Chapter 4

• I got up from the bed, irritated and hungry. It was early in the morning. The bright morning sun was streaming through the window. I had done nothing and was unable to sleep. I decided to make myself some breakfast.
• I want to eat pancakes. I noticed that in this household, rice seemed to be the main food for every meal. Fried rice in the morning, rice in the afternoon, and rice in the evening. I suppose it made sense with a student living here, but it wasn't exactly what I was accustomed to.
• I would often have pancakes, waffles, or cereal for breakfast. I'm limiting my rice intake because of its calories, but lately, I haven't been able to exercise regularly. I'm not sure if there's a gym nearby.
• While I would have preferred to jog outside, I wasn't allowed to leave the house, and I was concerned about the cold weather. However, judging the man's physique, I assume there was fitness equipment in the house that I'm not aware of. Maybe I'll ask later.
• After tidying up, I headed to the kitchen, where I found the maids preparing breakfast, including Mrs. Tess, the house head maid.
• I found out their names when I asked Mrs. Tess about it. It was again a series of banter.
• "You can't fool me, Veronica. It's impossible that you don't know their name. They're your husband and son," she replied skeptically.
• I rolled my eyes. "If I knew their names, would I ask you? I already told you, I'm not Veronica. Does anyone believe me? Now, tell me the name of your boss, or I'll start calling you and everyone else in this house cartoon character names," I threatened while raising an eyebrow.
• In the end, she finally revealed their names. The younger maids were Gigi and Hana. The house owner was none other than Zackarious Bullet Hyacintt. I was surprised when I learned that.
• No person on his right mind could ever forget that man when talking about business and ruthlessness.
• His reputation precedes him like a white horse galloping through the wild. His domain is mighty yet enigmatic, and he operates self-sufficiently, never letting anyone get too close. Compared to his company, ours is insignificant.
• If I had to compare our companies to houses, ours would be a stone cottage, and his would be a sprawling castle.
• It must have been out of my mind to test the patience of such a powerful corporate monster.
• Zanarious Ash Hyacintt was the name of his son. The adorable, innocent, and charming boy. And, of course, everything was being done for the sake of the boy.
• I'm not sure why Zackarious was still trying to save his shattered marriage. Why doesn't he just end the relationship and start over with someone else? Was he so in love with his wife that he would rather reunite with her than get a divorce? While I understand his desire to give his son a complete family, relying on a perfect family to exist seems unrealistic. Even if they're only a family of two, they're still a family. We don't have to pretend to be happy in front of the child, as any forced happiness will be apparent to the child.
• In fact, the child may even feel that their family isn't genuine, which can be more damaging than just being honest with him.
• However, I must acknowledge that any advice I gave was solely for my own benefit, as I was not in their shoes.
• When I was young, my mother passed away from cancer, and my father became completely devoted to her memory. He made decisions for me, shutting all my doors and molding me into the daughter everyone wanted. He ruled my life, and I yearned to be free, like a wave trapped by a bridge.
• When I decided to be free, I was then caught by another bridge wall. My violent waves are starting to push and break it in retaliation.
• In life, we often yearn for what we lack, long to see what remains hidden, and wish to experience what we have yet to feel. But what our hearts desire may either heal or destroy us.
• It's understandable why some people feel envious of what they don't have. Even if we have everything we need, we can still feel a sense of lack, absence, and loss. There's always something missing.
• When I rebelled, it gave me a new perspective, realizing that there are others who are in far worse circumstances than I am right now. It also made me realize that we're all the same. No matter the situation, it comes down to the decisions we make, the actions we take, and the outcome we desire.
• However, I'm still angry about being confined here. It's frustrating, especially when it seems like everyone in this house despises me, even though I'm not doing anything wrong.
• Well, except for Rious.
• Rious is a gentle and innocent boy who longs for his mother. I don't know what Veronica did, but it seems like she has forgotten about her son.
• I promise to myself that I will not be like her in this lifetime.
• "I want to make some breakfast," I offer.
• My statement surprises everyone, especially Gigi and Hana.
• "Sure," Mrs. Tess replies, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Serve your husband."
• While the meal I plan to prepare is primarily for myself, I will make enough to share with everyone. It feels a bit awkward to act like a resident of the house since I'm only a visitor here.
• I treated myself as a guest, despite them all insisting that I am Veronica. I do not see myself that way.
• "Excuse me, do you happen to have a ready-mix pancake box?" I asked as I headed towards the cupboards to check.
• Since there was a child in the house, I assumed they would have it.
• I spotted a box of pancake mix and took it with me as I grabbed a large bowl.
• I combined all the ingredients. Gigi offered to help me, but I declined as I didn't want to burden them with extra work. Pancakes were also simple to prepare.
• Cooking was a skill that my father expected me to master to become his ideal daughter. In fact, I even took extra culinary classes in college to improve my cooking abilities.
• I placed the frying pan on the stove and waited for it to heat up. Meanwhile, I noticed the people behind me glancing at me as I cooked. I furrowed my brows, unsure of what they were thinking.
• "Do you want me to cook instead, ma'am?" Hana carefully asked.
• I smiled and politely declined. "No, thank you, but I can manage. This is easy-peasy. Could you just grab me a plate, please?"
• Despite their silence, they remained nearby while I cooked. They had finished cooking some breakfast as well.
• I couldn't help but notice their curious glance at me.
• Over the past few days, they have avoided me and seemed irritated by my presence. I understand their behavior, but is it fair to show anger towards someone who has done nothing to provoke it?
• Whether we are friends or foes, strangers or acquaintances, it's important to treat each other with civility and respect. Only respond with force when necessary. If they choose not to speak, at least acknowledge them as a person.
• I successfully cooked the first batch of pancakes. By the time Mrs. Tess approached me, I was already on my second batch.
• "This is such a surprise, Veronica! When did you learn how to cook? Last month, you said you wouldn't step foot in the kitchen again," she said with mockery and sarcasm.
• Ohh. Does it mean that Veronica doesn't know anything about the kitchen?
• I couldn't help but grin at myself. This was an opportunity to prove that I was not her then.
• "When I was in college, my father insisted that I attend culinary school. He believed that all women should learn how to cook because it's a basic skill. He said that if I knew how to cook, I could take care of my family," I happily replied. "What's the favorite dish of little Rious? I would love to prepare it for him and everyone else," I innocently asked. The thought of making lunch for Rious and lowkey proving to everyone that I'm different from Veronica made me smile.
• Although Mrs. Tess did not respond, I didn't let it bother me. Hah! Take that information. I had given them a piece of information that would help them realize I was not Veronica.
• I carried two plates of pancakes to the dining area and set them on the table. When I saw Rious, I couldn't help but grin. He jumped out of his chair and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
• "Mommy, good morning!"
• "Good morning, sweetheart! How was your sleep?" I sweetly asked.
• "It's great! Will you tuck me in and read me a story again tonight, mommy?" he whispered, his eyes shining with love and excitement.