Sterling’s family doctor did the necessary treatment and said, “It’s only a minor fracture, but since it’s at the ankle, don’t try to put that foot on the ground for at least two weeks. If the recovery is fast, you’ll be able to do your regular activities from the fifth week.”“Can’t even put my foot down for two weeks?” Rebecca’s face lost a lot of glow. “What should I do in bed for so long?”The doctor smiled almost hysterically because Benjamin was also standing next to him. “Your ankles are strong for a woman. You might have done some physical training when you were young. Otherwise, this same injury would have forced you to stay on the bed for fifteen to twenty weeks.”“That’s…” Rebecca didn’t know what to say. Even though it was only a fracture that would heal in time, she had never been in this situation, and she looked tense like an anxious little rabbit.The doctor patted Rebecca’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’s important to stay positive in these situations so your recovery wi
“Happy Birthday Veronica, From Akash.” Rebecca read the words written on the cover. She opened it, and there were hundred dollar bills inside. “What’s this?” Her heart skipped a beat. A woman receiving money from a man outside the family wasn’t something that could be overlooked.“My boyfriend,” Veronica lowered her head and rubbed her thumb on her palm. “He sent it to me. He didn’t even have the time to talk to me on the phone. He sent me this shitty envelope through a friend. And that’s not even his handwriting.” She paused. “I don’t get it. What does that mean? Does he not care about me? Does he think as long as he sends some cash, I’ll be his girlfriend?”Rebecca thought for a little while and asked, “What does he do?”“I don’t know. I met him at a party, and he said he’s a businessman and gave me his visiting card,” Veronica explained. “Since then, we kept meeting outside often, and he’s a good guy. He never talks about his work, but he does know how to paint, and he gave me one
The next morning.It was no longer Veronica’s birthday, but she was still thinking about her past birthdays right after waking up.She vividly remembered her sixth birthday, when she asked her dad during breakfast as to what gift he was going to buy for her birthday. Jacob replied, “You are too young to receive gifts.”And ever since then, he repeated similar sentences until she turned 18. She demanded a big gift from him on her 18th birthday, and Jacob said, “You are an adult, so you shouldn’t be asking for gifts.”In the end, Jacob never gave Veronica a single birthday present. He didn’t give gifts to Rebecca, either, at least not until she became a successful fashion designer. However, he gave gifts to his two sons every year.There were times when Veronica cried because of the partiality his father had shown on his sons, and Selena had to console her during those times.Veronica was now old enough she didn’t need any consoling. She was looking at the painting of a lake dazzling un
“What? Can’t you ask the maids to help you?” Veronica suggested.Rebecca’s eyes reddened. “You want me to beg them every time I need to get off my bed?”“I-I’m sorry. I will help you, so don’t worry.”“Good. So how about you go to the kitchen and bring me some breakfast? I’m hungry, so we’ll discuss while I eat.”“Okay. Okay.” Veronica then went into the kitchen that was on the ground floor. It was probably her first time entering the kitchen in months. As she was checking through various refrigerators, looking for fresh fruits, she noticed a small two-layered cake in one of the chambers. The cake itself wasn’t what shocked her, but the words written on the cake were wishing her a happy birthday.“D-Did Mom make this?” her eyes turned a bit teary. “I misunderstood her.” She happily took the whole cake up to her sister’s room who was slack-jawed from seeing the cake being brought by her tip-toeing sister. “Check this out, it’s my birthday cake! There are pink flower designs on top! Thi
When Rebecca was burning with tension, not knowing what exactly was transpiring downstairs, Benjamin entered the room with an oily face. His eyes scanned around and caught sight of the cake lying on the floor.He clenched his fists in response, but then he took a breath and controlled himself before walking in and picking the leftover cake off the floor onto a magazine. “What’s he doing?” Rebecca looked utterly puzzled, for he was doing something the maids should be doing, but then her eyes bulged out when he started eating that cake. Benjamin glanced at her, paused for a second, and put the cake forward, as though asking her if she wanted some. “Ew,” she felt like snakes and crabs began crawling all over her body. “No!” she yelled quickly.Benjamin shrugged his shoulders, then walked to the table next to her bed and picked up the car keys.“Why are you taking my car keys?” she asked.“You already know why,” he didn’t even stop and just walked out of the room. Veronica was there, loo
Even though it was pouring outside, the orders didn’t stop coming. Driving on wet roads at high speeds in hurry was not something just about anyone could do. It wasn’t just about the driving skill but also the guts needed to go through the experience of riding on 4-lane and 8-lane roads when thunder rumbled in the sky. The risk was just too much compared to the reward.However, there were many willing to work even in the rain. Covering their packages in plastic containers to retain the heat, the pizza delivery guys put their skills and courage to full use.Benjamin was also among them. He could have used the Porsche as there was no rule saying he couldn’t, but he still used the motorcycle because he liked the challenge.During the time of rain, five minute extra time was given for all deliveries. Today, he was delivering a total of thirty pizzas to a college dorm. Even though he delivered in time, the boys were too busy partying, they made him wait more than forty minutes before payin
Veronica said she’d help her sister,but after she left Rebecca’s room in the morning, she didn’t come back even once. Rebecca tried calling, but her sister didn’t lift the phone.Rebecca wanted to go to the bathroom in the afternoon, and there was no walking stick available. She just couldn’t call the maids, either, but belly was hurting. She really needed to take a piss.When the thought of pissing in a bottle popped in her head, she almost slapped herself. Besides, the door wasn’t even locked. What if someone entered the room when she was in the middle of urinating? What if her urine drops fell on the bed sheet? All these embarrassing thoughts made her want to pull her hair.At that moment, Kathy brought a guest into her room. It was Edward who came with a bouquet and a basket full of fruits.Rebecca recognized him as he was one of the husband candidates her mother had shown her in the past.“It’s really sad to see you sitting on the bed, Ms. Rebecca,” Edward purposely spoke this wa
Benjamin came home very hungry, holding a long package in one hand. He wanted to eat something spicy, so he cooked extra spicy chicken fry and then went to his room for a bath.Lisa slipped into the kitchen and took the chicken fry and rushed to her room. Both she and Roshan gorged on it and loved the taste.Meanwhile, inside Benjamin’s room.“How long is she going to take to bathe?” Benjamin wondered. Having waited ten minutes doing nothing but sitting on his bed, he asked. “Can you come out?”Inside the bathroom, Rebecca was still there, sweating from having stayed there since afternoon. Nobody came to help her, and she had even cried a couple of times. Even after Benjamin entered the room just now, she was so angry she didn’t call for his help straight away. Now, Benjamin was asking her to come out, so wiped her face clean.Standing on one leg, she opened the door.Benjamin was on his bed and was peering at her, looking mildly annoyed.“C-Can you carry me to my bed?” she asked.Ben
“How are things with your family, brother?” Fiona asked.Selena raised an eyebrow. “You’re in a family that deals with real-estate, so you should already know how we’re doing.”“Haha, I do, but outside information can only be trusted so much,” Fiona responded. “Recently, we’ve worked hard on getting a marriage deal for Fiona. Her fiance owns a reputed sports agency that deals with covering all the popular international sports. He earns hundreds of millions every year, but his father is a tycoon in the alcohol industry. Their net worth is in tens of billions.”“Good for you and your daughter,” Jacob smiled.“By the way, Brother,” Fiona glanced at Veronica and Akash. “What does Veronica’s husband do?”Jacob’s expression slightly changed.Veronica frowned and looked at her mother who was looking back at her with a rather poker face.“He is staying at home for now,” Veronica said openly.“Pfft, he’s jobless?” Riley snorted. “Your taste is so bad, Veronica, not just in terms of finding a p
Benjamin went to the first floor and waited in the hall until Rebecca left her room.Then he went to her room. The door was locked, but he solidified his energy in the keyhole and opened the door.He entered the room quietly and saw the water bottle on the table next to her desk. It was half-full.Benjamin took out the vial and poured a drop of water into the bottle while saying ‘I love you, Rebecca.’He entered the bathroom and poured a couple of drops in the bathtub while once more uttering the three words ‘I love you, Rebecca.”He was about to come out of the room, but then he stopped and then ended up leaking another drop of water on the pillow, and another on the blanket. “I love you, Rebecca.”“Hopefully, this will help,” he thought.Benjamin then hurriedly left the room and then went to the rooftop. He mixed a few more drops in each of the four water tanks, while saying the words out, “I love you, Rebecca.”He looked at the vial.Three fourths of it was finished.He put the via
Despite Uzza, Rye, and Benjamin living in separate rooms, there were many guest rooms still available in the mighty Sterling villa, the best property on Rachel Hill.So, the families of Jacob’s siblings stayed in those rooms without any issue.But the problem was with the cousins, who were trying to show off. They acted arrogant and haughty with Veronica and even mocked Rebecca for the little hair she had on her head, not even bothering to wonder why exactly her hair was like that.Rebecca didn’t even bother talking to them, or sparing a word with them because she knew how selfish and self-centered these people were.Jacob and Shawn might have forgiven these people, but Rebecca couldn’t just act like nothing ever happened.She didn’t treat them badly, either. She just ignored them and minded her business.However, her cousin sisters got their eyes on Benyamin who was quite good-looking. Her cousin brothers were also unable to avert their eyes from Rye.Rye looked more like an exotic f
So many people started visiting Sterling villa ever since Selena herself had leaked the news of her buying a lot of land and buildings in Aurora Hills.Selena was sitting on the balcony, with Veronica next to her.“Why has the traffic increased so much?” Veronica said, “I’m seeing so many cars come and go recently.”Selena somewhat smiled and sipped on cream coffee. “I wasn’t born rich, Veronica. My relatives didn’t even let my parents into their homes or invite us to their functions because we were poor as church mice.”“Stop joking, Mom,” Veronica smirked with amusement. “You look like a million dollars. I’m sure our relatives’ sons back then would have wanted to marry you.”“You’re not entirely wrong, but they didn’t want to marry me as much as they wanted to mess with me,” Selena said. “I still remember one guy telling me, ‘I may look ugly as hell, but I can show you heaven in bed.’”Veronica went silent in shock. She didn’t think her mother’s beauty would have brought such terrib
Delle was bringing food, three varieties, on a big plate.Rye intercepted and took the plate from her. She brought it to Benjamin and sat by him under the tree.The grass was cool, even though the breeze was warm.“You think I haven’t noticed that you weren’t eating anything since you made that 40-day promise?” Rye said. “You were just acting like you’re eating.”She broke the bread mixed with fruit and brought it closer to his mouth.He didn’t open his mouth.“Do you want me to stop eating just like you are doing?” Rye said.Benjamin, who was staring into the distance, glanced at her. “Is it possible to love and hate at the same time?”Rye pursed her lips together, not quite understanding why he asked such a question. “I was angry with the things you did. I am still angry, but I don’t hate you. So, if you really love someone, I don’t think you can hate them.”“If there is no hatred in his heart, then how is Neel able to do this to me?” Benjamin asked, a hint of pain laced through his
Rebecca and Benyamin had breakfast together.This nearly made Selena’s eyes bleed. She didn’t think she’d live a day like this.Watching them eating happily was like injecting poison into her body.While she loved seeing her daughter happy, she couldn’t spare any mercy on the man who tricked her daughter into marrying him.Even now, she was thinking in her heart, devising plans on how to separate her daughter and her husband.Having lost the mood to eat breakfast, she came to the backyard.Amber was preparing the background setting needed for the interview.“Where’s Kathy?” Selena asked.“S-She’s with Samuel Sehla, ma’am,” Amber hesitantly said.Selena’s gaze turned a little icy, but then she smiled. “I knew Kathy had it in her, but I didn’t think she’d be able to grab the attention of someone like Samuel Sehla.” She looked at Amber. “What about you?”“I-I don’t plan on grabbing anybody’s attention,” Amber quickly replied.“Tsk, tsk,” Selena shook her head. “Try to grab Benyamin’s att
The next morning.Rebecca came out of her room fast and reached the dorms just to check on Benyamin. She found him brushing his teeth with his finger. And he was using salt.“Don’t you have a brush and toothpaste?” Rebecca quickly asked. “You should have asked me then.”“No, I’m fine with this,” Benyamin replied. “The smell of the chemicals in the toothpaste just makes me feel nauseous, so I’m fine with just this sea salt.”“But… will salt be enough?”“It’s enough,” Benyamin gave a thumbs-up. “In fact, I’m worried about you because you’re using that chemical-ridden toothpaste which dullens your brain.”“If they dullen the brain, then why would they promote toothpastes so much on television?”“They will promote everything that will make them money while keeping the people sick, so that they will not be able to think clearly and would rather depend on the government to think for themselves,” Benyamin smiled.“That’s not funny,” Rebecca hissed. “I have to go and brush my teeth. And I’m f
Later that night.Benjamin was out in the garden, sitting under a tree, doing nothing as hours went by.“He’s been like that since dinner,” Rye was watching him from the first floor’s window. “It’s not good.”“What can I say?” Uzza was feeling heavy-hearted. “It feels like the story of Abel and Cain altogether, though in a different way. The brothers that represent the duality of current man. The devil sure knows how to mock us and make us angry. I’m certain now. It’s his plan. He put the sworn brothers against each other.”“But how did he get Shadow?” Rye frowned. “I don’t sense any demonic energy in him.”“Considering Shadow’s abilities, it’s easy for him to hide the demonic energy,” Uzza opined. “He’s a perfect place for demons to hide, though I don’t know how they got hold of him. He must have been caught by surprise. I just hope that this won’t lead to something disastrous.” She was looking at Benjamin. “The longer this goes, the more likely that someone among those is going to b
Veronica brought Akash with her to dinner. Almost everybody was present at the dinner table after a very long time.New tables were arranged because there were more people now.Veronica could see that Akash was not taking his eyes off Benyamin. “Why are you staring at him nonstop?” she asked in a low voice.“He’s tall, handsome, and so fair. Even his hands are so shiny. How’s that possible for a man?” Akash sounded quite envious. “Men are not supposed to look so good-looking, right?”“Mm…” Veronica looked at Benyamin and felt the same. “He does look like a million bucks, but he doesn’t seem to have much muscle on his body. What’s the point of being tall when you don’t have enough muscle? You only look like you have inadequate genes.”“Not every man can be built heavy like the men in your family.”“Haha, you’re right,” Veronica was proud of her brothers and dad because they were tall and big and good-looking. Their jaws alone would melt the gazes of many women, after all.Rye and Benjam