A/N: A thousand words yet they are so short. Yay, instead of doing my paperworks I wrote this. XD
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For the past years, the Wilderlanes have been through drastic changes, like someone just woke up from a dream.
Lady Emerald brought her daughter, Yvette, in their study moments before their departure
"Was is it that you wish to discuss, Mother? I think it is not of great time to chitchat because we are in a hurry."
"Hush. We do not need to be in haste, we are not of much import on the event. Coming will only be a show." Lady Emerald held a steady gaze on her daughter. She watched her as her brows furrowed and her face confused.
Yvette looked intently at her mother. She knew by her gaze whatever she will say will change something. Perhaps.
"What is it, mother that you want to say then?" Her heart rammed in her chest as she waited for the older woman to reply. Absentmidedly, she held her breath.
"Lord Calloway is sick. He has a lung ailment in which he had been suffering for years. It had gone worse this year, as so he said."
Yvette gasp and inhaled deeply.
"What do you mean? What is it? How.. why.."she was not able to finish her words as mix emotion came to her. She bend her head down, trying to control herself.
She did not like nor love the man but he was her bethrothed.
"He wants the wedding to be moved earlier as he was afraid that it was his health which will be the hindrance on his marriage to you." Lady Emerald had this satisfied look on her face as she approached her upset daughter.
"How that man adored you, I must say, is quite impressive."
The mother lifted her daughter's chin and cupped her face. She gave her a warm smile.
A warm smile that could lure but Yvette, as her daughter, knew better.
It was a smile of the wicked faking kindness.
It was a smile her mother had mustered very well.
Achingly, Yvette expected the words that her mother uttered next.
The woman removed her hands from her daughter's face then held her hands. "Do not be sad on the news of your fiance's misfortune. You will find it rather on your advantage in the future," Lady Emerald said.
Yvette was unable to respond because her mind was clouded, but her mother took her lack of response as submission to whatever she will say.
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Alice had learned that her mother and sister had not gone to wherever they will be. She also noticed the change on her sister during dinner. She was gloomy, while her mother looked quite pleased.
By then she knew, something was wrong but she chose to ignore.
Her eyes were heavy but she would not doze off to sleep even if she close them. She took another turn in her bed to find a comfortable position only realizing that in any way, she would not find comfort.
Finally, she decided to get up and dressed. The rebel in her jumped in glee as she plan to go out at the wee hour. She will do something forbidden. Again.
But it was her talent to sneak around, and she was quite proud of what she could achieve. For now, she must be able to go out of their house without waking anyone nor letting anyone know.
She got her cloak then silently opened her door. Her heart thumpered in excitement as she tiptoed down the stairs.
As she was in the middle of the staircase, she saw movements of shadows. Her breathing hitched, she stopped on going down.
Please let it not be robbers.
She heared a faint noise. She contemplated whether to return to her bedchamber or find out what that is. Of course, she chose the latter.
The faint noises continued. She tried to identify where it came from. Her feet led her to the kitchen.
The door was slightly ajar, from then she knew there was a small light in the kitchen. As she drew closer, she can clearly hear the noise but could not indentify what it was.
With all the courage she gathered, she peaked at the door. She could see two person, she narrowed her eyes and tried to know who they were.
Her eyes widen at the sight, her hand went to her mouth to stop her gasp.
Tears streamed down her face. She managed to ran back to her bedchamber without noise. She threw herself on her bed.
What she had discovered made her heart clenched. She choked on her tears.
She knew from that moment, she would never see them as before.
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The wedding of Yvette Wilderlane and Lord Calloway happened three days after the incident. It was grand, and many were happy for the celebration.
But Alice was not able to attend since she had fallen ill two days before. While everyone celebrated, she was having the worst of her time.
She heard the door opened. "Here is your soup, my lady," a small voice said. She painfully looked at the servant. The dryness in her throat made her stopped from replying. As though knowing her pain, the servant got a glass of water and helped her drink.
Maybe it was also her luck. She does not want to be part of the event, but then she did not also want to be sick.
She remembered her mother's words.
"Get well. I do not know how you made yourself sick knowing that your sister's wedding was coming." She grimaced at the memory.
Her brothers visited her in the afternoon to inform her that Yvette was to move out in a month or less.
"That is too long. Shouldn't she be with her husband right after the wedding?" She could not help but to be confused.
Janus rubbed his chin as he answered, "That was also what we said but Yvette demanded that she shall stay here for a month before moving in with her husband, in which the man obliged without second thought."
They had a little more conversation before her brothers left to give her time to rest.
Knowing Yvette and their mother, they chose not to meddle in their problems.
A few days after, Alice had fully recovered, in which after an incident, she wished she had been ill a bit longer.
How she wished.
