"You scheming b*tch! How dare you show your face here!" Roseann Siedel yelled, her face fuming mad. Ara snickered and just walked past her as if she didn't saw the mistress of the mansion.
"Who even let you in?! Hey! I'm talking to you! Guards, guards!" Roseann Siedel shrilled, her heels echoing on the hallway with each step. She couldn't catch up with Ara's big strides, who came here with a sole purpose.
Ara's hit with a deep familiarity of the place as she walked through the well-decorated hallway. The walls are adorned with paintings one could only imagine the price. The faint smell of fresh flowers lingered in every corner of the place, albeit it was different from before. The chandeliers hung magnificently from the ceiling as its crystals reflected some of the lights coming from the tall windows. This mansion felt so familiar and foreign at the same time.
'This must be it,' Ara said to herself and let her feet lead the way.
Meanwhile, Madame Roseann's voice caught the attention of others in the gazebo, and went inside to see what's going on.
Ara stopped her tracks in front of the fountain in the open lounge. A huge wave of memories washed over her -- she could faintly hear the symphony of children giggling, the bustling people in suits and uniforms, and some inaudible conversations that felt like a hundred feet away. Ara could not breath, and had to sit down on the fountain to prevent herself from falling due to nausea.
Seeing Ara tranced on the fountain, Roseann mocked out of breath, "Had enough? It's not everyday a rat like you could witness things like these."
However, the former paid no attention to her. Receiving no reaction from the girl who 'ruined' her son's image, she got mad. "What are you sitting there for? You piece of garbage! Do you know how much that costs?! Your dirt is spoiling--" Roseann walked up to her ready to pounce but was cut off.
"What's going on here?" Asked Mr. Rowan Siedel, snapping Ara's wandering thoughts.
'This is really the place', she affirmed and stood up but she could hardly compose herself.
"Dad! This pig barged in here out of nowhere!" Roseann spat in disbelief and ran over quickly to the old master.
"Hey." Ara walked towards the confused group of people, finally seeing the man she's looking for: Luke Siedel, the remaining heir to this business conglomerate of a family, and one of the most successful bachelors in the West Borders.
"I'm pregnant." She casually said, and handed him the paper she's been holding. Roseann and the elders, Rowan and Shantal, were shocked to hear about this.
"What are you trying to ploy now, huh?" Roseann scoffed and marched back towards her. "You're really shameless and thick-skinned!" She added and slapped Ara real hard.
Ara didn't mind her and turned to Luke, who's gaze is fixed on the paper. The old master stepped in, "Roseann, behave yourself! And you, young lady, barging in like this is--"
"Leave." Luke simply said. The security has also arrived at the scene. These bulky guys were in black and had subtle earpieces on.
"Can't you read?" Ara scoffed. "It means I'm carrying your child!" Luke only stared at her with daggers, and threw away the paper.
"I-is it true, child?" Shantal inquired as she quickly took the paper from the ground.
"I don't care, just give her some money and have the thing aborted." Luke turned to leave. "No one's leaving!" Declared Elder Rowan, massaging his temples.
They have been pressuring Luke to get married in order produce children, and secure the next generation of the Siedel clan. However, the young man had no intention of marrying at all until Sam Knight came. And now, a baby is also on its way. Now, they got both of what they wished for.
"Is this true, young lady?" Rowan asked hastily. "Yes sir, what happened to us before has bore fruit."
While it is indeed true that his grandson was involved in a scandal with this young lady a few months ago, he never expected that it would come to this, Rowan thought. Her bump is also noticeable now that everyone paid attention to the scrawny looking girl before them.
"Dad, you'd really believe this conniving dirt?!" Roseann exclaimed. "She drugged my son into sleeping with her. I'm sure she's already done that with other men just to get money!"
"Why would I do--"
"Shut up! You reek of poverty! People like you are money-hungry! You leech off of others and--"
"Enough!" Rowan hammered his cane on the ground. "What happened is already done! If this young lady is certain, then it's really our own blood she's carrying." Old Rowan looked at Luke, who remained indifferent.
A few minutes of silenced passed. Ara's dizziness is coming back and she feels like throwing up again.
"I don't want any part of this. I'm not postponing my plans any longer." Luke spoke first. Ara was hurt but she didn't show it and just blamed the pregnancy hormones.
'Luke is still Luke, and he is ever so heartless.'
"Then, you shouldn't have slept around carelessly you stupid fool!" Old Rowan hit him with his staff. Luke could only fend for himself.
Shantal spoke and held her hands, "Child, if you're really pregnant with our great grandson, we'd like to make arrangements and give you the best we could but--"
"Mom! You too?! We don't even know if the child really belongs to Luke! Besides, it's merely a one night stand! How could you possibly get pregnant in just a single deed!" Roseann debated.
"Stop it Roseann! You've caused enough trouble for today." Said the old mistress. Rowan was deep in thought and Luke just stood there, glaring at Ara. Ara did the same.
"How would I face Leslie Knight in the future?! What, you're just gonna cancel on them?!" Roseann complained.
"Well, we couldn't just ignore what happened now that there's a child involved!" Before anyone could react, Luke grabbed Ara's hand and yanked her outside.
"Name your price." Luke said as Ara broke free from him.
"Really? That's the best you can do?" Ara's sarcastic remarks didn't bother Luke.
"Take the money and have it aborted." Luke glanced on his watch. He's already late on his appointment with Sam and now, this girl ruined his plans.
Ara crossed her arms and scoffed. "Oh, do you think I need your money?"
"Don't you? I'm not the first Siedel to go through this scheme."
"Luke Siedel, all of you people think so highly of yourselves yet you can't take responsibilities to you own doings?" Ara smiled but her eyes are cold.
'Not the first, huh? So it runs in your blood.' Although her facade is strong, she's on the verge of fainting and vomiting inside. Luke's strong perfume did not help to ease her nausea at all.
Luke was not affected even a bit. "Then, what do you want?"
'Revenge.' Ara instantly thought. 'It's what I want.' She smirked.
"I wonder how you were able to hold your businesses for so long. I'll go talk to old Mrs. and Mr. Siedel instead, they're the only sensible ones." She left and went inside as she could no longer bear the impulse to throw up. Luke followed suit.
Ara's fast pace could not escape Luke's strides. She tried doubling her steps as her vision started getting blurry and dark.
He grabbed her shoulders and warned her, "How do you think I stayed on top? I can play dirtier than you."
Ara sighed and faced him, "You think you've seen it all?" Her face was icy and her stare, brutal. She swatted his hands away and added, "Luke Siedel, you've brought it on yourself. How shameless are you?"
"So shameless that I could even make you disappear today with just a snap of my finger." His piercing gaze made Ara's heart thump wildly that she had to turned around. 'No! Stupid hormones! Revenge, you're here for revenge!' She scowled to herself and now she's infuriating with anger because of her reaction.
'Disappear, huh? This is how you'd like to play, eh.' Ara laughed to herself. A mix of deep-rooted anger and resentment is now boiling inside her. However, this feeling made Ara's head spin more.
Luke thought she's crying in fear as her shoulders are shaking up and down. Just a millisecond after, he hears a laugh that Ara could no longer contain. Her laughed turned sinister, and her back still facing him.
"I already came back from the dead, do you think you can scare me that easily?"
She turned to Luke and tiptoed to reach his ears before he could even react. "Luke Siedel, you are indeed a stupid fool." Her whisper tickled his ears and just when she backed away, her grin faded and her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
Luke reacted swiftly and caught her in time before she hit the ground. The girl who stood so fiercely just now has fainted in his arms. He was stunned. His face was so close to hers that he could not help but notice how delicate her previously fearless features are.
'Her face looks so soft despite being so thin--' he snapped out his thoughts and shook her. However, the girl was just dangling like a doll. Her face was drained of colors with bead of sweats forming on her forehead.
'She's not faking it,' he thought. He stood up and carried her like a bride. He was just about to carry her to the visitor parlor when he stumbled upon his mother and grandparents.
"I was wondering where you two went." Old Mr. Siedel said as his wife was assisting him, and Roseann following behind them.
"What is she trying to do this time?" Roseann chimed in, seeing Luke carrying the unconscious girl.
"Luke?" A sweet voice spoke from his behind, and he instinctively turned around.
They were taken aback by the shocked and confused Sam who just arrived at the mansion.