The CEO's Fake Wife

Worries

The guest room the sisters had been given in the Lucretia Mansion was very beautiful, the walls were pale cream mixed with a bit of gold, the ceiling were really high and a huge chandelier hung at the top like frozen raindrops suspended to the air, only the bedside lamps were lit and it casted a soft amber glow in the room. The bed was enormous, covered in ivory sheets and various pillows. Dark curtains covered the windows, and an antique writing desk was on the side with a vase of white roses arranged perfectly on them. They looked artificial at first sight but they weren't and they were changed consistently by maids everyday.

Indigo sat at the edge of an upholstered armchair by the window, her phone before her, one socked foot crossed over the other. Her expression softened as she spoke in a childish tone. “Daddy, I said We're both fine.” She pouted at her father and he could see her small actions since it was a video call.

Her father’s voice came through the phone, it was filled with warmth, while his face was rough due to age and long working days with barely enough time to rest. “You always say that when you’re not fine.”

The pout on her mouth disappeared and she looked down at the soft rug. “That’s because you worry about us too much.”

“Someone definitely has to keep an eye on you.”

She laughed out loud without restraints. “You have to admit that you're simply being a worry wart.”

On the other end of the call, Cohen Braxton sat on the edge of bed in his small apartment, there was a small standing fan that stood near the wardrobe which hummed weakly. His room was simple with faded curtains on the window, a side table cluttered with reading glasses and folded newspapers, crumpled sheets of paper near the lamp, and a framed family photo of himself , indigo and Aurora on the dresser.

But unlike his daughter, Cohen was not smiling fully. His eyes kept darting to the main entrance as if he was expecting something and there was tension in his eyes that Indigo didn't notice as she explained how her life in the Lucretia Mansion was. He didn't interrupt her, he just listened to her voice with a false smile on his face. “And the place?” he glanced at the main doors again. “How is it?”

Indigo looked around the grand room and smiled. “It is really big.”

Cohen chuckled softly at her simple description. “Big?”

“It’s really big. Honestly, I think if I scream in one hallway, it’ll take a long time for someone on a different floor to hear me.”

That got a real laugh from him, it was brief but genuine. “Ah, Indigo.”

“I’m serious,” she muttered. “These people have too many rooms.”

Her father leaned back slightly, with his hand wrapped tight around the phone. “And Aurora? I don't see her around, has she forgotten me already?”

The smile on Indigo’s smile faded for a brief second before she morphed it to a smile. It happened so quickly that Cohen did not notice it. “She’s…” Indigo paused her sentence, choosing her next words carefully so that she wouldn't make him worried. “She’s fine.”

That wasn’t a lie.

But it just wasn’t the truth either.

She didn’t want to mention the way Aurora had withdrawn herself , or mention the tension at dinner a few nights ago and how worried and lost in Aurora was most times.

“And you?” He asked.

“I'm fine.” She answered quickly.

“You sure?” he exhaled quietly.

Indigo frowned a bit. “Why are you asking like that? Don't I look fine to you?”

“Just making sure my daughter hasn’t started fighting people in rich people's houses.” Indigo’s eyes widened slightly at her father's words while Cohen narrowed his eyes.

“…Who told you?” She blurted out before she could stop herself.

“So there was a fight.” He wiggled a brow at his youngest daughter, not at all surprised since right from when she was young, she was always getting tonto fights.

Indigo groaned and leaned back against the chair. “You can't judge me, that's not fair”

“That means yes.”

“She was very annoying,” Not wanting to go into details, Indigo glanced at the time and sighed. “I should probably sleep.”

“Tell Aurora to call me soon, I need to hear all about this sudden rich boy she married.”

“You know him already, dad.” Indigo rolled her eyes playfully. “But now, he's dead and she is married into a rich family.”

“I am not comfortable with both of you being there,” Cohen confessed with a sad smile on his face. “They are rich people, and we are not like them.”

“But dad,” he interrupted her and ordered in a matter of fact tone.

“After the memorial, I want both of you back to the house.”

“Dad! It's the Lucretia family we are talking about here. There is no possible way they would allow the young mistress of the family to live outside the mansion.” She tried to make him see the good side in order to convince him to change his mind.

“No Indi, you don't know what these rich people are like.” His voice became stern, not willing to back down or change his mind.

“But they treat us well.”

“That is only for a short while, and once they get tired of you, they would simply discard you or get rid of you.” He firmly said with a disgruntled expression on his face.

“Is this about mum?” She suddenly asked.

Cohen was taken aback by her questions, his face pale and the pain that appeared on his face seemed like he had been punched in the guts.

Indigo stared at her father who stared back at her, two stubborn people breathing heavily and neither was willing to back down for the other. If Aurora was present, she wouldn't have been shocked by the sight because she had grown used to it.

“Rory should be the one to decide, don't you think so?”

“This is not open for discussion, after the memorial, you a

re both coming back. End of discussion!”