I was peeling some carrots at the sink. My fingers were already wrinkled from being submerged for too long. With the slip of my hand, I nicked myself with the knife.
"Ouch! D*mn it!" I cried out.
"Shush, Astrid! Can’t you keep quiet? We’re trying to watch the news here!" A callous, impatient voice rang in my ears immediately.
That was none other than my father’s wife, Imelda Knowles.
I flicked a glance at her. Her heavily lipsticked mouth curled with annoyance and her kohl-lined eyes glared at me with the viciousness of a panther.
Then, she turned back to the TV.
BREAKING NEWS: On behalf of Her Grace, Duchess Ellen Reinhard, we are announcing the Season's Ball at the Reinhard Royal Residence a month from today, on August 27th. The ball is open to the public, but special invitations will be sent to eligible young ladies born during the horoscope sign, Leo.
Huh. I'm a Leo. Maybe I’ll be invited to the ball. Haha… when pigs fly.
The news continued, "These ladies will be presented to her son, the Honorable Nathaniel Reinhard, and he will be selecting one lucky lady for her hand in marriage."
"Holy f*ck! Duchess Ellen's crazy son is getting a 5th wife?!"
"Yeah! I heard reports of the 4th girl running out of the palace, screaming her head off. I think she's in an asylum now!"
"Well, I heard he's an abusive monster! That's why none of those wives lasted more than 3 months!"
I rolled my eyes, focusing on my carrots. Those were Iris and Isobel, Imelda's insufferably snobby twin daughters - my half-sisters, born just 5 days after myself.
They were Leos too.
"If successful, the bride's family will receive 20 million dollars as a betrothal gift."
My hand paused. That's a game-changer.
The things I could do with 20 million dollars...
I felt three pairs of eyes suddenly turn to me. I felt like a piece of meatloaf, hungrily eyed by three hungry canines all of a sudden.
"Astrid, darling, you're a Leo, aren't you?" Imelda drawled, a nauseatingly sweet smile stretching her botox-riddled face.
Uh-oh. I should’ve known what was coming the moment I heard '20 million dollars'.
"Isobel and Iris are Leos too, Aunt Imelda," I replied, keeping a vaguely pleasant face instead of telling her to go away and stop whatever was brewing in her twisted mind.
"Don't be ridiculous, darling. They're still too young!"
What too young? Does she have maggots in her brain? They're just 5 days younger than me.
I swallowed the words.
Not worth it. Not worth it. Cool, calm, and collected.
But she wasn’t done yet.
"...anyway, you're already 21. Were you planning on staying here forever, living off our charity? Leeching our resources, and never getting married?"
I just turned 21 yesterday! Not that anyone bothered.
"Iris and Isobel are of marriageable age too, Aunt Imelda. They'll turn 21 in a few days," I answered mildly.
Talks of getting married made my skin crawl ever since that day when I was 14.
"How dare you talk back to me, young lady!" Imelda's face twisted in fury immediately. "You're only alive today because your kind-hearted father decided to put clothes on your back, you ungrateful little wench! Your mother was lying, manipulative little sl*t! What dancer? She was nothing more than a glorified prostitute!"
I sighed as she repeated her same old insults. "Since I’m such a nobody, wouldn’t your daughters be better candidates? After all, it is a chance to become a royal daughter-in-law.”
“Hah! Title or not, why would I want my precious darlings to be saddled with a deranged, violent husband with a penchant for divorce? You on the other hand have no future prospects anyway. You should be grateful we’re giving you this chance to improve yourself.”
Her vile face contorted into a pitiful, saddened grimace.
"And don’t forget that your father is counting on you. The best lawyers don’t come cheap. If your dear father goes to prison, there’ll be no one else that will protect you."
Ah right. My father - the mighty Richard Astor, owner of the Astor Group of Hotels and Casinos. His life was one of vices and riches... Until his pride and joy, the Astorian Neverland, was raided by the police.
Neverland was the largest casino in all of Elderland and our home.
The establishment lived up to its name as a Neverland, I suppose. During the raid, they discovered an underground brothel in the casino, brimming with activity. It was the largest prostitution bust of the decade.
My father was slapped with multiple charges as a result. He had since been bailed out and awaiting court proceedings to determine if he would be held liable for those crimes.
While I would gladly be rid of these four vile creatures, it was somewhat true that if my father lost everything, I'd go down with him. After all, I was already 21, and the debt I owe...
I didn't have much of a choice. But...
I turned to look at my father, who was sitting silently on the couch. His eyes were closed and he seemed deep in thought.
Was he not going to say anything at all?
I scoffed at my own naivety.
Surely he wouldn’t care what I had to do if it meant having that enormous prize money in his pockets to get himself out of jail.
Gritting my teeth, I desperately suppressed the urge to curse out loud. I took a deep breath.
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
“Of course! I knew you were a clever girl, Astrid. We'll go shopping for a dress tomorrow. Take it as a belated birthday gift for you. Leave it to me. You're going to look splendid," Imelda replied. "You may not be as pretty as my darlings but with a little bit of cosmetics that silly boy would fall for you."
"After all, you're a charming little vixen like your mother was, you must have some tricks up your sleeve. Just go to the ball, seduce Nathaniel Reinhard, and we'd have all the money we need to save your father from those greedy wolves." Imelda rattled on with malice.
"Anyway, you won’t need to suffer long. That loony guy drove all those women away within 3 months. When he divorces you, you'd be free to go!" Iris chimed in, her eyes wide as if she were comforting me.
I'd be free to go? Obviously, I'd be dragged back here to be an indentured servant to these self-absorbed so-called relations of mine.
But they can try. I would not let them succeed
In my heart, I swore I'd get my revenge.
