"Ma'am, your tutor is here," Helen announced.
Skylar halted and turned to meet Helen's gaze as if to confirm the news.
"Yes ma'am," Helen added. She understood what Skylar's gaze meant.
Confusion was written in bold letters all over her face. Dejection followed and her whole body seemed to be dipped in melancholy as she remembered Louis's words.
"I will get you a tutor to train on wifely duties." Those words stung her ears and she badly wished there was a way she could unhear them.
Louis got her a tutor? On wifely duties?
Skylar scoffed and went back into the manor with her back slouched.
"Ma'am, this is Mr. Steven. He is your......"
Alice stopped as she watched Skylar walk past her without looking at the person she was introducing to her.
They knew she was hurt But no one knew how much.
Her heart was bleeding.
As soon as Skylar got into the manor she wanted to meet the said tutor but as soon as she saw that he was a man. Her head bowed in shame.
How could Louis get a male tutor?
What would she learn from him? The art of sex?
Would he teach her how to treat her husband?
She was worthless before Louis. He would stop at nothing to humiliate her.
Skylar walked straight to the bathroom and went inside the tub. She filled it to the brim and buried herself straight in.
She wanted to hide or worse drown.
"Ma'am!" Helen rushed to her and released the water. "What are you doing ma'am?"
Skylar remained in the tub. She bit her lips so hard that she tasted blood. The pain was nothing compared to what she felt at the moment.
Helen didn't speak anymore. She helped Skylar out of the tub and helped her shower. She washed her hair and scrubbed her body.
"Ma'am, you have to stay strong," Helen advised.
She knew that Skylar was unhappy because of her life but she also knew that she can't escape Louis not even if she dies. He won't spare her. So she can only advise her to stay strong. Hopefully, she might get her freedom when Louis gets tired of her.
Skylar stayed still. Her eyes were fixated on the ground. She heard Helen but she had nothing to say in response to her advice.
She knew patience was the only thing she could use. With patience and perseverance, she can get her long-desired freedom when Louis decides to release her.
But how long would that be? One year? Two years? Ten years?
Can she hold on until then?
Skylar pursed her lips and blinked back her tears. She was working on those tears. She didn't want to cry at every little thing but her life was so hard that the tears feels sorry for her and consoles her only by rolling out.
Her tears were a reassurance that she wasn't alone. She still has her tears with her.
"I'll be out in a jiffy." Skylar took the dress from Helen and put it on.
She knew that Helen was right. Holding on strong was the best option for now. She cleaned her face and dressed her simply as she could.
Skylar applied light makeup to her face to conceal the tears. She smiled at the reflection in the mirror and she wrapped her hair in a messy bun.
She returned to the room, looking entirely different. The sad woman from before was completely gone.
"No matter how messy gets. No matter how shitty life becomes and no matter how thorny the road ahead is, Life must go on." Skylar chanted those words repeatedly in her heart and she drew strength from them.
"Ma'am, you look beautiful," Helen said in appraisal.
"Thank You." Skylar smiled.
"I think you should have breakfast before you attend the class."
"Alright." Skylar agreed.
Speaking of classes. She was reminded of her school. She left school and suddenly became Louis's wife.
Will she leave her studies just like that?
No! Skylar disagreed.
She made a mental note to speak with Louis regarding school once he gets back.
Skylar noticed that her phone was lying in the bedside drawer. She smiled happily as she picked it up. This would give her some company too.
"Let's go, ma'am," Helen's voice cut her train of thought as she remembered that her tutor was waiting for her.
Skylar went back to the living room and she met the man. He stood up as soon as he saw Skylar.
He stared fixedly at her and his mouth hung open.
"Hi," Skylar waved.
"Hi," The man put forth his hand and Skylar took it.
"Pardon my manners earlier, I needed to ......"
"You don't have to explain yourself to me." The man cut her words short.
"O..K..." Skylar muttered with a smile. "I'm Skylar by the way."
She introduced herself since she knew nothing else to say and the supposed tutor won't stop staring at her.
"And I'm...Uh...." The man was flustered "I'm Steven. Your tutor on...."
"Wifely duties." Skylar completed his words.
"Etiquette." Stephen rephrased.
"Oh.." Skylar nodded.
Etiquette was probably what they call it in this part of the world. Skylar concluded in her heart.
"Ma'am, come, have something to eat first," Helen announced.
"I'll be right back..." Skylar informed Steven.
"Okay." Steven nodded.
She looked down at the hand holding her back and her hand was tightly clasped with Steven's
"I will just be back..." She repeated and Steven nodded.
Skylar tried to take her hand but Steven tightened his hold. She looked to Helen for help.
"Ehem...." Helen cleared her throat. "She can leave only when you let go of her hand."
"Oh...Uhm... Sorry...I....Uh... You may leave." Steven took his hand but felt bad at the sudden loneliness.
To avoid working in his family conglomerate like the rest of his brothers, Steven Cruise, became a tutor. He hid his identity as the son of the Mafia lord, Leonard Cruise.
No one knew the youngest son of the Cruise family so it was easier to maneuver his way around the city without being recognized. He took up the job to become Skylar's tutor as the last resort since his father threatened to bring him back since he presently had no student to train.
Who would have thought that he'd be so lucky on the first day?
He found a treasure in Louis's hell.
Who would have thought that an iceberg like Louis would have an angel hidden in his house?
Steven's eyes didn't leave Skylar the entire time and as soon as she invited him for a meal. He happily accepted the offer.
"Are you allergic to any of these?" Skylar asked as soon as they sat at the dining table. She pointed at the food on the table as she spoke.
Steven remained quiet. He was trying to hide his excitement at being so close to her. He was flustered and jumpy. It was the first time he's ever felt that way.
Seeing his expression, Skylar thought he was reluctant; he probably doesn't like the food on the table, so she asked innocently.
"What would like to eat?"
Steven raised his head to look directly into her eyes as he said, "You."