•Leiara•
My eyes tremble within their sockets as I stare at Willa.
If there is a mirror in front of me right now, I know these foggy grey eyes of mine that already lack color is now paint red.
Unlike hers that glow so beautifully, mine lacks any attracting hue.
But I don't need any mirror to see how pained I am from the realization of knowing my true place. Willa's big smile alone is enough to tell me.
After all, she derives this good a pleasure from my misery.
"C'mon now, don't act the victim," she waves at me dismissively.
"If anything, you're the real villain here and poor me is the one suffering," she turns back to her bags.
Before she starts pushing them inside, I speak again and stop her.
Soft, and stuttering but I say it.
"I-I won't.. allow you live here."
She turns to me with the smile still across her face.
"And what are you going to do?" She asks, confidence brimming bright beneath her tone.
It is true that I can't do anything. But I know my grandmother in-law will not allow something like this.
She holds the power and decides everything.
And if words get out about this, I'm sure it won't look good for their reputation either.
"You better leave now before I call Helen," I tell her.
Helen is my grandmother-in-law's name. That alone should be enough to stir fear inside Willa.
I expect her to panic after I say this, but Willa simply gazes at me for some moments before erupting in a grating laughter.
I am shocked, as well as confused.
What about this is funny to her?
After cackling for a while, she stops and wipes tears from the corners of her eyes.
"What are you waiting for Lei? Common, go on," she goads.
Her confident reaction makes me think twice. Helen isn't someone that can be taken lightly. Even Willa knows this.
But if she's acting this way despite my threat to call Helen, that only means Helen might be in support of this.
But I can't conclude just yet. It might not have been Helen who approved this.
Then who? My subconsciousness slaps.
My heart pulsates heavier and faster. I do not want to even think about the possibility of who it could be.
You just don't want to believe Colson might've been the one who approved this, again, my subconscious mind slaps.
Willa brings out her phone and dials Helen.
"Here. Since you're having trouble doing it, let me help."
She stretches out the phone to me, the dialing sound ringing.
I stare at the phone with hollow eyes. Heart skipping.
The moment the phone connects, my heart lurches.
Willa forces the phone into my grasp.
"Do it," she eggs.
"Yes?" Helen's sharp voice sounds.
I can't keep Helen waiting without responding so I take the phone up my ear with trembling hand.
"H-hello grandmother?" I say into the phone.
She must've recognized my voice because she doesn't speak further.
"Tell her about it," Willa mouths to me.
I don't know where she gets her confidence from. But I doubt Helen would allow something like this that might jeopardize the family's name.
Plus, She had just warned me to handle matters better else she'd be forced to bring in someone more capable.
Which means she hasn't resulted to that just yet.
"It is Willa," I start. "She's here with her bags and is wanting to live here with Colson and I."
There is a deafening silence.
I wait for her response, anticipation stirring me to break out in nervous sweat.
Moments later, she responds.
"Is that a problem?"
My heart drops. My chest mounts and falls, and my breaths become heavy.
"You don't seem to be capable of giving me an heir anytime soon. And Colson seems to be more open with Willa than with you. At this point, I'm starting to regret why I didn't choose her from the start. Just let her live there for some time and see how things turn out."
BEEP!
The phone disconnects.
Willa bursts into a silent laughter.
"See? You're always making a fool out of yourself!"
She snatches her phone from me and starts heading in with her bags.
"Always going around looking like some middle aged woman with grand kids. You might want to cut yourself some slack and maybe then Colson will spare you a glance,"
She mutters as she rolls her bags in.
I stand still outside. There are many thoughts to fill my head with but I can't even decide which. So I stay staring into the distance in silence.
I don't know how much time passes as I remain there, but I feel a warm cloth wrap around me.
I flinch slightly and turn to see who it is.
"Ma'am, it's cold out here. You should head in now," the gateman says.
His tone is soft and gentle with genuine concern.
He is a man in his middle age with sparsely gray hairs on his head and beards. A nice man. The only one in this house who actually cares genuinely about me.
I smile warmly at him and nod softly. I can't afford to make the few people who care for me worried.
I cannot show my weakness. I've got responsibilities.
And… Colson will soon return. When he does, I'll tell him about how uncomfortable this is for me. And hopefully, he asks her out.
I tell the gateman goodnight and go into the house.
I do not find Willa in the living room or anywhere my eyes reach. Only two maids welcome me but I dismiss them since I'm tired.
And because I don't care much about Willa, I head up to my room.
She's shameless enough to make herself feel at home anyway.
I push open the door to my room and there she is, sitting comfortably on my king sized bed.
I pause, surprised as well insulted. As if disrespecting my peace and home isn't enough, she now sees herself worthy of my room?
"Don't even start!" I tell her clearly, fed up.
There's a limit to how much insult I can take.
"What?" She asks as if she isn't aware of her own actions.
"Don't play with me Willa. I'm not doing this with you. Leave!" I command with a hand gesture toward the door.
As if my words hold no weight, Willa crosses her legs and leans back more comfortably on the bed.
"Should it not be the mistress who leaves? I'm the main piece, whereas you are the side piece. It's only fair that I get the master bedroom."
My jaw clenches as anger boils inside me.
No way will I leave my matrimonial bed to anyone. No matter who it is.
So what if I'm the side piece? I'm the one who's married to him so it's lawfully and rightfully mine.
I step out of the room, and from the spacious corridor, I call out to the maids.
"Macey! Noelle! Come here please."
It doesn't take long for them to run up to me.
"Yes, ma'am?"
I go back into the room with them.
"Take her out," I snap my fingers.
My tone is stern, and the anger beneath it can be sensed.
Willa's smile wipes clear and she sits upright.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on me!" She yells.
But the maids don't spare her a listening ear. They grab her by both arms and start dragging her out.
"Hey! Let go! Do you know who you're handling like this?" She fights to free herself.
As the maids drag her out, I roll out her bags and follow behind them.
"Leiara! You've just made the biggest mistake of your life! I won't spare you! I swear! You'll regret this!"
She cusses and yells but I don't mind. I just want her out of my room.
They drag her downstairs, while I leave the bags near the stairs and return to my room.
I shut my door, bolt it and rest against it.
A loud exhale leaves me.
PHEW!
After calming down my nerves, I change and take a shower. Then I get into my night dress.
Since I have no appetite for anything, I only drink water and get in bed.
My muscles are finally relaxed. Everywhere is peaceful. I honestly thought Willa would come disturb my peace after she was dragged out.
But surprisingly, she didn't.
I lift my blanket, ready to get in but the tablet on my bedside table buzzes.
I pause, then reach out to grab it.
A message had come in. It is Colson's arrival time, sent by his assistant.
Unlike Colson, who is always cold toward me, I get along well with his assistant.
I am required to go pick him up at the airport. There, we'll interact for the public eyes and make them think we are happily married.
I scan the details, my eyes resting particularly on the time.
08:30 a.m, tomorrow.
I drop the tablet, pick up my alarm and set it to 6:30 a.m.
Can't afford any mistakes.
I plop down on my bed with a bounce, exhaling in relief. My eyes stare up at the ceiling for some moments but it doesn't take long for sleep to envelope me.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The next morning. I stir gently on my bed, sleep slowly leaving me.
I groan softly, and open my eyes in a squint.
Did I wake up first before my alarm?
In wonder, I lift my upper body to glance at the alarm on my bedside table. Or at least, the alarm that is supposed to be there.
I jolt wide awake, rising to a sit as I don't find my alarm where I leave it.
A nostalgic feeling of fear mixed with nervousness hits me.
I look to the floor and around the table, but I still don't find it.
I leave my bed and snap to the window quickly. With haste and worry driving me, I pull apart the curtains.
My heart drops when the morning sun slaps my face and causes me to squint.
I overslept. The time doesn't seem like 06:30.
What is the time right now?
An overflowing sense of unease fills me up as I rush back to the table to grab my phone.
However, due to how I panicked earlier, I failed to notice that my phone and tablet were also missing along with the alarm clock.
A wave of dizziness mounts me, making my head light but I squeeze my eyes shut to chase it off.
The situation is too dire to succumb to it.
As I fret over my situation, I remember I'm in my own house and that there are people here to help me.
In the first place, why haven't the maids who always bring me my morning tea come to wake me up yet?
Everything screams set up in my head and I know well enough the person behind it. But that is the least of my worries.
I'm the one foolish enough to fall for such childish tactics.
I rush to my door, the only way out of my plight. But as I twist and pull the doorknob, it doesn't bulge.
I try a few times till I realize it is bolted from the outside. Or is it till I finally accept that I am locked in?
I am doomed!