Chapter 8 Chapter- Viii

[ Rain ] I haven't seen or felt his presence in the house for the next two days, for some reasons, it is good for both of us to keep our distance maintained. He loathes my existence on the earth and I...like a silly teenger girl, my heart yearns for a glimpse of his handsome face which turns cold like iceberg when he sees me. Rainard, like he promised me over the phone two days ago, he never showed and honestly, I thanked the Almighty that he didn't come or the rift between I and Nicholas will never be erased. Right now, I have nothing particular to do as all the house chores are taken care by the house staff. They do not let me even fetch a glass of water and I grow to feel like a useless furniture sitting idle in a big haunting house. The sweet smell of roses in the beginning of autumn soothe my aching soul. The mild breeze playing with my hairs locks and giving me some moments to think about my future as Nicholas' wife and a Blackwood. It's a huge responsibility that had been imposed upon me. They have high expectations from a daughter-in-law of Blackwood, the only daughter in law I should say and I do not fit in the criteria from any angle but my sister did. The reason my husband hates my guts. I am nothing but a shy, naive girl who never come out of her shells, have no experience of the ups and downs of the world and definitely not adjustable in the pompous lifestyle of Blackwoods. "Thank God! I found you, this house is a freaking labyrinth." My chain of thoughts is broken by the familiar voice of my best friend Candice. I quickly maintain a neutral expression though she's going to see through my veil. We have been friends for more than fifteen years, we practically grow up together, experience all the odds and evens together but she's more vibrant than I ever was. I turn to face her. Her million dollar smile welcomes me with stretch arms. "Candy." "Rain." I throw myself in her awaiting arms. We hugged tightly to feel each other's warmth. After five excruciating days, having no one to share my sorrows, I finally met someone I love so dearly. We pull apart after it feels like ages. My emotions finally break out of the cage I built around my heart. The tears I held back till now, rolled down my eyes. "Hey...shhh..don't cry baby. I am here. I am here to be with you so we can enjoy like old times." She tries to cheer me up and wiped my tears. "Yeah.."I shook my head while a smile crept on my lips after a long time. We sit on the swing under a huge tree so only the filtered sunlight fall on us. "I'll tell a maid to bring us some juice here."I say and dial the house's number on my phone. It was picked by a maid, I told her to bring us some refreshments. "How are everyone at my house?"I ask her with dread. Rainard is back and his equation has not been good with our parents specially since Rosalie eloped with her lover leaving me to take her place. I am Rainard's favorite sister between two of us. "Your Dad is devastated. He never wanted his baby girl to marry like this."She shakes her head pensively. The mention of my Dad stung me hard. He's the one who always supported me in everything and Rainard, in the little time we spent together, did his best to bring the best out of me unlike my mother whose affection for Rosalie was visible to every, how she was a dotted mother for her first born. It doesn't mean she loves us any less but Rosalie has her heart. "Nicholas is treating you right?" She asks me the question I have been dreading since she came. I lick my dry lips, I want to tell her everything that happened during the dinner with his friends and how he mentally abused me later but my Mom always taught me to keep the issues of families inside the four walls or it'll only get worse if an outsider intrudes their nose. Candace isn't an outsider for me but a sister from another mother but I think it's better for the time being to keep my sour relationship's statement to myself. Candace is a girl with the thinnest vessel of patience and her big mouth will definitely spill it to my brother or Dad. Involving our families in my a week old marriage isn't a wise choice if I want us to work. Even if there's the slightest hope for me to creep my way to his heart. "Rain, I asked you something and your silence is telling me that whatever I am thinking is true. The douchebag is still crazy for the slut called your sister." Candace' despised words for Nicholas and Rose reached into my ears. "Candy language." I warn her. No matter how mad I am on someone but calling them names doesn't fit in my vocabulary. "Don't be a nun, Rain. We both know who's at fault here. If that bitch didn't run away with her phantom lover. I wish I get a link to her. I swear, I am gonna scratch that ugly face so she will never be able to lure men into her trap." Candace continues cursing Rose. For a strange reason, I don't feel bad for Rose. After all, I am paying for her sins. Nicholas believes that I forced Rose to flee so I could take her place. He wouldn't believe me even if I swear in the holy Church. "Let's not talk about them, Candy. I am really happy that you're here and that's all matters to me hmm."I try to put a full stop on Rose-Nicholas theory discussion. "He isn't hurting you physically, is he?" She asks me with concern swirling in her big black eyes. "No ,he isn't abusing me, Candy. I can assure you. In fact, he avoids my presence as much as he can and I am completely okay with his decision. He also needs some time to adapt himself with these unexpected changes in his life. He wasn't prepared for something like this as I." I reply honestly. "Come here.."She opens her arms for me. I wrap my hands around her, leaning in to feel the familiar warmth which soothe my heart and soul," If he ever tries to hurt you, just give me a call. I am eager to use my karate moves on that dangerously handsome husband of yours." She smirks causing me to laugh along with her. "I will, Black Widow." I solute her. I gave her this nickname when she beat a boy from our college black and blue as he tried to touch my ass in the corridor. "Anything for my damsel in distress." She bows like a gallant knight. We spend the next few hours reminiscing the old times. I don't realize when the evening rolled in and it is time for her to take her leave. The sudden void fills my heart as I pull her for one last hug. "Hey it's okay girl. I'll come back on the Sunday or we can go out for clubbing on the Saturday night, what say?"She suggests. I am surprised by her suggestion. "I don't know. I mean I am not sure if Nicholas would allow me to go to a club." I begin playing with my ring whicj still feel weird on my finger. "Oh Come on, dutiful wife." She rolls her eyes dramatically," We don't know what is he doing in his private life, probably fucking around like most of the rich brats and here you need his fucking permission to enjoy your own life. Rain, you're not even twenty five and you are talking like a forty years old woman of teenage children. We live for once, Rain. These days won't come so loose your wifely shit and join me on Saturday night. Nicholas Blackwood can't control your life if he doesn't give a shit whether you're living or dead in the bathtub." She lectures but she didn't say anything wrong. Nicholas made it very clear that I had no place in his life and he really doesn't care if I actually die so I should give myself a chance to live a little before it's too late. We live for once. I come back to my room after sending her off and change my clothes. I feel better than the last few days though the silence of the house again started haunting me. The clock shows seven in the evening, the dinner time and like my every meal in this mansion, I walk to the dining hall to eat my dinner but my eyes go wide in surprise when I spot Nicholas at the head chair and his sister by left his side. They have a gruff look on their faces. They seem disturb over something and it's not a wise choice to come in front of them if I don't want my cheerful day to end on a mournful note. But the luck doesn't seem to be on my side. As I was about to turn on my heels, two tiny arms wrapped them around my waist and my eyes meet with the most beautiful pairs of green eyes blinking at me and toothy grin on a little girl hardly three or four years old. Her brown curly hairs are covering her forehead. "Cinderella, are you real?" She tucks on the hem of my dress. Her question navigates the attention of the two siblings on me and by the resemblance between Nicole and the little girl, I guess they're mother and daughter. "Breece, come here." Nicole's icy voice resonates in the big hall. The girl looks between her mother and I. She doesn't want to leave me but her mother's glare was enough to scare her. I kneel down to her level and strokes her chubby cheeks," Hey Breece, I am Rain and I am not Cinderella but we can be friends if you want." I try to lift her mood as she seems to cry in any moment. "Really? You want to be my friend?" She blinks her eyes at me as she speaks in her baby voice. "Yes, we can play with your dolls later."I kiss her cheek. A big smile stretches on her lips. "Yey..you are Cinderella and now you are my friend." She started jumping. "I am not Cindre-" I try to correct her but she kisses me on my cheek and passes me her toothy smile . "You're pretty like Cinderella." She says. "Elle, take Breece out of here." Nicole shouts, anger visible in her blue eyes. Breece shudders again on her mother's high pitched tone. Elle comes running and takes the little girl away passing me a sympathetic look. I wave at Breece and again turn to leave but freeze on my spot when I hear his words next. "Come here and eat the dinner with us. We need to talk on an important matter."