CHAPTER 19

Lisa's POV

"Mother?!" I lift my head to see her fiery red face, gasping as a tear slides down my cheek.

"Lisa, how dare you mislead me? "How dare you? She screams, her hands trembling and tears running down her face.

Damien calls out "Grandma" before he sits down next to me. As my cheek hurts, I turn to look at Juliet.

She winks at me with a smug look on her face.

Bitch!

She also strikes Damien, yelling, "Don't you dare talk to me, you idiot." "How could you entice her into such a dishonest relationship? "How dare you!" His shirt catches her hand.

He is standing peacefully as if nothing is happening, and I attempt to remove her hands by saying, "Mother, stop it." "Plz stop that."

She attempts to grab him, but I manage to free her hands.

The door behind Damien opens, letting the maids in. They all exit, looking from me to the others with a look of surprise on their faces. They want to know what is going on the night of their boss's wedding since it is obvious that something is wrong.

What have you been doing? Paulina, I've been searching everywhere for you. What happened?" The oldest lady bends slightly as he meets her.

She tells him, "We were having a meeting", and Damien furrows his brow. He must be pondering the nature of their encounter.

He commands with uncompromising power, refusing to go into the topic further or grant us solitude to complete what we have begun. "Right away, bring my wife's things up to my room; she needs to change."

Paulina is wary. What's up with the other?

"Do as I say," he shouts at her, a flicker of anger crossing his face.

Instructing the younger maids to retrieve the bags before dismissing the older ones, Paulina nods furiously.

I just brought two suitcases since I don't have much clothing. The two females take the luggage and carry them up the stairs.

Juliet scoffs as Paulina leaves after giving me a nice grin.

I truly don't understand what's going on; could someone please explain? Damien asks while wrapping his arms around his chest and displaying a serious attitude.

I should have anticipated Juliet's behavior. I am not shocked since I have anticipated this. I am aware of the extent to which she will go to get what she wants.

I'm simply glad she didn't enter while the wedding ceremony was still going on. Everything would have been wrecked by it.

Grandma was going to be the first person I told after the wedding, but not at this time. Out of the 365 days, I am expected to spend with Damien, I have only just begun to check off the first day.

Even though I am aware of Juliet's potential, I continue to feel misled and saddened. I believed her. I admired her. I gave a lot up for her.

Although working with Damien pays well, how can I have a decent life when I have a nice heart and am too selfless? I can now understand Juliet's criticism of my selflessness. I can understand why being overly unselfish is problematic now.

Since I started working for Damien, Juliet had always been my duty in addition to paying the bills and looking after Grandma's health. I've been working there for more than a year, yet I have absolutely no funds.

Juliet trusts me. Most of the time, I even take her shopping while I assist her with the groceries. I would have done it even if she hadn't made me feel as if I had to do it for her.

Juliet, however, believed she was entitled to my pay since she said she resigned for me. We both went to the interview, and she informed me that she would resign for me the day before I was hired.

She didn't realize Damien was the boss at the time. She later expressed guilt for her behavior to my face after learning that he was the boss and the guy she was crushing on.

I always feel awful about it and guilty for her predicament. I am aware that she didn't accept the position mostly due to her lack of confidence in her ability to do so. She dropped out of school.

Juliet speaks on her behalf and replies, "What happened is that Grandma now knows the truth about this facade," moving closer and showing with her hands. "I decided to inform her on the list's behalf since I absolutely dislike it when you leave elderly folks in the dark about something this important. I know Lisa wouldn't have the courage to do it," she says, giving me a sly grin.

"What?!" We both shout, acting ignorantly: Damien and I.

"What exactly do you mean by facade?" Damien turns to face her after dipping his hands inside his pocket.

I look up at Grandma. "What is the name of hell did she tell you?"

My heart is hurting as Grandma grits her teeth in rage and tells us to "stop pretending" while wiping away her tears.

Damien tells Grandma, "You shouldn't believe a word this woman here feeds you." "Lisa and I made a commitment before God and man, and we are truly married."

To be married for a year," Juliet again interrupts. "Without sexual activity."

I appear shocked and yell, "What?!"

"Have you told her that?" Damien enquires while moving slowly in a menacing direction toward Juliet, who then recoils in fear. "So why did you withhold what you did from her? Why didn't you tell her how you entered my office and requested my hand in marriage rather than Lisa's? You left it out of your falsehood, did you?

"What? I didn't do it," she firmly murmurs. "Don't you dare tell a lie about me?"

"Lie? Why then did you mislead her? He stops in his tracks and gestures toward Grandma.

She steps away from him and dashes over to Grandma, saying, "I didn't lie to her, I only told her the truth."

She touches her and says, "Let's go."

Grandma jerks out of Juliet's grip and yells at her, "Let go of me!" She gives her a cold look before giving me another one. "Birds of a feather," as they say.

Grandma spins back and starts to make her way to the door after saying that. Juliet chases after her as I breathe deeply and tell myself not to weep.

I snap my head up as I feel a touch on my shoulder and realize it is Damien's. He is staring toward the entrance that Grandma and Juliet used.

Don't be depressed, he mutters. You'll have to spend the night in my room, I suppose. I won't be shocked if my mum also comes to check this out to see whether it's true.

He lowers his hand and saunters to the stairs without waiting for a reaction from me; his pace remains unaltered. I wish I was as carefree as he is since he doesn't seem concerned by anything.

On the night of our wedding, I shouldn't be spending the night in his room, so how the hell am I doing it? We will each have our own rooms, and we won't be permitted to breach each other's privacy, as was expressly mentioned in the contract.

Should I simply go find Paulina so she can assist me with my baggage once again and escort me to my proper room?

I don't think I could sleep in the same room as him comfortably. I never considered this possibility, and I didn't think there was any use in worrying about it.

I had a weird and deep sleep. If I do anything silly before tomorrow morning, I'll be so embarrassed by myself. I shouldn't spend the night there due to this reason.

I scan my surroundings, but nobody is in view. Damien's room is the only area of the home I am familiar with since I saw him walk upstairs when we first came from his parent's estate. I haven't been given a tour of the property.

What is Paulina's or any of the maids' location? Should I just shift my belongings to the other room tomorrow and spend the night in Damien's room?

Already feeling rather worn out from the day's activities, I want a comfortable bed that would help me forget my woes or at least make them seem unimportant.

My mood has been soured by Juliet's entrance. I should be joyful tonight—not because it is my wedding night and I am a bride who ought to complete her marriage, but because this is a new chapter in my life and the start of wonderful things.

Tomorrow, as he has instructed, I am to accompany Damien's Assistant on a shopping trip, and then I am to return home and assist Grandma with packing her belongings.

Damien bought Grandma a new home with servants who would assist her with household duties and keep her company because I won't be moving in with her.

The strategy will now alter. I have to see Grandma tomorrow morning. She waited until the wedding was finished to leave our place, and now that it is over, I doubt she will want to go tomorrow.

My skin is already dry and my brain is starting to hurt from all the thinking, but I shrug it off and swear not to let anything bother me tonight.

The next day will come.

I want this evening to be memorable. My residence has changed. I don't want to dream tonight about the landlady coming to our door and demanding that we pay the rent; instead, I want to sleep well.

I advance a step, then another, and soon I am on the stairway leading to Damien's chamber.

It ought to be different tonight. without any unhappiness or sorrow of any kind.

Why?

since it is the night of my wedding.