whispered into Genesis's ears as the palace messenger resumed his speech.

"The queen mother will make a short trip to this house by 1:00 pm tomorrow. Make sure everyone in this household is present when she comes. That is all."

"Um, can you give us more information? I want to know the reason for her visit; does it have anything to do with my daughter? Does it concern the ongoing competition?"

"I'm afraid I don't have an answer to that; I'm only a messenger. I must take my leave now." The man tried to walk away, but my stepmother desperately held onto him.

"Please just give us a clue; the palace has chosen my daughter, right? She is to become the king's breeder, right? Please tell me anything; I'm literally dying to know."

"Let me escort you out," my stepmother was still holding onto the palace messenger when my father stepped in. He forcefully pulled her hands away from the man, and after giving her a mean look, he walked out with him, leaving my stepmother looking red and embarrassed.

She was too desperate to notice that what she was doing was wrong. Why would she hold onto another man in front of her husband, her mate?

After getting over her shock, she turned to her daughter and smiled at her. "You did it, dear. You won! You've won the competition. The queen mother is coming over to see you."

"But Mom, how can you be so sure? It might be for another reason; for some reason, Genesis didn't look convinced.

"For what? For what other reason? Do you know anything?"

"I... I don't know... maybe, maybe," she looked over her shoulder and glared at me.

"Why? Why are you staring at her? What is the problem? Tell me," my stepmother took both of her hands and held them gently.

"It's just that..." Genesis stopped speaking completely and just stared at me.

"What is it? Talk to me, baby."

"No, it's nothing, Mom. You might be right after all; she might be coming for me." After a long while of silence, Genesis forced a smile to her face. "Let's get ready."

**

The Next Day

"Once you're done with the dishes, clean the compound. Make sure everywhere is sparkling clean," my stepmother walked into the kitchen and said to me.

"Yes ma, I will do that immediately. After I was done with the dishes," I grabbed the broom and moved to the compound.

I've swept here already, but my stepmother doesn't look satisfied with it; she wants me to sweep everywhere again. I don't mind, though; doing the chores has helped me so far. It has helped divert my attention from the pending danger.

After the messenger left yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about the beta's words. The king's beta already informed me of the queen's visit. What he didn't tell me was the reason for her visit.

I can't help but think that the reason could be connected to me. Is the queen mother coming to see me instead of Genesis? Is she going to expose my deeds to them? Is she coming to scold my parents for not teaching their daughter the right thing? I feel very restless; I didn't have a good night's sleep last night. I kept turning in my bed until it was morning.

We have three hours until the queen's arrival. Should I disappear from the house like I did yesterday? I'll return to the house after the visit. I feel like I shouldn't be present when she arrives.

Maybe I should leave the house. I think it'll be better that way. Right?

"Hey, what are you doing? Why aren't you sweeping?" Genesis appeared at the door with a dress my stepmother bought for her a few months ago. She has never worn the dress before; her mother wants her to wear it today. Her mother wants to impress the queen with Genesis's beauty. So she's putting her all into getting Genesis ready for the Queen's visit. 

"What are you doing? Why are you just standing there? Don't you know what the time is?" Genesis hissed out loudly. For some unknown reason, Genesis has been on edge around me since yesterday.

She hasn't taken her eyes away from me, always boring holes into my skin. Always watching everything. Always commenting on things I do. I don't understand her problem. She has always been a pain but never to this extent. What is disturbing her? Why does she keep picking on me?

I do everything around here. I do all the damn chores while she lazes around. I honestly hope she fails the competition. She'll become a much bigger pain if she passes. 

"You're older, but your brain is full of shit. I don't understand why Father wants you here; you're good for nothing," she hissed again before going into the house. 

Fifteen minutes to the queen mother's visitation.

"Sarah!"

"Sarah!"

"Ma," I ran out of my room and went into hers once I heard my name.

"Are you done? Are you done with the chores?"

"Yes, ma, I want to take my bath now."

"This is not a time for that; I need you to run another errand for me. It's urgent."

"Okay, what is it?"

"I need you to go to Lucy's house and give this to her." She extended a written letter to me, which I didn't hesitate to accept.

"Tell her to read it and write my feedback; I need feedback today. Do you understand?"

"Y... Yes, ma."

"Now go; you can have your bath after you've delivered my letter."

"O... Oh..."

"What? Do you have something to say?"

"I'll... I'll miss the queen mother if I leave for Lucy's house now."

"There's still time; if you're fast enough, you won't miss her."

"But... But..." It'll take twenty minutes to get to Lucy's house and another twenty minutes to get back. Is she sending me away because she doesn't want me to be here when the queen mother arrives?

Why? Why is she sending me away? Is there a reason I don't know of?

"What? Do you have something to say?"

"It's nothing; I'll take my leave now." I shook my head twice before turning to leave.

"Go straight from here, ; if you see your father outside, do not reveal anything to him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma."

After leaving her room, I took the back door that led out of my father's house. I was about to begin my journey to Lucy's house but couldn't because of the number of vehicles parked outside. The vehicles were parked in a way that prevented a possible and safe passage.

Has the queen mother arrived already? When did she get here? As I struggled to look for a possible route, I didn't fail to notice the pairs of keen eyes watching me from a distance.

Is that the king's beta? Did he escort the queen mother? Why are they here so early? Ignoring his gaze, I kept moving from one vehicle to another as I looked for a route. If I don't find a way, I'll have to walk on one of the vehicles.

"Where are you heading to?" When he was tired of watching me, he came down from one of the vehicles and walked to me.

"Can you please move the vehicle? I need to be somewhere right now."

"Don't you know what time it is? Where are you heading to?"

"I... My stepmother sent me on an errand; I need to..."

"You are not going anywhere. Her Majesty will be here in less than five minutes. Don't you know the rules? Are you trying to disrespect the royal family by leaving? Are you that dumb? Is your brain made of ice?" He barked. He sounds angry; he also looks angry.

Why is he angry at me? My stepmother sent me on an errand despite knowing the rules. He should be angry at her not me. Why is he insulting me?

"But... I... I..." I brought the letter out to show to him but what he did next left me in total disbelief. 

"This is the..." I was trying to explain the letter to him, but he shocked me by snatching the letter away from me. Before I knew what was happening, he opened the letter, and before I could take the letter away from him, he tore the letter into tiny bits and spread the remains into the air.

What the hell? What just happened?!