Rachel's POV
Then, the next thing I heard was the clacking of her heels, which began to disappear.
A few seconds later, I was sure she had left the room, leaving me and Ethan... Alone.
This conversation would be unavoidable. It would be the least I could do after all the help he had rendered me starting from two nights ago when I met him.
I removed the blanket from my face, staring directly at him.
"It was my grandfather...I tried to hit..well, scratch Lana, but he stopped me and then slapped me."
"Why was Lana there, I thought it was your family meeting?" Ethan asked.
I snorted.
"Apparently, Lana's family. Much more than me."
Ethan had a confused look on his face, almost how I looked when I found out.
"Lana is my parents' real daughter. I was just their substitute; they found out a few days ago."
"I'm sorry." Ethan said and I smiled.
I was much calmer now, and I could now see the benefits of that unfortunate news.
"It's fine... Now I can see how not bad that sounds. Now they would no longer force me to get together with David... They'll prefer such a rich and powerful man with their real daughter."
Ethan walked up to me and hugged me. I found myself leaning into his warm embrace.
"What do you want to do now?" I heard him ask.
The answer to that was easy. I had thought about it several times as I wandered around aimlessly yesterday before meeting that creep.
"I'm going to make them regret their decision to choose their daughter over me." I said as I looked up at him.
"No, we are going to make them regret it," Ethan said as he caught my gaze.
Why... Why was he always saying things that made my heart fluster?
Why was he being so nice to me after everything I've done to him?
Countless questions ran through my face as I stared at his handsome face.
I didn't deserve a kind person like him, especially after all I put him through.
But as fate could have it, he was helping me.
"Ethan..."
"What?"
"Does this mean we're friends now?" I asked. He pulled away immediately I asked that.
Probably not the question he wanted to hear. But I had to place boundaries. He was making me feel so many things, and I just got out of one relationship. I couldn't allow myself to fall again, and most definitely not for him. He was too good for me.
"Yeah... We're friends." He stood up and left the room, his back slumped.
Whatever was his problem?
I shrugged before returning to sleep.
God my head hurts so much right now.
...
Holy shit, what time is it?
I immediately stood up from the bed and checked the window. It was bright and sunny out. That meant it was probably midday and I had been sleeping all morning.
This was the first time in a very long time I've ever slept this long.
I immediately went to the bathroom to do my business then went downstairs.
The huge house was dull and unlive, except for maids walking about once in a while to pick one thing or the other.
"Er....excuse me, where is Ethan?" I asked one of the maids I saw walking about.
The maid didn't seem to particularly like me. I could swear she rolled her eyes at my question, but she answered nevertheless.
"Sir Wright has gone to the office."
Her tone told me that she only answered because she had to, but because she wanted to.
I wonder what's wrong with her. She should be glad I asked her politely. I was seldom this polite.
Her action woke up the bitchy and annoying part of me that was buried by my family as they humiliated me yesterday.
A fake smile came to my lips.
"So what are you doing right now?" I asked clearly to annoy her.
"Working, Ms. Rachel." She answered curtly.
" Is the work important? I have something else for you to do" I asked again.
This time I heard take in a huge intake of breath.
It was working.
"Yes... I..."
"Are you saying what you're doing right now is more important than what I want you to do? "
"No.. Ms Rachel."
"Good." I paused.
Taking me on a tour around the house was meant to be my next statement, but then I remembered.
I was no longer Rachel Andrews, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Smith Andrews. I was no different from the maid, squatting at a friend's house after being thrown out of mine.
The maid could be better than me since at least she had a job of some kind while I had fallen from grace to grass.
The realization made me speechless.
"Is there anything else you wish to ask Ms Rachel?" I heard the maid ask not so politely. But I was too deep in my thoughts to answer. I only gave her an absentminded nod, and she went her way.
If I wanted to get my revenge against Lana, the first thing I needed to have was money, and to do that, I needed a job.
Ethan looked wealthy, even more than enough to support me, but I couldn't rely on him forever. There are some things I need to do on my own.
I walked out of the mansion and down to the garage where the cars were parked.
"Ms Rachel, what are you doing here?" Someone asked from behind me.
I turned around to see a tall man wearing the same uniform John wore yesterday. He was holding a towel, cleaning his greasy hands.
How does everyone in this house seem to know my name? I wondered.
"I'm looking for John?"
"John... John went out with Mr Wright." He answered.
Shit! How am I to go out now?
"Do you wish to go out Ms Rachel?" He asked me.
It was as if he read my mind.
"Yes. But, I'll wait for Ethan to get back."
I clapped my hands behind my back as I backed away slowly.
My main aim of coming down here was uncompleted since the only driver I was at least acquainted with was unavailable.
But I need to contact Marina urgently.
I paused and turned around.
"What's your name?"
"My name?". He pointed at himself confused at my question.
I nodded.
"Luke, it's Luke"
"Okay, Luke... Em... Can I borrow your phone?"
"You see, mine is not in working condition, and I need to contact someone." I explained, not like I needed to because he had brought out his phone and was stretching it towards me.
"Here."
"Thank you."
Taking his phone I dialed a number which I knew offhand.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Marina, It's Rachel... Rachel Andrews."
"Oh... My... Goodness... Rachel, it's been a long time."She yelled making me giggle.
"It has."
"How have you been? What happened to your phone? Why are you calling me with another number?" She asked all at once, her voice in a very high, worried tone.