Chapter 7
As the crimson hues of the sunset began to fade, Rayzon watched Aleza's retreating figure until she vanished into the distance. A faint, lingering smile played on his lips. Suddenly, he blinked, shaking himself out of his daze.
"Wait... why am I walking?" he muttered with a soft chuckle.
He signaled his private chauffeur, and within moments, a luxury car swept him away toward his sprawling estate. As he stepped through the grand entrance, his eyes immediately fell upon a pair of school shoes neatly placed by the door. His brow arched in an immediate expression of annoyance.
She's here again... he thought, exhaling a heavy, weary breath.
Stretched out across the plush, designer sofa in the living room was Mami-chan. She didn't even look up from her phone as she spoke, her voice dripping with casual confidence. "Welcome back, Rayzon."
Rayzon stood over her, his gaze cold and judgmental. "Mami-chan, why are you at my house again? This isn't right."
Mami finally turned off her screen and sat upright, a provocative smirk dancing on her lips. "What? Can't I visit my own fiancé's house?"
Rayzon's eyes darkened. "That 'fiancé' talk was something our parents started," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I never agreed to it, Mami. And another thing—nobody at school is supposed to know about our parents' arrangement. Keep it that way."
Mami laughed, a sharp, mocking sound. "But your father already sees me as his daughter-in-law. Your mother does, too."
Rayzon sat on the opposite sofa, his posture rigid. "Listen, Mami. You're my cousin, and cousin marriages are a recipe for disaster. Future complications, genetic risks... you know exactly what I'm talking about. Stop pushing this."
Mami's eyes narrowed as she leaned forward. "I've been watching you for two days, Rayzon. You've been hovering around that new girl, Aleza. Is that why you're rejecting me? Have you actually fallen for her?"
Rayzon's face flushed a deep, sudden red. "No! It's not like that! She's just... she's a good friend. That's all."
Mami moved closer, her fingers reaching out to grip his school collar. She pulled his face inches from hers, her golden eyes searching his. "Then swear it. Swear you don't love Aleza."
Rayzon's heart hammered against his ribs, but he shoved her hand away, stepping back to catch his breath. "It's not what you think. You're making a scene out of nothing."
"If it's nothing, then why is marriage a problem?" Mami shouted, her frustration boiling over. "That 'cousin' excuse is a lie! You've spent every waking second of the last two days chasing after Aleza!"
Rayzon didn't stay to argue. He turned toward the stairs. "Think whatever you want. I'm going to my room. If you're hungry, tell the servants—they'll get you whatever you want."
He vanished into the upstairs hallway, leaving Mami fuming. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. I don't know what's wrong with him, she hissed to herself. Why is he chasing that dark-skinned girl when he has me? I need to talk to my uncle. He needs to know what his son is really up to.
In the sanctuary of his room, Rayzon sat at his study desk, but the textbooks before him remained unread. Nobody at school knows about Mami and me yet, he thought. The guys at school worship her like a goddess, and she knows it. She has an ego bigger than this house... I can't stand girls like that. I need to tell my parents once and for all: Mami-chan will never be my wife.
He looked down at his hands, a soft smile returning to his face. "Because the only person I want to marry... is Sofia." He glanced up at the ceiling, his voice a whisper. "Aleza, if you really are Sofia... then you belong to only me."
Across the city, Aleza was busy in her small kitchen, preparing noodles. Suddenly, she let out a loud, violent sneeze. She rubbed her nose, blinking in confusion. "Someone must be thinking about me," she muttered. She looked down at the boiling pot and grinned. "Hurry up and be ready. I'm starving!"
When it came to food, Aleza had always been a bottomless pit. She settled onto her sofa with the steaming bowl and dialed a familiar number.
"Hello, Mom? How are you?"
Her mother's voice came through the line, laced with worry. "My dear, are you alright? I worry about you more than ever now... you're so young and beautiful out there on your own."
Aleza smiled sadly. "Mom, I'm not the old Sofia anymore. You know how hard I've worked over these five years to rebuild myself. Your daughter is strong now."
"I am proud of both my daughters," her mother replied softly.
The smile vanished from Aleza's face instantly. Her grip tightened on her phone, her knuckles turning white. "Both your daughters? After everything she did, you still call her that? Have you forgotten the shame she brought us? How can you forgive her so easily, Mom? It makes me so angry!"
"I am a mother, Aleza," her mom whispered. "A mother's heart is soft for her children, no matter how great their sins. I was angry, yes. But the day you left for the city, she came back to the village. She cried at my feet for forgiveness. I hadn't seen her in five years... I couldn't bear to see her in such pain."
"Fine!" Aleza shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "Forgive her if you want, but I never will. I was just a child when she was bringing those men into our home. The memory makes me sick!"
"Aleza, listen to me," her mother pleaded. "That's all in the past. She's getting married next week. I want you to come. I want you to be there for her wedding."
"Never!" Aleza screamed. "In no world will I ever go to that woman's wedding! Get that through your head! And... I need some money. Send it by tomorrow morning."
She hung up abruptly, shoving a forkful of noodles into her mouth, tears of anger stinging her eyes. How could Mom even ask that? Sehein is a fool. She isn't my sister anymore.
The next morning, Aleza adjusted her uniform and opened her apartment door, only to freeze. Standing in the hallway was Sehein.
A faint, nervous smile touched Sehein's lips. But as her eyes landed on her younger sister, her jaw dropped. She covered her mouth in shock. "I... I can't believe it. Are you really Sofia? The Sofia I knew was never this... this beautiful."
Aleza's face was a mask of cold fury. "Why are you here? I told you never to show your face at my home again. Have you no shame?"
Sehein stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Take all your anger out on me if you want. I just... I want your forgiveness."
Aleza's control snapped. In a blur of motion, her hand swung out, delivering a resounding SLAP across Sehein's face. The force was so great that Sehein was thrown back, collapsing against the hallway wall. She didn't cry out. She didn't make a sound.
Aleza looked down at her with pure disgust. "If you have even an ounce of dignity left, never step foot near me again. Forget the wedding—if you were dying in the street, I wouldn't even look your way. Now get lost!"
Aleza turned to leave, but her heart nearly stopped. Standing on the stairs, frozen in shock, was Rayzon. He had seen everything.
Aleza's eyes met his for a split second—a mix of defiance and raw pain—before she brushed past him without a word, her footsteps echoing as she ran down the stairs.
Rayzon rushed over to the woman on the floor. "Are you alright? Do you need help getting up?"
Sehein offered a tragic, broken smile, her face partially hidden by her messy hair. "A girl like me... this is exactly what I deserve." She stood up slowly, leaning against the wall. "If you're her friend... please. I beg you. Never leave her side. Don't leave her alone in this world like I did. Don't make my mistake."
Rayzon looked at her, then down the stairs where Aleza had disappeared. "I don't usually get involved in family matters," he said quietly. "But if you're her sister, I'll find out why she treats you this way. And I promise you... I will never leave her alone."
He turned and bolted down the stairs, racing to catch up with Aleza.
Sehein stood in the quiet hallway, noticing Aleza's apartment door was still slightly ajar. A small, bittersweet smile crossed her face. "You're still as forgetful as ever, Sofia..."
She stepped inside for a brief moment, placing a wedding invitation card on the table. As she pulled the door shut behind her, she whispered to the empty room, "I know you'll forgive me one day... my beautiful princess of a sister."