“Aren’t you concerned about what Waylen wants?” Leilani asks.
Although Leonie has to look up to Leilani, she maintains her arrogance.
“Waylen is still in a coma, and his grandfather is furious with you,” Leonie says, “Do you think you still stand a chance?”
Leonie shoves Leilani heavily. In her weakened state, Leilani stumbles and falls onto the bed. Leonie glances at the maids outside the door.
“No one can give her any food or water without my permission,” Leonie orders as if she’s already the lady of the house.
Leonie slams the door behind her, plunging the room into darkness. The smell of the fresh air soon fades, overwhelmed by the moldy, damp smell of the room. Leilani passes the time sleeping restlessly. Though it’s been almost three days, she has no sense of how long she’s been imprisoned. No one comes to check on her.
Hunger pangs wake Leilani. She hasn’t had any food or water in three days. Her lips are so parched that they crack and scab. She stretches herself weakly and tries to get up to enjoy the thin beam of sunlight. Instead, she weakly rolls so the light touches her face. Half-dazed, she thinks of Waylen’s eyes and his pale, arrogant face. In spite of the pain, she smiles.
Her phone was confiscated when she was put into the room, and she has no idea what’s happening in the outside world. When she’s conscious she wonders if Waylen has woken from his coma. The door suddenly opens while she’s lost in a reverie. Maureen and two maids barge into the room.
“Time to come out,” Maureen shouts, “Mrs. Florence Bamford wants to see you.”
With perfect coordination, the maids grab her under the arms and drag her from the room. She doesn’t have the strength to fight back because she hasn’t eaten anything for three days. Reluctantly, she allows them to take her away. Quickly, they arrive at Mrs. Florence Bamford’s house.
“Mrs. Bamford, Leilani is here,” Maureen announces.
Mrs. Bamford is lounging in an antique rocking chair and drinking a cup of freshly made tea. Leonie sits beside her, massaging her leg. She gives Leilani a subtle but malicious look.
“Will you admit you’re wrong?” Mrs. Florence Bamford asks.
Leilani wobbles on her feet. Mrs. Florence Bamford’s voice sounds like it’s coming from far away. Leilani wonders if it’s because she’s starving or if something else is wrong with her. Struggling to focus, Leilani raises her chin defiantly.
“What difference would it make?” she asks.
Mrs. Bamford is satisfied to see how weak and feeble Leilani has grown. She stands up slowly, favoring her sore leg.
“It doesn’t make a difference anymore,” she says imperiously, “I told you that you wouldn’t be Waylen’s wife for much longer.”
Leilani smiles faintly.
“If I’m not worried about it, why are you concerning yourself?” she retorts.
“I’m not!” Mrs. Florence Bamford replies, “But I thought this would be a good opportunity to train you on our house rules. In Waylen’s absence, I consider it my responsibility. Besides, since you’ve already signed divorce papers with Waylen, you’re no longer his wife. That means from now on, you have to obey my rules.”
She turns away from Leilani and glances at a bodyguard.
“Prepare a maid’s room,” she commands.
Bodyguards and servants rush from the room, but Maureen returns quickly. She’s carrying a neatly folded maid’s uniform, and she’s smirking horribly.
“Go change into it,” Mrs. Florence Bamford orders.
Leilani stares blankly at the uniform, refusing to take it from Maureen.
“It’s your fault that Waylen is in a coma,” Mrs. Florence Bamford hisses, “I thought that three days in that room would be enough but perhaps I was wrong.”
Mrs. Florence Bamford gives Maureen a look, and Maureen tries to grab Leilani and drag her from the room. Leilani’s tilts her body precariously, narrowly avoiding Maureen’s clutches. Maureen loses her balance and stumbles, and Leilani turned to regard her with a cold look. Though pale and exhausted, her expression is fiercely stubborn.
“Mrs. Bamford, I hope you’ve thought this through,” Leilani says in a harsh voice, “I sincerely hope you don’t come to regret your decisions.”
Leilani knows that Waylen’s condition isn’t her fault, but she can’t help but feel guilty. Only she knows how badly she’s suffered in the last three days, but she refuses to allow Mrs. Florence Bamford to see her suffer. After over three years of torture, Leilani is tired of giving in to the older woman’s sadistic whims.
“What could I possibly regret, child?” Mrs. Florence Bamford asks with a half-smile, “You don’t honestly think I’m afraid of you, do you? Who are you? You’re nobody without Waylen. Honestly, if it weren’t for Leonie’s big party tomorrow, I wouldn’t have let you out of there so soon. As it is, Leonie needs help and we need all the staff we can get. You should thank Leonie.”
Leilani laughs out loud.
“Are they seriously asking me to work as a staff member at Leonie’s birthday?” Leilani thinks incredulously, “I’m not one of the maids!”
Leilani’s frantic laugh frightens Leonie. She gently tugs Mrs. Florence Bamford’s sleeve.
“I would’ve done it anyway,” Leonie says sweetly, “It’s also Leilani’s birthday.”
“So do I have to say thank you?” Leilani asks condescendingly.
“There’s no need,” Leonie says with a warning smile, “As long as you play along and ensure that everything goes according to plan, we’ll be fine.”
“Sure, I’ll play along,” Leilani says.
Expressionlessly, she reaches out and takes the uniform from Maureen. Mrs. Florence Bamford regards Leilani with suspicion.
“Search her for any other phones,” she commands, “I don’t want her taking any photos of videos or communicating with anyone outside of this house, understood?”
Leilani sneers.
“Does Florence Bamford think this is all I’ve got?” Leilani wonders, “Once again, she’s underestimating me. Florence will go to great lengths to discipline me in Waylen’s absence. Only the most loyal maids serve in this house—every other maid is sent away. If I want to survive in such a hostile environment, I have to be proactive. Not only do I need to find a way to save myself, but I also have to find a way to get Waylen away from his grandfather.”
Leilani hasn’t taken a shower in three days. After leaving to change into the uniform, she takes a shower, deliberately taking longer than she needs. By the time she emerges from the bathroom, dressed in the uniform and perfumed with scented lotions, the family is having dinner.
Mrs. Florence Bamford demands the finest things in life. Even the maids’ rooms are luxurious in spite of their small size. Leilani makes her way to the dining room on the first floor. As soon as she pushes the door open the smell of food hits her like a punch in the gut.
Mrs. Bamford and Leonie have already taken their seats. Leilani walks to the table and pulls out a chair. Before she can sit down, Mrs. Florence Bamford scowls at her.
“Who told you you could sit down?” she asks with obvious displeasure, “You have to obey my rules while you’re living under my roof. You don’t deserve to sit beside me. Now watch Leonie and learn how to be a good wife—assuming you can find another man to marry you, he’ll appreciate it.”
“You’re too kind, Mrs. Bamford,” Leonie demurs, “Leilani has been Waylen’s wife for a long time. It’s me who should learn from her rich experience.”
“The only flaw about Leonie is her inappropriate modesty,” Mrs. Florence Bamford says, “Unlike you, Leilani—so arrogant you’ve lost the honor of being Waylen’s wife.”
Leilani looks at Florence and Leonie and tries not to roll her eyes.
“The wealthy are absurd,” she thinks, “They talk about marriage like they’re hiring an employee.”
Leonie sits elegantly as if she’s giving an etiquette lesson.
“Bring me the lemon water,” she commands.
Maureen glares at Leilani.
“Are you deaf?” Maureen snarls, “Get lemon water from the kitchen for Miss Summers!”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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