Chapter 2 It's Lola, Not Me

It's midnight already and no one was in the corridor. Ava tiptoed into her room at the extreme end of the stairs and shut the door. Only after she bolted the door did she open herself to cry. She sobbed and sniffled. His last words before dozing off, played in her head. His heart will only beat for Lola. He said it repeatedly that he loves her. She must be a stupid woman to think that she could ever be loved and accepted by the Lester family. Was she an idiot to have thought Adrian, who despised her earlier that morning and wouldn't even respond to her greetings, would suddenly love her at night and make love to her simply because he was drunk? That serves her right to think too much. She sobbed. Her parents are poor and her dad had worked as the gardener to the Lester family for decades until he was involved in an accident and became bedridden. Two years ago, on her 18th birthday, she was told she would be getting married to the master of the Lester family. And that's how she ended up being Mrs Lester. She'd married Adrian five days after her 18th birthday and since that day, she'd lost that happiness and fulfilment that family gives to its members. Adrian's grandfather was in full support of her marriage to his grandson. His dad was partially in support of it. He wasn't against it, nor did he give his full support. He would say nothing when she was being ridiculed and bullied by his wife and son. He isn't going to come to her aid but let her be washed down and tongue lashed while he cared nothing about it. But himself, he'd never bullied her at any time. He has never downplayed her nor made her feel inferior. A typical character of someone who sits on the fence. But grandfather Lester is her Angel. He could confront his son and entire family in defence of her. And no one dares to bully her when he's around. After sobbing profusely and relieved herself, she stood up and went to take her bath. While in the bathroom, she decided that no one would know about her intimacy with her husband. Since Adrian didn't know and took her to be Lola, then fine. He didn't have sex with her, it was Lola that he fucked. She smirked and nodded, “Yes, he'd slept with Lola, not me” she assured herself. Everything is going to continue as normal. She would keep her distance like he warned her on the day they got married “You are not allowed to touch me or come anywhere close to wherever I am” He outrightly sent her away from his bedroom that night in her wedding dress. It was the grand nanny that took her in that night and gave her a dress to change into. The next morning, Anna Lester told her to stay at the extreme end of the stairs. A tiny little room. Besides her tiny bed and a narrow closet, that room couldn't take more than one person standing in it at a time. That's where she'd been living for the past two years and that night was the second time since she stepped into the Lester mansion to get into Adrian's room again. And what did she get, get fucked as the substitute for Lola. She took a warm bath and observed her body. She was wounded down her V and she knew she bleed. Maybe she would get an ointment and apply to relieve her of the pain and swolleness. But she doesn't have a dime to her name. Whatever she needs, she must get it from her mother in-law. And whenever she asks her for some money to get a sanitary pad or whatever she needs, she would insult her and say her infertile belly is not even capable of carrying Adrian's seed. Getting pregnant can only be initiated by two parties. If her son refuses to plant his seed in her belly, how on earth can she be pregnant? Next morning, Ava was awakened by the loud yelling of Anna Lester. She was banging the door and calling out to her in fury. “I'm coming mother, '' she said, jerking off the bed in haste and her heartbeat was irregular. She was suddenly covered in sweat and her lower body became very sore. She glanced at her bedside watch and she realised that she's thirty minutes late from the usual time she wakes up to assist the cook in the kitchen. She had cried and stayed awake the majority of the night, that probably was the reason. She couldn't walk properly. It's easy for others to detect that something is off about her. But what can she do? She dragged her body painfully and went to open the door. Before her stood her mother in-law staring at her in hostility and disdain. “Good morning mother” Ava greeted, trying to hide the pain in her heart and body. She looked down, she dared not look up at her. “What is good about the morning, you poor lazy tramp?” Anna Lester snapped at her, glaring at her from her head to her toes. “I'm sorry mother” Ava apologised. Even if she doesn't know what she'd done wrong, she will apologise. That word “sorry” had saved her from getting slapped and insulted a few times. “Sorry for yourself. Laziness in any shade is not allowed in this family. If your belly cannot carry my grandchild, your hands should be able to do the kitchen chopping and washing the dishes…” Anna went on ranting and tongue lashing Ava. Ava doesn't still know what she'd done that is so magnificent that her mother in-law woke her up to insult and reminded her that she's from the low class family of the society. Anna eyed her. She doesn't know why her father in-law would arrange a marriage between her high class son with this low class tramp. She had tried several times and all he'd always said was that he loves the Leon family. What's there to love about those people for crying out loud? They have nothing else to offer and yet he claimed to love them. She hissed between gritted teeth and stormed off. Her initials should be changed to the word ‘sorry’ she's never tired of saying it. She could say it ten times in a day and never get bored. As Anna stormed off, Ava sighed softly. She would change out of her night dress and come downstairs already. She mustn't waste more time again. As she stepped out of her room in her usual plain home wear, she bumped into Adrian Lester.