"We are home, hubby," Erica woke him.
Patrick peered his eyes out the window. His jaw dropped in awe at the majestic mansion he saw. With the security lights as a source of light, the mansion looked like a fairytale castle protected by fireflies to wade off the darkness.
Erica leaned next to his ear and whispered. "When people are around, you'll take the lead and I'll happily play the role of your submissive wife. Ensure your voice echoes with authority when you speak. Command every room we walk into, weakness isn't welcomed, got it," she explained slowly and calmly for him to register every word she spoke.
Patrick swallowed, hard. Her breath tickled his neck when she spoke with her lips ghosting near his skin. It gave him goosebumps.
He had no problem taking the lead or acting domineering. It was a persona he learned for survival in his maternal home, so he knew a thing or two about what to do.
"Understood."
"Make no mistake, Hubby. My world is more of a bed of thorns than petals. Show weakness and you'll be devoured whole," she warned him.
Her cold voice sent chills down his spine and sparked excitement in his body. Patrick clasped the layer of his pants on his thigh tightly to ground his emotions and act nonchalant.
"I am aware. My world has never been one of the petals either, so..."
"The thorns in my world are poisonous. The poisons are lethal, most of which have no antidote, and hence, it's best to strike first to avoid getting harmed," she interrupted him with more advice. "Impress me," she uttered, planting a soft kiss on his cheek.
Knock! Knock!
Seren knocked on Erica's window. "Come down, the family is waiting," she ordered.
The chauffeur opened the door for the newly wedded couple. Erica stepped out and waited for Patrick; once he alighted from the car, she wrapped her hand around his and shyly hid her frame in his side.
"This way," Seren led the way and they followed.
Derrick fetched Patrick and Erica's luggage from the trunk and followed behind them.
At the door, Matthew and Claudia Lim stood waiting for their daughter. They were accompanied by Erica's younger twin siblings and cousin.
"Dear, how I have missed you," Claudia pushed passed Seren and embraced Erica in a warm hug. She poured all the love she wished to show her daughter in the last three years into the hug. "I was worried to death. I feared my little girl would disappear in prison, and you'll return with piercings and tattoos everywhere like criminals on TV," she cried, losing her composure on seeing Erica at home, safe and sound.
Erica hugged her mother back. She closed her eyes, afraid they'd disclose the fears her mother held in her heart.
Prison had changed her and her mother's little girl was reduced to a distant memory in her mind. She barely held on to the memories of who she used to be in her transition and could only mimic it for the world.
"I missed you too, Mama," a tear fell down her eye, mourning the loss of the person her mother missed.
"Don't ever scare me like that again," Claudia held on to her daughter strongly. Afraid she might lose Erica again if she lets go. "I can't handle losing you again."
"That's enough Claudia. Let Erica enter the house first before you suffocate her with love," Matthew came to Erica's rescue.
The rest of the family members got a chance to greet Erica and meet Patrick.
Soon, the family was seated in the dining room, having the late dinner prepared to welcome Erica back home.
"I made all your favorite dishes. Tell me, what do you want to eat first," Claudia asked, ready on hand to serve her daughter her first meal home.
Erica looked up to her husband. "I should attend to my husband before I get something to eat, Mama," she explained to her mother. "What do you wish to eat, husband?" She coyly asked Patrick.
Patrick was impressed at how well she played the role of a submissive wife in front of her family. "Pork ribs and fried rice," he said in a soft but strong tone. One that showed respect for Erica but also asserted his place as the head of her family.
"Alright," Erica served him a plate of rice and pork ribs on a side dish and presented them before him. She picked out his spoon and fork, "Enjoy."
"Thank you, wife."
"How very lovely," Claudia exclaimed. "I didn't know that you'd be so dutiful to your husband immediately after marriage. I am happy to see that you haven't forgotten my teaching, dear," she gave her daughter several kisses on the cheek.
"Can we eat now?" Camille, Erica's younger sister rolled her eyes with attitude at the show of affection being given to Erica.
"Cami, behave yourself," Seren scolded her.
"Why are you scolding me?" She snapped. "Everyone at this table is such a hypocrite. Erica killed Grandma; instead of casting her out, you are all welcoming her home like nothing happened. You've just allowed her to take a shot at one of us next," she spoke out angrily.
The table fell into an uncomfortable silence. Erica clasped the hem of her topdress and held in her beast.
Patrick cast a glance at Erica. The feeling of sympathy for her grew in his heart. He wished they knew half of what he discovered on the way home from the prison.
"Camille, Erica is home and our family is complete after a long time. Could you not start with your drama right now?" Claudia pleaded.
"I am not the one who broke our family. Erica did that all on her own when she decided to become a killer!"
"Camille!" The echo of her name comes from every corner of the dining table. Her father, mother, older sister, twin brother, and cousin all scolded her for her outburst.
Camille bit her lip and kept quiet. She didn't feel like fighting the whole family when the problem was just one person.
"Don't listen to her, flamingo. Sit and have your food," Seren said in a loving tone. She pulled a chair for Erica and helped her serve her meal.
A bowl of deep-fried pork balls wrapped in noodles was Erica's soul, especially the way her older sister made them.
From the aroma, Erica could immediately tell that Seren made the dish. 'She came in with me. When did she get the time to cook this dish?' She thought but didn't voice out her inquiry.
"I cooked the dish before I set out to go and get you. But we must have missed each other on the road since I didn't find you on the route you were supposed to take," she explained as though she was able to read Erica's mind and understand the question Erica had in her mind.
"Oh, we changed route midway," Erica answered in a soft delicate voice.
"If a stranger were to see you or hear you speak, they might be under the impression that you are an angel," Camille spat out.
"That's enough, Cami," Carlos, her twin brother scolded. "Sister Erica is not your punching bag. Stop venting your anger out on her."
"Yes, Camille. Erica has had a long and terrible three years; we should try to help her adjust back home and not worsen the situation for her," their cousin, Stephanie, spoke up for Erica.
"You all are harboring a criminal. Call a spade a spade, don't sugar-coat it," Camille fired back at Erica's supporters.
Erica broke down in tears. "I am sorry you feel like that. Excuse me," she got up from the dining table and got confused about which direction to head out.
She had no idea where her room was now that she was back. In three years, she became familiar with the four walls of her jail cell and forgot the terrain of her home.
"I'll send you to your room," Seren offered, sensing her confusion. She gave Camille a stern look before joining Erica. "May, please send Erica and Patrick's food to their room. They'll have dinner alone in the privacy of their bedroom," she instructed the maid. "Brother-in-law, this way. Please," she called Patrick to join them.
Seren held Erica by the shoulder and walked her to the east wing of the second floor. The hallway had two rooms; one stood three feet from the corner, while the other was at the end of the hallway.
"There are two rooms here. I didn't know if you wished to live in the same room or separately so I had them both prepared just in case," she said.
"Th..that's very thoughtful of y..you," Erica let out in between her cries.
"The first room is yours. I has the best view of sunset, I know that you aren't a morning person while the one at the end of the corridor is for Patrick. It has the best view of the sun rising over the hills in the village, I hope it'll be to your liking," Seren went on.
"Thank you for the consideration, sister-in-law," Patrick showed his appreciation.
"I prepared the marital chamber in your room, flamingo," she opened the bedroom door.