“I’m so sorry-“
“I’m asking, what’s your name?”
“Blue.”
“Blue?”
“Yes, sir.”
The man suddenly burst into laughter. “Blue? You mean your mother carried you for nine months, and the name your parents could come up with was Blue?” he said, laughing again.
Although Blue hated the name at first, she had grown to love and appreciate it after her mother died, leaving her with her younger brother, whom she had to care for, and her father, whom she preferred not to talk about.
She scoffed and frowned at him. “I know I wronged you and ruined your dress, but don’t you think this is a bit much?”
“What’s too much?” he retorted. “The fact that you’re one of those cheap girls who throw themselves at rich men? Or the fact that you’re just not my type?”
Blue laughed. “And who says you’re my type?” She eyed him from head to toe. “If anything, you’re the pervert, the classless man who chases after everything under a skirt. I’m not surprised you’re the kind of thing someone like her would use and discard,” she insulted him, turning on her heel and walking away.
The man laughed, clearly in disbelief. No one had ever dared insult him like that. He felt humiliated and angry, but there was no way he was going to let the woman he came to see look like that. He yelled after her, but she was already gone. With no choice but to leave, he went back home.
Blue knew she had messed up the job, and if the lady she was supposed to work for heard about what had happened, she wouldn’t take it lightly. Still, she wasn’t too worried. She had a better-paying job lined up at the penthouse, and with the raise she expected, she felt a sense of relief. She set her mindset to work hard, do her best, and secure the position so she could pay for her brother’s tutorial fees.
“Make sure everything is arranged perfectly, as perfectly as possible,” Sharon instructed as they prepared for the dinner. A variety of delicious dishes had been prepared. She was busy ensuring everything was just right when she noticed her son, Gael, walking in with a frown on his face and his clothes ruined.
“Gael? What happened?” she asked, concerned. He didn’t look good at all, his face red with anger.
“What happened to your clothes, brother?” Ashley also asked as they saw him, “And you smell terrible,” she added, getting closer to him.
“Some idiot poured mopping water on me,” he gritted his teeth in frustration.
“Who?” both Sharon and Ashley asked in unison.
“A lady, Blue, or Yellow, or whatever she calls herself.”
Ashley laughed. “I guess it’s one of the women who throw themselves at you,” she said, still chuckling.
“A woman who throws herself at him wouldn’t pour stinky water on him,” Sharon pointed out.
“Maybe they fought,” Ashley said, smiling.
“Whatever. Go change and clean yourself up,” Sharon ordered, and Gael walked away, still fuming.
She wanted to laugh at him, but curiosity got the best of her. Which woman poured water on him? It definitely wasn’t his fiancee, she thought to herself.
“I knew this place was heaven on earth. If a family home can be this beautiful, I wonder what paradise looks like,” Clarisse thought to herself as she gazed out the window, admiring the garden below. The lush greenery, with its flowers and plants, was enclosed by a glass wall, adding an ethereal quality to the scene.
She decided to take a break and enjoy the view after finishing the dress she had been working on, but her peaceful moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. She had purposely stayed in her room, avoiding the possibility of encountering any of the family members. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the knock.
“Come in,” she said, blinking her eyes as her breath quickened. The old man who had come to wake her earlier entered, followed by a couple of maids. They bowed slightly before her, and she awkwardly bowed back, unsure of what was happening.
They entered with a rail of clothes.
“Good evening, ma’am,” they greeted her.
“Good evening, sir,” she responded.
“Clinton, ma’am, please call me that,” the old man said with a smile.
“Unless you want my master to fire me,” he added jokingly.
“Okay,” Clarisse replied softly, still trying to grasp what was going on.
Clinton smiled again and motioned for her to take a proper look at the dresses.
“We’ve been instructed to prepare you for dinner,” he explained, still wearing his gentle smile.
“Dinner?” Clarisse repeated, surprised.
“Yes, ma’am. You’re having a family dinner tonight, and the Master has asked us to make sure you’re ready.”
Clarisse felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. The moment she had feared had arrived. She blinked rapidly, trying to calm her racing heart. Should she pretend to be sick, feigning a fever or cramps? What if that made them more upset?
“We should begin getting ready, ma’am. The Master is already on his way to pick you up,” Clinton’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“Okay,” she responded, her voice trembling.
Clinton, noticing the fear in her eyes, gave her a reassuring smile. He knew that many daughters-in-law might feel nervous about meeting their new family, but Clarisse’s fear was palpable.
“Don’t worry, ma’am. I can assure you that everything will go well. You have nothing to worry about,” he said, trying to calm her, but his words didn’t seem to help.
‘What can he understand?’ she thought to herself.
The maids gently pulled her closer, seating her in front of the mirror, and began working on her face. They used a brush, eye pencil, mascara, and lipstick. They brushed and styled her hair before dressing her, and by the time they were finished, they placed a standing mirror in front of her so she could take a proper look at herself.
Clarisse’s mouth dropped as she stared at the reflection in disbelief. She couldn’t recognize the woman in the mirror.
“Do you like it, ma’am?” Clinton asked.
“Is… this… me?” she asked, her voice barely audible, as tears welled up in her eyes.
“Please don’t cry, ma’am. It’ll ruin the makeup,” one of the makeup artists said, but Clarisse just nodded, unable to look away from the mirror.
She looked so different. Her brown hair was styled into soft waves, and her ears felt strange with earrings on-she hadn’t worn them in twelve years. And not just any earrings, but beautiful ones. Her face looked so radiant, her pink lips adding to the beauty. She touched her face in awe, and then her eyes moved down to her body.
She was wearing a knee-length blue gown. The upper part hugged her curves, while the lower part flared out. The dress had an asymmetrical neckline and was made from a shiny, expensive fabric. It was so beautiful that she couldn’t help but smile at herself.
Her feet were graced by silver stilettos that sparkled as she looked down. The sight made the tears fall, but she quickly blinked them away, not wanting to ruin the artist’s work. She was lost in admiration when Clinton received a message. Turning to her, he said, “Ma’am, the master is waiting for you outside.”
“Oh shit!” she cursed under her breath. For a moment, she had forgotten all about the dinner.
Taking a deep breath, she thought, ‘The night might end badly. I might be dismissed and become invisible, and they might say anything to me tonight. But I’ll enjoy this while it lasts. This image of me in the mirror will stay in my mind forever.’ She kept staring at her reflection.
She turned to Clinton and nodded, signaling that she was ready. He led her out.
Christian was waiting in the car, his phone in hand as he thought about the conversation he had had with Ryan earlier that day, when Ryan had asked him why he was back from his honeymoon already. (Flashback)
“You came back faster than I expected,” Ryan had mocked. “Why? Did your bad character make your wife cancel the honeymoon? Well, I guess, considering you attended a meeting on your wedding night.”
“Not at night,” Christian had replied curtly.
“Tah! Whatever, tell me, or is it that you don’t like her?”
“You ask too many questions.”
“Normal, when it comes to you,” Ryan replied with a wink, but Christian eyed him in disgust.
“I can understand though. You’ve never met her before, getting married to a stranger, meeting for the first time on the wedding day. It’s crazy. I hate arranged marriages.”
“That’s not the first time we’ve met.”
“Huh? What do you mean? You’ve met her before?”
“More than that. I know her,” Christian said, meeting Ryan’s gaze. “I knew her personally.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.