CHAPTER SEVEN

“M – Marry?” I almost shouted in shock. This guy is making a deal by getting us tied?

“Yes." His tone of boredom made me more nervous. This guy is something else. How could he talk about marriage like it's no joke?

"Ah, seriously." I closed my eyes and calmed myself first. He's so annoying! How can a person be like this? Even the sound of his breathing annoys the hell out of me!

“Think about it, pretty lady. Use that head of yours.” He rise up and went to my window, “I’ll get your answer next time we meet.” He winks and opens it. My eyes went wide when he just jumped off without hesitation. I quickly ran to see his state. I know that my room is located on the second floor and it’s not that high but still it can cause certain injuries if you jumped from this floor.

“Are you crazy?!” I mouthed at the guy who’s standing like he didn’t just jump from a high place. He waved his hands at me and turned his back around before starting to run.

That guy! One of these days I might die in a heart attack because of him!

Then again, he did give me the thing I needed the most. Because of that, I don’t need someone as trashy as June to be with me. Good timing that we’ll see tomorrow just like what happened before. Speaking of him, I need to read the whole documents that Gin gave me earlier. I didn’t properly look at it yet since I was very distracted with Gin.

“Freya?” I got startled when a familiar voice called my name and knocked on my door. It’s Navia. What is she doing here? She didn’t come to kill me right?

I shook off the thoughts. Navia is not dumb to kill me in my own house.

I headed towards the door, while doing so, I got a glimpse of the wall clock in my peripheral vision. It’s 9 in the evening, I didn’t realize that it’s getting late. I was preoccupied with Gin that I didn’t bother checking what time it is.

When I opened the door, Navia is standing in front of it, wearing a night wardrobe while crossing her hands on her chest. Her expression while looking at me is quite sour.

“Say sorry.” That’s what she spoke.

“What?” I held my head up high, I never had this kind of argument with her in the past maybe because I always let her have her way with me but not today.

“You lied in front of lola!” (‘Lola’ is a term in the Philippines grandchildren use to call their grandmother) She scowled. I never realized how awful Navia’s treatment of me was before. I always see her as a strict yet loving sister.

“Oh, sister.” I giggled and I saw how surprised she is by my reaction. I couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic grin because of how stupid she looks at me right now. I’m on my limit of acting like a clueless cat.

“What are you –“

“I didn’t lie,” I snapped, “You love jewelries, right?” I continued and strode my way towards this woman who reeks of evilness, “Why should I say sorry when you’re the one who framed me?” I whispered when I got close to her. I couldn’t see her expression after I let out those words because I was just looking straight ahead while standing beside her.

“W – What? I never framed you! I – It was the maid who told me!”

I gave her a bored gaze. I can now see that she’s trembling. Maybe because of anger or shock? I don’t know but for sure she didn’t expect me to say that.

I didn’t give her another word and started walking away. J remembered that I haven’t eaten dinner yet.

I heard her calling for me but I just ignored it. She might realize now that her step-sister has changed. The once humble and is always sorry is now biting her back with no fear or hesitation.

I flipped my hair. I don’t need to pretend to be nice to someone when I fully know why she’s doing this but I still need to investigate more. Some things still don’t make sense and I can’t seem to connect the dots clearly.

The investigation, huh?

I never thought about that in the first place. Maybe because I’m dumb and slow-witted, unlike Gin who literally climbed on the window just to give me those papers. What connection did he pull to gather pieces of information that fast? The day is not even over yet.

Or maybe he investigated it in advance? Even before meeting up? It’s unsettling but I cannot deny that he helped me in taking a huge step.

“My lady?” A maid popped out of nowhere, “You’re still not sleeping.” She’s holding a little flashlight. Since most of the mansion’s lights are turned off if the clock hits 8, it’s a little dim.

“I need to eat,” I stated and started walking again.

I passed another corridor and now I have finally arrived on the stair leading down to the kitchen.

I need to eat before thinking about how to break things up with June, and how to deal with things with Gin and Navia. I halted my steps when I felt another presence tailing behind me.

“Miss.”

I shrieked when a sudden voice blurted out of nowhere. When I was just about to turn around and see the owner of the voice, a hand pushed my back with utmost force and the familiar feeling of falling came back.

Who in the world pushed me? It can’t be Navia since I would recognize her voice right away but I can’t look back and see who it is since I’m falling. The second floor and first floor is not that high but I might wake up with broken arms or legs.

While falling I realized something - the maid that came out of the dark, the light footsteps following me – I guess Navia and June is not my only enemy.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the painful impact. I know I won’t die from this, just you wait!