5

As usual, I take up a chair and settle down next to my father on the right. The empty chair on his left was and still remains vacant for my mother. I warned this black witch that my mother married as his second wife to never dare sit her bum on it if she didn't want me to cut it off. Well, she and her daughter, these two witches, secured themselves a place antagonistic to me and my father across the table. They belong there because they and I are never getting along in this life or in the afterlife as well. Not even in the afterlife.

I'm always baffled by what my father saw in this ugly ostrich across from me, though. In contrast to the sterling heart and wonderful sense of humor that made my mother the most noble person till her demise, she had to replace her with this garbage. She is the complete opposite of what my mother was. And that too—he had to bring her and her equally ugly miniature barely a year after we lost our mother? What exactly did he see in her? Her big, round eyes? Is it her trim body that looks like a skeleton with just a thin layer of skin and a few ounces of flesh tucked under it? Is it her scary long neck and legs? Is it her black heart and stinking persona? This witch in disguise who resembles a...

"Will you not even greet us, Ellie?" She mumbles while shifting in her chair, acting as if she owns the entire castle. Or as if she merits such a title as the one she bears. Beh!

"I can tell you two are doing okay. But if it brings you any joy, then, hello!" I say it in a really sarcastic manner.

"We are doing fine," she responds in the same tone and manner as mine.

Well, that is us. That is how we have been from the beginning and how we will always be until the end.

I give them a sarcastic smirk after brushing my eyes on their faces. "Exactly why I didn't bother asking. Why on hell wouldn't you two be okay anyway?" I shrug my shoulders.

"We were worried you wouldn't come." She shoots, and her miniature ostrich gives her a fleeting glance.

Oh, they were so worried! Poor creatures! Fuck them! Are they trying to start a fight with me? Well, they know who the fuck wins, and that is me, Miss Riccaford! The one and only legit child of the great Richard Riccaford!

"And what on hell made you perceive that, Gracia? Or you mean to say, You two wish I wouldn't show up?" I snap.

"And why would we wish that?" The wrinkles on her face suit her so well! They should become permanent. Maybe then my father will lose interest in her and kick their annoying asses out of our lives. Then I can live in peace.

I bank my eyes on the restless bitch. This shameless whore has the balls to return to this house after sleeping with my boyfriend. "Enlighten me, Gracia. Or better yet, Nelly can," I fire back.

"Huh...m...e! Oh, Please! Leave me the hell out of this!" The way she appears uneasy, huh? She seemed to have taken a shower, but sadly, she could not scour off that disgusting scent of sex. She still stinks with the same rich sex aura!

Given her discomforts, she may not have had the courage to confess her sins. Much better! It will make my small surprise more enjoyable. "I don't understand why you would think I would let my father down, Gracia, unless any of you had a specific reason to want otherwise. Furthermore, this is my home. Regrettably, you both can’t say the same,” I say, and this always hurts them to the chore.

I zip their mouths with that. I nailed them.

She serves herself a full bowl of some freaking garbage-stinking noodles while shrugging her shoulders.

Father clears his voice, speaking, "If you are done picking at each other, can we get down to the issue at hand?" His wife passes him a bowl of noodles and chicken curry while his rich, domineering voice echoes through the area.

The food appears to be more or less delish, however. "I'll just have a glass of juice," I say as I pour myself some. "I'm here now, Papa. What did you want us to discuss?" I inquire while I savor my bland drink. Is this still my favorite Del Monte pineapple? Crap!

"Are you sure you have no idea what we want to discuss, or are you just acting dumb?"

Heck! Can this witch spare me her crap? If she gets on my nerves like this today after what her daughter has done, I might forget that she is old enough to be my mother and break her jaw. Sha! They have crossed all boundaries with what Nelly did, so I have no patience with them at all.

"I would prefer if you would simply allow me to explain things to my daughter, Gracia." My father exclaims, putting everyone to stillness with his composed but icy and bulky tone.

At least he saved them from my wrath. The witches roll their eyes, a childish act that they are so accustomed to. I take a deep sigh, looking at my father. "Does this have anything to do with tomorrow?" I politely ask as I turn to face my father.

He nods in agreement. "Yes. It's time for me to honor my end of the bargain. Tomorrow you will meet your betrothed, and the wedding preparations will commence."

Clear as the day! Plain and simple! No riddles nor parables! As if it were as simple as what just came out of his mouth.

"But Papa,” I begin in defense and disapproval, “you already know how I feel about this. I have often, always stated that I object to this arranged marriage. Can't you do something?" I beg.

He shakes his head. "Ellie, there is nothing that we can do. I can't go back on my words.”

"And you are so pleased with this, Papa?” I snap, feeling hopeless and helpless, “You are okay trading me off? Your only child, papa? You are not even going to think about how I feel or what happens to my life after that ridiculous marriage."

"Oh, please! Quit acting so dramatic! It's marriage, not a death sentence! What a crying baby!" Nelly fires.

Who invited her into this discussion? No, who actually told her that her opinion was needed? She is not even the real Riccaford, and that much is known to the whole world. What is the source of her rage anyway? I am the only child of my father, and that too is known all over the world. The sooner she processes that, the better for her and everyone else.

I should howl at her, but I have something more urgent to handle first. Her spade is in the fire. "We better talk in your study, Papa. After all, this is between the father and his daughter," I mutter as I stand on my feet, my father doing the same.

"You two will be in charge of tomorrow's function, from the furnishings to the cuisine. Make sure everything is readied by four. The visitors will start to arrive at that time,” Father says to these two slackers before we walk out.

All they do is consume food like a herd of buffalos, acting high-and-mighty like queens. It's high time they put their lazy asses to use.

"What? That should be the work of the event planners, right? What will they be paid for if we still need to supervise?"

Look at this lazy nobody! Man-snatcher! The whore herself! This fucking bitch! "Can you at least make yourself useful for once, Nelly?” I snap. “For heaven's sake, prove that you are worthy of the title that you bear," I scream at her, and she reclines in her chair and, like her mother, turns her back on me. "Ooh, by the way, I'll drop off a package for you in the morning. Something to keep you motivated all day long."