_Author’s POV_
When Ruelle got home, Killian was sitting in the living room. Another woman was sitting in front of him and she seemed to laughing at what was being said. Killian's face was blank as he waited for her to stop laughing. Ruelle took a step forward and his head instantly snapped in her direction when she got closer. “What took you so long to get home?” He asked her, seeming irritated. “I– Uh..” Ruelle stuttered, feeling lost for what to say as she looked between them both. She wondered who the woman was but she said nothing about it. Erika looked at Ruelle with a scowl on her face. She heard that Killian was about to get married and she came here as fast as she could. “So this is your fiance?” She asked, giving Ruelle a once over. Her eyes skimmed over Ruelle who felt awkward under her stare. She knew she wasn't ugly, but she couldn't say the same about her clothes. She has been using the same set of clothes for a while now because her father didn't care about her. Facing such a look from Erika made her feel self-conscious for the first time in a while. While Eileen got everything, she got nothing. She used to work at coffee shops to get money to get whatever she needed. But once her father heard about that, he instantly forbade her from doing that. Saying it was a shame for his daughter to work in such a place. “The Athanas are not in any way poor, so why are you dressed that way?” Erika asked Ruelle, and she instantly felt embarrassed. Her clothes were faded from the amount of times that they had been washed and used. “How is she dressed?” Killian asked, turning his head towards her. Erika looked at Ruelle in distaste before faking a smile. “It's nothing, Killian,” “Are you just going to stand there? Come here,” Killian ordered and Ruelle instantly complied. Erika was shocked that Killian had called Ruelle to his side. He did not like people close to him and that was why she came across him. Erika watched with envy as Ruelle sat beside Killian, her hands placed between her thighs. She had always liked Killian but because he was blind and crippled as well. It didn't go that he survived on the little money that he got from his family she was afraid to make a move. Erika clenched her fist by her sides, her nails digging into her palm. Even though she didn't want Killian now, it didn't mean that someone else could have him. Soon Killian asked Ruelle to take him to his room, he was tired of sitting there not doing anything. “Oh, all right,” Ruelle said, looking at Erika. She helped Killian into his wheelchair, pushing him towards the elevator. Erika tried to stop them but it was already too late. But she thought it was all right since she would be staying here for a while. There was plenty of time to sabotage their wedding. Ruelle pushed Killian into their room, she paused when she saw the food tray on the table and it remained untouched. “You haven't eaten?” She asked Killian. It was evening already and if his breakfast was still here, doesn't that mean he hadn't eaten all day? “It tastes terrible,” Killian replied, pushing his wheelchair to the bed. “Can I cook for you?”, Ruelle asked and Killian paused for a bit before he continued moving. His pause was so subtle that if you weren't paying attention you wouldn't have noticed. “Okay,” He answered after a while. A smile spread on Ruelle's face and she turned around running out. She had no idea where the kitchen was, but she was going to find it. Ruelle successfully found the kitchen after searching. Washing her hands, she immediately set to work. She didn't know what exactly she wanted to cook, but she wouldn't make whatever she could from the kitchen. Erika was walking by when she saw Ruelle cooking, she took a step by peeping into the room. “What is she doing? And who is she cooking for?” Erika asked herself. She sees a maid walking out of the kitchen and immediately pulls her. “Who is she cooking for?” Erika asked the maid who then replied that Ruelle was cooking for Killian. The food was already having a nice aroma and Erika gritted her teeth in anger. She had to do something. An idea immediately came to mind and she smiled, walking a few meters away to make a call. After her call Erika stood around the kitchen, waiting for when Ruelle would step out so she could do the first part of her plan. Her wait was not in vain because soon Ruelle closed the pot, letting the food simmer as she rushed to ask Killian a question. She didn't exactly know his preferences, and she needed to ask if he was allergic to anything. She was just so happy about cooking for him and she rushed out without asking. Taking this opportunity, Erika slipped into the kitchen. She opened the pot with the sauce in it and the aroma wafted into her nose making her mouth water. It would be a shame to ruin such a delicious food, she thought to herself. But it just had to be done. Opening the jar of salt on the table, Erika poured in two spoonfuls before stirring the pot. She heard someone coming and she immediately closed the pot, rushing to the freezer to get a bottle of water. When Ruelle walked into the kitchen she stopped midstep when she saw Erika drinking water. She didn't trust Erika because of the looks that she had been getting from her, but since Erika hadn't done anything to her yet, she couldn't find a reason to be on guard. She immediately rushed to the pot, turning the stove off. She had tasted the food before she left and it was good, she just wanted it be simmer a bit while she was gone. She had never tasted the food she cooked because she didn't like to, and everything she cooked ended up fine. She just felt the need to taste this because Killian was the one eating. Erika closed the bottle of water, taking it with her. She had just taken a sip off it because she wasn't really thirsty. “Smells good,” Erika said as she walked past leaving Ruelle stunned. Dishing the food out, Ruelle carried it up in a tray. Being careful not to spill. She pushed the door open with her hip, holding the tray tightly. “It's done,” Ruelle said to him, placing it carefully on a table. The moment Erika had seen that Ruelle had left the kitchen. She immediately rushed in with the food she bought, pouring it into a plate. Dressing the food up nicely so it would look like she cooked it, Erika carried it up, following behind Ruelle. Of course, she couldn't cook and had to order, but since they had tons of kitchens here, who would notice? Ruelle was startled when the food was pushed away, Killian spitting out in disgust. “If you can't cook, I suggest you never cook for me again,” He said harshly. He picked up a bottle of water from the tray, but before he drank it he paused. “Who knows if you put salt here too,” His tone was sarcastic and it hurt Ruelle. Tears welled up in her eyes as she wondered what had happened. She cooked for someone for the first time and then this happened, but she was certain she didn't put in much salt in it. Ruelle was still pondering on what could have gone wrong when Erika knocked on the door. “Killian? I made some food for you,”“Ah!” Eileen, my step-sister screamed out in pain, falling to the floor. Her large eyes were filled with tears as she stared up at me with her lips quivering. “I'm sorry sister, please don't hit me." She pleaded, tears falling freely from her eyes. I opened my mouth in surprise, barely able to say a word as I watched Eileen beg.Don't hit her? What was she talking about? Was she not the one that slapped herself now and fell to the floor? Why was she now begging me not to hit her?She had called me to the living room claiming she wanted to say something and she does this.I was about to speak when I heard Richard yell Eileen's name and I finally understood why she did what she did. She saw Richard coming and decided to slap herself and blame it on me. “Eileen!" Richard, my boyfriend yells, rushing to us. I was about to explain what had happened but Richard pushed me aside as he reached for Eileen, luckily I was able to steady myself and prevent my fall. Eileen’s lips curved upward
I stared confused at the man supposed to be my father, his words once again shocking me. Is he saying what I think he is? Eileen would marry my boyfriend while I get married to a crippled man in her stead?“No!" I instantly refused, taking a step back while looking at the people supposed to be my family. How could they expect me to do such a thing? Throw my life away and get married to a crippled instead. “You're such a selfish child." Mrs Athanas spat, staring at me with loath.“How do you expect your younger sister to get married to a crippled man. Do you want her to suffer?” She asked and everyone else in the room agreed with her, each person staring at me like I was wicked."But what about me? What about what I want-” I start to say but I was cut short by Eileen's cries.“Mother, would I get married to a crippled?" She panicked, looking between both parents.“Of course not. Your sister would get married in your place. You would get married to Gabriel like you wanted.” Mrs Athan
But that's not possible, right? He is blind.“Sister, it's not proper to look at a man that way," Eileen says, looking for a way to embarrass me. She tucks her hair behind her ears, looking at her feet. To everyone here she must have looked pure, merely saying something out of naivety without knowing the meaning. But she wouldn't be able to fool me.“But he's my fiance, is he not? I can look at him however I want.” I turn my attention back to him, a smirk on my lips. “Your fiance?" Mr Lexington asks confused, looking between Mr and Mrs Athanas."Isn't Killian supposed to be getting married to your youngest daughter? Why is your oldest calling him her fiance? Are you making a mockery of my family?” His confusion turns into anger as he stares at my father, waiting for an answer."No, it's nothing like that.” Father tries to explain, breaking into a sweat.“You see, my eldest daughter loves her sister so much and she was only worried that her sister wouldn't be able to manage so she de
Did you hear? A classmate is getting married to a blind crippled because he is rich." I hear a voice behind me whisper, causing me to look up from my book.Why does it feel like they are talking about me? And who would start up a rumor about me in school?A face flashes in my mind and I wonder why I even ask the question.Of course, Eileen would have done that.The people behind me couldn't see me because I was leaning against the tree truck which hid my entire body. “But I wonder who this classmate is. So shameless and desperate to be rich." A sarcastic comment came from behind me and I slapped my book shut, unable to concentrate."I heard that it was Ruelle-" Picking up my bag, I walked out. The looks on their faces changed to surprise when they saw me. “Ru-Ruelle..” the speaker stuttered, looking at me in fear."You're so noisy," I tell them, my lips curled up in distaste.“We are so sorry, we-" they started to apologize but I didn't want to hear their fake apology.I needed to
"There's a hotel close by for you to change your clothes. You will catch a cold if you continue wearing them,” Killian said, his tone not changing. He didn't seem affected by my earlier accusation.When I realized that he just wanted me to get out of my wet clothes, my cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I remain quiet for the rest of the ride, too embarrassed to say anything else.The driver kept glancing at us occasionally. I turned to look at Killian to find his face expressionless, his eyes were glossed over and didn't seem to focus on anything.I slowly brought up my hands, waving them a distance away from his face.“I might be blind but I can still feel,” Killian said coldly and I immediately pulled my arm down."Don't you believe that I'm blind?” He asked and I immediately shook my head."N-no, nothing like that,” I brought my hands in front of me in a defensive manner as he could see me.I thought I saw a smile on his face but it was gone immediately it came."Why do you want to
I blow out the strands of hair across my face, turning to look at my father who had slapped me.My cheek stung but I ignored it."We had sent you to school to study, but instead of studying, you're going around with men. You are a whore, just like your mother!" Mrs Athanas spat in disgust. Her eyes held so much hatred for me but I was already used to it.Her remark about my mother threw me into a fit of rage and I glared at her.They started this by calling my mother into it, they shouldn't blame me for the way I behaved. And she had said that I slept with a man? I didn't even need to ask who had told them such a thing because Eileen stood behind her mother, giving me a coy smile.“I was with a man, so what? Were you married to my father when you gave birth to your daughter?" I asked aggressively, watching as their faces changed. All through the years, they tried to hide that Eileen was an illegitimate child, giving her the name of a legitimate child.“Are you forgetting that Eileen
I walked into the Lexington's mansion, pushing Killian in with me.His eyes remained straight ahead as he stared at nothing.“Are you sure it's alright for me to stay here till our wedding?” I asked him for what seemed to be the fifth time since we left.I didn't really know of his position here, so I wanted to know what I was walking into. if a family would let their child go broke just because he is blind and became a cripple, what else would they do to him?“It's not too late for you to return,” he said coldly and I shook my head. I was here already, so there was no use to be asking questions.I couldn't help but be curious about the rest of his family members.I had just seen Mr. Lexington and that was it. Wasn't his mom home?“Where do you think you are going?” A stern voice asked and I stopped in my tracks. Mr. Lexington stared at us coldly, his aura different from the first time we met.“I'm going to my room, what does it look like? Father.” Killian spat out the word ‘father’
I turned around, coming face to face with Angela. Angela and I don't exactly see eye to eye. She has been my arch-nemesis since the beginning of the school year.“And what if I'm staying with a man? Are you able to deny that you aren't being sponsored by your sugar daddy?” I asked sarcastically, a mocking look on my face.It has been a known fact for a month now that Angela had a sugar daddy. I heard the news but I didn't pay much attention to it because it was none of my business, but her getting into my matters was something I just couldn't take.“You really are shameless,” someone laughed dryly, shaking their head at me.Beside Angela, her best friend sat. Both of them looked ready to banter with me for the rest of the day but I didn't have the time for that.I couldn't just exchange words with them like ai had nothing to do.“You guys stop it. The man she is staying with is her fiance. Even though they slept together the night before, there really isn't anything wrong with that,”