The Lovely Man

Matthew looked at her in disbelief. "Are you really —" He paused and looked into Astrid's eyes, searching for something. Searching for the truth. Instead, he only saw darkness in her eyes. Those eyes that used to be full of stars had turned into a blackhole. Now her dark, dark eyes were looking back at him, showing him how much Astrid loathed him. How much she hated him.

He threw her into John George's mental hospital, but he never wanted to mutilate her legs.

In the end, Matthew Cullin lost the staring contest. He left Astrid's look as if he escaped a labyrinth. A place where he was being condemned and accused of murder and arson. Astrid stared at him as if he was a serial killer. And when he arrived at his study room, he slammed the door hard.

Matthew pulled the chair under the desk and sank himself. "Why…" He whispered to himself. "...what happened to you? Why won't you tell me, Astrid Starling."

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Astrid couldn't bear it any longer. Voices were screaming inside her head, telling her how she deserved to be beaten up. Telling her that it's her fault why she was ridiculed and became what she is now. She heard people laughing at her, pointing fingers at her.

Tears gradually filled her eyes and she stormed out of her room, limping as she ran.

She should've been used to his insults, his cold heartedness and how he looks at her as if she's less than human. No. It's not that.

It's just that a part of her wished that the painful memories inside her head simply disappeared. She wished that every thought in her mind could be sucked by a black hole. And she wishes to not have dreams or day dreams at all, for they all end up as nightmares.

Everyday is a battle for someone like Astrid Starling. A battle that she couldn't escape, eroding her little by little. Killing the remaining sanity and happiness in her little by little.

As Astrid ran towards the living room, she slipped and fell down the slippery floor. "Why do you do this to me…" She cried as she tore off her clothes.

Having no energy to stand up on both of her feet, Astrid crawled towards the sofa. Her limbs tremble with every move that she makes. She pulled herself up and laid on the sofa, letting her tears fall on her eyes.

"Pretty lady, don't cry."

Acashia's warm and angelic voice came to her mind. And as she closed her eyes, she imagined small hands were slowly rubbing circles around her back.

Astrid closed her eyes, and finally, she was able to sleep.

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Waking up after another day filled with a rollercoaster of emotion, Astrid fixed herself up and walked down the stairs slowly.

At the dining table, Matthew and Acashia had already taken their seats. Seeing Astrid walk down the stairs, the little girl jumped off the chair excitedly and ran towards her.

"Pretty lady, come and eat with us!"

Astrid let out a subtle smile after seeing her ray of sunshine. She let Acashia take her hand and guide her to the table.

As soon as the two of them were seated, Milly Brown brought Astrid her breakfast. "For you, my lady."

Astrid's eyes glistened upon seeing the oatmeal with freshly cut fruits on top of them. Her mouth watered as well after Milly brought a plate full of sausage, eggs and french toasts. "These look amazing, Milly!" Her face brightened up a little as she looked at the latter gratefully.

"Of course, I still remember your favorites."

Astrid giggled, reached for the french toast and took a bite. It felt like heaven in her mouth. Tasting the sweet and milky goodness, she let out a soft moan and gave Milly an ear to ear smile. "You're the best, Milly."

"You eat like a homeless person."

Matthew's remark completely destroyed her appetite.

Astrid slowly placed the french toast down her plate. While Milly could only walk away as she shook her head, disappointed with the man.

"Tomorrow is my grandfather's birthday, I want to visit them. And you will come with me. Whether you like it or not."

Hearing this, Astrid raised her head and looked stunned. She raised her head and looked at Matthew's ice cold stare. "Grandfather Edmond?" She asked, sounding as surprised as she looked. However, she did not trust Matthew. For he had always been unpredictable. But since this was his grandfather — Astrid tried to look at it on a more positive note.

"Yes."

Edmond Cullin had always been nice to her. The one of a few people who trusted her amidst the scandal she was riddled in. Matthew's grandfather looked the complete opposite of his grandson. His face always seems to sport a soft smile, his eyes closed as he basks under the warm sunrise.

Yes, he was certainly one of the most pleasant people she had ever met.

When she and Matthew got married, only his grandfather treated her like a real person and not a gold digging leech with nothing good to offer. Edmond Cullin saw the goodness in her and always extended his hand, even his assets to help her out whatever mess she was in. But even after his help, she was still sent to John George's Psychiatric Facility. After that sad incident, as she was thrown to the mental hospital, the two never saw each other again.

Astrid Starling licked her lips. "I'm going then."

"That's awesome! My beautiful friend is going too!" Acashia shouted happily, her eyes full of excitement.

While Acashia does her victory dance, Matthew was observing the latter. Astrid was in a daze as if she was deep in thought. He wondered what's on her mind for her to sport such a thoughtful look.

"Hey —" He called. " —what's going on with you?"

Astrid flinched and let out a soft chuckle then blushed after realizing that she had been consumed by her worries. "No —nothing."

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She didn't plan to dress up for the old man's birthday party. After all, she was no longer part of the elite Cullin family. She's a woman with no status, no name and no future — she's that woman from the mental facility with 'murderer' written all over her once good name. Still, Matthew Cullin forced her to put on a nude color mermaid cut dress with swarovski crystals all over it.

"Try it on." Matthew practically slammed it against her chest, making her frown. "I don't want you to come with us and look like some hobo."

'You don't need to be so rude.' She grumbled as she hugged the dress against her chest. Astrid sighed then looked at the tag, it was a dress made by none other than the famous fashion model himself, Rico Reyes.

Seeing the price, Astrid's jaw dropped. "What the — $20,000?!" She shrieked then looked at Matthew as if a horn grew on his smooth forehead. "Why is it so expensive?!"

"You were a model, weren't you?" He spat. "Stop asking stupid questions and just put on the goddamn dress!"

"You don't have to be so mean about it…"

Astrid Starling sighed as she struggled to put on the dress. Matthew left her room, sporting the usual dreaded and pissed off look on his handsome face as if he had thorns stuck on his back.

She unzipped the back of the dress and carefully lifted her bad leg, minding her balance so that she would not fall clumsily on the ground.

'How long has it been since I last wore something this fancy?' She asked herself while her tongue was sticking out, trying to squeeze herself into the fancy dress.

"Too long… I think." She mumbled, realizing she had gone too thin. A part of her even wondered how Matthew knew what size she was. But then she remembered how keen the man was with details. He must've remembered what size she was when they were married and just assumed her size now that she lost a lot of weight.

After getting dressed with the help of Milly Brown, Astrid looked at herself in front of the mirror and tried to smile.

"You still look so beautiful, my lady." Milly said with a pleasant tone as she combs Astrid's hair.

She let out a scoff. "I beg to differ."

""You think I'm joking?" Milly snarled as she placed both of her hands against her waist. "I'm telling you the truth. Since when have I lied to you?"

"It's kind of hard to believe it." Astrid pointed at the scars on her cheeks, her neck and the side of her face. The deep lines and bumps on her skin that symbolizes her shame. "Have you looked at me? I mean… really look at me?"

"I am looking at you. And my lady is still as beautiful as the first time I saw her."