Was I in a funeral home?
That was the first thought as my foot hit the floor of Rafael's house.
How could it not be?
As far as I could see, I'd stepped into a monochrome world.
Just black and white, all over the interior.
Even a haunted house had the decency to use some red for blood.
Was this his favorite color? Or was he just a raging case of OCD?
A line of male and female staff, also in black and white uniforms, stood waiting.
Rafael hushed his steps, disappearing down a corridor into a black wall.
Two staff members led me to a guest room.
How could he not say anything first?
Didn't we have to discuss the wedding tomorrow?
It felt weird—walking into a stranger's house at 2 p.m. and going straight to a bedroom.
Especially my enemy's house.
But I was grateful.
It wasn't exactly comfort, but my back desperately needed to lie down.
I'd slept curled up on a rough carpet, leaving my entire body battered and broken.
Rafael's question in the ambulance echoed again.
Why did he ask why we were enemies? Had he forgotten what he did before? Really? With an IQ that high?
I rushed up again, sitting neatly on the bed with its white sheets, just as a servant walked in, smiling as she called my name.
"Ah, you can keep relaxing, miss. You can rest. I'll wake you later for dinner. I brought you some fruit and snacks, too. And... you can change into these. We've prepared a few outfits that might suit you. You can choose."
Moments later, a rolling clothes rack was pushed in, and the clothes were displayed before me. The servants who brought it bowed slightly before leaving me alone.
My eyes blinked.
A small, relieved smile bloomed when I saw the dresses were in soft, colorful pastel tones.
At least I wouldn't dress like I was attending a funeral—even though I felt like I needed to mourn for my own heart.
I chose a simple, plain violet sheath dress: short-sleeved, knee-length.
I grabbed a few grapes and drank a glass of water, trying to refresh my throat, dry from crying.
It was past lunchtime. I wasn't sure if the macaroons and eclairs were gluten-free, so I didn't touch them. All that color... so deliciously bright. I fought it down. Gulp.
I folded the doctor's uniform and coat, then reached into the coat pocket for my phone.
My heart thudded a little when I swiped to unlock it.
Sure enough, dozens of message notifications, missed calls from every source imaginable.
I scrolled up, opening the message from my mother.
Mother:
12:30 pm—Viona, where are you? Are you home?
01:13 pm—Are you not in the apartment? Where are you? Are you going to the main house? What are you thinking?
01:45 pm—Where are you, really? I will block all of your cards. Just go home now, and talk with a cool head.
01:58 pm—I am sorry for slapping you. I don't know what I was thinking. Dear, please go home, and we'll talk, hm? Please forgive your lacking mother.
My tears rolled down. My grip on the phone tightened. So, they had searched my apartment? Crippling my money, really wanting me back into doll mode?
But that wasn't what made the tightness in my chest force out the tears.
Shouldn't she have apologized first? What was this, really?
She wasn't sorry at all. If she were truly sorry, she would simply say sorry and ask about my well-being.
What if I'd been kidnapped? Or in an accident? Why did she assume I was fine and could "talk with a cool head" right now?
I was not fine. At. All.
I felt I was the one to blame for her behavior.
I was used to accepting all the pressure, always obeying, my entire life.
Neglecting my feelings just because I didn't want to disappoint my parents.
They were already heartbroken by Vivian's lifelong weak condition, so I had to be their pride, to ease their wound a little.
I clenched my jaw and hit the block button on her contact name.
I knew I couldn't really reject her if she kept forcing calls.
Blowing my nose into a tissue, I pressed on the message from Roman.
I scoffed in disbelief as I read his message.
Roman:
01:20 pm—Where are you? Don't wander around. Your cousin is looking for you with his men. I don't want you to get caught and abused by them. Don't think about coming to the wedding ceremony tomorrow, you will just hurt and embarrass yourself. My dear, you can go to my villa in Crown Hill to calm down. That's safe from your cousin's men. I will meet you there once I get back from the honeymoon. I know you still love me, and I too will always love you.
I laughed, tears streaming.
I nearly slammed the phone down, if I hadn't remembered it was the only valuable thing I owned right now.
The audacity.
How dare he bring the name of love here?
How stupid was I to have loved a person like him?
Was his warmth and kindness to everyone else also just part of the show?
Suddenly, it hit me.
The man I knew—so warm, friendly, and full of noble goodness toward his patients despite his high status—it was clear as day that it was all just an act. He was a sly fox.
My phone vibrated just as I was about to read the next message.
It was Jane. My best friend. I immediately swiped to pick it up.
"Hello Jane…"
"Girl… Oh God, thanks, you finally picked up." Her genuine, worried voice sounded, warming my chest. "What about the invitation? It sounds like a joke, but not at the same time. What happened, Vio?"
"Jane…" My voice cracked. I didn't know where to start, but I told her anyway.
Through my sobs and shaky voice, I forced myself to tell her everything, from the Vivian business until this very moment, sitting on the bed of Rafael's guest room.
"Are you okay?" she asked after hearing my entire rant.
"Yeah… I need to do that. I need to clear my—"
"I'm not asking about your plan for tomorrow. I'm asking about you. Yourself. You're under a lot of stress in the past twenty-four hours. Are you okay? You must feel light-headed right now. Please drink a lot of water, and sleep fast tonight." Her genuine words felt like a warm blanket on my cold body.
I felt support, a surge of strength.
Even though I felt so done with my pitiful life, Jane's presence gave me the power to keep going.
Yeah. The genuine care from just one person was enough to lift me from devastation.
Right… I hadn't thought about what I would do after showing up at the wedding ceremony tomorrow.
So, if my father kicked me out later, I would ask Jane for help.
Grandma Anne could at least give me shelter for a while until I could become independent.
I asked Jane about that plan, and she was genuinely happy with it.
So, tomorrow after the wedding, I would go to Roosevelt House.
I couldn't entangle myself with Rafael any longer.
Or he would make me another doll later.
I knew he had a hidden agenda.
The night came quickly, and Rafael's staff reminded me it was dinner time.
Rafael was already at the dining table when I arrived, seated and reading a slip of paper in his hand.
I didn't know he wore glasses. He looked more like a genius doctor right now with those glasses. Not a gangster who could casually change clothes anywhere.
"Here. Read it and memorize it." He handed the slip of paper to me just as my butt touched the dining chair.
I picked it up, frowning in confusion. "What is this?" I asked.
"Your speech."
"Speech for…"
"The wedding speech from the bridesmaid." He smirked—a smirk that made my heart hammer in my chest.
Not in surprised awe.
But in an alertness that I was about to jump straight into chaos.
Yeah, right… Rafael was a walking catastrophe.