Chapter 28: A scratch to the ego and heart.
Ursula sat on the ground in Ethan's room.
How did he even find me? Was he lying? And Shania. I can't believe she's gone. But is it true that the child wasn't his and was it true that Shania drugged him but why would she do that to me. If she wanted him, she could have simply said so.
Pain lodged in her throat and no matter how many times she swallowed, it just wouldn't go away.
And even though she felt lighter and less guilty from her mother's forgiveness, her heart still wrenched with pain.
An old wound was reopened.
The door opened.
It was Camilla.
Ursula sighed. A tiny bit of relief that it wasn't Ethan.
Tears began to pour and Ursula shivered.
“Hey, girl take it easy. You're going to hurt yourself if you do this…think about the innocent child in your womb, please”
“Is there anything that could make it all lighter on you? Anything that makes life better?”
“Law.”
“Law?”
“I've always wanted to be a lawyer and I …wrote the exams thrice but my…mother she couldn't aff-afford to…pay my fees so I-”
“Why not rewrite the exam?”
Ursula's eyes softened.
“Rewrite? Now?”
“Yes, are you scared of Ethan? Come on, I even think he'd respect you more if you have your own goals than just sit around all day, waiting to be shouted at and then cry all the time. Don't you think?”.
Ursula nodded.
“Yeah. So, go ahead and order for the books. You can do it. I believe in you. Prepare yourself and register for the exams. Okay?”
A smile leaked in at the side of her cheeks.
Then, she thought of her mother.
“Thank you. It means everything to me. Your words”
“Oh. It's nothing. Just being there for another girl and trying to make up for my wrongs. I am the one who doesn't deserve your forgiveness or trust”
“No. I ac-”.
“And before I forget, I'm so sorry for leaving you alone at the pool. If I hadn't left, none of these would have happened. It was all my fault” she said and rested a hand on Ursula's shoulder.
“It's okay”
“And about Ethan, don't worry, he'll calm down very soon. He's just worried about his image and probably a little bit jealous”
“Okay”
“So, tell me about that man who broke into the mansion the other time”
“The man with the mask?”
“He wore a mask?”
“A joker mask”
“Hmm. Did he say anything to you?”
“He said Ethan knew my father.”
“He did?”
“Yes”
“Did you tell Ethan about it?”
“I did”
“You did. And what did he say? Oh..I'm sorry if my questions come off like an interview. I'm just concerned”
“It's nothing…I did tell Ethan but he brushed it off..”
“Hmm…has this man with the mask tried to reach you again ever since?”
“No…I don't know why”
“Just forget about him. He was probably trying to get attention. Probably one of Ethan's enemies or lunatic fans. You should ignore people like that. So, you don't get into trouble, okay? Just saying”
Ursula nodded.
“Okay. I have to go. Take care of yourself. Will see you later”
“Thank you”
Ursula watched her leave and then scrambled onto the bed, going to her phone immediately, logging into the university's website and registering.
She quickly pressed order on all the law books in the virtual library.
Well, at least she could afford all of them now.
A tiny wave of excitement swept over her.
That evening, the books arrived and while she signed the parcel, Ethan walked in.
“What's that?” he asked sternly.
“Books..”
“Books for what?”
The delivery man tried to avoid eye contact with Ethan.
“My exam. I'm ap-applying for my exams. It's coming up v-”
“What exams?”
“La-”
“Speak up!”
“For entrance into the law school”
“You? Law school? Are you insane?”.
Ursula lowered her eyes.
“I really want to try out and s-”
“Are you crazy! You're still talking back to me. You still have the guts after everything you did? You're so shameless!”
“I'm so s-”
“Enough!”
Ursula was startled.
Ethan turned to the delivery man and gestured, pointing to the gate.
“Please, Et-”
“Shut up and don't ever say anything while I'm speaking again. Understood?” he cut in.
The delivery man dropped the parcel of books and began to walk out.
“Hey!” Ethan barked at the delivery man.
The delivery man turned around.
“Sir?”
“..take everything and leave with you.”
“Sir, she already paid for everything”
“I said take everything and leave! Right now!”
The delivery man bent down, picking the parcel, his eyes showing how sorry he felt for Ursula.
The delivery man left.
“I'm so sorry, Ethan, please let me write this exam. I promise not to ever let something like that happen again” she pleaded.
“Isn't this like the second time you're promising me? And like the millionth you're humiliating me” he replied.
Ursula fell to her knees.
Guards struggled to look away.
Maids scurried past like nothing was happening.
No one dared to stop and look.
That would be their last day at the mansion.
She held him by the leg tightly.
“I'm so sorry. I'm begging you. Please give me a chance. It's my dream. It's my childhood dream. Please let me. I'm begging you. I'd do anything you say”
Tears had began to soak Ursula's chest.
“You don't have a choice. You already signed the contract and in that contract, I own you and your dreams are ambitions are submerged under mine. Or have you forgotten so fast?”
“Please” she begged again
“You'll do no such thing! Not while I still own you!” he barked.
Even the bodyguards flinched a bit.
That was the loudest anyone had ever heard Ethan's voice climb to.
Ursula got up and ran upstairs, sobbing with her nose runny and face buried at the back of her palm.
Camilla stood upstairs watching with a proud smile on her face.
She had her puppet back again.
Ethan was back in her hands again.