Chapter 60: Becoming An August

And just like that, my life went back to normal as if nothing had ever happened. Well, almost normal. Each time I crossed paths with Grace, she wouldn’t even look in my direction and would completely try to avoid me each time. Usually, we would have a petty, sassy squabble and then go our separate ways but nowadays all I get is the silent treatment, even when I give her a snarky comment each time I see her. Not gonna lie, it’s kinda boring. And, to be honest, kinda a let down too… it made me realize that I actually enjoyed being sarcastic assholes back and forth with each other.

*Whatever Julian said to her, it must’ve been something serious…*

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t wrap my head around what he could’ve said to her that made her change her mind as fast as snapping your fingers. Did he have some blackmail against her too? Or… did he promise her something in return? One of the possibilities unsettled me more than the other one.

Like Mom wanted, I planted rose seeds in the ashes of the garden. She would always show me the same kinds of roses in books too. They were all mitchmatched and looked nothing alike. The garden might as well be a circus show once it's grown but Gabriel didn’t seem to mind.

Gabriel’s words from when I returned to the mansion still intrigued me. He had bought several properties to get houses built on, one of them specifically for Grace and the other probably for Julian. It made me wonder, will I get a mansion too? Having my own giant house… that’s something that somebody like me could never hope to have somebody. Not unless you completely steal somebody’s identity and hope you don’t get caught. I would’ve asked him but I was too embarrassed to do so. I’m supposed to be the woman from the dark streets, the queen of ruffians and cutthroats. Why would I need some big, fancy mansion?

*I don’t! …They’re just nice to look at sometimes…*


We were having dinner like any other night, something that I had been getting used to since day one but I didn’t bother dressing up into different clothes. The most I did was put on some deodorant.

Grace was stealing the show tonight, bragging about how her career as an influencer was skyrocketing into space while Gabriel spoiled her with praises. I never knew Julian had a job either until recently, it had something to do with being online so of course I didn’t notice. He was always at home if not out with his friends.

“The August Family is a successful one, I have never been prouder,” Gabriel spoke with gloating pride.

“You’re forgetting about somebody, Daddy,” Grace said innocently while taking a little bite of her fork. I stopped slurping up my noodles as soon as all eyes landed on me.

*Anddd she FINALLY decides she wants to be an ass at dinner. Again. Fucker.*

“I’m sure Sukia will get a lovely, successful job.” Gabriel’s voice held all the confidence in the world.

*Homie, I think you forgot my ass doesn’t have an education.*

Grace didn’t look convinced and she crossed her arms as her blue eyes which were identical to Julian’s locked with mine. “Oh? Do you possess impressive skills?”

*Yeah. To not be a snotty piece of shit.*

I kept my sassy thoughts to myself as I thought to myself. Shit. What am I good at? I tried to think of all the things I had done in the past and what had made me the proudest. My memory of all the graffiti I’ve left on almost every block crossed my mind. “Well, I’d like to think I got some pretty artistic fingers.”

My mother immediately bursted out laughing. She knew exactly what I was referring to. Before I left home I was already spraying graffiti all over the place and she actually admitted to me once that it wasn’t half bad. “I agree, she has an eye for art.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened with awed surprise. “Really? Well, well, well! Color me surprised! We’ll have to get you a canvas– no, a dozen! Ah, I got it, there’s a spare room on the second floor that we could turn into your art studio.”

I choked on my food when Gabriel got carried away with his crazy ideas to increase my art skills. Grace gave a dramatic gasp as she looked at her father in disbelief. “But Daddy! You said I could use that room how I wanted!”

“You already have a different room for your work. Sukia deserves one too.” Grabiel gave me an encouraging look like any father would give their child.

I restrained a sigh to the best of my ability. *Fuck me sideways.*

Grace looked as if she were about to pout and still took another shot at me out of pure pettiness just to make sure that I was never going to be completely a part of the familiar. “She still isn’t going to have the last name August.” Her snide remark got a negative reaction out of both Gabriel and my mother. Seeing the disapproval in their eyes was enough to make Grace quiet down and get back in line.

“Not unless she marries someone with the surname August.” Julian nonchalantly chimed in, he had been silent throughout most of the meal until now. My jaw dropped and my face flushed.

*You crazy motherfucker!*

The entire room went dead silent except for the scrape of Grace’s fork against her glass plate, the woman continued to take small bites while doing her best not to smirk.

The silence was broken when Gabriel cleared his throat. “That is indeed an option but unfortunately our second cousins live quite a distance away. Besides, it’s Sukia’s choice if she wants to remain an Arlee or change to August. You could always get your last name legally changed whenever you feel like it.”

“Yeahhh, thanks but no thanks. I’m perfectly happy with Arlee.” my voice had a hint of hostility. I wasn’t very happy about the topic of having my last name changed from my father’s. Gabriel and my mom picked up on this and their demeanors practically shriveled up into regret for insulting me. My mom placed her hand on my lap as if in an attempt to apologize for being careless.

“You know that’s not what we meant, love…” my mother whispered to me quietly enough that the others wouldn’t hear.

I didn’t respond to her and just kept slurping up my noodles again. I wasn’t angry with her or Gabriel, it's just that my last name was one of the prized possessions that I still owned from my father. As I ate my meal in silence throughout the rest of the dinner and everybody talked amongst themselves, I could feel Julian staring me down the entire time. I didn’t even have to look at him to know that he was watching me. Like a blue fire, I could feel it heating my skin.

*What’s his problem?*

I didn’t say anything to Julian the entire time, even after dinner had ended. I gave Mom a hug goodnight as she and Gabriel went to their room to watch those stupid soap operas that my mother loves to watch. Grace left the dining room so fast that I didn’t even see her leave and I didn’t care to know where she went.

As I went to my room the door was stuck when I tried to close it and then I realized that Julian was holding it open. My heart immediately leaped into my throat. “What the fuck?? You scared the shit outta me! What do you want, Julian?”

The increased thumping in my heart made my body stiffen as I was struck with deja vu when Julian forced his way into my room and locked the door behind himself.