Five

Chapter Five: Donna’s POV

I regretted stepping out for a freedom I didn’t deserve. When I woke up and found myself sprawled on the ground, shame engulfed me.

I dusted my clothes for the fourth time as I hurried towards the house. How long had I been sprawled there like a fish out of water? I didn’t know.

What if they had discovered my absence? I stood at the gate, holding my thumping chest. Those brown eyes I had seen. They made my stomach stir wrongly.

I sneaked into the house and climbed up to my room, then fell on my face and caused a loud sound. My body didn’t move from that spot until the next thirty minutes.

“What will I do now? It seems I can’t even escape from this place by myself. I need all the help I can get.” And by that, I needed someone to take me out of here.

Should I just take the marriage and divorce him after I had gotten a bit of freedom? Many things could go wrong, but many things might still go right. I was divided.

I rose from the ground and my eyes noticed the mirror by my side. I stared at the mirror for a long time. My curves were non-existent and my boobs were a bit droopy.

That old man wouldn’t even want someone as unflattering as I was. Another realization painfully descended on me: I was unattractive and pathetic.

It was my fault that I was treated like trash by my stepmother’s friends, and I probably disgusted the guests. I dug my hands in my hair as that realization ate at me deeply.

I should never have gone out or I wouldn’t have known this. That old man was probably the best marriage I could get. A cool, handsome husband was a fantasy.

As my head remained buried in my hands, a knock came on my door. I swallowed down nothing before opening the door. I could tell that it was my stepmother from her strong perfume.

She must be here with the contract so quickly, and I still didn’t know how to avoid this. There was no smile on her face when I opened the door.

“I knocked earlier. Where were you?”

I did my best not to give any sign that I had snuck out. She didn’t know I had, or else she would have accused me first and beat me up. “I passed out from my headache. I’m sorry.”

There was no pity on her face as she pushed the contract into my hands. “I want this signed as soon as possible. You’d be making an appearance to him soon.”

I didn’t hold onto the file and she frowned. “Why don’t you take it? Don’t start again. I don’t have the time for you, and I bet you don’t want to pass out again.”

She was so heartless to threaten me like that. I reached for it, but Cherry crashed into my room just then. I froze, dropping the file.

Thankfully, my stepmother was distracted and didn’t scold me for dropping it. She turned to her daughter, breathing heavily. “What happened? Why did you rush in like—”

Cherry looked up with flushed cheeks. “There’s a man and a Greek God looking for her,” her face contorted to a frown, “looking for her... They said they were sent by her father.”

Panic flashed in my mother’s face and she pushed me into the room and slammed the door on my face. I fell on the door, hitting it. “Who is that? Let me out!”

I heard them running down the stairs. I kept pounding on the door before I rushed to the window again. This time, my landing was on point and I dashed to the front door.

That was when the blessed ‘muscle pull’ came and I crashed into the garden, beside the window. I stopped to catch my breath.

There was no way I could just jump down the window again. A Rolls-Royce was parked outside our yard and the gates were open.

The gateman just stared at the car with his hands on his waist. I waved to him so he could help me stand, but he was too in his head to notice me.

“Well, hello, young men.” I heard my stepmother’s voice. “I heard you were looking for my daughter. She’s right here.”

Where? I was right here. What kind of Cinderella condition had I fallen into? “Sorry, I know who I’m looking for and it’s Donna-Belle Esther Draven. Can I have a word with her?”

Calling my full government name like that must mean this person really knew me. From my father’s old acquaintances? I didn’t know, but I didn’t care. Anyone that would take me out of the conditions I was falling into.

“Well, you see... Donna is not currently opportune to talk right now—”

“Mrs. Draven.” Another voice spoke and it sent chills down my spine. I seemed to recognize who that was. “Get that girl out here now or you’ll have not a single property of your late husband to your name.”

My eyes popped open. Properties? Was he here with my father’s will? How did someone come to my aid with exactly what I had been waiting for? The Moon Goddess couldn’t be so cinematic.

I didn’t hear my stepmother’s voice, but someone walked into the sitting room. “What is going on here?”

I curled myself up on hearing Chris. The first man that had spoken repeated himself. Our gateman finally looked away from the car and spotted me. I waved to him.

“Donna-Belle is currently planning her marriage to a business partner of mine. What do you mean you want to take her away? To where?” Chris said, lowly.

I didn’t sign that shit! And I thanked my stars. The gateman lifted me off the ground and walked me to the living room.

All eyes were on me. My eyes were on the beautiful man that had knocked me out hours ago. How was he the one here again?

But it didn’t matter if he’d be the one to take me out of here. I stood on the ground, holding onto the door for support.

“Donna-Belle Draven?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He marched to me, easily towering over me. His brown eyes stayed on mine for what felt like eternity. The moment I looked away, he smirked and lifted me into his arms.

“What are you doing!” Chris barked. “Did you hear anything I said—”

“Cherry Draven is the one getting married to the old man, not me, Chris!” I shouted. “I didn’t sign anything!”

There was silence and Cherry’s face reddened.

“Yes, I didn’t sign anything,” I repeated, as that was the best decision I’d made in a while. “Cherry will go for her older sister’s place.”