Second Marriage

FIVE

Alexa sat in front of the mirror. She had just finished reading Jessica Moore's entire diary. While looking at herself in the mirror, Alexa muttered.

"Apparently... Even a woman as beautiful and perfect as Jessica Moore has a miserable life." Alexa bit her red lips, then looked down sadly. "Jessica and I share a destiny in that we will die at the end. But... I can't let Jessica die from her illness. She must be able to express her feelings to Oscar Macmiller. But, who is Oscar Macmiller?"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sound of a knock on the door startled Alexa. She clutched her chest, as her heart raced.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

After the second knock, Alexa dared to walk towards the door. She opened it slowly and found a waitress in her black and white outfit.

"Good morning, Miss. Did you sleep well last night?"

Alexa mumbled, she had to deal with a stranger again and it was awkward as hell. "It was good. The mattress was soft and... the blankets were warm. I don't have a bed that nice in my house. I usually sleep on the couch with the shabby jacket I have."

Alexa's answer made the waitress in front of her frown. And that brought Alexa to her senses. She chuckled and waved her hand in the air as she corrected her words.

"Tsk, I was joking."

An awkward smile appeared on the waitress's face, but then she changed the subject. "Alright, Ms. Moore. It's time for your bath. Mr. Fenedick would like to have breakfast with you."

"Mr. Fenedick? Oh, oh, you mean my dad, huh? Haha, alright. I'm going to take a shower-"

When Alexa was about to close the door, the waiter's hand held her back. Alexa looked up, looking at the maid in confusion. She blinked, then asked, "Sorry, why are you holding the door?"

"I was just saying that you should take a bath, Miss."

Alexa's eyebrows furrowed. She nodded slowly and cleared up this misunderstanding. "I also said that I was going to take a shower, didn't I?"

But the maid shook her head with a smile, leaving Alexa caught in a real confusion.

----

Alexa looked around awkwardly. This was a bath that didn't match her expectations. The woman was sitting in a large bathtub, while the maid named Lucy was now scrubbing Alexa's body with a belt. Although the suds in the tub covered Alexa's body, it was strange that she had to be bathed by someone else.

"Lucy, should I be bathed like a baby?" murmured Alexa hesitantly, she was so embarrassed.

Lucy smiled. "That's a strange question, Miss Moore. I've been giving you baths for over ten years since I started working here. Why are you only asking me that now?"

"Are... all rich people always necessary like queens?"

Lucy couldn't help but laugh. She turned her face forward and looked at Alexa who had her back to her in the tub. "Ms. Moore, someone who is already born rich like you can't seem to ask me that. You've always been like this, living the life of a queen. And, your father asked for all this for you."

"My father? Why would he ask me to be bathed by someone else? You know, I've grown up. I... feel awkward having to be naked in front of other people," Alexa said, she couldn't help being honest in front of Lucy who was a few years older than her.

And Lucy's face turned serious. She gave a long mumble, then returned to her position. Rubbing Alexa's back with the flowery-scented liquid soap, Lucy said, "That's a normal question, but your situation is different, Miss. Your mother died giving birth to you and that made your father very anxious. He wants to give you everything he has to keep you safe and happy. Mr. Fenedick may look tough on the outside, but he always cares about you. He just wants you to be properly cared for without your mother."

"My mom is dead?"

Lucy started to wash the soap off Alexa's body. She decided to end the conversation between them.

"We'd better not talk about this." Lucy stood up and that made Alexa look over in confusion. From the beginning, the woman had simply soaked in the tub and covered her body parts with foam. "You can rinse yourself off if you want, Miss. I'll be going, sorry for making you uncomfortable today."

After bowing her head, Lucy left Alexa's bathroom. But Lucy's sudden change in demeanor left Alexa confused and uncomfortable.

"Did I say something wrong? She looks sad."

Alexa's eyes scanned the surroundings. She began to stretch out her arms, feeling the foam floating on the warm water.

"I had no idea that life as a rich person was really this easy. I've never taken a bubble bath before, and I can't even remember the last time Peter let me take one in his bathroom." Alexa suddenly remembered something. "About Peter... how is he doing now? I should have been killed by a train, and the police probably told Peter about it. But... I wonder, is the Alexa in Peter's life really dead?"

After pondering, Alexa allowed her body to become more relaxed. She leaned her head on the edge of the bathtub, and let the foam touch her body. She murmured, "If I had the chance, I would see how Peter is doing. I wonder if he cares about my death or not."

----

"Do you like the new soap I bought you?"

It was a question that made Alexa awkward. Alexa smiled awkwardly at the dining table. She could only nod her head slowly and say, "It... smells good."

"Do you like it?"

"Yes, I... liked it."

John smiled with satisfaction. He looked at his daughter sincerely, and that sincerity reached Alexa's heart. John also pointed to some food on the table as he said, "You should eat more. Soon... we won't be able to eat together like this." Suddenly, John's voice turned quiet. He sounded sad, but tried to continue. "You... will get married and I will be alone."

Alexa swallowed. She looked at John straight on and said, "If you don't want to be alone, why force me to marry someone I don't love?"