The sun peaked through the small opening in the window curtain. A man and woman lay together, backs facing each other. The woman twisted and turned away from the light that hit her face. The man woke up due to the sudden movement of the woman snuggled closer to him. His dark brown eyes looked down at the brown-skinned woman who lay with him, the shape of her spine stuck out and she was far too thin.
He was Helios Wolfram and the woman he was looking at with contempt and disgust was Lilith Viper his wife. The two couldn't be more different and yet they had shared a night so passionate one would mistake them for lovers. They were far from that their families were long-time business rivals. This union of theirs was a peace treaty of sorts and despite the beautiful face she had, Helios knew that she was cold and heartless. She was rumored to have feelings for him but he knew better than to believe she held any kind of affection for him.
He got out of bed first and went to shower and get ready for work. When he got back out from the shower she had already gotten up, dressed in the dark grey nightgown. She was standing on the balcony leaning against the silver guard rail, hair blowing lightly as the cool crisp morning breeze blew by her.
"You can sleep some more if you'd like. You have the day off, don't you?" He said
She didn't turn around but responded to him.
"So do you but I assume you'll still go to work."
"It's not like we had anything planned today. I don't see why I should waste my time here." He said wearing his clothes.
"Right...well have a nice day then." She finally turned and gave him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Hmm"
He continued to dress himself as she shuffled around the room, looking for her luggage. Then went into the bathroom, and she came out as he left the room. Lilith sighed as she dried her hair and changed into some casual clothes before heading down.
As she arrived at the dining table she was a little surprised, sitting between Helios's brother Damien and Mrs Wolfram was Alice Quince who was a second-year Drama School student and the woman Helios was in love with.
Helios was still here sitting across from Alice engaged in what looked like a happy conversation. Once they noticed Lilith the atmosphere shifted, and the men all looked at her with hostility. While the women tried to lighten the mood.
"Good morning Lilith."
"Good morning Mrs. Wolfram."
"Lilith we're family now, there's no need for that. Just call me like how you'd call your mother."
Lilith nodded but didn't say anything else and took food onto her plate. 'Family huh, What a joke. Anyone looking can tell I'm the one who doesn't belong here.' She thought as she put the scrambled eggs on a slice of toast and munched on it.
"Lilith, would you like to join me today? Since Helios is going to work."
"I'd like that, is there a specific way I should dress?
"Just something casual is fine."
"Understood." She said and then looked around the table. There wasn't any tea, she always preferred tea over coffee she didn't have coffee.
"Something wrong? Is the food not to your liking?" Rachel asked worried.
Before she could answer Damien spoke up with a sneer and brow raised. He eyed her like a predator who was ready to rip her apart.
"Oh? Is our food not up to the princess' standards? Not even a day here and she's already making a fuss."
No one said anything about how rude he was, Helios continued to eat, so She spoke for herself.
"I simply have a preference for milk tea rather than coffee. I don't think that equals to a fuss." She said continued to eat.
"Of course it doesn't I'll have the staff informed about it. Damien eat quickly we have a lot to do today." His father said.
"If it's alright I'd like to tell them myself. Even better if I can make it myself."
"Make it yourself? Have you ever even boiled wa-"
Alec wasn't allowed to finish talking as Rachel spoke over him.
"Of course you can Lilith, please make yourself at home and do as you please."
"Thank you...mother" She said
She noticed the way Rachel looked very pleased, she had been the only person to treat Lilith with some respect and warmth. Helios left after talking to Alice, he offered to drop her off at school since she would be late. Damien would do it but he had to go in the opposite direction.
Lilith who had been watching from a distance was noticed by Rachel. Rachel knew the rumours that surrounded Lilith "precious daughter" "spoilt child" "seductress" and much harsher words. However, all Rachel knows is that from the day they met on the day of the engagement being fixed to now, the girl had been nothing but polite.
While Lilith returned to the bedroom, Rachel went to her son to talk to him before he left. Meantime, Lilith lay back on the bed; she felt drained. 'God, they're so uptight...what do they think I'm going to do?' She sighed as she shut her eyes and thought of the wedding day.
Lilith was in a beautiful dress that was elegant and studded with diamonds. A sweetheart neckline and an embroidered with a low back, the unnecessarily long veil. To her, the whole wedding was too much. None of her friends were allowed to attend, she couldn't call or text them since her phone was never in her control. Of course, it didn't stop her, she'd secretly built her empire and some people were loyal to her. Her friends included.
She sat up, took out the phone her family gave her and went to the beautiful balcony, throwing it down hard after making sure no one was there. She'd pretend to be surprised and upset, though honestly, she couldn't be careless. This wedding, although not one she wanted, did have its benefits. Now that she wasn't in that house, she had some freedom. Lilith didn't trust House Wolfram with her secrets since she didn't know the entire truth of the deal.
She went back to her room and took out a pair of red heels. She hated this cursed pair of shoes, so she tore the sole off, under which she hid her real Sim. She had already contacted her friends from a disposable and told them to wait for her to reach out first.
She burned the old one and kept this in her wallet after she dressed to go out with her now mother-in-law. Rachel looked elegant despite being dressed in casual clothes. The two matched wearing dark blue jeans with white sneakers. Rachel pretty much dragged Lilith everywhere, buying everything she thought looked pretty. Lilith was exhausted by the first 4 shops but Rachel's enthusiasm made it hard to say no. The older woman seemed so excited.
Finally, she was able to purchase a phone and they went to lunch.
"Mother I'll just go to the bathroom and be back ok."
"Sure I'll order us some appetizers."
"Anything is fine but I'm not fond of seafood."
She was fond of seafood but had a shrimp allergy. They didn't need to know that right now. Once she was in the bathroom she locked it and made the call she had been looking forward to for months now.
"Hello?"
"Hey it's Been a few days hasn't it Knigh."
"It was about time you called."
"I know, the wedding drained me."
"The wedding or your husband hmm~"
"Ugh...don't get me started on that. I never expected this relationship to go anywhere but to be living with the woman he's in love with is a new kind of weird and get- no no no don't distract me. I'll meet you guys at our usual spot on Saturday for dinner pick me up at...7.30?"
"I'll let everyone know and I'll ask Melissa to pick you up in her fancy clothes to make your husband jealous."
"Ok, he isn't going to be jealous. I've got to go now. Bye."
"Whatever you-"
She hung up and then went back out and continued her lunch with Rachel. Looking at Lilith eat made Rachel happy, it was like watching a hamster. Her cheeks puffed as she munched on her food.
"Here have some more"
Rachel piled some more meat on Lilith's plate when she noticed Lilith specifically picked the meat. "Thank you." Lilith said softly her cheeks reddening at the realization that she was stuffing her mouth. It had become a habit, growing up if she didn't eat fast enough her mother would get angry with her and punish her by taking away food for days. The habit stayed with her, tho she controlled it around her own family, she'd gotten comfortable enough to let loose. For a second she worried she'd be berated but Rachel didn't see anything wrong.
"Sorry...I probably shouldn't eat too much." She said after she swallowed the food in her mouth.
"I see nothing wrong with eating what you enjoy. Would you like some more?"
"Hm..no I'm full now. I'll get the-."
"Won't be necessary...we own this restaurant. Jason will take care of it." She said referring to her husband Jason Alex Wolfram.
The two women returned home late in the evening, Alice who was already home greeted them. Lilith excused herself as Rached gave Alice the gifts she brought, Alice stole glances at Lilith who left would looked back.
"Auntie...do you think she hates me?" Alice asked looking sad.
"Oh Alice don't worry, she doesn't know you but once she does I'm sure she'll come to like you just like we all did." She assured her.
Rachel honestly wasn't sure if Lilith would like Alice. Who would like a woman who is seen on multiple occasions too close to the man they're married to? Tho Rachel knew it wasn't as such, that Helios's affection toward Alice is one-sided the social circles have their way of hurting emotions. She knew what was to come, that Lilith would be made fun of and ridiculed for being with a man who openly showed affection for another.
So far however Lilith showed no interest in Alice. Hopefully, it stayed that way.
Lilith sat down on the bed after taking off her shoes. Today went by peacefully, she liked Rachel and that scared her. She had been hurt enough and any more betrayals would push her off an edge she'd been avoiding.
She heard her phone blow up with text pings and checked her phone. She smiled as she'd been added to a group chat and they'd already spammed it with messages. 'I miss them so much.' She thought as she responded. Finally, she was able to freely talk to them, she was sure her family would interfere but now she had the Wolfram name to restrain them at least from physically harming her and her friends.
It was time to set the traps and bait, she would soon have them all exactly where she wanted them and then she'd be able to leave Wolfram and Viper names behind. She'll live her life as just Lilith.
She didn't realize when she'd fallen asleep, when it was close to dinner time Helios who had returned failed to wake her up and she didn't seem to have any thoughts of walking up until tomorrow so he had a maid change Lilith and lay her on the bed correctly. She curled into a ball under the covers asleep peaceful.