The Governor's Rebound

CHAPTER ONE

I quivered when I heard another glass bottle dropping on the marble floor. I am hiding behind the wall in the kitchen. It is already midnight and Arden's still drinking himself out.

He's still mourning my sister's death. I frowned. My heart breaks everytime I see him suffering like this. We're living under the same roof because he treats me like his own little sister and lets me stay in his and my sister's marital house, but that's not how I see him.

It was supposed to be me whom he married, it was supposed to be me... but he fell inlove with my sister instead. I tried so hard to be just his little sister because I truly love my sister and I've accepted that Arden loved her instead of me, but this is what she gave to Arden, a broken heart. She left us too soon.

It may be a bad idea or a ridiculous thought, but Arden never left my heart. I can tell that I am not able to love anyone as much as I love him. From the moment I saw him on that day... at our Farm, I have admired and loved him from afar and even after all the efforts and affection I'd tried to show him, he fell inlove with my sister instead.

I became his sister-in-law, but now that my sister is gone, I just want to comfort him...

My eyes watered, this is not the kind of person I am, but if it means being wrong and despised by everyone just to make Arden finally look at me and notice me, I will gladly accept every consequence there is..

With the courage I have and a heart beating so fast, I walked in silence to approach Arden who was sitting on a bar stool at the kitchen counter. He's drinking all alone and it's been hours since he started drinking this strong liquor that is already reeking in my nose. I could feel that he had noticed me but he didn't even give me a glance. He stopped drinking and put the glass of liquor on the counter-top and stared at it.

"Arden, why don't you take a rest? That's enough drinking. You're already drunk."

He didn't make a move. He just kept staring at the glass of liquor in front of him. My heart's breaking at this sight of him, being so miserable. He must've been in love too much with my sister and he can't get over her death. Even after a long tiring day in the municipal office, because he's the current governor of this province and he usually does a lot of work on a day-to-day basis, he still has the time to get wasted after a bunch of work and engaging with a lot of different people.

"Leave me alone, Celine." His voice was as cold as ice. Of course, even if he lets me live with him on the same roof, he still avoids me like I'm the most disgusting person he has ever met. He knows that I like him... no, he is aware that I am in love with him, and he has already done every possible thing to dishearten me, but I still love him. Nothing and no one could possibly change that.

To him, I'm like the little girl that I've always been, but five years have passed now and I've become a capable woman. He can't treat me like a little girl anymore.

"But it's already late. Won't you be needed in the office early in the morning? You will get up with a great headache if you keep drinking. Just stop and take a rest already." I insisted and started to pick up the pieces of broken glass bottle on the marble floor.

"I said leave me alone, Celine! Stop that! I'll have the cleaners do that in the morning, just go to bed and let me be!" He raised his voice and that made me stop moving. I stared at the shard of glass in my hand. I want to cry, he's so heartless when it comes to me, but I saw how he could be gentle towards my sister when she was still alive.

"J-Just let me do this," I said in a low voice, and continued to pick up the shards of glass. I almost hurt myself because the shards were sharp on the edge when a strong hand suddenly grabbed my wrist and startled me. I turned my head just to see Arden's cold eyes glaring at me as if telling me to stop and disappear.

"Put those down!" He said using an authoritative voice which always makes my knees weaken. Slowly, I put down the shards of the broken glass bottle back on the marble floor and when I was completely empty-handed, Arden harshly pulled me to standup and made me face him. I can see the hate he has towards me with those sharp and cold eyes piercing through my soul.

"Why are you so stubborn?! You never listen to anyone! I am not even surprised after seeing you looking happy even after your sister died! You're hopeless, Celine! But keep this in mind! I may have a promise at your sister's deathbed that I will take care of you, but that doesn't mean you will have your way towards me. That will never happen! Shame on you, Celine! I am your brother-in-law!"

I stared at him and tried my best not to cry, letting him see my sincerity. I am deeply hurt by his words. Arden doesn't know anything, he completely has no idea what I went through and what I've done for him and for my sister. I am hurt by the way he looks at me. If he only knew... if only I had the courage to tell him the truth.

I shook my head at him, showing my resistance, and once again, I'd let him look at me like I was the most heartless and insensitive person he had ever met.

"I am no longer a little girl, Arden! I know what I'm doing, and you can't just tell me what to do. I am only living in your house but I'm not asking for your support, not even a penny! You don't tell me what to do!" My voice broke, I badly wanted to cry, my heart was breaking every passing second at that point.

He let go of my wrist in a harsh way. I caressed it to show him I was hurt, and my heart got some little hope when I saw his eyes softened when he glanced at my reddish wrist, but it didn't last for a second when he glared at my eyes dangerously again.

"Then mind your own business! I don't even care about yours! For me, you will always be Celestine's little sister, and that also makes you my little sister! Nothing more! Keep that in that little brain of yours!"

My tears finally fell. I shook my head, "My sister's gone, Arden! I'm no longer a little girl! It is me who's by your side right now!" I shouted and grabbed his nape to kiss him. Maybe it was because he was already drunk that, even though he is way taller than me and has this lean-body type and broad shoulders, it enabled me to pull him for a kiss.