Miss Anderson (1)

''…..''

''We have to entertain mother's guest as well.'' The forced smile made its way back to Calla's lips. Her mother-in-law was faster than the previous times. To think that she talked about this situation recently and acted on her words quickly.

''Take this to my room, Carol.'' Calla gave her bag pack to carol. ''Don't forget to bring refreshments for the guest and mother-in-law.'' Saying that, she turned around about to leave for the main living room, but Carol's voice came through.

''Madam, you can call sir…''

''Carol...'' Calla interrupted her from finishing that sentence, her voice firm and strong, not leaving room for any arguments.

Calla glanced at Carol, staring at the middle-aged lady with a strained smile. ''Just bring the refreshments,'' She said softly, then walked away, steeling herself on the way to meet the new lady her mother-in-law brought in as guest now, and also as a woman for her husband.

It had always been like this.

Her mother-in-law had always been like this.

From the first days of her marriage to her husband, Calla had always known that her mother-in-law never liked her. Her mother-in-law had always made the intention of replacing her with another woman as her daughter-in-law very clear every time of her visit.

To the point that if her mother-in-law never complained about herself, Calla would feel that something was clearly wrong with the middle-aged woman.

This had been how her mother-in-law began to bring in many ladies into her husband's home. And she, on the other hand, would have to watch them quietly as they behaved like the daughter-in-law of the kings family.

Some of them had the intentions of chasing her out immediately, but Carol had always been there to keep them under control. Even if they run back and complain to her mother-in-law, nothing had been done since carol worked personally for her husband and not for her mother-in-law.

'I pray this woman doesn't last long like the others.' Calla wished earnestly in her heart. The main living room was already close to her and the sound of giggles drifted to her ears. Her steps came to a sudden stop.

Calla took a deep breath before taking her steps further into the room. Looking past the elegant décor of the main living room, her eyes found the two women sitting side by side, emitting an intimate and warm atmosphere. Once again, her steps came to a sudden stop at the sight of a beautiful woman seated gracefully next to her mother-in-law.

'…I-Irie?' Calla was momentarily in a daze. Was she seeing things? This woman right here bore an absolute resemblance to her dead twin sister.

*giggle*

Perhaps it was because her mother-in-law made a silly joke, the woman giggled, her eyes looking elsewhere before sighting herself looking dazed and awkward standing on the spot.

Same honey brown eyes as herself and her dead twin sister focused on her spot for a moment, before alerting her mother-in-law, gesturing to herself.

''Oh it's you.'' Her mother-in-law stared in her direction, her upwards lips turning down, a stark difference of her attitude between the beautiful young lady and herself.

''Why are you standing just there? If someone were to come, they would think that I am a bad mother-in-law.''

''M-Mother…'' Calla snapped out of her daze, her eyes lingering on the beautiful young lady as she moved to a couch opposite them. ''How are you doing, mother? And this is…?'' Calla asked with a welcoming smile.

''Rose Collins. Nice to meet you, Miss Anderson.'' The young lady revealed to be Rose Collins, smiled sweetly towards Calla. However, her words were not as sweet as her voice.

Miss Anderson…. not Mrs. kings.

''Same to you, Miss Collins.'' Calla returned, not bothering to correct the obvious mistake in the address for herself. Anyway, this was an occurrence with all the ladies her mother-in-law had introduced in the past.

''Rose my child….'' Her mother-in-law suddenly took over, and this was how the conversation between them continued as before, with no intention of including her.

Calla knew that she was being isolated, but she had no problem with that. It was better than being involved when the people listening was never interested in her in the first place.

'Now that I see her more clearly, she doesn't look like Irie at all.' Calla took the opportunity of sizing up the young lady that her mother-in-law brought in.

Unlike before, she could see a very clear and stark difference between this young lady and her dead twin sister. What she thought as honey brown eyes were clearly light brown eyes, and the lady's dark brown hair did not resemble her sister's signature's golden brown hair.

The structure of lady's face somewhat looked like her dead twin sister's. All in all, if anyone should look at this lady from afar, they might mistake her for her dead twin sister.

''Calla.''

''Y-Yes mother.'' Calla returned from her thoughts, meeting the hazel eyes of her mother-in-law.

''Rose will be staying here for some days. I want her to assist you in taking care of Axel…'' Just as her mother-in-law was speaking, her stare suddenly shifted to Rose with a question, a proud smile settling on her lips.

 ''Dear, have you met my son, Axel?''

''I had the privilege of seeing him once in a banquet, Mrs. kings. My father has nothing but praises for him. I am of the same opinion.''

''What a sweet mouth.''

''For a beautiful lady such as yourself, Mrs. Kings.''

''Really a mouth filled with honey.''

*giggles*

''....'' Clutching the edge of her hoodie, Calla tried to smile as if nothing was wrong.

She was the one married into the kings family, yet her mother-in-law acted as if she was nothing right from the start. She was the daughter-in-law of the kings family, yet her mother-in-law smiled and laughed with another like a mother fond of her own daughter, something that she had never experienced. She was her husband's wife, even if she was only one on paper, she was still his wife, yet her mother-in-law suggested another woman for her.

Calla was aware that this was not her first time of being treated this way, but….

'It hurts...' Her eyes became misty. Her fingers coming to her chest area, squeezing the material of hoodie.

Everything that she experienced over and over again would always hurt her no matter what.

''As I was saying Calla, Rose will be staying here for some days. Since you have no time to care for my son, she will be of great help.'' As though her mother-in-law suddenly remembered her presence, she called out for attention, confidently speaking as if her actions were totally right.

''M-Mrs. Kings, that's a bit….'' Hearing those words, Rose's face subtly changed. She tried to express her displeasure towards the arrangement but that only subjected series of disapproval towards herself by her mother-in-law.

''What? I didn't say anything wrong! This girl only has time for her school and nothing else. She doesn't do her duties as my son's wife. She does not do her duties as the daughter-in-law of my family! Apart from her family's name, what else does she have good about herself? If not her sister's death, do you think she will in this house as my son's wife?!''

''Mrs. Kings, I am sure Miss Anderson has her reasons. I apologize….''

''You did nothing wrong, Rose.'' Her mother-in-law sighed, grumbling to herself. ''It is my fault for not stopping my son in approving that nonsensical agreement with the Anderson family.'' Though her voice was loud for both ladies to hear.

''...'' Pursing her lips in silence, Calla kept her head lowered as if hiding her depression away.

''Mrs. Kings, there's no point in getting angry. Miss Anderson and I will do our best for the kings family.'' Rose smiled, speaking as if she was already a daughter-in-law of the kings family.

''I am relieved now that I have you here, Rose.'' Her mother-in-law's lips tugged upward, her gaze flashing with approval when focused on Rose. A very clear difference from a moment ago when listing her displeasure towards Calla.

''But Rose…'' Her perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed, her voice expressing her concerns. ''I am worried about your studies. You agreed to transfer from the academy, but that won't do. There are some nearby private university and colleges. We should start looking at each of them that you will like to enter as a transfer student.''

''Oh…but I already have a solution, Mrs. Kings.'' Rose revealed, shaking her head in refusal of the suggestions.

''You do? Well, say what you want, my dear.'' Her mother-in-law said with a smile, looking forward to her words.

''The university that Miss Anderson attends, I suppose I will transfer over there.''