The maid hurriedly arrived at the scene and gasped in shock when she saw me struggling on the floor, face smeared with cake and my left arm red and swelling.
“What have you boys done?” she exclaimed.
The boys shrugged, “She deserved it! She's a witch who killed our mother.”
The boys stomped away while the maid helped me stand up.
“I’m sorry, Faye, I don't know why you keep putting up with them,” she stated.
I managed a small smile as she helped me to my bedroom.
“This balm should help soothe the burns, thankfully it’s not so much and if you apply it daily it will get rid of the scar,” the maid said, giving me a small ointment.
“Thank you,” I mumbled.
After she left I washed off my face as I stared at my red eyes and split lips from the impact of the cake.
I also applied the ointment on my burns, wincing softly as I let out a small sigh.
“What a fool I've been,” I said, sadly.
Eleven years ago I was supposed to marry Gabriel Caldwin but I was involved in a terrible accident on my wedding day.
While I battled for my life, my best friend, Ariel, volunteered to marry my fiance in my place to save him and his family from the embarrassment of the bride not showing up.
When I woke up I found out my fiance was married. When Gabriel found out I didn't run from the wedding but was involved in an accident he felt remorseful.
I told him to divorce Ariel and get married to me since I'm feeling better and he refused.
“Don’t be mean, Faye, Ariel stood in for you to protect our reputation. How do you think it will look to the public if I divorce her immediately?”
“What is going to happen to me then?” I queried.
“Just one year, Faye, then I’ll divorce Ariel and marry you,” Gabriel had promised.
But before the one year was over I got a strange demand.
“Faye, Ariel wants to have a child before she leaves the marriage. It's been her grandparents' lifelong dream and they're dying,” Gabriel said to me.
I frowned, “What does that have to do with me? Why does she want kids when you'll still divorce her?”
“Just oblige her, Faye, she's your best friend and she's been nothing but kind toward you,” Gabriel said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Ariel can't have kids, she wants you to be her surrogate at least when she leaves you can take care of the kids because they're yours,” Gabriel answered.
I was worried about the request but Gabriel convinced me.