🍀 Alisa 🍀
"Don't wear that. You'll look like a chemical rainbow trapped in sheep fur."
I sighed and tossed the dress away.
"That one screams 'I'm an idiot on Christmas morning.'"
Another dress flew across the room.
"You look like a sick chicken in that."
I groaned loudly.
"What about this one?"
Kiki blinked slowly. "That dress literally exposes your 'I'm stupid' identity."
I stared at them in disbelief.
"Then what exactly am I supposed to wear? A HOUSE?!"
The room exploded with laughter.
"Why don't I just choose for you?" Vira offered.
"You could've done that from the beginning instead of ruining my peace," I grumbled, collapsing dramatically onto the bed.
"No way," Kiki protested immediately. "She'll turn Lisa into the devil's stepdaughter."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vira frowned.
"It means you dress like a rich vampire attending funerals for fun," Carlyle snorted.
I giggled.
"I'll style her instead."
"So you can turn me into a disco ball? Absolutely not."
Kiki flipped her invisible hair dramatically.
"I suppose Her Royal Majesty must handle this personally."
She marched toward my mountain of clothes and nearly gagged.
"You desperately need a new wardrobe."
"I like my clothes," I muttered.
"No, pumpkin. Your clothes are committing crimes."
I pouted while Vira suddenly spoke up.
"Do I really dress like the angel of death?"
"Where do you think Elvira learned it from?" I scoffed.
Vira grinned proudly. "Cool."
I laughed.
Kiki suddenly dove into the pile of clothes dramatically.
"If I die in here, tell Patrick I loved him!"
"They're too many!" she screamed. "I can't fight them all!"
"Erra, stop being dramatic," Carlyle laughed.
Then Kiki gasped loudly.
"FOUND IT!"
She held up black fitted trousers with silver stones running along the sides, fading into white near the ankles.
I blinked.
"When did I buy that?"
"You didn't. Fashion angels delivered it in your sleep."
She tossed it at me.
I reluctantly changed while the others shamelessly stared.
Vira whistled loudly.
"I swear, those curves are dangerous."
"Men will literally lose brain cells over her chest," Carlyle added dramatically.
I blushed hard.
"And her body shape is perfect," Vira continued proudly. "Hourglass figure hiding inside clown clothes. Tragic."
"She's not flat at the back either," Carlyle nodded wisely. "Balanced equation."
"When people mention flatness," Kiki announced proudly, "they should mention Elvira's name and every man shall flee."
Vira folded her arms. "At least my husband still loves me."
"That sounds like his problem," Carlyle replied proudly before turning sideways to show off her backside. "Unlike me—the blessed child of the family."
"There's nothing there except poop," I giggled.
"EXACTLY!" Kiki and Vira shouted together.
"Boobs are superior," Carlyle declared arrogantly. "Boys love them."
Honestly… she wasn't wrong.
"Can we move on?" I muttered quickly, trying to stop blushing.
Kiki returned with a sleeveless white turtleneck crop top.
I hated it instantly.
Too fitted. Too pretty. Too… grown.
"Perfect," Kiki grinned wickedly.
Oh no.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⏳ An Hour Later ⏳
Cole—also known as Bald Head Man—picked us up.
Mom insisted Kiki came with me because apparently she hoped Damien would see her and suddenly change his mind.
Not surprising.
"You have to be careful around him," Kiki whispered nervously during the drive. "That man is cruel."
I nodded silently.
I was too terrified to speak properly.
Mom burned my scarf earlier.
My scarf.
The only thing that ever made me feel safe.
Without it, I felt exposed. Naked. Weak.
My hands trembled uncontrollably.
Then suddenly—
"Oh. My. God."
Kiki's jaw dropped.
The sapphire gates slowly opened before us.
And I forgot how to breathe.
The mansion looked like a royal castle hidden inside a magical forest. Towering trees surrounded it beautifully while flowers bloomed everywhere like nature itself lived there.
It was breathtaking.
Did I care?
No.
I was still scared.
But the moment we drove inside… something strange happened.
I felt calm.
The colorful flowers swayed gently beneath the sunlight while willow trees danced in the wind. The air smelled sweet enough to taste.
It felt peaceful.
Safe.
"This place is beautiful," I whispered softly.
Cole smiled proudly and linked our arms together.
"Come on."
The giant sapphire doors opened instantly. Two guards bowed respectfully.
I bowed back automatically.
The inside was even more beautiful.
Paintings lined the massive walls—winter landscapes, forests, queens, knights, kings, abstract splashes of color. Everywhere I looked felt expensive, elegant… untouchable.
My fingers brushed against the cold walls as we walked deeper inside.
Kiki's heels clicked sharply across the marble floor.
We passed a gigantic living room and I nearly cried.
The sofas looked heavenly.
Soft enough to erase sadness.
Soft enough to make your butt forget suffering existed.
"My babies," I whispered emotionally while staring at the cushions.
Kiki burst into laughter.
Finally, we stopped in front of a ruby-colored door.
Cole pushed it open.
A library.
A gigantic one.
My mouth fell open instantly.
Books everywhere. Endless shelves. Golden lights. Royal furniture.
It looked exactly like the library from Beauty and the Beast.
"Who's the new girl, Cole?"
I turned immediately toward the voice.
Mr Cute.
Patrick sat lazily on a royal blue couch, looking unfairly handsome.
Then my gaze shifted to the older man seated beside him with a briefcase.
Lawyer maybe.
Then—
My eyes landed on him.
Mr Grumpy.
No.
Not Mr Grumpy anymore.
Mr Gorgeous.
Oh sweet merciful heavens.
My heart literally somersaulted.
His black hair fell perfectly across his forehead in soft curls while his sharp jawline and dark eyes looked illegally attractive.
And that beard—
Lord help me.
New crush unlocked.
Oh my God.
OH MY GOD.
I'm in love.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🌿 Damien 🌿
I was already irritated.
Patrick kept switching between calls from side chicks and sugar mommies like his life depended on female attention.
The door opened.
Cole walked in with some random girl.
I was seconds away from yelling when she looked up.
Electric blue eyes.
Her.
My mouth actually fell open.
Shit.
This was bad.
Very bad.
I was staring at a girl.
Worse—
I didn't want to stop.
She looked completely different today.
Fitted clothes. Styled hair. Soft lips. Bright eyes.
Beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
She wasn't even looking at me.
She was too busy admiring the library.
Why did that annoy me?
"Who's the new girl, Cole?" Patrick asked teasingly.
The other girl beside Alisa practically melted while staring at him.
Ugly.
My attention snapped back to Alisa immediately.
Then she finally looked at me.
And froze.
Her eyes widened.
My fingers unconsciously brushed my face.
Was something there?
"Oh my God!" the other girl screamed suddenly. "I'm your biggest fan, Patrick!"
Patrick flashed that stupid charming smile.
Another victim secured.
I cleared my throat harshly.
I hated distractions.
And this electric-eyed girl was already becoming one.
"Let's get this over with," I said coldly, sliding the contract toward her with my foot.
She picked it up carefully with those tiny fingers.
Cute.
Disgusting thought.
I ignored it immediately.
"Rules," I said flatly. "Don't talk to me. Don't stare at me. Don't smile at me. Stay ten feet away from me. Don't touch anything expensive. Don't make unnecessary noise—"
"Even pets live better than that," the other girl scoffed angrily.
I raised an eyebrow slowly.
"What exactly do you think my sister is? A puppet?"
"Kierra, it's okay," Alisa whispered softly.
So that was her name.
"No, it's NOT okay!" Kierra snapped. "There's no way you're helping him!"
I leaned back lazily with a smirk.
"Is that so, Miss Kyla?"
"My name is Kierra."
"Listen carefully, Sierra. Don't test my patience."
Alisa quietly signed the contract.
Everyone froze.
I smirked slightly.
"Good."
Kierra stood angrily. "Let's go. Call us when you need her."
"She stays here."
Silence.
Patrick's and Cole's heads snapped toward me instantly.
"What?!" Patrick nearly choked.
I shrugged casually even though I had no idea why I'd said it.
"You won't need to worry about clothes or appearances. I'll handle everything."
Then I looked at Kierra coldly.
"You may leave now, Helen."
"It's Kierra!" she hissed.
"I'll be okay, Kiki," Alisa whispered softly.
And suddenly, I realized something terrifying.
I didn't want her leaving either.