THE GOBSMACKED MAN

Remembering all those events churned her stomach as it felt so hurt. Breathing in the fresh air, she sat on the egg chair, rubbing her hands as she felt the cold breeze hit her skin.

During the past two years, so much had transpired. She got to build her friendship bond with Mia stronger.

Spending a little more time, she went downstairs with the thought of preparing a cup of coffee for herself. She would not be able to take a wink of sleep after all those memories triggered her today. It was way better to read something than worry about the past, thought Vilian as she got down the stairs humming and singing her favorite song, 'Lavender's blue.'

"Lavender's blue, dilly, dilly

Lavender's green

When I am king, dilly, dilly

You shall be queen

Who told you so, dilly, dilly

Who told you so? T- " Before she could sing the next lyrics, she heard them sung by someone else, startling her.

"Twas my own heart, dilly, dilly... That told me so..."

She looked up only to meet the eyes of the person whom she had come to grow up with great hatred for the past two years. The instant she met those eyes, her eyes turned cold and distant, but she ignored him and started descending the stairs as if she never crossed paths with him.

Eric placed his hand blocking her path so she took the other side but he blocked the other way too causing her to glance at him with so much rage. Eric was caught off guard by the change in her behavior. He remembered her being so soft not knowing how to stand for herself, but this was so different from the girl he had seen and met before.

"What?" she questioned coldly. Eric blinked his eyes with astonishment.

Was it the same girl? Damn! She looks so beautiful and hot than she was, thought Eric, and tried to initiate a talk with her, "We meet again bunny," he said with a flirty smile.

"What nonsense?" She said as she swatted his hands away and took out the handkerchief from her pocket and she wiped her hand which got into contact with his hands. Not thinking twice, she threw the cloth piece away as if it was some dirt, leaving the man gobsmaCked by her attitude.

Vilian didn't dare look behind but walk straight toward the kitchen elegantly with her chin up. She could hear her heart's pulsation audible enough for her ears as she tried to calm down her breath. Entering the kitchen she saw the maids having dinner with the leftovers. She felt bad for them but she herself was not treated well to help them.

Seeing her entering the kitchen the maids and the servants stood up from the wooden benches and floor but some cared less about her knowing that she was not being treated like one of their master's family. She gestured them to sit down with a polite smile that melted the maids' and servants' hearts in an instant.

As she walked toward the coffee machine, Lily came running and bounced into her.

"Oh my, Lily. What's the rush?" Questioned Vilian with her eyes widened.

"Mi'lady! What are you doing here?"

"Just came to prepare a cup of coffee for me."

"Why trouble yourself when I'm here?" She said as she tried to shoo away Vilian from working for herself when she was her personal maid.

"What's wrong with me preparing a coffee for me?"

"Mi'lady! Have you lost your mind? Look around you everyone's looking at you, so step aside and let me serve you," whispered Lily louder enough, only for the two of them to hear. Just like what Lily had said everyone's eyes were on Vilian.

Giving up, she backed away and waited for her to brew the coffee. "Why not have a seat while I make you the sweetest coffee?" questioned Lily cutely. "Beema?" she called and the maid named Beema who was sitting on the chair bowed at Vilian and wiped the seat with her maid gown and left the seat for Vilian to seat.

"You shouldn't have done that, Lily," said Vilian looking at the maid who left.

"You'll never learn, Mi'lady. Unless you're stern with them you never know when they'll try leech on you," she said shaking her head as she poured the hot coffee into a big coffee mug, "Will you be going back to your room, Mi'lady?"

"Yes..." replied Vilian observing Lily.

"Let me take this for you, Mi'lady," said Lily and started walking forward but stopped, "After you, Mi'lady," she said as she waited for Vilian to walk passed her. Vilian chuckled at Lily. She was trying her best to correct Vilian in front of the servants, not wanting them to think of her lowly, and Vilian cooperated with her.

With the thought of not wanting to encounter her ex Vilian prayed and headed back to her room in a hast, not once glancing behind. Lily did say nothing but followed her all the way to her room.

A big sigh of relief left her mouth, entering the room.

"He still had the nerve to face me!" grunted Vilian angrily, startling Lily who was about to place the jug and the coffee.

"What is it, Mi'laday?"

"That scum rapist! Why hasn't he left the mansion yet?"

"You meant, Mr. Fenan?"

"You are not to address him respectfully. He deserves nothing but hell fire!" yelled Vilian with great rage.

"Don't you think his surname's kinda familiar, Mi'lady?"

"Do you still not recognize who he is, Lily?" questioned Vilian. Annoyance was evident on her face.

"Well I might be mistaken but he kinda has the resemblance of-"

"Lily! How could you forget him? He's none other than Eric Fenan," She said as the name felt bitter on her tongue.

Lily's eyes widened like saucers at the realization. 'How would I know when I've only seen him from afar and not once have you shown me his pic, Mi'lady' thought Lily in her mind.

Running her fingers through her silky hair, she massaged her scalp as she rested her head on the headboard with her eyes closed. In a while, she snapped open her eyes, took the book that was resting on the bedside table, and flipped the pages stopping at the bookmark. Settling with it comfortably, she took the coffee mug from Lily's hand and sipped it going through the lines in the story passages.

Now that Lily got to confirm who this new guest is, she got to understand why the past had triggered her all of a sudden.