Chapter # 2

Rebecca POV:-

I sat in the corner of my room while hugging my knees close to my chest, all servants went to their quarters and I am all alone filled with extreme anxiety. I hid my face in my knees and began to shake.

Please Marianne, come soon. Please. Please.

I repeated that like a chant so that I could give my scared form any consolation but, no avail because I know I the only thing that can eradicate this fear of being alone is to have someone by my side, someone who loves me and the only person who loves me is Marianne.

"Mari-Jane-Acca."

"Mari-Jane-Acca."

"Mari-Jane-Acca."

I repeated those words as if my life depends on them. When father knows I can't spend a second alone, how could he leave me all alone? That much of a burden he thinks of me? I, who made him who he is today.

I put my head on the bed while sitting on the ground and shut my eyes wanting to receive a lull from it. Cold sweat formed on my forehead as my breath become heavy. I clutched the sheets tightly and buried my face in the sheets and before I knew it, I found myself losing in that dread.

"Rebecca!" My eyes flutter opened as I was greeted by Sunlight penetrating through the window, igniting my room. My eyes narrowed as I can barely open them because of the lack of sleep. I rub my eyes and comprehend to the slender figure before me and the scent was enough for me to know that it's Marianne.

I hugged her tightly never wanting to let it go. She run her hands in my hairs and kissed my forehead.

"I am home, Sweetie." she said in her sweet voice. I smiled widely and wiped the tears pricked in the corner of my eyes.

"Welcome home. " We smiled and pulled away. She caress my cheeks and asked, "How are you? "

"Now that I have seen you, I am better."

"Me too. " We stood up as I asked, "Breakfast?"

"Come downstairs, We'll cook together." I grinned and hugged her tightly and beamed in blithe. She chuckled and pat my head.

"You get ready. I am waiting. " I nodded and quickly freshened up and walked down.

We began to make pancakes for us and do random funny stuff like decorating each other face with flour and eat Nutella with a spoon instead of applying it on the pancake.

"Stop it! You need to maintain your figure." I said sitting on the counter while eating Nutella.

"Come on, a single spoon won't do that much, give it to me." I clicked my tongue at her as she sighed and took the jar and use her own spoon to dig in. We began to laugh as the kitchen is in a mess.

"Don't go soon.. Please.. " I said sadly to her.

"I have no new shoots, rather I cancelled all of them. So, I am free for the rest of the week and I am staying with my sister." She smiled and my face lit up in happiness.

"My attendance is also quite good so If I take a week's day off, it wouldn't affect my studies that much. "

"And what about notes and lectures?" she asked.

"Do you think I need lectures? One preference is enough for me." I replied, getting down from the counter.

"I know, but do not forget you are not what you were used to be. You'll deliberately score low." She said eyeing me. I just hummed in response. She turned her attention towards me and held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze and began to say,

"Look Rebecca, You are a gifted child, if you don't use those skills and let them rust, it would be fatal for you in future. You cannot hang up on something that happened years ago. Please even Jane wouldn't want it."

"Marianne, Jane took her life right in front of me just because I was the most loved child of the family. She was my twin, my talent ignite the fire of envy in her and took her life, how can I use it again?

And even Papa left me alone when I needed him just because I can't help him grow Garnet Enterprises anymore. He is just an insensible guy who loves money and you." I said coldly. Marianne remained quiet and lowered her head.

"What did you just said?" A growl can be heard and it's enough for me to know it's Papa.

"Age took it's toll on you Papa. Do you want me to repeat my words?" I asked- mocked, closing my arms at my chest.

"Ungrateful Kid." Papa hissed. I took a step forward and gave him an icy look.

"It's clear who is the ungrateful here."

"Get out of my sight."

"I have no intentions of ruining my day. " I said emptily and took my plate of pancakes and passed Marianne a smile and left. I ate my food in my room and after eating I washed my plate and passed by Papa's studies and heard him saying, "I just want to settle that disgrace." and the word 'disgrace' is enough for me to know he is talking about me.

"For God Sake Father, Stop calling her this, she is your child." Marianne defended. A smile crept upon my lips to know that at least I have some support in my life.

"She was a gem. Someone who can dominate everyone but that idiot shut herself out from the world!" I sighed and shook my head. You would never understand.

"Have you ever tried to understand what she felt? "

"Can she even feel? I have decided I'll arrange her in a marriage. " my eyes widened when I heard it.

"Don't do this to her." Marianne plead.

A silence fell upon the room and I lowered my head and walked away to my room.

5 Days Later:-

Me and Marianne are watching a movie but then Papa came looking stoic as usual.

"Both of you. Be ready tonight. We are having guests."

"Tell them you have only one daughter, you surely don't want them to meet your disgrace. " I said coldly.

"Shut your mouth for once. Be ready." He said and left. The look of horror on Marianne's face is enough for me to know that it's about me. I should be angry, sad or maybe happy about it but I am feeling none of it. As if my heart can't feel.

"What's up with that look Marianne?" I asked sitting up and being oblivious.

"I don't want to marry... and I don't want you to marry too... for now." She said worried.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Father told me some people are coming to ask for my hand in marriage. I refused but still he invited them for dinner. " All my feelings aside, if it's about Marianne, I will not tolerate anything. I took a hold of her hand and took her with me to see Papa.

I burst in and glared at Papa,

"What the hell do you want from her, when she doesn't want it, you cannot force her." I growled. He closed his book making a 'thud' sound as he stood up and walked towards us.

"Care to tell me what are you talking about?" He asked.

"About that marriage ordeal." I hissed. I know it, if he'll force Marianne, she'll agree but I know she doesn't want it and I will never let her.

"It's your Marriage. Rebecca. " He said derisively. I narrowed my eyes in bewilderment and asked, "What are you talking about?" he took a step back and turned.

"You see Rebecca, Now that you have become nothing but a disdain, I no longer need you." He said.

"I know that long ago." I scoffed.

"They will come to ask for Marianne's hand in marriage but the one who will marry their son would be you." My eyes widened in disbelief when I heard those ridiculous words.

"Don't fall that low." I spoke faintly.

"Fine then. I'll make Marianne marry him and make her quit her career."

"Please don't... " Marianne whispered while holding on my shoulder. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she was about to fall.

"I will not let anyone destroy the life Marianne spent years to build. "I said sternly.

"Then do as I say. You will marry Ryan Knight." Father announced.

"For her, I will do it." I said firmly.

"Don't Rebecca.. Please don't ruin your life for me.. " I turned to Marianne and smiled at her.

"Marianne, my life is already in ruins but you have a long and successful life ahead of you. Please live your life, I don't want you to end up like me." I said giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Tears rolled down her cheeks as I continued to smile,

"Rebecca, none of us have to do it. We will run away. You come with me, to California. We will live our lives together and never return here. You also have your life to live. You have skills, you can do it. Please don't sacrifice yourself for me. " she pleaded. I wiped her tears and turned to Papa and spoke with venom laced in my voice.

"You see that man standing there. He will never let you live your life. He will make a show of the scars you are hiding behind these layers of makeup." I said making her recall the torture of her abusive ex-boyfriend.

"Watch your mouth."

"Shut. The. Hell. Up. " I said threateningly. My raised voice is enough to shut everyone in the room.

"I have lost my will to live long ago." I said.

"please.. Don't.." she cried.

"Rebecca is right. Just to throw her away, I will do anything including what she just said." he said with his devoud tone.

"You are the worst form of a father! Why can't you throw her out of the house rather than binding her life with a stranger!" Marianne shouted.

"Only if I could. But, that will affect my name that's why, I need to make her leave using this way." He said.

"You have proven that money has blind you. You have proven that you are the worst form of a father. I hope no child get a father like you." I said and walked out and went to my room with Marianne following me from behind.

"Please don't do this Rebecca. It will drown me in guilt. " I stopped in my tracks and turned to her.

"Then don't let it. Look, You have to live your life."

"And what about you.. Your life..?" She asked. A hollow smile crept upon my lips as I replied, "It ended the day Jane died." and left.

***

"Oh, both of your daughters are beautiful." Said Sarah, Mrs Knight. We are having dinner with our special guests, whose reactions I am looking forward to see when they find out that their bride is the younger daughter, not the elder one. An empty smile formed on my lips when I raised my gaze and looked at Ryan, who was looking at Marianne at the corner of his eyes with so much love and affection. But no matter how much he loves her, Marianne doesn't want to get married. Marianne passed Ryan a smile and tugged a strand of her hairs behind her ears. Only we sisters can feel the awkwardness of the situation.

"How did you guys meet, Mr Knight?" I asked Ryan. He turned to look at me with his silver eyes. He passed me a smile and replied,

"Three years ago when she became our model for the launch of our debut in cosmetic field."

"Ah, Ruby Cosmetics." I said and he nodded.

"By the way, I have heard a lot about you from Marianne. She told me you are a genius." He complimented.

"was. " I corrected him which made him raise an eyebrow at me.

"I left all those behind. I am just a simple woman now." I said taking a bite of my food.

"She told me that too. Since I have heard a lot about you, I wanted to meet you." He said and I looked at Marianne from the corner of my eyes. She is just eating her food in silence.

"Well, now you did. But, don't you think you should talk to the person you came for. " I said in my usual cold voice. Oh, you are talking with me. My bad.

"Yeah.. You are right." He laughed and turned his head to Marianne as I excused myself and left.

....What fate has in store for me is truly fascinating...