Chapter 22

Jocelyn was fuming.

            Anger was vividly painted on her face. Her brows are furrowing. Her lips are pursed into a flat line. Her nose is flaring, and her throat is dry as the Sahara Desert.

            She should’ve told a much more solid reason to Darwin for a sure separation of Minerva from the Gray family.

            But, none of her previous efforts work that much. In fact, it didn’t even work—not even an inch.

            Clenching her face as she looks at herself in the vanity mirror, she glanced at her side—to where a picture of a beautiful red-head girl was situated.

            Jocelyn smiled as she knew she must use her secret ‘card’ this time no matter what the cost is. Dialing on her phone, she taps her fingers on the wooden table in anticipation of the person on the other line.

            Finally, after two rings, the girl answered.

            “What is it this time, Jocelyn?”

            She frowned, but instead forced a smile. “Darwin and his pregnant whore are in Chateau Bellerose. Want to crash a party?”

            Laughter reverberated on the other line. Jocelyn peered outside through the curtain windows and the dawn began to crack.

            “Sure, I will.”

***

 

“Did you have a good sleep, honey?”

            Caressing her milky white shoulders and leaving traces of kisses, Darwin whispered at the newly-awakened Minerva––to which the latter is visibly surprised of his sudden shift in a romantic mood.

            “Hmm…” She replied as she tried to shake off the sleepiness in her head. He faced her body to him and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, “Is your body still aching?”

            Minerva looked around and shook her head. “The bed is a king-sized one. Thank goodness you didn’t run me over. You’re so wiggly when sleeping!”

            The laughter of the two resonated in the silent room. Until a knock of three disturbed the couple.

            “Breakfast is ready.” It was a soft but sweet voice by the elderly maid that massaged Minerva last night.

            “It’s her,” she uttered.

            “She’s kind,” Darwin murmured. “Let’s go downstairs.”

            “Make me then.” Minerva winked at him, and he  grinned.

            “Don’t you worry, babe. I will…” Darwin inched closer, and closer. His mouth in her ears and—

            “Whooshh!” Minerva giggled as Darwin blew air near her ears. His warm breath made her stand from the bed.

            “See? I told you I will make you go downstairs.”

            Giving up, she hoisted her two hands.“Fine. Let’s have a feast, shall we?”

            Her smile made his day brighter, livelier. If only it wasn’t for the woman who beamed at him as soon as he opened their bedroom door.

***

“Gyzell…”

            Minerva could feel the coldness of Darwin’s voice as soon as he utters the name of the woman before them. The hair on her arms seems to rise due to the unusual voice of the man beside her.

            The voice is cold but hoarse, thick but whole. As if a long-time hidden emotion was embodied into Darwin’s voice.

            Minerva wonders what kind of emotion it is.

            “Hi, Darwin darling!” Minerva managed to yelp for a heartbeat and blink when the woman, Gyzell, suddenly hugged Darwin. Even the man himself stepped backwards.

            ‘What’s with these two?’ The pregnant woman whispered to herself.

            “I’m so glad you’re here in Chateau Bellerose, Darwin dear!” Minerva doesn’t know if she has invisibility powers or Gyzell just pretentiously acts as if she couldn’t see her. She had been standing with Darwin ever since he opened this goddamn bedroom door and the woman popped in front of them like some sort of an entity encaged in an antique lamp.

            “Ahem!” Minerva cleared her throat to make her presence known to this woman. Darwin smiled at her secretly as a gesture of gratitude.

            “Oh…I didn’t know you’re there Miss—”

            “She’s my fiancée,” he revealed without so much of a doubt.

            “I see…” Minerva grinned at her like some sort of a long-time, no-see enemy.

            ‘She looks familiar…” Minerva mused.

            “You look familiar,” Gyzell remarked.

            “For heaven’s sake, can you clear our path to the breakfast room, Gyzell?” Darwin is so good at pretending to be calm, hiding the irritation in his sexy masculine voice.

            “Well, I’ll escort you there honey.”

            Darwin looked back at her but Gyzell immediately made him face her, chit-chatting with him as if they hadn't met for centuries.

            Minerva was left by the threshold, rolling her eyes. She sighed in dismay and embarrassment, until a familiar scent of a man made her turn around.

            “So you’re Darwin Gray’s fiancée then?”

            “Lushan Angeles. I didn’t know you’re here!” Minerva gave him a tight hug upon recognizing the voice and the face of her former high school bestfriend.

            Lushan had been courting her since seventh grade. He was not-so-handsome back then. But, his persistence is one of the reasons that made Minerva consider him as her bestfriend instead—apart of him being loaded with tons and tons of money.

            “It’s been a long, long time, Lushie!”

            “You really still call me by that absurd nickname, Minnie!”

            They both laugh at each other, not knowing that Darwin is now a few steps from them.

            “Ahem…” Minerva blinked upon realizing his presence. “Breakfast is ready.”

            “We’ll be there in a minute, babe,” she replied, a smile on her face is the reason which made Darwin look at Lushan as if to say ‘she’s mine’.

            Darwin’s eyes could’ve popped out the moment Minerva looped her arm to Lushan’s. “Let’s go, Lushie!”

            ‘Lushie? More like a plushie!’ Darwin thought as his gaze lingered on the looped arm of his fiancée.

            Lushan just grinned at him, wryly.

            “Let’s go eat, Darwin.” Gyzell halted upon seeing to whose arms did Minerva looped with.

            “Lushan! I thought I’ve lost you again, brother!”

            “Brother?” Minerva and Darwin asked in a coincidental manner.

            “Yep! I see your fiancée is an old acquaintance of my brother here, dearest Darwin.” Gyzell then looped her arm on Darwin’s—in which the latter is forced to just reply with a smile.

            “Breakfast is ready!” A maid greeted them and took Lushan’s coat.

            Minerva avoided Darwin’s peering eyes as she and Lushan walked to the dining table while Gyzell is looped with Darwin.

***

“Oh, there you are!”

            Jocelyn’s voice is the sole reason that made Minerva drop her arm from the hold of Lushan Angeles.

            “I see you’ve met my nephew, Miss Miller.” Minerva grinned sheepishly but she saw Lushan rolled his eyes in the corner of her sight.

            “What’s wrong?” She asked her former bestfriend.

            Lushan seemed to be quite startled and instead offered her that he fill her plate.

            “Thank you!” She exclaimed upon receiving a plate of a traditional English breakfast.

            “Would you like some chowder soup?” he asked. Lushan seemed to still remember Minerva’s favorites. “Yes please!”

            Minerva is a bit bothered on why the hell is Jocelyn still not dropping that saccharine smile.

            ‘Is she enjoying that my attention is focused on Lushan's?’ She mused as soon as seeing Gyzell brought a spoon of steamed egg to Darwin’s mouth.

            Darwin saw her and his eyes narrowed. Minerva just grinned mirthlessly.

            “Would you like blueberry jam or just maple syrup?” She suddenly breaks her gaze with Darwin due to Lushan’s query. “I’ll have both, please.”

            “You’re still the same, Minerva.”

            “I’m glad you like the still peculiar me,” she declared with a smile that could melt any man.

            And Lushan is indeed melted. Even he himself couldn’t fight the urge to touch her, to even brush a finger on her lips.

            Their eyes met. And as soon as some sort of a spark between their gaze, Lushan Angeles hoisted his hand—into the lips of Minerva Miriam Miller.

            “You have a whipped cream on your lips, Minnie.”

            Everyone stared at the two, even the maids. But the one with the most incredulous look are none other than Damon and Darwin.