Fixing The Misunderstanding

Chapter Three ~ The misunderstanding

Audrey’s POV

The words hit me like a physical blow.

Mistress?

My mind reeled.

“Me? A mistress?” I finally managed, my voice tight with disbelief. “Are you completely insane?”

The crowd whispered. “She’s the daughter of the Morgan family, right? Is she really a mistress? I can’t believe this.”

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to lash out. “I think you’re mistaken,” I said, my hands clenched into fists. “Let’s just end this now, before it gets ugly.”

“Oh, playing innocent? Don’t make me laugh,” she said, stepping closer, her hand raised for another slap.

I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact. Time seemed to slow as the woman lunged. Then, a thunderous “Stop!” shattered the moment, Marcus.

“You jerk! You finally show up! How dare you cheat on me?!” The woman’s words were a venomous spray, and the bag, swung with furious force, connected with a sickening thud against Marcus’s back.

Marcus flinched from the impact.

“Rachel!” His command was swallowed by her screams as he desperately fought to subdue her, his knuckles white against her wrists.

“Rachel… let’s talk somewhere more private,” he said, his eyes darting around. “Audrey, you might want to come along.”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at me, suspicion mixing with her confusion.

Marcus dragged Rachel inside the van, and I followed.

“I’m so incredibly sorry on her behalf,” he said, his voice thick with remorse. “I know it doesn’t excuse her actions, but I carry the weight of it too.”

“Oh, you’re explaining this to your… mistress?” Her voice was dangerously low, a simmering volcano about to erupt. “Let me go, Marcus. I’ll make sure she regrets this.”

“Rachel! Stop!”

Marcus explained everything to Rachel. She slumped in her seat, her face flushed, avoiding eye contact. I thought it was all because she had been throwing tantrums earlier.

She swallowed hard, looked at me, breathing heavily, her hands shaking. “I’m really sorry. I thought he cheated on me. I just love him so much.”

“So, are you going to explain this, or are we wasting time? I don’t have all day.”

“She’s my girlfriend… Rachel Smith.”

“Rachel who? Oh, the up-and-coming Rachel Smith? Please. Let me save you some time, with that personality, you’re going nowhere.”

“Look, she’s just jealous. Think about it, if you were in her position, you might react the same way, or even worse.” He gave me a gentle nudge.

“I… I’m so sorry,” Rachel stammered, her voice trembling. “I thought… I thought you were trying to seduce Marcus. I love him very much, and I just… panicked.”

“Okay, just a little matter of covering my medical expenses, and we can forget this ever happened.”

“Seriously, Audrey, you’re so practical. Sometimes I think you have no soul!”

“I’m glad you finally figured that out,” I snapped, the sarcasm sharp and pointed.

“You’re so considerate,” Rachel said, her eyes downcast, genuine remorse evident in her expression.

“No worries. But seriously, try to avoid being so impulsive in the future.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Okay, I’m going now. Just be careful, you know how crazy the paparazzi can be. This could easily become a big scandal tomorrow,” I said, grabbing my bag and leaving the van.

“We will…”

“What a Sherlock,” Marcus muttered, rolling his eyes playfully.

As soon as I arrived home, my body was about to collapse from the twisted events. I felt the weight of the pain inside me. I could barely think straight. This was too much to take.

The mansion was eerily quiet; the cold wind made me shiver, and the darkness was palpable. Not to mention how everyone here was evil, you might as well have considered this place a living hell.

My steps echoed in the room as the lights came on. Lily approached me with a wicked smile. Even with the lights on, the place still felt covered in darkness from her presence alone.

“I saw you having fun earlier,” she smirked, a wicked glint in her eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stated, my eyes boring into hers.

“Oh, sister, don’t play coy with me.”

She then took out her phone from her bag and showed me a photo of Marcus and me at the bar. It had happened earlier when we were talking about our plans and drinking to forget the burdens we carried.

“Don’t worry, I’ve handled it; Asher will be surprised,” she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. She delicately touched a finger to her lips, a subtle gesture of control. “You’ll thank me later.”

She was such a witch.

“What were you doing? Were you actually spying on me?” I asked, disbelief evident in my tone.

“Oh, I had plenty of eyes on you, sissy,” she chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent shivers down my spine.

“You’re so desperate, aren’t you?”

“Why were you so angry about it?” she asked, her voice low and dangerously calm. She took a slow, deliberate step closer, her eyes glinting with malicious intent as she whispered in my ear, “Isn’t this… what you wanted?”

“So eager to get rid of me? Your desperation was pathetic. But don’t worry, I will leave.”

“Daddy said you were leaving tomorrow. I already packed your things. Such a thoughtful daughter, aren’t I?”

“Tomorrow?”

I pushed Lily aside and went to my dad’s study room with urgency, opening the door with a thud. I approached Dad, who was busy with paperwork.

“Dad, what did you mean I was leaving tomorrow? Why are you rushing this? What’s going on?” I asked.

“It’s been decided. You and Marcus will leave tomorrow. I would advise you not to disappoint us,” his voice was full of authority.

With no other choice, I lowered my head as I spoke. “Yes, Father.”

“Sister,” Lily said, a thin smile playing on her lips. “I’ll miss you. Never.”

Before I could leave the study room, the maid urgently ran toward us with a worried face.

“What happened?” I asked, looking directly into the maid’s eyes.

“Oh, Miss Audrey! Please, come quickly! Young Master Asher is outside, kneeling, asking for you to come out.”

“I won’t,” I said, looking away.

“But, Miss… it’s raining heavily outside.”