196 The mask cos off (2)
Edgar noted how her mood had changed from excitent to nervousness but did not comnt on it. He thought of any serious conversations they needed to have and ca to the conclusion she either wanted to talk about the contract or her family. He sat down to the right of her and waited patiently for her to have the courage to say what was on her mind.
“No going back,” Alessandra took a deep breath. “I know I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the rest of this trip as much as I should if I did not get this off of my chest. Rember you are to only listen to what I have to say. ”
“I know.”
“Right. Where do I start? I have few mories of my life before my father married Katrina but I rember my mother’s face even after she ran away. I was only four and I had to deal with my mother leaving us alongside this new mother showing up. My mother ran away during the holidays while everyone was preparing for the festivities. By the new year, Katrina was moving in and I was getting a sister. I wanted my mother back but I liked having a sibling,” Alessandra smiled as she looked back at the mory.
If only her younger self would know how much hell it would bring to have a new mother and sibling.
“At first, everything was fine and I got used to my mother not being around. You might not believe this but Kate and I got along well for a couple of years when she was young which is why I pity her. Before Kate was our father’s pride and joy, I was. It was insufferable,” Alessandra clenched her fist. “He would parade around to everyone to show off his perfect daughter.”
Alessandra enjoyed her father’s attention at first but then it started to suffocate her. Each ti they spoke he would comnt on her need to always look pretty in front of others and keep her mouth shut. He was trying to advertise her as the perfect daughter-in-law in the making.
“We had no financial problems then so Kate and I were signed up for dance lessons, learning to paint, sing, set tables, and worst of all embroidery. My talent in painting gave him sothing more to boast about. Kate was young so there was nothing she was good at yet. This unfortunately ant he ignored her. She started to drift away from wishing to be in the spot I so desperately wanted to get out of,” said Alessandra.
She continued to say, “I noticed her feelings toward but I ignored them. Katrina also started to dislike the attention that was on and not Kate. Kate started to strive to be perfect enough for our father but she never was in his eyes. It’s his fault honestly. He should have never played favorites. Kate’s jealousy started from a young age because of it.”
.....
“The more my father paraded around to show off his pretty talented daughter, the more I felt like a doll and hated my face. When I was twelve and Kate was eight, she ca to my room and invited down to the garden to play. It was night and it wasn’t allowed but it had been so long since she wanted to play with so I followed her down. She had the biggest smile on her face,” said Alessandra.
It was the first ti she ever had that funny feeling warning her to run away but as an older sister who just wanted to have fun, she followed Kate.
“She led to the darkest part of the garden where the lanterns were the only thing to offer us light. I rember her staring at with so much hatred. Kate started to tell about how happy I must be to gloat in her face about being my father’s favorite. To have him shower with pretty dresses and ribbons to add to my beauty. She smiled and said her mother told her that her ti was only going to co if she took matters into her own hands.”
Edgar clenched his fists to control his anger. It was evident Katrina had never ben a good mother to both Alessandra and Kate.
“I wasn’t expecting her to attack ms so she was able to knock off my feet and sit on top of . The left side of my face was buried in the ground while she clawed away at the right side. I can still feel how much it burned as my skin ripped open. I’m starting to think Katrina plotted this entire thing as Kate used jewelry that Katrina wore on her fingers like claws. It was never easy to sneak into Katrina’s room to take sothing.”
“Alessandra-”
“You are ant to be quiet,” she quickly stopped him. “I managed to push her off of before she could ruin my eye. I rember being so angry that she was doing this to because she wanted my father’s attention. I wanted to let her know how much of a burden it was to help him look good in front of his friends. I cried not just because I was in pain but from how tired I was.”
“Even though I was in that state with half my face ruined, Kate was not satisfied. She grabbed a lantern and tried to throw it on to catch fire but by so luck, father arrived in ti. He was the last person I wanted to see as he caused this and I was so frustrated that I clawed at my face to finish what Kate started so I guess I can’t bla her for all the marks.”
Feeling like a weight was lifted off her shoulder now that soone knew what happened, Alessandra touched her mask. “I hated when my father saw as pretty but then hated my face after he found useless. I’ve been conflicted for many years as I did not know what I wanted and it was hard to love myself. Luckily, you have helped step out of my shell so I am going to accept my scars and enjoy the person that I am.”
Alessandra removed the mask and showed Edgar the side of her face she kept hidden for nine years. “You are free to speak now and y-you have to be honest with . Don’t worry about hurting my feelings,” she said as she gripped her dress and awaited his answer.
Alessandra flinched when Edgar moved her hair back to get a better look at her damaged face.
Edgar took in the sight of the faint marks on her face. Nothing about them changed what he felt. Her beauty was still clear as day as the wounds healed over the years but Alessandra must see her face differently. “You are beautiful-”
“I said to be honest. Do not say what you think I want to hear.”
Edgar gently rubbed his thumb along her right cheek, soothing the marks as he did so. “I have been honest with you from the mont I t you. Have I not?”
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