Catching a sorry figure, with her eyes tinted red and her gaze lowered to the ground, Amelia walked down the streets; her posture slumped as she made steady but aimless progress down the sidewalk.The pedestrians were but a blur—a fleeting shadow of some sort as the day turned to darkness, the sun had set a while ago.She slammed into a person on the road.“S… sorry,” she muttered, turning only slightly in apology yet not meeting the stranger’s gaze.Hahhhhhh… She needed to get home, and yet she didn’t want to…Packing her bag, leaving her home and her sister to stay all alone without her. She didn’t want to do all that, and yet it was inevitable. Even if it was for a fleeting moment of a year, she would belong to the Hughes to do as told… act as told.Hahhhhhh… She really didn’t want to do all that.Amelia squinted her eyes, coming close to a brightly lit store, her gaze caught on the show glass, and her step faltered on the display where a rack of noodles of all kinds.On cue her s
The next day at the hospital… A knock came through Dax’s hospital room. “Mr President” Jones his secretary, came in. “Why is it you?” Dax scowled. Secretary Jone’s steps faltered “Yes? Pardon???” he gazed up at Dax, confused to take another step inside the room. Tsk—Dax sounded out, he was running out of patience. “Never Mind” he swept his hands through his hair gazing back at his secretary “Don’t just stand there come in” At first, Secretary Jones hesitated, but then he made his way down to Dax’s bedside. “Took you long enough to come visit ” “Apologies sir” his secretary bowed lightly “I will do well to be punctual from now on.” “You better keep that promise” “Yes sir.” His secretary stood straight, and he leaned back comfortably on his hospital bed. Unlike someone who only bothered to show up when he was inebriated… this was far better. Dax’s gaze was caught on the birds beyond his hospital window. They chirped so happily one with the other— a companionship
“Hello Mrs. Amelia” A woman came out from among the seven. “I’m Carla Will, the head designer. It's a pleasure to meet you.” She reached for a handshake.“N-nice to meet you a-as well.” Amelia shook her hand hesitantly.Her heart cringed with uncertainty as a wave of intense unease built over her, having so many faces watching her, their gazes calculating. “Here, take this,” Mrs. Sims threw a few catalogs her way and Amelia caught them mid-air, her knees almost hitting the floor in doing so.She stood straight, her gaze drifting on the cover pages of each magazine.“These here are the designers” Amelia's gaze snapped back to Mrs. Sims, watching as she gestured to the lot of them in the parlor.“They will be responsible for your clothes, shoes, bags— every little thing you may need to look the part of the Hughes family’s daughter-in-law. Your underwear included.”Amelia looked down at the catalogs in her hands, she turned a page, gazing at shoes, bags, and outfits in different styles
A few minutes before her awakening… He wanted to caress it. Golden Brown or Auburn was it? Dax’s gaze traced over those tresses, It was almost… sinful, the way they wrapped around her frame. It looked so… right. Dax clenched his fist, a subtle action— He wanted that too. What would they feel like? Having them wrapped around his fingers… a fistful. Inhaling sharply, he reflexively closed his eyes, the daunting scent of begonia filling his nostrils. He had his hands in half grasp almost scenting them. As though already holding what it is, he desired most… her. Exhaling gradually, Dax kept his eyes on his prize, reaching for the wheels of his chair. Dragging himself closer to her. He caught the light on the smooth surface of her forehead, and from then on he traced, committing all that met his gaze to memory. Her lashes. Her brows. The bridge of her nose— Cute! He caught himself smiling. Did he find it all cute? What was wrong with him? Dax’s eyes wavered momentarily fro
Finally, she’d escaped! Amelia pressed her back against the bathroom door. Heart beating loudly in her chest, her legs gave out, and she crouched on the floor. What had she done? What had she said out there? Oh no! She wasn't meant to agitate him— hadn’t meant to. But he doubted her, questioned her, the very reason he'd not been awake when she’d been there to see him. Amelia let out shaky breaths. This was too much, and it’s only been the second day of this farce she’d gotten herself into. What would she do now?— Right! Amelia took out her phone from her bag. She had to call the chairwoman and tell her what had happened here. Dialing the number, the call went through. “Hello, Amelia.” “Ma’am,” a tinge of elation filled her voice, and it echoed in the bathroom. Getting up from the bathroom floor, she turned the shower on, flushed the toilet, and turned the faucet too; only then was she relieved enough to continue. “Ma’am, your son is here.” “I’m aware of that. Is t
Amelia choked back on her drink, coughing lightly. “Are you okay?” Dax’s gaze contorted in worry “No, I’m fine. It’s just…” she coughed once more, “went down the wrong pipe.” “Here,” Dax handed her a napkin. “Have a glass of water too.” Amelia reached for a glass, and once she’d calmed down, Dax turned his gaze back on the housekeeper. “I asked you something, Mrs Sim, explain yourself. Did my mom put you up to this?” “No, young master, the mistress did not put me up to anything. I wanted to come.” “I see, you left a position that paid you much more than an office assistant to come work as my housekeeper?” Mrs Sims smiled, her tone warm. “I may be serving by the Mistress’s side, but at first I was hired to be your nanny. I watched you grow up.” “I’m not a boy anymore.” His tone warmed at that reminder. “I know that, young master, that is why I worry more for you and your recovery, I don’t trust anyone to take care of you like I would… like I will.” “How thoughtful of you,
Browsing through the intricate streets of these estates was no small feat for Amelia.Finally, she could breathe easily enough after putting some needed distance between herself, the mansion, and Dax.But… where was she? Amelia turned her gaze sideways, then at the path ahead.She could have sworn she’d come by here earlier.Right? No! She wasn’t sure, was she?“Damn it, I can’t get out. Why did this place have to be so massive?”It was nothing but a maze of roads and high-end gates framing another large estate.How long had she been walking again?It had barely been over thirty minutes or even more, and still, there was no sign of a cab or an exit out of the estate.At this point, it won’t be difficult keeping up with this momentum, with her thoughts out of the gutter of her mind and in the present, her problems were far back in her mind, which, speaking of, she’d just reminded herself once again. Dax. His mother. The contract. Was it right? Exploiting him like this?No. It wasn’t
Amelia's gaze never left the doctor’s as he continued to spill medical jargon, his voice fading in and out drowned by the sound of her own beating heart as her breath hitched in her throat. Cancer! Did he just say lung cancer? “Miss… Miss are you listening… Miss Amelia!” the doctor tapped his finger on the office table. A muscle twitched in the lid of Amelia’s eyes, and her gaze shifted to the tapping fingers, then back at the doctor. She blinked a couple of times ridding herself of the pain of her long stare. “I’m listening, doctor, please continue” The doctor retrieved his fingers, leaning forward instead, resting his hands on his office table. “Miss Amelia, I know this is hard for you,” he started his voice, kind and comforting “But do pay attention to what I say as it concerns the patient's life” The doctor rested his back down on his seat having made his point clear. A gentle warning, to her abated mind. “Okay... I understand doctor, how is my mother? Is there any other w
Browsing through the intricate streets of these estates was no small feat for Amelia.Finally, she could breathe easily enough after putting some needed distance between herself, the mansion, and Dax.But… where was she? Amelia turned her gaze sideways, then at the path ahead.She could have sworn she’d come by here earlier.Right? No! She wasn’t sure, was she?“Damn it, I can’t get out. Why did this place have to be so massive?”It was nothing but a maze of roads and high-end gates framing another large estate.How long had she been walking again?It had barely been over thirty minutes or even more, and still, there was no sign of a cab or an exit out of the estate.At this point, it won’t be difficult keeping up with this momentum, with her thoughts out of the gutter of her mind and in the present, her problems were far back in her mind, which, speaking of, she’d just reminded herself once again. Dax. His mother. The contract. Was it right? Exploiting him like this?No. It wasn’t
Amelia choked back on her drink, coughing lightly. “Are you okay?” Dax’s gaze contorted in worry “No, I’m fine. It’s just…” she coughed once more, “went down the wrong pipe.” “Here,” Dax handed her a napkin. “Have a glass of water too.” Amelia reached for a glass, and once she’d calmed down, Dax turned his gaze back on the housekeeper. “I asked you something, Mrs Sim, explain yourself. Did my mom put you up to this?” “No, young master, the mistress did not put me up to anything. I wanted to come.” “I see, you left a position that paid you much more than an office assistant to come work as my housekeeper?” Mrs Sims smiled, her tone warm. “I may be serving by the Mistress’s side, but at first I was hired to be your nanny. I watched you grow up.” “I’m not a boy anymore.” His tone warmed at that reminder. “I know that, young master, that is why I worry more for you and your recovery, I don’t trust anyone to take care of you like I would… like I will.” “How thoughtful of you,
Finally, she’d escaped! Amelia pressed her back against the bathroom door. Heart beating loudly in her chest, her legs gave out, and she crouched on the floor. What had she done? What had she said out there? Oh no! She wasn't meant to agitate him— hadn’t meant to. But he doubted her, questioned her, the very reason he'd not been awake when she’d been there to see him. Amelia let out shaky breaths. This was too much, and it’s only been the second day of this farce she’d gotten herself into. What would she do now?— Right! Amelia took out her phone from her bag. She had to call the chairwoman and tell her what had happened here. Dialing the number, the call went through. “Hello, Amelia.” “Ma’am,” a tinge of elation filled her voice, and it echoed in the bathroom. Getting up from the bathroom floor, she turned the shower on, flushed the toilet, and turned the faucet too; only then was she relieved enough to continue. “Ma’am, your son is here.” “I’m aware of that. Is t
A few minutes before her awakening… He wanted to caress it. Golden Brown or Auburn was it? Dax’s gaze traced over those tresses, It was almost… sinful, the way they wrapped around her frame. It looked so… right. Dax clenched his fist, a subtle action— He wanted that too. What would they feel like? Having them wrapped around his fingers… a fistful. Inhaling sharply, he reflexively closed his eyes, the daunting scent of begonia filling his nostrils. He had his hands in half grasp almost scenting them. As though already holding what it is, he desired most… her. Exhaling gradually, Dax kept his eyes on his prize, reaching for the wheels of his chair. Dragging himself closer to her. He caught the light on the smooth surface of her forehead, and from then on he traced, committing all that met his gaze to memory. Her lashes. Her brows. The bridge of her nose— Cute! He caught himself smiling. Did he find it all cute? What was wrong with him? Dax’s eyes wavered momentarily fro
“Hello Mrs. Amelia” A woman came out from among the seven. “I’m Carla Will, the head designer. It's a pleasure to meet you.” She reached for a handshake.“N-nice to meet you a-as well.” Amelia shook her hand hesitantly.Her heart cringed with uncertainty as a wave of intense unease built over her, having so many faces watching her, their gazes calculating. “Here, take this,” Mrs. Sims threw a few catalogs her way and Amelia caught them mid-air, her knees almost hitting the floor in doing so.She stood straight, her gaze drifting on the cover pages of each magazine.“These here are the designers” Amelia's gaze snapped back to Mrs. Sims, watching as she gestured to the lot of them in the parlor.“They will be responsible for your clothes, shoes, bags— every little thing you may need to look the part of the Hughes family’s daughter-in-law. Your underwear included.”Amelia looked down at the catalogs in her hands, she turned a page, gazing at shoes, bags, and outfits in different styles
The next day at the hospital… A knock came through Dax’s hospital room. “Mr President” Jones his secretary, came in. “Why is it you?” Dax scowled. Secretary Jone’s steps faltered “Yes? Pardon???” he gazed up at Dax, confused to take another step inside the room. Tsk—Dax sounded out, he was running out of patience. “Never Mind” he swept his hands through his hair gazing back at his secretary “Don’t just stand there come in” At first, Secretary Jones hesitated, but then he made his way down to Dax’s bedside. “Took you long enough to come visit ” “Apologies sir” his secretary bowed lightly “I will do well to be punctual from now on.” “You better keep that promise” “Yes sir.” His secretary stood straight, and he leaned back comfortably on his hospital bed. Unlike someone who only bothered to show up when he was inebriated… this was far better. Dax’s gaze was caught on the birds beyond his hospital window. They chirped so happily one with the other— a companionship
Catching a sorry figure, with her eyes tinted red and her gaze lowered to the ground, Amelia walked down the streets; her posture slumped as she made steady but aimless progress down the sidewalk.The pedestrians were but a blur—a fleeting shadow of some sort as the day turned to darkness, the sun had set a while ago.She slammed into a person on the road.“S… sorry,” she muttered, turning only slightly in apology yet not meeting the stranger’s gaze.Hahhhhhh… She needed to get home, and yet she didn’t want to…Packing her bag, leaving her home and her sister to stay all alone without her. She didn’t want to do all that, and yet it was inevitable. Even if it was for a fleeting moment of a year, she would belong to the Hughes to do as told… act as told.Hahhhhhh… She really didn’t want to do all that.Amelia squinted her eyes, coming close to a brightly lit store, her gaze caught on the show glass, and her step faltered on the display where a rack of noodles of all kinds.On cue her s
Still at the hospital, Amelia came out of the restroom cubicle wearing her own clothes. Reaching for the faucet ahead of her, she scooped a load of water and splashed it on her face.Then her gaze caught in on the mirror, her exhaustion, a reflection... a deep-seated weariness, and she felt it to her bones.What now...She sighed, her hand moving to grab a paper towel, drying her face with it.Her mother's surgery was set in three days, Dax would be out in also three days, and she had to move in by the morrow. So much was still left undone… unsettled.Amelia sighed once more. The last thing she wanted was to confront both situations on the same day. But what do you know?She needed money, and she’d gotten it—like a magpie on a pipe, they’d played her tune.Such a solution as this... was like a double-edged sword… staying close to that family.But it was never up to her to decide. Not to mention her role in all of this.She sighedBut when life throws you lemons, you buy a lemonade
“What do you think you are doing?” she snapped, her teary gaze locked in on who forcibly held her.“Unhand me.” Her tone sharp as her gaze turned fiery.“Where do you think you are going?” his grip on her tightened, and Amelia struggled lightly, but it was no use.“It is the chairwoman’s wish that you proceed with this marriage”“This isn’t pretend, is it?” Amelia scoffed in disdain “The contract you gave me was a lie, wasn’t it; this isn’t what I signed up for. I do not wish to be more than a pretend wife.”“All will be explained to you soon for now, let’s go back to the hospital room,”“No!” she managed to pull her hands off the guard hold “I won’t go back; this is beyond me I cannot go through with this”“And why won’t you?”Startled, Amelia's chest tightened as she turned to Face Mrs. Hughes, who’d shown with a few entourage of guards.“Tell me, David, what was the young lady saying?” Mrs Hughes's tone was soft but unyielding.“She refuses to proceed with the marriage, ma’am”“And