Chapter 6
503 Words
The next day*
Reilly woke up to silence.
The bed was too big. The room was too quiet. She checked her phone - 9:13 AM. No messages. No call. Liam still wasn't back.
She pulled on yesterday's dress and went downstairs. Maybe Martha would have coffee. Maybe the house felt less empty in daylight.
It didn't.
"Mrs. Hemsworth," Martha smiled from the kitchen. "There's fresh bread. And-"
She didn't finish.
Footsteps clicked on the marble. Sharp. Fast.
A woman swept into the kitchen like she owned it. Same dark hair as Liam. Same cold eyes. Designer dress at 9 AM. She stopped when she saw Reilly and her mouth twisted.
"So this is her," the woman said. "The bride." She said 'bride' like it was a disease.
Reilly stood up straighter. "Hi. I'm Reilly-"
"Save it," the woman cut her off. "I'm Vanessa Hemsworth. Liam's sister. And I'll be honest, I don't know what my brother was thinking."
She walked around Reilly slowly, like she was inspecting furniture.
"E Buildings' daughter, right? The one they're selling off for 30 million." She laughed, sharp and ugly. "You don't even look like you belong here. That dress is from last season. And your hands..." She grabbed Reilly's wrist without asking. "No Hemsworth ring yet? Of course not. It was just a business deal."
Reilly pulled her hand back. Her cheek still stung from yesterday. "My father needed the investment-"
"Exactly," Vanessa snapped. "Your father needed it. You're just the payment." She dropped into a chair at the head of the table. The one Liam used. "Don't get comfortable, Reilly. Six months. That's what I heard. Six months and you're out. So don't start acting like you're family."
Martha opened her mouth, but Vanessa shot her a look and she went quiet.
Vanessa picked up a croissant and broke it in half. Crumbs fell on the table. "My brother deserves better. Someone with a name. Not some desperate girl whose mother crashed into the ocean."
The room went silent.
Reilly felt her face burn. Not from shame. From anger. She stared at Vanessa and for a second she saw her stepmother Selene standing there instead.
"I'm still his wife," Reilly said, voice low. "For six months. That's longer than you'll be here today."
Vanessa blinked, then smirked. "Cute. But wives get invited to family dinners. Wives get introduced. Wives don't eat alone in the kitchen." She stood. "Enjoy your bread, payment girl."
She walked out. Click-click of her heels fading down the hall.
Martha exhaled like she'd been holding her breath. "I'm sorry, dear. She's... she's always been like that."
Reilly picked up the croissant Vanessa dropped. It was cold now.
"It's fine," she
whispered. But her hands were shaking.
- Writer
