Chapter 9: This Stupid Girl Refuses to Take Orders

“It’s not an open relationship,” he interrupted coolly. “I simply happen to enjoy Megan’s affection too. Is that really so unreasonable for a man of my status?”

“It’s wrong, Carlos!” Cynthia cried, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes. “And on top of Megan, you still have those side chicks circling you, waiting for their turn. How can you even—”

Carlos held up a hand to silence her. “I can’t control other people’s emotions, Cynthia. If women are drawn to me, that’s not my fault.”

“You can control whether you entertain it or not!” she pleaded, desperation coloring her tone. “Don’t you see how much this is destroying me?”

But Carlos had already grown tired of the argument. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he turned to walk past her. “We’re not discussing this anymore,” he said over his shoulder. “You’ve stalled long enough. Tomorrow, we’re all flying to Paris for our honeymoon. Pack your things.”

Cynthia’s jaw dropped as she stared at his retreating back. “Carlos!” she called after him, her voice trembling with outrage. But he didn’t stop.

Before disappearing around the corner, he barked an order at a gardener who had paused his work to gawk at the exchange. “Get back to work if you value your job,” Carlos snapped, his voice sharp and commanding.

Cynthia stood frozen in the garden, her chest heaving with a mix of anger and helplessness. Her mind raced with thoughts of escape, of defiance, of revenge—but all she could do was stand there, tears burning her eyes as the man she loved and hated disappeared from view.

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The Following Morning...

Cynthia stirred awake, her body reluctant to let go of the fragile sleep she'd managed to snatch. The dull throb on the left side of her head was relentless, a reminder of the night she'd spent tossing and turning, her thoughts a storm. Pressing her palm against her temple, she let out a strained groan, sitting up in the grand yet suffocating confines of her suite.

"Ridiculous," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as her fingers traced the edge of the silk sheets. The idea of sharing a honeymoon with her sister and their shared husband, Carlos, was beyond humiliating.

Running her hands through her tousled hair, she sighed heavily. "What will the press say?" The thought twisted her stomach. She stood and crossed the room barefoot, the cool marble floor offering little comfort. Stopping in front of the tall mirror, she stared at her reflection— a woman once confident, now riddled with self-doubt. "Twin sisters married to the same man," she muttered bitterly.

The contract she’d signed with Carlos's company, AX-Spaceline, flashed through her mind. It had been her ticket to a billion-dollar deal, but she hadn’t seen the trap until it was too late. Walking away now meant losing everything— her company, H-Check, and the ten billion dollars it had grown into. Carlos held her fate in his hands.

"I can’t risk it," she whispered, forcing herself to move.

Stepping out of her room and into the expansive hallway, the grand mansion was alive with muted activity. The air carried the faint scent of polished wood and morning dew. Spotting Lily, one of the maids hurrying past with a tray, Cynthia called out, her voice weak yet urgent.

“Lily!”

The young maid stopped abruptly, turning with a polite bow. “Lady Cynthia, good morning.”

“Good morning,” Cynthia replied, pressing her fingers to her temple. “Can you fetch me some aspirin? I’ve got a terrible headache.”

Lily’s brows furrowed with concern. “Are you all right, ma’am?”

“I’m fine,” Cynthia sighed. “I didn’t sleep much last night. This migraine is the result.”

“Was it because of…” Lily hesitated, her voice trailing off.

“Why else?” Cynthia snapped, though her frustration wasn’t directed at Lily. She exhaled deeply, softening her tone. “It’s ridiculous. We’re all flying to Paris today for our honeymoon.”

Lily’s expression was a mix of pity and understanding. “You’ll have to stay strong, ma’am. Don’t let them see you break.”

Cynthia’s eyes glistened, her emotions bubbling to the surface. “Am I selfish, Lily? To want Carlos all to myself?”

Lily stepped closer, hesitating before placing a comforting hand on Cynthia’s arm. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, ma’am. Most wouldn’t have made it this far. To find out on your wedding day that your sister was sleeping with your fiancé… and then to share him in marriage? You’ve handled it with grace.”

Cynthia blinked rapidly, her tears spilling over as Lily’s words struck a chord. She leaned into the maid’s warm embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

The tender moment shattered as Megan’s voice echoed from down the hall. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have duties to attend to?”

Cynthia stiffened, stepping back as Megan’s tall, elegant figure approached. The younger twin’s stride was confident, her sharp gaze dissecting the scene before her.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Cynthia shot back, her voice laced with venom. “What are you doing on this side of the house?”

Megan smirked, folding her arms. “No need for hostility, sister. I was just checking if you’re ready for the flight.”

“Why do you care?” Cynthia’s tone was icy. “So you can flaunt your stolen man in my face for the entire honeymoon?”

“That,” Megan admitted with a casual shrug, “and a few other things.” Her gaze shifted to Lily. “You—what’s your name?”

“Lily, ma’am,” the maid answered timidly.

“Well, Lily, go make me a sugar cream coffee,” Megan commanded, her tone dismissive.

Lily hesitated, glancing nervously at Cynthia for direction.

“Are you deaf?” Megan snapped. “I said coffee!”

“She’s fetching me aspirin,” Cynthia interjected, her voice firm.

“And she can do that after my coffee,” Megan retorted, her voice dripping with entitlement.

Before the argument could escalate, Carlos’s deep, commanding voice cut through the tension. “What’s causing all this noise?”

All three women turned as Carlos strode toward them, his tailored suit pristine, his sharp blue eyes surveying the scene. His presence was magnetic, commanding attention without effort.

Megan pointed an accusatory finger at Lily. “This stupid girl refuses to take orders.”