Chapter 66 Rhea

Chapter 66 Rhea

RHEA'S POV

"Are you ready?" Estefan asked as he stopped the car in front of the gate.

"Yes. It's just my parents, there's nothing for me to be scared or nervous about," I replied as the gate slid open.

He drove the car inside and stopped in front of the main door. A guard opened the door for me to climb down as Estefan came down and moved to stand beside me. He intertwined his fingers with mine as we walked toward the entrance.

The door opened and the head maid stood in front of us. "Welcome, Your Highness," she said to Estefan before turning to me. "It's good to have you back home, Miss, I mean Your Highness."

"It's good to see you too, Mrs Anderson." I smiled at her. "My parents are in, right?"

"Yes. They didn't go to work because you were coming."

Estefan must have informed them earlier, if not, they would have left for work. Mrs Anderson walked back in and we followed behind her.

My parents met us halfway to the living room. Mom moved closer and pulled me into a tight hug. "My baby, I've missed you so much."

"Mom, I can't breath," I mumbled as it got uncomfortable to breathe.

She released me. "I'm so sorry, It just feels so happy to see you doing fine without us." She wiped her tears.

Dad turned to Estefan who was standing quietly beside me. "Thank you for looking after my daughter."

"It's nothing." He gave him a small smile. One could hardly see it, but it was there. "I have something to attend to, I will be on my way now." He nodded at them before turning to me. "I'll pick you up later," he said as he held both sides of my head and placed a kiss on my forehead before walking out.

I turned to face my parents who had knowing smiles on their faces. "Someone seems to be getting along with her husband." My mom playfully raised her eyebrows at me.

"It's nothing serious." I walked past them to the living room.

"It doesn't look that way to me," Dad joined in but I ignored him.

Taking my seat on the couch, I folded my hands as they took their seats opposite me. We stared at each other in silence before I broke it. "I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what?" My dad asked, giving me a confused look.

"An apology. You guys sold me off to the Royal Family."

"With what I witnessed between you and your husband, I think I deserve a thank you instead." My dad folded his hand.

"Dad!"

"Honey, she's right." Mom placed her hand on his biceps before turning to me with an apologetic look. "We shouldn't have done that to you, we are sorry."

"That's more like it." I nodded with a smile on my face.

"What we did was not completely wrong because it was inevitable," Dad started. "It was obvious you were going to end up in an arranged marriage since you were not getting anywhere with any man."

"But that doesn't mean I shouldn't have a say in it," I retorted.

He was right though. There was no way I would fall in love with someone and get married when I had never once stepped out of the house, so arrange marriage was unavoidable. But that didn't mean I shouldn't get to decide if I was ready to get married, or whom I wanted to get married to.

"You're right, I'm sorry." Dad stood up and came to sit next to me. "Can you find it in your heart to forgive this selfish father of yours?" He gave me a pleading look that made all my anger melt.

A smile spread on my face as I wrapped my arms around him. "Yes."

He kissed my hair as he embraced me. Mom came to sit next to me, putting me in between her and Dad as she joined in the reunion.

"I'm so glad you have finally forgiven us and let go of all the grudges," Mom said as we pulled apart. "If only Leah can do the same, I will be the happiest woman in the world." She sighed.

"Speaking of Leah, how is she doing?" I asked.

"Ever since Estefan's interview went viral, things have been getting worse for her. I warned her not to do anything before she went ahead with a fake suicide attempt, and now, she made the situation worse," Mom explained.

"I don't know what to do with her anymore." Dad shook his head.

A sigh escaped my lips as I thought of a way to help her out before an idea popped into my head. "Leah used to work for the Empire fashion house, right?"

"Yes. Mr Darlington used to favour her, but he doesn't even want to her face anymore." Mom sighed.

"How about this?" I started. "Estefan has some business connection with Empire, maybe I should ask him to put in word for Leah for them to take her back."

That was the only solution I could come up with since I didn't know anything about the modelling industry.

"Really? You are going to do that for her?" Tears gathered in my mom's eyes. "I thought you hated her for what she did to you."

"Of course not. I understand that she did it out of desperation and besides, she's my sister, I can't bear to see her suffering when I can do something to help." I smiled.

"Now I understand why you are my favourite."

"I know, right? I should talk to Leah about it." I stood up. "Is she in?"

"Yes, she should be in her room."

Walking out of the living room, I ascended the stairs, making my way to Leah's room. I knocked on the door but got no response, so I just pushed the door open to meet her sprawled on the bed.

She sat on the bed and glared at me. "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you." I moved closer to the bed.

"Or you are here to make fun of me?" She chuckled. "You got what you wanted and now, I'm miserable, are you happy?"

"What are you talking about? Why would I be?" I scrunched my eyebrows at her.

"Because this was your plan all along. You were always so jealous of me, that's why you did all this," she yelled.

"No, I didn't and you would know if you have a little bit of trust in me," I yelled back. "Just stop, Leah. If you continue this way, you will keep hurting yourself."

"Why do you care when you are the one hurting me?" She threw daggers at me.

"I did no such thing. You brought all this to yourself and tried to bring me down in the process, but guess what? I'm not mad at all, because I understand that you did it out of desperation." I sighed. "I want to help you, Leah."

"And how exactly are you going to do that?" She folded her arms.

"Estefan has some connections with Empire, so I can tell him to put in some words for you," I said with a smile on my face, hoping to get a good reaction from her but what I didn't expect was the mug sitting on the lamp stand beside her, flying across the room to hit my head.

"How dare you try to rub your relationship with Estefan in my face? Who the hell do you think you are?" She yelled at me, not minding that I was screaming in my pain with my blood seeping out of my head.

I managed to crawl out of the room before she hurt me more and I was thankful that my mom chose that time to walk through the passage.

"Rhea!" She screamed when she saw the state I was in.