The Girl Who Wants Nothing

"I don't want anything from you, Matthew Cullin." She said through her gritted teeth. "If you think I'm after your money, I'm not. I'm playing anything nor am I plotting for anything. If you think I'm going to fool you… or if I'll place my child's life in danger then take me back to John George's immediately."

One of Matthew's brows raised. Astrid was indeed getting a bit more amusing. "Really?"

"Really. If you need me for the bone marrow transplant, then call for me. You can send someone to take from me what they need at any time."

She doesn't need redemption at the cost of her daughter's life. And her determination and selflessness surprised Matthew more than anything.

His body stiffened. And though the room was loomed by darkness and no one else could see or know what he's feeling, he hoped that Astrid wouldn't realize how she made him feel uncomfortable.

He lets out a soft chuckle. "It seems that you have really changed a lot, Astrid Starling. You've always been known for your bratty attitude and selfishness."

Rather than listening to Matthew's insult, Astrid decided to look at the red-orange sunset from the window. She had to admit that today had been tough. Her emotions were played like a violin, as if today was laid upon her like a perfect manu-script to make her feel like a shitty human being and an even shittier mother.

She was dressed beautifully, fed well and then just like how criminals receive their death sentence, she was presented with the news of her daughter's sickness.

But Matthew had always been a master of controlling people after all.

"Six years ago, I was one of the top models in the world. If I didn't want attention or if I wasn't selfish enough, I wouldn't become famous, would I?"

"Oh?" He laughed. "Tell me something I don't know."

"Like what?"

Matthew shook his head. "Nothing." He lied through his teeth. He thought she would retaliate and be a bitch about everything. He thought she'd bring up her past sins and blame him for it.

But what he didn't expect was how they'd ended up tolerating each other until the sun set and now the faint and gentle light of the moon was shining down on them.

'If only I was married to someone else, then my life wouldn't end up this way… I would be happier.' A voice of a woman cascaded in his mind. He made a fist with his long and candle-like fingers. It clenched tightly as that bitter memory invaded his thoughts.

Because the room had darkened, Astrid didn't notice how Matthew's hand snaked up to her waist, pulling her close.

"Are you… trying to make a fool out of me?"

"I am not." She said with a nonchalant tone in her voice. "I admit, I used to be ignorant and selfish, but now I have learned my lesson. I'm a different woman now."

'And I don't love you anymore.' Was the words that Astrid wanted to throw at Matthew, but instead she kept it to herself.

As they stared at each other through the darkness, Matthew could only see half of Astrid's features. Her deep set eyes, her beautifully carved nose and her lips that were as red as a rose.

Six years ago, Astrid told him that she would never marry someone who would take over her life. For she was born to be free. Nothing and no one could chain her. And she was indeed like a fiery tornado that conquered Hollywood and the Fashion world like a storm.

The daughter of a former supermodel named Kathrine Hugo and the famous screenplay director from France Patten La Belle. She was born with glitz and glamor in her blood. Standing in 5'9, the Miss Universe scouts once eyed her for the crown.

She was known as the 'Porcelain Barbie Doll' and 'The Hottie with Mile Long Legs.' She was the hottest model and men from all over the world fought for her attention.

Matthew Cullin didn't know why, but he suddenly remembered what she looked like. The nostalgic feeling hit him, making him speechless once more.

He remembered those pairs of incomparably beautiful eyes, like the thousands of miles of stars behind the clouds, shining with scorching brilliance, and the undisguised love almost overflowed inside him when he saw her for the first time...

But now, when he turned on the lights, what he saw was a plain woman with broken legs.

"It's getting dark, it's not too late to send me back to the Mental Facility."

Astrid felt tired. She turned and began to limp out of the room, planning to go back to where she felt like she belonged. "I'll be going. Thank you for the wonderful dress, and the meal."

Matthew kept his silence for a while while he wondered how Astrid broke her leg.

"No, you stay."

Astrid's body froze, and thought she had heard it wrong. She turned her head and looked at Matthew with a puzzled look on her face, but the latter just picked up the glass of wine on the table and turned.

"The ward at John George is too dirty, I don't want my daughter to get infected with other diseases besides leukemia."

Astrid's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

"Don't make me say it twice."

"Oh, then… thank you, Matthew."

Matthew did not answer, instead he let out a low hum. He watched attentively as Astrid limped her way out of the room and down the stairs. When she was gone, he called for Milly Brown by pressing the pager on his front pocket.

After three rings… "Hello, sire?"

"Make sure that Astrid is comfortable." He whispered to the pager. "Understood?"

"Yes sire."

"Thank you, Milly."

==============

At nine o'clock in the evening, Milly Brown put Acashia into bed. Usually, she sleeps beside her Nana Milly even though her father tells her not to. But since she ran around the mansion's garden, she was drained to the brim and fell asleep almost instantly.

While putting the little girl to bed, Astrid watched from outside of the door. Milly partially closed it, leaving three inches open for the latter to peek into.

"It's really good to have you back here, my lady. The house wasn't the same without you. It was awfully lonesome for me!" Milly Brown wiped the tears from her eyes, feeling the genuine happiness in her heart. She held onto the towel tighter, and offered it to Astrid when she was done washing her face. "I'm sure the Master and Mistress of this house would be ecstatic to see you as well!"

After patting the soft towel against her face, Astrid looked at herself in the mirror and realized that she was now different from before.

In addition to the scars on her face, there were bags under her eyes and small bumps on her skin.

She sighed turned her head and smiled, "Stop joking around, Milly Brown."

Her left hand unconsciously flew to cover her mouth. A blush crept up on her cheeks. "Oh… I'm sorry." Milly Brown stuttered for a bit, ashamed of herself for offending Astrid. "I never meant to offend you —"

"Milly Brown, do you think that a person who broke a relationship between parents and their son would be welcomed here? Not only that, but I am a convicted murderer, am I? It was on the World Wide News, and even on the tabloids for weeks. My trial was broadcasted. I am a walking shame. A damned human being who deserves to die. If you were them, would you be happy to hear that I'm back?"

Not only that, but her parents, The Starling's disowned her as well.

Her mother became sick because of her transgressions, and the career his father worked hard for went down the drain because of the scandal his daughter was affiliated with. She's a walking bag of shame to anyone who knows her.

Milly Brown didn't answer, instead she casted her head down as she pursed her lips together.

"What about your brother, Miss Astrid. Aren't you going to see him? You know, you are his most beloved sister. You are innocent in his eyes… the one he truly cares for."

Asher Starling.

For Astrid, he's the only man that truly loved her. He never badmouthed her, never doubted her. Her only memory of him was his warmth and endless support.

There was once a time when she became too cocky and relied on her connections and fame. She was boastful, loud and arrogant. Patrick Ingrid was the one who would pull her feet back from the ground and remind her what it's like before she was famous.

He was gentle and reliable.

"When Patrick was beside me, no one in the whole world could hurt me. No one…" She whispered as she swallowed her sadness and stopped her tears. "I was untouchable. Even Aero Abel could not hurt me…"

However, on the day she was taken to the mental hospital, the only man who wanted to find out the truth and prove her innocence was hit by a truck. Patrick Ingrid almost died that day, and now he's a prisoner to his own body.

He had been in a coma ever since.