Chapter 6
1652 Words
The sound of people chatting and the clanking of table utensils filled the chilling silence persisting between Primrose and Sydney. After being dragged out of her studio flat, not a single explanation emerged from the mouth of the youngest Mortel. She was sitting right across the table, but the blonde lady continued to ignore her presence by sipping her ice-cold caramel macchiato and watching some videos on her phone.
They’re currently seated in a cafe, five blocks away from the building where her art studio was located. It has been more than an hour since the incident, and she couldn’t count how many times she tried sighing and coughing just to initiate a conversation with her.
“Don’t sweat it,” she said as if able to read what she was thinking. “I’m not here to exchange pleasantries with you.”
“Then, why did you drag me here all of a sudden?” Her nonchalant gaze bounced from the cup of coffee she was holding to Sydney’s half-lidded eyes. “Did Sander ask you to be here?”
“You’re quite smart.” A bemused smile crept her lips while putting down her drink. “My brother may be stupid enough to marry the likes of you, but he knows situations like these quite well. It’s not the first time, after all.”
Although those contemptuous words were spoken in a soft manner, Primrose could tell how pissed she was just by looking at the pinched expression on her face. Instead of responding, she folded her arms and heaved a long sigh before diverting her attention back to the cup of coffee.
After a while, the corners of her mouth drew a small smile. The sudden change in her demeanor made the lady in front of her raise an eyebrow. When she tilted her head up, she was welcomed by her narrowing eyes. Unlike the apparent disinterest shown earlier, her head leaning to the side played a different tune in the air.
“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just that I didn’t expect you two to have such a close relationship.”
“We don’t,” she denied almost immediately. Her posture perked up, seemingly more attentive to her words than before. “I’m just doing him a favor since I don’t want any conflicts arising in our household ever again. And that i***t is caught up in a client meeting right now, so I have no choice but assume the knight-in-shining-armor role for today.”
Her rapid explanation and strained voice made the red-haired woman purse her lips together. She tried to confine her amusement, but the wiggling of her eyebrows failed to cooperate with her. A smirk eventually slipped out, making Sydney Mortel tap her fingers above the tabletop.
“Don’t get cheeky with me,” she warned. “We’re not that close.”
“No, we’re not. So there’s no need to act as if you loathe your brother in front of me.” She drummed her hands above her lap. “I won’t tell Sander how much her precious little sister hates the idea of him getting married.”
“So, this marriage is real? Not just a deal he whipped up like he always does?”
The city mayor’s estranged daughter gulped. She leaned back and reached a hand to her nape. Deep inside her, she sort of wished she could say that it was indeed a fake marriage. However, after everything she heard from Sander, she had to throw that thought out of the window.
“Don' worry, distrust runs strong in your family’s veins.” She paused for a bit and thumbed an ear. Her mouth twitched when the memories of signing the marriage papers flashed at the back of her mind without warning. It was a relief she was able to get her composure back. “Your parents were there when we signed the marriage contract. Why don’t you ask them if you’re still in doubt?”
“Why did you marry my brother, then?”
“I thought you’re not here to exchange pleasantries? Why the sudden interest in my life, Sydney?” Upon seeing her stern sneer, the complacent Primrose shrugged her shoulders. “As you may already know, we were arranged to be married from the get-go. All we did was comply with what our families want. “
“You stood him up during your first marriage meeting and told everyone that you only date wild and exciting men.”
"Well, that’s true,” she admitted. Along with a playful grin, her eyes gleamed in confidence. “ But you have no idea how wild and exciting your brother is, right? That would be weird."
"You…"
“The way I see it, you're like everyone else in the family. Obsessed over everything and anything associated with him." Before Sydney could open her mouth again to dispel her conclusion, she raised her hand mid-air to stop her from speaking. “Believe what you want to believe, not that I care about you anyway.”
“I’m watching you closely, Primrose Dia.” Those words spoken in between slow breaths and a controlled tone made the air heavier than it already was. “Make sure you’re not into some funny business because I won’t let you have your way.”
There was no denying that the lady appeared alluring even with all this rage. But right now, she just looked like an angry barbie doll in her eyes. Although Sydney doesn’t physically resemble Sander that much, it was hard not to compare them, especially after witnessing that temper and smugness she poured into her.
“Mortel.”
“What?”
“Primrose Dia Mortel,” she lifted her finger that adorned the proof of her marriage. There was a tingling excitement steering up inside her upon seeing a hint of sourness in her visage. “Let’s get that right from now on. Alright, sister-in-law?”
She was in the middle of enjoying Sydney’s irked demeanor when a hand from behind lightly tapped her shoulders. Her smile faded with the sight of her assistant, Quintana Jones, panting and in a rush to tell her something.
“Ma’am, I’m afraid we need to go.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “Why? What’s wrong?”
‘Well,” the woman dressed in a black suit and a surgical mask briefly glanced in Sydney’s direction. She seemed hesitant at first, but she leaned closer to whisper. “Your father was rushed into a hospital just now. I got a call from his secretary, and they wanted you to be there as soon as you can.”
“W-what?” She rose from her seat in an instant and dropped both her hands on each side. “What happened to him?”
“I don’t know the exact details yet, but the best we can do si to go there immediately.”
“Do you need a ride? I can drive you to the hospital,” Sydney weighed in after dabbing a napkin on her lips.
“No,” Quintana declined firmly and almost immediately. She had a rigid posture and unfocused eyes, but Primrose was too engrossed with the sudden news to divert her attention. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Thank you for the offer, Sydney. I got to go. Tell Sander that I’ll meet him some other time.”
Without a word next, she marched in the direction of the glass door to exit the cafe. Behind her tracks was Quintana, trying to catch up with her pace. The car was waiting outside, so they were already dashing on the road before she could catch her breath.
“Who told you about this? Is it Montana or Grace? I’ll give them a call right now. Let me use your phone. I forgot mine in the studio.”
Her assistant didn’t respond, making her look up and meet her nervous gaze through the rearview mirror. When she lowered her head to avoid eye contact, the red-haired lady tilted her head.
“I’m sorry. I forgot to ask, but it’s the number from your father’s office.”
“You forgot to ask?” She tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, but her eyes were already squinting as she observed Quintana’s reddening face.
“Yes, and I tried to call back. But after they’ve sent me the hospital details, no one’s picking up.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me.” She ran a palm through her face, defeated. “Do you know the reason why I hired you?”
“N-no, Ma’am.”
“Because you’re not a good liar, Quintana. Stop the car now.”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I can’t.”
“Quintana, I don’t know what my father promised you, but —” her words halted upon noticing something, “— why are you wearing a mask?” Her thick-set eyebrows gathered as an unfamiliar smell engulfed the car. “Q-Quintana, what is this smell? What’s happening —”
Her vision swayed. She tried to fight it, but her eyelid shut on its own. The last thing she saw was her assistant’s eyes twinkling with guilt.
- Writer
