Hi everyone...

2nd update for the day.

First flashback chapter is here. There are going to be some more flashback chapters in future. Enjoy

Flashback:

Alexia's pov

I was sitting on the sofa in our living room. Mother and Rosie sat on the opposite sofa. I had worn a black dress of Rosie which she doesn't like much. It was beautiful black dress with long sleeves. On the other hand, they both wore blue dresses to match with each other.

I never had a chance to match with my mother. She always said that I don't deserve her. I need to suffer for looking like him. As I grew I understood that she hated me for the way I looked. I assumed that I was more like my father as I was nothing like my mother and Rosie was her carbon copy.

Growing up my mother hated me. My own twin, Rosie disliked me. They both never left any chance to show their hatred to me. I never had my father around which added added to many of the reasons why my mother hated me. I was desperate for my mother's love. Mother hated me for something I didn't have any control over and my father wasn't even there to protect me. I started hating my father.

At this point I didn't want a father in my life.

Today my mom's new boyfriend was coming for dinner and she wanted us to be perfect family in front of him.

I remember the beating mom gave me last night for saying that I didn't want to meet him. Safe to say that I am in no position to speak after she made me eat red chilli, so that I know never to speak more than required.

After a while bell rang.

Mother gives me a threatening look which said 'speak more than required and I'll kill you.' The look was enough for me to go still.

Rosie was looking nervously towards her mom. Mother bends down to her level and gives her a smile.

"Don't worry honey everything will go perfect. He might come off as intimidating but stay strong like the brave girl you are. He'll love you." She kissed Rosie's head before leaving.

I turn my eyes from them as my eyes starts watering. Is it wrong that I want to be in Rosie's place. That I want her to love me. To accept me as her daughter.

I look towards my mother when she returns in with a guy. His cold look was enough to make me run towards hill but I stay seated. Running could bring me in light and then I would get punished for trying to get attention to myself. It is only Rosie who is supposed to be important in the family and get all the attention.

Mom smiles at him introducing him. Rosie walks towards him and hugs his torso. I saw a vein pop up on his head and the slight irratation was visible on his face. Mom pulls Rosie apart from him and introduces her. He barely acknowledged both of them.

When he looked towards me I stood frozen. I remembered mother's words from last night.

"Don't try to speak with him. He is a lot worse than me. Just hope that he lets you stay in the house at most."

I couldn't help but panic thinking about it. Mother introduced me halfheartedly seeing his confused look. I gave him a nod knowing that he was irritated with the hug. I could see a bit of relief seeing I didn't try to hug him.

He didn't seem like a kid's person or more like a people's person. I felt like he didn't want to be here.

I wonder how mother and him got together.

"I am Richard Romano. Your mother's boyfriend." He says slightly cringing at his own words.

"Come in Ricky. Let's eat. I made pasta for you." She says bringing him to dining table. I quickly set the tabke and she serves him the pasta and salad, which I made.

She made me sit with them so that he won't get suspicious. Mother was about to take her first bite from salad but Richard stopped him.

"Lily. It has raddish in it. How can you be so forgetful. " Richard exclaims shocking everyone. I jump on my sit hearing his loud voice, which didn't go unnoticed by him.

"I am sorry Ricky. It didn't come in my mind." Mother appologized. Richard cringed at the nickname but let it go.

It was suspicious. The lunch went normally other than mother continuously speaking about Rosie. After lunch I picked up all plates and went towards kitchen to clean them.

"Are you ohkay? " I jump at the sudden voice of Richard.

"Sorry. You just surprised me." I wisper hoping mother didn't hear me.

"You don't have to apologise. I noticed you were really quite during lunch so I just thought to ask." He says walking towards me.

"I am okay. Where is mother? " I ask hoping for the topic to change.

"Something fell on Rosalie's clothes so she went to help her out with it." He responds shrugging.

"Great." I say hoping the conservation will end.

"So how is everything between you and your mother?" He asks trying to act casual.

"Sorry come again" I say shocked to his sudden question.

"I am not dumb to not notice how she avoided you. So what is the deal between you and your mother?" He bluntly asks.

"And what is the deal between you and mother?" I ask back without thinking.

When I realise what I said. I fearfully close my eyes waiting for hit to come but it shocked me when he started chuckling.

"Somethings are better silent. Maybe when you grow I'll tell you. That is if I have to stick around for that long. Now your deal with your mother." He asks back looking towards me.

"Somethings are better silent." I repeat his words quietly. I think about all the nights I spend silently sobbing about my life. Wishing I had loving parents.

I go to wipe a tear that left my eye but another hand stops me. I take a step back in shock flinching at sudden contact.

"Sorry I didn't mean to. You suddenly came and it just shocked me. I am-" My words are cut of when he reaches for my hands.

I see their are fingerprints visible on my wrists with some nail marks. I quickly pull my sleeves trying to cover it but it was too late.

"Who did it? And don't you dare lie. " He asked and I could him trying to control his rage. The look which he gave me was enough to make me nearly piss in my pants. I couldn't lie to him otherwise when he will find out the truth he'll punish me.

"Mother did but she didn't want to. It happened by mistake." I quickly say back covering up for my mother not wanted to anger him further. If mother got to know that I snitched on her, I am dead.

"That bitch!" He says through gritted teeth.

He quickly searches through all cabinets till he found the first-aid kit. He gave me a stern look and made me sit on chair as he cleaned the nail marks.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" He asks almost daring me disobey.

"No." I say back to quickly for my liking. He gives me 'Am I stupid?' look. He didn't believe me but didn't push me further seeing my discomfort.

"If you are hurt anywhere in sort of way I need you to let me know." He sternly says maintaining eyecontact.

I nod at him. He removes a card from his wallet and hands it to me.

"It has my personal number. You can call me if you are in trouble. I know you don't have phone at the moment. I'll make some arrangement for it." he says seriously.

I nod back not knowing what else to say. Why would someone so random come and try to help me. It has to be a trick. I know mother has asked him to do this so that she can punish me for disobeying her.

I hear my mother coming down and I start to panic.

"Whatever we talked about remains in this room, don't worry." He quickly reassures me. I give him a nod

"Goodbye stella. We'll meet soon." He softly says before walking towards living room.

I look towards the door from which he walked away. His behavior was confusing. Why would he act so kindly towards me. This has to be a trick. I shake my head thinking about it. I need to keep my distance from him. I can't give more reason to mother for punishing me.

Alexia's outfit



Rosie's outfit:



Lily's outfit:



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Question of the chapter: Favourite celebrity

I hope you liked the chapter. Do vote and comment. Appreciation and criticism both are welcomed.

Date:8 Aug 2022

Thankyou