Prologue
Lyla:
Aunt Claira wants the house scrubbed from top to bottom before her flavor of the week comes to stay the weekend. She wants me in a uniform that covers almost all of my body except my hand, feet and face. A lady should have her body covered in mixed company. I guess she isn’t a lady, since she is completely exposed in her skin tight dress that leaves nothing to the imagination! If she bends over you will she her core. I walk her pace around the house looking in all the mirrors she had hung when she moved in my family home when my parents passed away. I roll my eyes as I watch her touch up her make up she caked on her face not a blemish is sight and freshens her lip stick. She walks passed me on my hands and knees and she scuffs out you missed a spot you useless brat as she digs the heel of her stiletto into the back of my hand and I yell out . I am sorry Aunt Clairaaaaa I say in a muffled cry as I try not to move so she doesn’t do something else to inflict pain. This is an important meeting and I need this mansion to look magazine ready. The royal family are coming and I need you to get ready and put on the dress I have laying on you bed go shower and fix that ugly mug of yours she sneers at me with pure hatred in her tone.
I have been with her since I was a toddler but she has never so much as showed me a compassion or empathy. She had treated me like a slave since I was five years old the age I could understand her commands and perform chores and be away from her and with the maids, the ones would truly raised me and showed me empathy! My parents left me with a mansion and a very large some of money that my aunt thought she could get her hands on before I was old enough to gain access to my funds but my mother knew he sister was greedy and made sure the money was in my name and my name alone and had the inheritance sealed with an iron clad will that left little to nothing for Claira. That’s why she hates me so much she only wanted my money but she didn’t get any of it unless I was an adult and gave it to her but I will not! Doesn’t she know you catch more flies with honey.
I retreat to my room and go to jump in the shower and glance at the dress on my bed. I am in a hurry and need to do my hair and make up for the guest since I am the Heir of the Houston fortune I have to be sure to make my mother and father legacy a good one. I blow dry my blonde waves and put on make up just to cover a scar on face next to my left eye where the monster I am stuck living with hit me in the face with a lamp because I didn’t bring her water fast enough for her bedside and the naked man in her bed. Thank Gooodnessss he was asleep because that man look terrifyingly huge. As I put the tray down she whacked me over the head and gashed my face from the corner of my left eye crossed my temple to my hair line and he conquest woke with a jolt and glare between she and I am stood up completely naked and started to walk towards me but I wince and he stopped and I ran out the door to the maids quarters and they cleaned it and threw in a few stitches. The scar is a constant reminder that I have lived in hell since the murder of my parents. I graduate soon and on my 18th birthday I will have a private will reading with my parents attorney but for now I am stuck living like a caged animal.
As I make my way to the family room I hear the door and turn to walk towards the door but the monster herself commands me to sit and for Doris the head housekeeper to open the door. I walk to the couch that I was never allowed to sit on prior to this moment and I reluctantly sit down on the edge of the cushion careful not to show to much leg from the slit that runs to my hip in this emerald version of the a Jessica rabbit dress leaving little to the imagination. Leaving me feeling completely exposed
And vulnerable and the look of fear in my eyes was apparent.
I was keeping my eyes down to avoid my aunts gaze and any insults she may throw my way. She throws me for a loop when she tells me I look perfect and her tone isnt proud it’s a mix between contempt and wishful. What is she trying to do and why is pretending to be my guardian now. Doris had been my guiding hand my entire life now two days before my birthday she wants to be my parent. I am no dumb she wants my inheritance and my social status as The Houston corp majority stock hold and I was left 100 precent of the shares and she will not get a dime from and this mansion is mine. My parents worked hard for this house and she can kick rocks.
I finally look at the guest approaching and I am stunned to see a gorgeous crown wearing man staring at me peering into my very soul. He sniffed the air and walk towards me before I could even react and I finally come to reality and stand and bow to the King and the royal family won’t now stand in my Parlor. The former king and queen stand before me and we are moved to the dining hall to the feast left out for this occasion. My head is reeling and before I know it everything goes black and all is quiet.