Billionaire Saga; becoming his substitute bride

Chapter 1 ELISA The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemy, it comes from people you trust. *** My stomach churned as I looked at the house right above me. The red painting the same as I remember it, the fencing I had held on to , pleading and begging that they hear me out. The same house filled with people that cast me away for over fifteen years. Standing right outside, the blinds from the right window moved. They are watching, I Kno they are. Letting out a huff, and wrapping my hands on the handle, the creaking sound following as I pushed the door open. “Ohh, Eli you are here already,” her eyes same as I remember, her green eyes similar to the grass in the fields in spring. The drawings on her face similar to the paintings of an amateur artist. Eli? She knows how much I hate being addressed by the name. “Its good that you are finally here,” my dad's voice rang out next, as he appeared into the living room. Putting on one of his expensive suits. “Get it over and done with,” I sneered, crossing my arms over my chest. “What do you mean my love? We are your family remember?” she trailed off, batting her false lashes at me. Can't she see that one side is already coming off? “Family?” I snorted, “you clearly don't know how to use that word,” “Eli are you even aware that you are talking to your parents?” Her shrill voice comes next. It's the same as I remember it. “Anyways, if you bothered reading the text that was sent. That is if you know how to,” “what would I see? That You called me here, why? Because you want me to get married? To a sicko?” “You should be lucky that we are helping you get married. No one will want to get affiliated with someone who has a psychiatrist's history. See it as if we are doing you a favor,” “It's the only thing we can do, after you disgraced us,” she retorted, holding her nose with her hands as though she is disgusted by my presence. “Who should be talking about being a disgrace?” My anger raised by a hundred, “You are carrying the baby of a penniless hooligan,” watching as her eyes widen to their fullest extent, leaving her mouth slightly open. I should olull out my phone and take a picture of her. To show her how ridiculous she looks. “Oh you thought I would not find out?” I continued, tilting my head to the right so I can get a good view of her face, “Sike, your family matters aren't as hidden as you think they are.” “Enough,” my father thundered, I can feel the bile build up in my throat at the mere thought of addressing him as my dad, “ I would not sit here and watch you hurl insults at your elder sister.” As always, he has to protect his precious daughter from the vicious beast of a sister she has. “But I didn't say anythin– “Quick, get on your knees and apologize to her,” he cut my words short like he has been doing all my life, it's dumb for me.to think he would be bothered to pay attention or listen to what ever I have to say. Things are different from how they were fifteen years ago.. i won't plead for forgiveness when I am not at fault. “I think the mental issues are kicking in again,” Mandy whispers to her mom. She must really think she is lucky, she has a mom and I don't. That is definitely an edge over me right? “Oh dear you would not blame her,” Claudia, her mom whispers back, loud enough for me to hear them. And I wonder is dad really blind to the things going on or is he just selectively blind? “ Her mom died at such young age, and she chose to rebel against us,” she continues, tsking her tongue as shaking her head simultaneously. “I heard from school mates that she did drugs at five,” I might at work just shove drugs down her system. “Sighh,” her mom breathes out, flashing me a hypocritic pitiful look. I think they would both pass as actresses, potential drama queens. “Count me out of whatever plan you have, you can just tell them, your daughter got herself pregnant anyway,” “Ohh dad,” mandy cries out, her shrill voice filling the room, “you heard her she probably just wants to tainy the image of the family. Pathetic.” “Taint?” I snap, “Who should be talking about taint?” I press, raising an eyebrow at her. My eyes scanned the living room. The clumpy furnishing obviously the hand work of Claudia. Who matches green and blue furniture for Pete's sake? “Eli enough. They will be here to pick you,” he trailed off, pulling his phone out of his pocket, smiling to himself as he read the content of whatever message buzzed in there, “they are here already,” “You can not– The sound of a knock interrupting my words. “Mandy, go inside, I will address them,” Claudia instructs, as Mandy jumps down from the stool she has been sitting on, scurrying away to her room I guess, clutching her phone and stuffed teddy bear with her. “Is she ready to leave with us?” A feminine voice inquires, as soon as the door is pulled open. Her voice warm and her eyes bright, in contrast to the shrill voices and poorly applied makeup Claudia and Mandy always have on. “More than ready,” Dad grins, gesturing to me as though I am one of his priced possessions. I know dad, he never does anything without expecting something in return. Only the heavens knows what he stands to gain for this exchange. “You should be glad we are willing to take you in after your mom died,” Claudia yells, pointing a finger at me. “Infact you should be licking my feet, but I am kind enough not to do that to you,” “Thank you so much Mom,” “I am not your mother,” “I – i am sorry aunt Claudia. Good, do you know what I want from you No aunt To never disgrace this family. Keeping you here is already a big enough disgrace. Sitting in the rear seat if the SUV sent to pick me up, clips from my childhood flash before my eyes, reminding me of why I do not have a say to what is metted out to me. I should be grateful that they still let me bear their name. They still recognize me as a member of their family..that's what their twisted thinking has led me to think as well. Pulling out my phone from my purse, my curiosity getting the best of me as I type the Miller family on my search engine. The search read, The Miller family, number one family, leading in the entire business world from the early ninety's, preceding with Mrs Emily Miller, the grandmother of the home, and her grandson, Alex Miller, the CEO of all the family's businesses, whose picture remains undisclosed. It is rumoured that he has an uncurable ailment which has distorted his physical features. So this is why Mandy doesn't want to proceed with the marriage? Tsk. Leading in the business world? I bet Steve has his eye on the potentiality they offer. Putting my phone down, I crane my neck to observe the female driver properly. She doesn't look like she is constantly horrified by living with a rumoured monster every single day. But yet again, she is probably used to it. “Is the drive to the mansion still far?” I inquire, my eyes glistening with curiosity as I noted every curve and turn that was made. “No miss,” she replied curtly, not removing her eyes from the road ahead of her. “Um,” I trailed off, “ is it fine if I ask you questions?” “What kind of questions?” She put forth. I can swear there was an edge in her voice, more like a trigger. “um.. how is the big master of the mansion?” I blurt out, instantly covering my mouth with my hands. “I am not allowed to disclose information of that sort,” her voice softening as she took another right turn. Okay, right, left, right, right. Got it. Flower beds laynon either side of the road, making it seem like the road to a proposed paradise. This isn't right. There should be thorns and scary trees because it's most likely a haunted house that we are heading towards. The car came to halt in from of a huge sea green coloured gate. Towering at around 12 feet tall. Who needs a gate that tall? “Are we here already?” I inquire, as the guards roll the gate openz revealing multiple buildings, each looking like a fairytale castle. “Yes,” she nodded, stepping down and coming round the car to pull the door open for me. Stepping out, I place one foot first, making sure my imaginations were not going hay wire again, in the distance i spot an elderly looking woman. She was putting on a peach coloured flowing night gown. “Oh my dear you are finally here,” she smiles, opening her arms for an embrace. “Good evening ma'am,” bending my knees slightly as a sign of a bow as I approached. “Ohh, call me Nana,” she trails off, engulfing me in an embrace, “Come here my dear I promised not to leave till you Get here,” she declares, taking my bag from the driver. “Thank you ma'am,” Leading the way into the house, the interior taking me back as I gazed as the luxuriously furnished living room. The diamond chandelier hanging from the ceiling, reflecting golden beads of light against the cream furniture with golden frames. “This living room can pass for an event hall,” I muse, restraining myself from running my hands over the silk curtains. The lavender scent invading my nostrils “Now run along,” her soothing voice came, dragging my out my momentary daze, “they will show you to your room” “Okay ma'am,” I chime, batting my eyebrows repeatedly, trying to make out my surroundings. “I would prefer if you called me Nana,” she reminded again, patting my back lovingly. “Okay Nana,” I nod, taking my bag from her and following the maids. Ascending the stairs, with my bags on one hand, stopping right in front of a silver door. “This is the master's room, ma'am. Your room is the one next door, the grandmaam requests that you spend the night here,” one of the girls explain, turning their back to leave. Taking a deep breath, I wrap my hand around the door knob, pushing it open in one soft push.