Chapter 5 Framing
1260 Words
"You've completely disappointed me! The funeral isn't even over yet, and the guests are still here, yet you're hiding away eating sweets! How shameful!" My mother scolded me harshly.
I looked up in shock, trying to explain, "Mom, it's not like that. It was Daisy who saw that I was suffering from low blood sugar and gave me the cake..."
But Daisy put on an innocent expression and interrupted, "Oh my God, how could you drag me into this?"
She then turned to my mother and said, "Auntie, I know Soraya has always had issues with you and Uncle, but I believe she'll understand sooner or later. Please don't be too angry with her."
Daisy appeared to be kindly trying to calm my mother down, but everything she said was a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation!
How could I not see her true face until now?
"Mom! I didn't! She's lying..." I tried to protest, but my mother coldly interrupted me, "Enough!"
Looking at her disapproving eyes, my heart shattered as I realized that she believed Daisy more than she believed me.
And the guests behind my mother started looking at me with disapproving stares. They clearly believed Daisy's words.
My mother stepped forward, her eyes filled with anger. In a voice everyone could hear, she announced, "From today on, you no longer have the right to return to this house!"
End of Soraya's POV
It was late, and the rain was pouring down heavily outside.
Alaric sat alone in his spacious office, handling a stack of documents, his brows slightly furrowed.
Since his old rival, Jonathan, had had his accident, Alaric had received many proposals from his subordinates, eager to take advantage of Sherwood Enterprises' vulnerability. But he had rejected them all.
Behind him was a huge floor-to-ceiling window, its glass so clean it almost looked invisible. Outside, the lights of Lorhaven shimmered in the night. His face flickered in and out of the shadows, the city lights casting a dim glow.
"Mr. Del! Mr. Del!" A woman in a professional outfit rushed into the office without even knocking. She was Alaric's secretary, usually composed and calm, so it was unusual to see her in such a flustered state.
"What's going on, Mia?" Alaric pinched the bridge of his nose.
Mia steadied her breathing before speaking, "There's news, Mr. Del! Ms. Sherwood has been kicked out of her house!"
Soraya's POV:
The cold rain continued to fall on me as I aimlessly walked through the streets.
My father had passed; my mother had thrown me out of the house—one blow after another had left me numb.
My hair was drenched, and the rain ran down my face, mixing with my tears. My clothes were soaked, clinging to my body, each step feeling heavier than the last. I had never felt so miserable. I tried to lift my hand to brush the wet hair out of my eyes, but my fingers trembled uncontrollably.
'Oh, my forehead's burning. Am I coming down with a fever? Maybe I should find a hotel, then take a hot shower and wrap myself in a blanket to numb the pain. A good night's sleep can help me process everything.
I didn't know where I was anymore. The road was unlit, and through my blurry vision, I saw a figure approaching, calling my name.
Who was it? I tried to make out the shape, but the rain blurred my sight. My fever finally overwhelmed me. Before the figure could reach me, I collapsed, darkness swallowing me whole.
Yet instead of the ground, I was met with a warm, wide embrace.
When I woke up, it was already noon the next day.
"Alaric!" I blinked, finally seeing the man sitting beside my bed. I couldn't believe it was him who had saved me.
He brought over a glass of warm water, explaining, "Ms. Sherwood, what a coincidence. I ran into you again last night. You had a high fever and fainted. I'm sorry. I brought you back to my apartment without asking first."
Alaric leaned in closer, his hand resting on my forehead. "You're cooler now. I was really worried last night."
I felt a little embarrassed. "This is the second time you've helped me. Oh my god, you always find me when I'm in such a mess."
I looked down and realized I was wearing pajamas that didn't belong to me.
Before I could say anything, Alaric seemed nervous. He quickly explained, "Your clothes were soaked, so a lady helped change you into these pajamas."
"Mia!" he called out toward the door.
A woman entered soon after, smiling brightly. "Thank goodness, you're awake. Lunch is ready. Let me bring it over."
I still felt weak, so Mia and Alaric helped me set up a small table beside my bed and placed lunch on it.
"Thank you so much!" I looked at Mia, who was in her thirties and seemed very familiar with Alaric. "Mia, you're his..."
"Oh, I'm a friend of his! Last night, he called me and said he brought home a sick girl who was soaking wet. So I came to help with the clothes and such."
Wow, Alaric was really such a good person. They took me in when I had nowhere else to turn, showing me kindness like angels.
I knew I was probably being rude, but I had no idea how to repay them. "I really don't mean to be a burden! I'll pay you for the trouble!"
"Ah, don't mention it, little one," Mia said, tying up my wet hair so it wouldn't get in the way while I ate. "Just focus on getting better!"
I really wished I had a sister like Mia, someone who could take me in and comfort me when my mother had thrown me out.
But when I thought about paying them... I realized I had no money except for the few bills left in my pocket.
When my mother kicked me out yesterday, I didn't have time to grab anything—no clothes, shoes, or even my bank cards! How could I manage without those?
Just thinking about it made my heart ache. How could my mother be so heartless?
She was just temporarily deceived by Daisy! If I could just go back and explain everything to her, I was sure she would let me come back home.
Even if she was still too angry to let me back in, at least she'd let me grab my things. I didn't have a single change of clothes!
I could stay in a hotel with my luggage for a while. During that time, I would make sure my mother saw through Daisy's lies.
With that thought, I struggled to get out of bed. "Thank you again! But I really need to go home now!"
Seeing my emotional distress, they didn't try to stop me.
I used the last of the cash I had to take a cab home. But when I arrived at the front door, the once-friendly staff now greeted me with cold, indifferent faces.
"Mom! I need to see Mom!" I shouted, my throat burning.
Finally, someone came out.
I looked over hopefully, but it wasn't my mother. It was Daisy.
She stood there with a mocking smile. "Oh, it's you. Didn't Auntie make it clear? She told you to leave."
"I just want to get my things. Didn't Mom say I couldn't take my luggage?"
Daisy's smile grew even wider. "Your things? There's nothing here that belongs to you anymore."
- Writer
