"How is Asher doing?" She asked through a whisper. She feared for the worse, and yet was hoping for the best. "How is he? Have you visited him?"
Milly Brown sighed as she bobbed her head up and down. "I did. He's still in a coma. Oh, it's such a pity what happened to him. How could such a tall and handsome person have been in a coma until now..." Milly Brown sighed and wiped away her tears. "Now, the modeling agency is being managed by your Stepmother, Corazon Le Mour. But she never was managerial material. She's awful! Asher was the best at it. Now the agency that your mother worked hard on all her life is crashing… Mada'am Corazon is selling every stock to foreigners to keep the company afloat."
"Ah yes…" Astrid said with her eyes closed. If Milly Brown didn't remind her of her father's mistress, then she'd totally forgot about their existence.
The leech and the leech's son, as she calls them.
But for the others, they're now known as the manager of the Starling's companies.
She sneered upon remembering them. Those two bloodsuckers were ostracized by her family for Asher and her mother saw right through them. Not only were they only after her father's fame, money and influence — but they were also after her mother's assets as well.
Their selfishness definitely overshadows her past self. And now after hearing that they're selling everything means that Asher's gut feeling about those two fools are true. They really are nothing but monkeys.
If she was her past self, she would definitely fight to save her mother's company… but now, she's even too tired to move. She doesn't have the heart to fight with anyone. She had been fighting to survive for five years.
And now the fire in her heart was merely an ember.
"My lady, you really don't plan to go back to your family?"
Astrid shook her head and gestured down to her leg. "I am not who I used to be, Milly Brown. I'm broken, lame." She sighed and almost rolled her eyes at such a question. "What will I do if I go back there? Once those two monkeys see me, they'll wipe the floor with my face!"
Not only that, but they'll just laugh at her. And she had enough of people poking fun at her.
"But, my lady, I don't know if I have the right to tell you this... Some time ago, I heard Mr. Starling say that if Asher doesn't wake up next month, they will euthanize him!" Milly Brown cried. "They're going to kill him off like some kind of animal!"
Astrid's body trembled and her breath hitched upon hearing such news, A cold shiver ran down her spine and an unexplainable feeling arose from the depths of her heart.
The handsome and bright smile of Asher's face reappeared in her mind. She remembered his green eyes. His dark blonde hair and the freckles on his face.
She remembered his promises when they were young… even on the day of her wedding.
"Astrid, as long as you're happy, whatever you choose, I will stand by your side, and I will protect you for the rest of your life."
Tears flowed down her face, and she couldn't help clenching her hands tightly. Her blunt nails dug painfully against the palm of her hands.
Just imagining her brother in a casket makes her knees weak from anguish. Her brother who showed her nothing but kindness, love and compassion. The only man who did not hurt her nor break her heart.
And now, he's going to be killed by her idiot father.
"My lady?" Milly Brown's hand flew up to her cheeks, wiping her tears away. "I feel your pain."
Astrid shook her head. "No, you don't, Milly."
The events from last night were something that resembled one of her worst nightmares. She was trapped inside the cage of her own sorrows that she forgot about her daughter, her brother and the people who were once entangled in her hazy life.
Astrid Starling didn't realize it was already morning. She only remembered tossing and turning in her big comfortable bed, feeling the satin sheets beneath her once soft skin that was now calloused. By the time she woke up, when she turned to hug the pillow she was taken aback when it was damp.
"Oh…" A burst of realization came to her.
She cried herself to sleep, feeling agony and guilt because of her woes and indecisions.
This is the first time in five years that she has not woken up from abuse and beatings. When she pushed herself off the soft bed, she felt a little grateful for today.
But just before she could go outside of her room to freshen up, Milly Brown's bright smile greeted her. The woman was standing up outside of her door wearing the usual blue and white maid uniform.
"Milly?" She sounded surprised but her face remained relaxed. "What are you doing here?"
"Good morning to you too, my lady." Milly joked around, trying to lift Astrid's spirit. "It's time for breakfast. May I assist you as you go down? Sire said you have a doctor's appointment later. To check if you're well enough."
"Sure. Where's the washroom?"
"There's a washroom inside your bedroom, my Lady." Milly Brown fought the frown that crept up her face. "I thought I showed it to you yesterday."
'Oh.' Astrid let out a shy smile. "A —ah… I remember. Sorry."
"It's okay, My lady. Shall I help you get ready —"
"NO!" Astrid answered, cutting off Milly's kind offer. The middle-aged woman flinched, making her feel shitty. "So—sorry. I can do it. Just… wait for me downstairs."
"It's fine, but I insist." Milly sighed. "It's the sire's order. He said…" Milly paused, then sighed, paraphrasing the Sire's coldblooded remark about Astrid's condition in her head. "...he said to help get ready. You have a strict schedule laid out for you, you see."
Astrid frowned, but she did not say anymore.
She allowed Milly to bathe her like a child. Dress her, and comb her hair. She forced herself to not react, to not show any signs of discomfort for Milly was attending to her with a sincere smile.
Milly Brown, oh sweet Milly was treating her as if she's made out of porcelain. One wrong move, and she'll break. If only she could tell her friend how many times she had been broken, how many times she had to mend herself. Repeat the cycle and break again and again.
Once Milly was done, she looked at herself in the mirror. For the first time in a while, she looked… decent.
She was wearing casual clothing. Faded jeans and a plain white shirt. Milly gave her a pair of block dolls shoes and asked her what kind of lipstick she wanted to wear.
"Red. I want the red one."
And Milly agreed, a wide grin was painted on her face. "Red had always looked good on you, my lady."
As the two of them were going down the stairs, Milly explained today's itinerary to her. First off they're headed to a general hospital to have her checked.
"The Sire has already sent someone to do the matching, so as long as there is no problem with your general health. You can condition and prepare yourself for the bone marrow transplant set for our little Acashia." Milly dictated as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
Astrid was listening intently, not skipping a bit or a word until…
"Wow —" Acashia's energetic giggle reached their ears. The morning light fell on her face, the ethereal glow almost made the little girl look like an angel. " —pretty lady, it's you!"