The Three Wives

Adriana and Raven walked the hallways leading to the greenhouse. The east greenhouse is where the three wives are always known to be drinking tea. And the area they resided in.

"Raven, even if she is my biological mother. She is not my family," Adriana clarified, as she was reminded about the past that it made her want to laugh. Laugh in anger.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to make you think about it," Raven played with his mini hand knife, tossing it in the air.

"Yes, but your mother is different," paused Adriana, who traced her stainless bracelet while looking at it.

The third wife and the mother of Raven died while giving birth to twins. Her name was Elphina Belladonna. The only woman in the house Adriana trusted. She was true to everyone, especially the children who weren't shown love.

"You're mother is my mother. But your sister is not my sister," Adriana looked at Raven, who nodded his head, not saying a word.

"I don't need my twin. It's not like I wanted her to exist," muttered Raven, who was untrue to his own words.

Since there was a time when Raven hoped that he and his twin got along. Rain Belladonna was the name of his twin. And those two, since birth, never got along with each other.

Which broke the belief that twins will stick to each other no matter what.

"I know what you're thinking," Adriana reminded.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Raven lowered his head and gritted his teeth.

What's so wrong with hoping and wishing? Adriana didn't find any problems with it. But at the same time, she did because it was useless having those thoughts.

At the end of the day, hoping for something that will never come. It will only break a person. And that will bring them to realize that hoping is so fragile, like a thin silver lining that can be cut at any time.

"It's not bad to hope and wish. Just remind yourself to not expect the better but, the worse," said Adriana.

"Yes, sister. You're the only one I will listen to," Raven smiled ear to ear. Though that is not what Adriana wanted to convey.

"Let's keep moving. If not, those three wives might lash out at us if we get there later."

They made their way to the east greenhouse, and once they arrived, they were escorted by a maid. The maid led the way and lowered her head once they had reached.

There were three elegant women, each sitting on a white chair that matched the decors of the greenhouse. They were gracefully laughing and ignoring the two who had just arrived.

"Good day, ladies. Is there anything we can do for you since you called for us?" inquired Raven, who stepped forward, not wanting Adriana to take the lead.

"Raven, you're late. Didn't I tell you to come as soon as possible?" asked the woman who sat in the middle of the other two.

"Madam Pamela, I apologize for my tardiness. There was trouble while my sister and I were having breakfast," Raven bowed his head sloppily and gave them a smile. "I hope you aren't offended."

Raven met the eyes of another lady who almost looked exactly like Adriana. But, the color of her hair and eyes were different.

"Madam Jocelyn, I hope you are well. I recently heard that you fell sick?"

"It's because I was stupid. I did not realize I was drinking from a cup that had been poisoned," Jocelyn nervously smiled.

Unlike the other two wives, Jocelyn was a bit different from them. She isn't intelligent, doesn't have magic powers, is a klutz, someone who doesn't know the word evilness.

Now, why does Adriana not consider Jocelyn as her mother? The answer was simple. Because Jocelyn was a person who didn't know anything about the Belladonna family. She wasn't able to save her own daughter, who almost had died.

"Adriana! Come take your seat. You like eating tarts, right?" asked Jocelyn, who pulled a chair out for Adriana. While Adriana looked at the tarts and then at Jocelyn.

"I'll have to decline. I'm allergic to nuts," Adriana rejected.

"O-oh…I see," stuttered Jocelyn, flustered not knowing about her own daughter.

"It's alright. It wasn't like you raised me," Adriana muttered the last sentence, which Raven only heard.

Raven expected to see sadness in her eyes but saw anger instead. He had a soft spot when it came to Adriana in pain. This is why he changed the topic immediately.

"Putting that aside. What did the three ladies want from us?" Raven took a few steps closer to the three ladies with a smile.

"Nothing much. Just a few words I want to tell you. The test is coming soon, and of course, the three of us expect you two to do well, especially Adriana," Pamela pointed her plain black fan towards Adriana. "I hope you don't end that way."

Clearly, she was mocking Adriana. But Adriana did not care about those words and instead took them as something to take advantage of.

A smile lifts across her face, "I hope I don't fail to impress the three ladies. But don't expect your own children to be alive."

Adriana was trying to tell them. To be careful of their own words. If their children die, they can no longer inherit a part of the family.

"You too. I hope you don't raise your head too high. Since my son will be there to take over you," spoke Ebony, the second wife and the mother of Isaac Belladonna.

"You'll never know, Madam Ebony," Adriana answered back as she held her hands together. Seemingly wanting to appear courteous.

"It seems like you have a card under your sleeve."

"I don't have any. Just pure hard work."

Among the three wives, Adriana hated Ebony the most. First, because she was the mother of Isaac. The second is her ignorant attitude.

Yes, Ebony Belladonna is intelligent, making her a bit different from the other two wives. But still isn't favored much by the current family head.

"But don't get your hopes up, Madam Ebony. I just want to tell you hard work does good work," addressed Adriana.

The tension in the greenhouse grew, but no one was overwhelmed. Using the corner of her eyes. Adriana observes the actions of the maids.

It was different from where she resided. As expected, the east and north building were different from each other.

In the east building, most of their maids and servants are trained. Meaning they do not fear their own death. While the north building was filled with cowards.

"'If you would now excuse us. We are busy people who are being called everywhere," Adriana excused themselves and made their way to the north building.

"I knew it. They were looking down at you again," rumbled Raven, who finally released what he wanted to say earlier.

"Raven, don't mind their words. They are nothing to take in. They don't deserve your anger," Adriana reminded Raven, who nodded.

"Of course, they don't deserve my anger. Especially that old hag," rumbled Raven.

"Raven, your words. They don't sound nice," warned Adriana.

"Tch, I apologize."