Chapter 17: The Gift
1595 Words
Emily’s POV
“Brilliant, Emily. Absolutely brilliant.”
I stared at the ceiling as I spoke to myself, my voice dripped with sarcasm.
“First I lose my boyfriend and best friend, and then I somehow end up married to my ex’s father all in one night. I guess I really deserve a gold medal in bad decisions and bad luck.”
The empty room didn’t argue with me; instead it was as if it just stared back, as it smelled faintly of an expensive cologne that was definitely not mine.
I dragged the blanket over my head. “God, I can’t seriously believe this is now my life.”
When silence didn’t fix my growing frustration, I grabbed the nearest pillow and screamed into it until my lungs burned.
“This is not my life! Nope! This has to be an alternate universe. It has to be.”
My voice came out as a muffled, desperate plea for help.
I turned onto my stomach and groaned. “First Dad dies, then Sophia turns into a hormone bomb, then Austin cheats, then my best friend decides to be the one he cheats with.. Argh.” I paused for air before I actually passed out “..and now, surprise!! I’m Mrs. Dario Davin. The plot twist I didn’t ask for.. even though I had dreamt of having Austin’s last name..”
The AC hummed gently, like even it was tired of my drama.
“Honestly,” I muttered, “at this point I should just sell my life rights to Netflix… I’m sure the movie they’d act in my honor would bring me a fortune with the way these fast paced twists are happening”
I rolled onto my back, and stared up again. “But honestly, if I’m going to be trapped in this mess, I might as well make it work. Dario did defend me, didn’t he? I might enjoy my role as Austin’s stepmother and deal with him just like what Dario had said.. but how??.”
A wicked smile tugged at my lips. “Yes, Emily.. Play the cards you’ve been dealt. Besides, you’ve earned a whole lotta luxury. I mean I’m probably not the first to do it.. there is a saying that goes ‘if you break my heart I’ll date your father, you’re gonna be my son you’ll call me your mother’ ”
The sweet thought had barely settled in my beautiful and chaotic mind before a sharp knock made me jump.
“I’m coming!” I sat up, glaring at the door. “If it's another problem, I’m not home!”
I dragged myself out of bed, padded over then opened the door, and was met with the kind eyes of the nanny holding a small tray of clothes and an elegant little box.
“Sir. Davin asked me to give you this.” She sweetly said.
I frowned, eyeing the box. “Sir. Davin as in..?”
She chuckled softly. “I don’t know any other Davin in this house, dear.”
“God help me, me neither,” I muttered under my breath.
“Your clothes from yesterday are clean, I took the liberty of folding them.” She continued speaking as she handed me the tray of clothes.. my clothes.
“Rykar is waiting downstairs.. Sor Davin is expecting you”
“Rykar?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow as I stared at her.
“That’s what we call the driver,” she said, a hint of pride in her tone.
“Sounds like a man who eats people for breakfast.”
Her laughter was soft but knowing. “Well.. Only if they cross him.”
Great…
“Thank you… um.. I’ll be down in a few”
“Okay dear,” she offered, still smiling. “And it’s my pleasure, ma’am.”m
I didn’t bother correcting her to call me Emily, because something told me names weren’t optional in this house.
As she left, I called after her lifting the small box, “Wait! What’s this for?”
She nodded toward the small box. “He said you’d figure it out.”
“Fantastic,” I muttered, closing the door. “A riddle from my mysterious billionaire husband.”
I set the box on the bed and stared at it for a long moment before opening it. Inside was a sleek, silver-edged black card and a folded note in neat, masculine handwriting.
‘Go shopping, you’ll need something worthy of your new title’
I blinked once, twice.. Then groaned into my hands. “He actually sent me a black card? What the helly?”
But even as I said it, I couldn’t stop the corner of my mouth from twitching upward.
“Of course he did,” I said with a sigh. “The Davin method, money first, emotions later.. now I know where Austin learnt it from.”
Still, I had to admit.. it was thoughtful in his weird, Dario way. He’d noticed I didn’t have anything to wear since he forcefully hijacked me to be his wife in my drunken state.
“Okay,” I said to myself as I stood. “Let’s see what kind of kingdom I’ve married into.”
The driver.. a man in his fifties with silver hair and a polite nod, was waiting outside the door when I came down.
“Good morning, Mrs. Davin.”
The title made me freeze for half a heartbeat. “Mrs. Davin,” I whispered softly. It sounded strange, like I was pretending to be someone else.
“Please if you don’t mind.. Where are we going to?”
He opened the car door for me. “Sir Davin said you’d know where you’re headed once you arrive.”
“That sounds ominous,” I muttered as I climbed in.
We drove through the city, passing towers of glass and luxury.
When we stopped, I looked out and blinked. “Maison Varella?”
The golden letters brightly glowed above the entrance. It was one of the most exclusive fashion houses in the country.
“Of course,” I murmured. “He’d send me here. I won’t be shocked if he probably owns the place, too.”
The driver gestured toward the door. “He’s expecting you, ma’am.”
I stepped out of the car and looked around. “Wait.. where’s Dario?”
Rykar gave a polite bow. “Sir Dain must be somewhere inside.”
“Of course he is,” I muttered under my breath.
As I stepped inside, the boutique was everything I imagined.. glass, marble, chandeliers that probably cost a fortune.
A woman in black heels greeted me instantly. “Good morning dear.. Welcome to Maison Varella.. Are you Emily?.”
I blinked. “You too? Do all of you get notifications the second I wake up? But yes I’m Emily.”
The woman laughed lightly. “We got called ahead and the person on the line said you might want something… new.”
“Oh, did he now?” I said, half flattered, half exasperated. “How thoughtful.”
She gestured to a display of elegant gowns. “Would you like to start with dresses?”
“Is it okay if we start with coffee,” I muttered. “Then dresses.”
To her credit, she laughed again and led me to a private section.
An hour later, I was buried in silk, lace, and.. indecision.
“Nope, too tight,” I said, tossing one dress onto the chair.
The attendant held up another. “This one is very flattering.”
“Yes it is.. That one makes me look like I’m about to host a cult meeting.”
She blinked and laughed. “You don’t say”
“I’m kidding,” I added quickly. “Mostly.”
The next was a soft cream dress with delicate embroidery. I stared at myself in the mirror for a while, hesitant.
“God, who even wears lace these days what happened to silk?” I muttered, turning.
“Someone important and of high caliber,” the attendant said gently.
I glanced at her through the mirror. “Important, huh?”
“Yes, Dear. Someone admired, Silk is a bit too common now.”
The word “admired” caught me off guard. I looked at my reflection.. she stared back with her bruised pride, and her heart still cracked..
“Maybe he was right,” I whispered, smoothing the dress. “Something worthy.”
The attendant smiled. “Shall I wrap this up as well?”
“Yes,” I said, straightening. “And maybe a few others. For… experimentation.”
“Hahaha.. Of course, dear.”
As she left to prepare the bill, I caught my reflection again and muttered under my breath, “You’re not supposed to like this, Emily. You’re supposed to be outraged.”
But then I grinned at myself. “Damn, that dress is gorgeous.”
The bell over the door jingled.
“Welcome to Maison Varella,” the receptionist chirped.
And then..
“Oh my God it can’t be. Emily? Is that you?”
I froze… That voice.
Three women stood near the entrance.. perfect hair, designer heels, the kind of effortless beauty that screamed money and hot gossip.
The tallest one tilted her head. “ Oh wow.. It is you!”
My stomach immediately twisted. “Hi… girls.”
“Oh dear heavens,” I whispered to myself as they walked close to me. “Could today get any worse?”
- Writer
