Harsh Reality
**Rachel**
As I observed myself in the modest bathroom mirror, devoid of any touch of luxury, it was impossible not to think about the recent events in my life. I concluded that I must have done something very wrong in my life, as it was not possible that I was going through all of that without something to pay for!
I was indeed negligent with my sister when she had the accident, offering no comfort or support. However, at that moment, I didn't know what had happened, and I don't believe I deserve to be judged so harshly for what occurred.
"I didn't know!" I spoke aloud, on the verge of tears but trying to hold them back at all costs. "I... didn't... know!"
I couldn't stop the tears from rolling down my eyes, especially when I saw the huge and horrible scar that the damn Fred had made on my face, that bastard.
"Rachel!?" Lindsay called, knocking persistently on the bathroom door when I didn't respond immediately. "Open the door, Rachel!"
"I'm fine!" I shouted so she would go away once and for all. "I'm fine..."
I tried to contain the tears and to disguise that I was crying, I washed my face several times and was drying it when, against all rules of good manners, Lindsay entered the bathroom.
"Darn door!" I complained, hiding my face with the towel.
"I'm glad the lock is broken," Lindsay, the brutally honest type, remarked. "That way, you don't get locked in here, crying alone."
Lindsay was right, and crying alone in the bathroom had become a habit, something I had done quite frequently since I arrived at Enrico's house in London.
"I wasn't crying."
I would never admit it. I didn't want to elicit people's pity, as I had dealt with enough compassionate glances directed at my scar.
"I know," she agreed with a hint of sarcasm. "What did Joseph do this time? Or were you beating yourself up for not supporting Sarah when she needed it the most?"
"Honestly, I can't tell if you're trying to be sympathetic or just plain provocative," I said with disgust, leaving the bathroom behind.
The small bathroom, like the bedroom, was quite cramped and shared by Lindsay and me. These were the accommodations for the staff in Enrico's lavish residence, where he had installed his father, the unpleasant and rude Joseph.
"I'd say a bit of both," Lindsay said, teasing me as usual, trying to distract me from the woes of my current life.
Lindsay, who followed me back to the room, threw herself onto one of the twin beds and nestled into the pillow, something she always did, and I used to joke that she was needy.
"Enrico is coming back from his trip today," she casually mentioned, but I understood the implication behind that information.
Even if I would never admit it, the mere mention of Enrico had the power to cause an uncomfortable stir in my body.
"It changes nothing," I replied indifferently.
"Maybe if you told Enrico how rude and mean Joseph has been to you, he might take some action," she suggested. "I don't think he would agree with his father's behavior."
Joseph and I were in constant conflict from day one. I would even say that, from the moment he saw me, the old grouch didn't like me and made it a point to make my life as difficult as possible.
"I'm not going to tell him, Lindsay," I said determinedly. "I don't want to risk him coming to the conclusion that Ryan was right about me not being the right person for the job."
There was an agreement with Enrico that we would take on the responsibility of caring for Joseph, ensuring that there was always someone by his side to attend to his needs, including his meals, among other things. We were not obligated to perform household tasks as there was a team of staff assigned to that. Joseph always treated everyone with extreme courtesy and politeness, except for me, with whom he behaved oppositely.
I had resigned myself to my situation since discovering that Shirley had been deceiving me all along, diverting the little money I had left from my bank account. I couldn't contest these actions since I would need to explain how I obtained that money and also why I hadn't paid taxes correctly. Moreover, Kael refused to testify on my behalf, explaining the origin of the funds in my account.
Now, my financial situation was precarious, as I had never bothered to look for a job, even without any qualifications. Additionally, there was the aggravating factor of the scar on my face. Although any member of my family could help me pay for plastic surgeries to correct the terrible mark on my face, they all ignored me and refused any assistance.
Despite all the difficulties, Enrico was the only person who reached out to me. Although he didn't make my life much easier—he could have offered me a better position, like a housekeeper, for example—I needed to acknowledge his help. At least I had a roof over my head, food, and a salary that was above average for my role.
Now, it was a matter of accepting reality and doing the best I could given the circumstances.
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