Six

Elisa stepped down after having a change of clothes in Mia's room but paused on the last stairs when she noticed the male version of her best friend sitting on the couch. He seemed calmed and harmless but she wasn't sure to what extent since it was her first time meeting him in person. And that was because Marvin wasn't your typical type of heir, he preferred doing what he wanted than taking care of his family business or sitting in an office in a suit. He preferred traveling around the world and exploring whatever piece of infor hidden. He was like an astrologist, a wild cat, his path as a traveler had also earned him a spot light as he was known as the best photographer in the world. She recalled how Mia used to force her to talk to him on the phone but that was in the past and she doubts he recognized her that much.

Even though Marvin was Mia's twin, they have never spoken to each other face to face before and that was because he was never around.

Marvin wasn't the type to stay at one place, according to Mia, he liked to travel since traveling was what makes him happy. " It's a nice movie " he said as if talking to himself and without a word Mia stepped forward and took a seat. She was feeling a bit cold but not anything she couldn't handle. She looked delicate but very strong inside, her life in the Davis mansion looked great from the outside but different from the imdide.

" Won't you ask me anything?" She said and Marvin shrugged as if he didn't care. What was there to ask? He had called Mia earlier and she didn't seem to have a problem with her sleeping over in her apartment. Besides, it was her idea for Elisa to sleep in her room since the apartment has only two bedrooms. She even pleaded with him to take care of her until she returned from her business trip which was very much like Mia. Even though Mia didn't tell him much about her, he knew how much she meant to her. And the fact that he didn't stick with his family didn't make him ignorant of their life after all, Mia was his twin sister." I already know your name" he said and stared at her from the corner of his eyes for a few seconds." Okay, I will go have some sleep" she stood up and left for Mia's room, escaping the awkwardness.

She wouldn't have knocked on Mia's door if she knew Marvin was the only one around. The few seconds awkwardness have made her uncomfortable.

The silver clock on the wall read 10:54pm but Elisa was still looking up at the white ceiling with her eyes wide opened. It has been a tough day for her and she couldn't possible forget everything in few minutes and pretend nothing have happened.

First she ended up in bed with a stranger and as if that wasn't enough she had to encounter the media for some unknown reason. And now she was homeless. Why did it have to be this difficult when she was graduating approaching her dreams?

She ended her thought with a tear and turned on her side to have some sleep. The night went by slowly and torturously for Elisa as she cried herself to rest. Her wounded heart seemed to be bleeding too much and to recover from the hearty betrayal from both her family and boyfriend she obviously needs more time.

In the middle of her sleepless night, Elisa stepped down from the huge bed that belonged to her best friend and surfed for her phone in her wet bag.

Thank Goodness, she couldn't afford to lose her phone at such a time because she would not be able to purchase a new one anytime soon if anything happens to it.

After logging into her social media account, Elisa couldn't believe what her eyes were seeing. It seemed the media was taking pleasure in bullying her so as the public. Others were bashing her to satisfy their ego and jealousy. Even the news was forced because she never uttered a word when the media approached her in the resort.

The most trending news ( Elisa Davis is the woman living the dream of thousand women#futureMrsAshton) What the heck?

Why would they publish something as ridiculous as this? As Noah Ashton would look at someone like her, she chuckled. They were fooling the public without their notice, such bad thing to do.

Elisa didn't bother herself much about the trending news because she believed the media wouldn't bring out such nonsense if they knew her background after all, she was nothing but an orphan. She was sure the news would die soon especially when there were no solid proofs to heat it up.

It was quite a fuse but she couldn't do anything. The good comments were very overwhelming, it made her feel as if she was wealthy of the publicity. In a space of twenty four hours her followers on IG have run up from two thousand to one million followers as if it was magic.

How could a force news have such an effect? She was grateful though but she couldn't neglect her inner voice.

How did the media find her, she wasn't even popular? At the end, her thoughts dragged her back to the night she had with the stranger.

A sigh left her mouth as she covered her mouth with her left hand dropping her phone beside her on the bed. Restlessly, she stepped towards the window and pulled the curtains open.

The rain hadn't stopped and the stars were hiding behind the clouds. Her eyes watered as she folded her hands under her breast.

Her life was driving towards a dead end, no family, no boyfriend, nothing. She just lost everything dear to her. The fact that she was a burden on her family didn't stop her from loving them.

Her fragile heart was hurting.

She sniffed and cleaned her face with her palm. Whatever, she thought and pulled the curtains to close the window.

After a long disturbed night, Elisa agreed to meet with Betty though she didn't know why she wanted to meet. She still thinks she owes Betty an apology, innocent and naive Elisa. Despite all the bad things Betty has done to her, she still believes she was her sister. She still thinks she was the little girl who shared her toys with her.

" I can see you didn't sleep on the street," Betty said sarcastically with a teasing smile lingering on her lips. Last night she wasn't there to witness how pathetic she looked because she spent her time with her fiance. " I can see how big your lies are growing, Elisa" she added with a melicious look in her eyes. Who would she have thought the naive Elisa could come up with such a huge lie after losing Christian? Betty was among the few who thought a billionaire like Noah Ashton wouldn't look at Elisa twice because Elisa was nothing more than a pathetic, lonely orphan." I never told any of these lies" Elisa defended. Even though she she wasn't sure Betty would believe her after all, no one did.

Her only fear was that Noah might believe those rumors like everyone else and decide to come after her. What would she do then?

" Of course you will never admit, '' Betty slammed her hand on the table, her browns pulling together. Her only concern was that Noah was richer and if the rumor turned out to be true, Elisa would live a better life than her and she wasn't willing to lose to her. Betty was a smart girl and looking at Elisa, she knew she didn't create any of these lies. She knew Elisa wouldn't do any of these but what if whoever did this was right? Elisa wasn't bad looking, she was unfortunately beautiful.

Her beauty was what scares her the most.

Her anger towards Elisa had everything to do with her undeniable beauty. The beauty that shines through the darkness and warms every heart.

Betty has watched Elisa receive praises for her beauty throughout her life. And when the opportunity came to take revenge on her, she grabbed it.

She wouldn't let Elisa have more than she could chew.

" Did you call me here to trash me like the others? Did you want to tell me how undeserving I was of him? Tell me whatever you want to tell me and stop pulling my legs" She already knew what Betty wanted to talk about after her sudden call but what could she do when she badly wanted to talk to her? " Calm down dear, I don't have that time besides, all this talk isn't worth it after all Noah Ashton isn't someone you can reach" she teased grabbing her glass of juice from the table.

" Waiter. I will order the most expensive dessert on your Manu?" She told the man who brought the juice to them. Jolly restaurant was one of the top restaurants in the city and their most affordable desert could cost about four hundred dollars.

" Make it two please" she added and after a few minutes the waiter brought their dessert which cost more than three thousand dollars.

" I know you haven't tested any of their food before so I brought you here. Enjoy your desert" Betty said teasingly but since Elisa was used to her so she didn't take any offense.

" Now tell me, where are you staying?" She asked as if she cared. " Oh, sorry. I almost forgot about your rich friend. Mia right?" She said with a smile. " I wouldn't be surprised if she buys you a mansion . That is the only reason you became friends with her in the first place " Bett wouldn't lose the chance to trash her. She was always trying to look down on her and misinterpreting her actions. How easy was it for her to accuse her? Elisa thought. " I will rent my own place as soon as I can," she told her. " Once again I forgot how Miss Elisa doesn't want to be a burden on anyone," she said, reminding herself as if she believed it" After my new role, I will be able to afford an apartment at least." she said in a low tone, sadness showing in her eyes. She knew whatever reason her father had for throwing her out of the house was because of Betty.

" I forgot how talented you are" she poured and a few seconds of silence slipped in.

" Can we ever become sisters again?" Elisa asked and Betty stared up with a smile. " Keep dreaming" she uttered as if they were never like sisters.

Even though Elisa was thrown out of the Davis mansion, she still loved the family that raised her, the family that rescued her from the depths of that orphanage and gave her a new life which was close to perfection. Whatever mistreatment she had past thought in that mansion, not once did she blame them because she believed they loved her as much as she loved them.

A message flashed on the screen of her phone ' where are you, Elisa? Are you okay?' she read it and started to type her own. ' I'm fine, don't worry about me' she sent it ' I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, we will talk once I return' she smile and put the phone back in her bag.

" We can never be sisters Elisa and do you know why?" A historical laughter broke out of her mouth making Elisa frown. " Because I hate you, I have always hated you Elisa Davis, '' she said with anger and despair. Why would she hate her? “ You stole my family name and tried to take my life, Elisa” she accused.

" Do you know what? I have lost my appetite and I hope you pay for these" with that she grabbed her bag and walked out of the restaurant.

Elisa couldn't move from her seat, maybe because she was shocked. What did she ever do to Betty to warrant such hatred? She has always tried to understand her, she was always looking out for her, even when she engaged with her boyfriend she didn't get angry with her.

" Miss, do you like to make payments?" The waiter who served them earlier came back after thirty minutes. " I can wait if you are not ready yet" he said and Elisa cleaned the fresh tears on her face. " How much?" She asked, pulling a few cash from her bag. " It's three thousand nine hundred dollars" he said and Elisa stared up at him in shock. " What?" She couldn't believe her ears. Why would Betty order something like this and expect her to pay when she knew she had no money?

" Is there a problem?" The waiter asked but Elisa shook her head. How was she going to tell him she couldn't pay for the desert?

The money in her bag wasn't even up to a thousand dollars, how would she pay?