The car door opened with a gentle click, like the soft beginning of a storm.
Ariana stepped out first, her red dress fluttering lightly in the spring breeze as if it too was proud of its owner. Diamonds glinted coldly against her porcelain skin, catching the morning sun like the eyes of a cunning fox. In her delicate hands, she held a purse, eyes blinding.
She was the epitome of elegance and grace as always.
"Penny?" Her voice was sweet, feather-light as if calling a pet. She smiled, her gaze landing on the faded red Tata Nano car crawling along the estate road like a relic from another time. It shook slightly before coming to a halt.
Of course, only one person in all of Owlsgrave still dared to drive that little car. The cheapest car in the world and already extinct.
The car shook slightly as Penny stepped down, its door creaking in protest.
Chris was already leaning against the pillar, arms crossed, his expression a blend of amusement and disdain. "The cat is finally out of the bag." He muttered staring at Penny's wobbling dress.
"I knew it was you," Ariana chimed in, her laughter light and effortless, like white petals falling from a poisoned tree.
She had humiliated Penny only three days ago, yet stood there as though sisterly affection still lived between them.
"Only you still drive this scrap from last century."
Penny met their eyes in silence. The man who had once whispered he loved her, now stood beside her sister like she had never mattered. And Ariana, her own flesh and blood, smiling with the same lips that had once called her "Big sis."
She said nothing about the car. Let them think about what they want. At least she had bought it with her own money.
"What are you doing here?" Ariana asked, tilting her head like a curious cat playing with a cornered mouse.
Penny's voice was calm, almost bored. "I've come to see my husband."
Ariana blinked once, the surprise quickly hidden behind a flicker of mockery. "Already so eager? How desperate," she muttered.
Usually, Ariana would be jealous of her sister marrying the Adkin's son no one knew about, but right now, all she felt for Penny was pity.
The reason was because Chris was still better than his brother.
In fact, from what Ariana had heard from Chris, the reason they had not shown his brother to anyone or taken him anywhere was because he was sick.
All his father wants is for him to have a child before they kill him off. The fat fool had no idea what useless man she had married. Ariana smirked.
Christian chuckled at Ariana's words, the sound low and mocking.
"Not as desperate as you were to steal my fiance, hmm?"
Ariana stiffened her face turning red from embarrassment.
"Penny I thought you were over it already. I and Chris are married now, there's nothing you can do." Ariana said sweetly going to hold Christian's hands like they were the perfect couple.
If only she knew Penny had gotten over her stupid boyfriend from the very first day they met.
Penny smiled, a small, tired thing. "Thank you, little sister. You helped me dodge a bullet."
Chris's jaw tightened. "You think too highly of yourself for a fat little..."
"You're right," Penny interrupted. "I do think highly of myself. Unlike you, I didn't have to climb into bed with my sister's man to feel important." Chris's words caught in his throat as he stared at Penny with wide eyes.
When did she get so confident? Penny has always been a push around, how dare she talk back at him?
If there's one thing he knew, is that Penny loved him too much. There's no way she would disrespect him like this.
Ariana clutched her hands into a fist. Penny was really getting on her nerves now. Her voice rose, sharp and brittle. "You're fat, Penny. Fat and ugly. No man in his right mind would want you. Stop being angry because Chris chooses me over you. What do you have to offer except your disgusting self?"
"You have no educational background. You're an illiterate and a loser." Little Ari blabbed like she was saying anything important.
Penny tilted her head. "And yet, here you are, still obsessed with the same man I didn't even chase." Penny smiled.
"Do you forget who helped you with all of your schoolwork? I guess you're almost done now and don't need my help anymore." Penny added.
"W... What nonsense are you talking about?" Ariana stammered, eyes darting to Chris as if to know if he heard that.
"It's okay little sis. Let's see what you do with a certificate you know nothing about." Penny smiled.
Ariana pinched Chris's hands urging him to say something, but he couldn't. He felt tongue-tied. Penny was really out for the two of them.
Chris suddenly pointed toward the far edge of the estate, his expression sour. "He lives in the penthouse over there. Go there and you'll find your husband. We don't have the time for your nonsense."
Penny turned to look at the building. She sighed and started walking towards it.
As she got closer, the building towered over her like a silent beast. Unlike the other luxurious mansions, this one looked… off. The glass looks like it hasn't been polished in like forever with crack marks all over. No flowers. No grand decorations. Just a heavy, oppressive silence.
Penny knocked on the heavy oak door but all she was greeted with was silence.
She knocked again.
"Is anyone here?" Her voice was loud but no response came. Penny began to wonder if this Osvaldo Adkins actually existed. Was Chris playing games with her?
Had she married someone that does not exist?
As she turned to leave, she heard a crash...
Something shattered inside. A glass? A vase? Penny stepped back, her pulse quickening. She wanted to run but before she could take another step...
The door burst open and a woman stepped out, her expression unreadable.
She was in a green maid attire, she looked advanced, her scarf barely covered her wild red hair, and her eyes… her eyes held something Penny couldn't quite place. Was it fear? Resignation?
"Who are you?" The woman's voice was flat...