On Tuesday, Lariette went to the hospital, accompanied by Madeline. She attended the checkup her doctor strongly advised her to.
Fortunately, Lariette's body didn't show any signs of danger after getting into the accident more than a week ago. Still, she had another appointnt next week.
On Wednesday, a team of movers appeared at Lariette's apartnt in Lumina Spring with Ruediger's belongings. He couldn't co along, saying he was preoccupied with work.
Madeline was there to oversee the movers as Ruediger told Lariette before. They let the movers put the boxes in Ruediger's future room and ho office.
"Should we arrange his clothes at least?" asked Lariette after the movers left the apartnt. She was dressed casually in a short-sleeved shirt and three-quarter-length loose pants.
"Let's do that," Madeline nodded, swiftly agreeing with Lariette, "Rudy told not to do anything. Well, I know he just doesn't want to burden us. Let's do what we can."
"Okay."
Following Madeline's lead, Lariette unpacked the boxes where Ruediger's clothes were kept. All of his outfits were simple and ca from affordable brands, unlike the luxurious ones Lariette always saw her brothers and Damien wear.
"I hope he won't feel awkward staying here," Lariette chuckled as he hung the clothes inside the closet, "I got this new wardrobe just for him. Lest he has to use the pink one."
"You should just let him use the cute wardrobe," Madeline snickered, her eyes glinting with mischief, "He needs to get used to this pink world of your ho."
From a very young age, Lariette envisioned having a house decorated with colors and cute items. She lived in a small and old ho with Mrs. Evans, causing her to bury her dream.
When Lariette started living with the Elsher family, she admired Stephanie's princess bedroom. Her chamber wasn't bad but, it didn't receive the sa care as Stephanie's.
Thus, Lariette decorated her Lumina Spring apartnt unit based on her dreams. She didn't hold back after years of fantasizing about what her ho should look like.
Checkered walls in lilac and white, with simple paintings of flowers. Plain walls painted in mint green, light yellow and pale peach.
Pastel pink couch tucked into a wall, adorned with fluffy throw pillows. An adorable side table in the shape of a tulip with a strawberry vase sitting on the top.
Fun, patterned rugs carpeting so parts of the apartnt, also flower-shaped sinks in a pink ombre color.
Including the adorable mugs, other pieces of furniture and household appliances, Lariette's apartnt seed like a magical cottage coming straight out of the fairytale book[01].
"Are you five years old? This is childish."
Damien often belittled Lariette's taste, calling her too girlish, immature and lacking elegance. Reluctant to fight with him, she agreed when he suggested she move to her other apartnt in Boulevard Suites.
Exhaling a sigh, Madeline stared at the navy blue wardrobe. It looked a little out of place in this pale peach bedroom with flower prints. Fortunately, the simple wooden bedfra was a neutral choice.
"Either way, my cousin will live here for a long ti. If he dares to complain, tell . I'll give him a punch or two."
Lariette let out helpless chuckles, shaking her head in amusent. Without looking at Madeline, she replied, "Eddy doesn't seem fussy. I think he'll settle in here just fine."
Lariette had shown so photos of her apartnt to Ruediger. Instead of getting scorned like how Damien did to her before, the crimson-haired gentleman praised her taste.
"Is this what people call a mix of cottagecore and fairycore? I'm not too knowledgeable about it but, seems like you've made your apartnt your ho."
Ruediger's complint flooded Lariette's heart with pride. She had a hunch that they could be good housemates throughout the duration of their contract marriage.
Plumping the pillows on the bed, Madeline uttered, "Friday is coming soon. I wanna celebrate your marriage but, you have an important battle that night, right?"
"Yes," Lariette smiled, her sapphire eyes glinting coldly, "I'll bring Eddy to et my grandpa first. The battle cos later."
Lariette was in regular contact with Chairman Delaney. The elderly man knew nothing about her being hospitalized.
The news reached her grandfather's right-hand man, Mr. Brian Kingsley but, the man contacted Lariette first instead of telling Chairman Delaney right away. She convinced Mr. Kingsley to stay quiet until her next visit.
Samantha and Jonathan also ntioned nothing about the accident, sothing Lariette had foreseen. They wouldn't ever be bothered telling Chairman Delaney anything related to her.
Madeline sat cross-legged on the bed, watching Lariette closing the wardrobe door. Curious, she asked, "Are your mom and that brat Stephanie still disturb you? How about Damien?"
Madeline's question made Lariette recall a few people. She quietly answered.
"Strangely, they're quiet now. Damien contacted through unknown numbers. I blocked them all. Well... Dec and Ray wanna talk to too but, I ignore them."
Lariette didn't know what made Samantha and Stephanie stop bothering her. She couldn't help but think this was calm before the storm.
As for Declan and Rafael, Lariette sent the sa texts to them, telling them they would et once she attended the family dinner this Friday. Aside from that, she disregarded the rest.
"Phanie and Matthias' wedding is next week, right? When will you go there?"
Despite being the unwanted daughter, Lariette's attendance at Stephanie's wedding was still compulsory. Samantha and Jonathan wouldn't want people to talk bad about their family.
"It'll be a three-day celebration, from Friday to Sunday," Lariette frowned, recalling the schedule for the wedding, "I need to go on Thursday at the very least."
Stephanie and Matthias' wedding would take place on Friday, 14th August – the day Stephanie and Lariette were born and switched more than twenty years ago.
Narrowing her eyes, Madeline scowled, "Don't you think she'll play a trick on you? Luckily your grandpa stopped her from making you her bridesmaid. She just wanna make you her lackey. On your birthday no less!"
Stephanie often bullied Lariette using cheap ploys. The latter took years to familiarize herself with the spoiled fake heiress' tactics.
In the beginning, Stephanie appointed Lariette as one of her bridesmaids. The brunette quit the bridal party when the fake heiress and her cliques continued tornting her.
Samantha and Jonathan made a fuss, forcing Lariette to rejoin the party yet, the latter stood her ground. It was one of the few tis she went against her parents.
Chairman Delaney had to step in when the situation spiraled. The sulking Stephanie and the enraged Jonathan-Samantha pair cowered under the elderly man's wrath.
Lariette chuckled, mischief flickering in her eyes, "I've been prepared for her revenge. Well, I'll wear sothing. She has been coveting it for so long but, failed. I can't wait to see her get mad."
"Hehe~ Lucky that I'm invited too. Should I sneak in so popcorn?"
The invitation was intended for Felicia, Madeline's mother. Unfortunately, the lady couldn't co thus, she sent her only daughter to represent her.
Madeline's question earned laughter from Lariette. Arching her brows, she suggested, "Caral popcorn or chocolate-glazed ones?"
"Hahaha! Why not both?"
Sharing so laughter, the rry sound bounced off the walls. The two friends eagerly anticipated the day of Stephanie's wedding.
None of them—or every other guest—would ever expect chaos to ensue that day.
Lariette didn't need to lift a hand because Stephanie ruined herself by her own actions.
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Reference:
1 - I heavily based Lariette's apartnt on Helen Ford's ho on the Instagram account @howithhelenandco :) Check it out!
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