A MAZE OF GREED

The next morning, the O'Dell family gathered at the breakfast table joined by Lester. Fannie instructed all the maids to bring the breakfast to the table.

Elsie, who sat beside Edwin, shifted nervously in her chair. She kept stealing glances with Lester. She could feel Edwin's eyes on her now and then.

He was quiet, exceptionally quiet since the last night. He had commanded Elsie and Lester to do something last night. And it was time to do just that.

Lester blinked his eyes in assurance, then cleared his throat. He was sitting beside Theodora across Elsie.

"Lord Augustus, Lady Theodora, may I have a permission to tell something?! It is important."

His words caught Eloise and Theodora's attention. Elsie was already squirming nervously. But the duo of uncle and nephew ate their breakfast unaffected.

Knowing well that her husband did not like talking while eating, Theodora smiled.

"We can discuss it after breakfast, Lester."

Lester caught Elsie shaking her head as subtly as she could.

"I beg your pardone, Lady Theodora but it is very urgent and important."

Theodora was about to put another argument before Augustus said, "Let him speak Theodora."

Lester's eyes moved to Edwin for some encouragement from his friend. But that thick-headed man was busy devouring his sandwich.

So he prioritised a freaking sandwich over his best friend!

Lester frowned.

~"Moron!"~

He cursed through the mind link. He was replied to by a disgusting burp from Edwin.

Giving up on him, Lester faced Lord Augustus and Lady Theodora. With a breath, he started,

"Lord Augustus, Lady Theodora... today I want to tell you something important."

"That you have already said twice."

Even Elsie could not help but glare at her ignorant cousin. He was quiet all this time and was now opening his mouth, and that too mock Lester!

"Both of our families- the O'Dells and the Wrights- share healthy and close relationship with each other for a long period of time. We are in fact just like a family."

"And your point is?"

~"Just shut the fuck up Edwin!"~

Edwin was still busy munching over his sandwich without looking up from his plate.

Theodora narrowed her eyes, gauging everyone's expressions, but they only confused her.

Eloise had a deep frown settled on her face, but the curiosity was clear in her eyes. Elise looked nervous for some reason. And Augustus's jaw twitched every time Edwin opened his mouth. Otherwise, he was all ears to Lester.

"So... I was saying that... the thing I want to tell you all is important... very very... very important for both families. And-"

"No Lester. You damaging your brain is not important for the O'Dells. And I doubt the Wrights would get much affected by the fact that their only son is a little crack in his head."

"Brother Edwin!" Elsie whispered-cried pleadingly.

Lester was nervous. And Edwin was only making it more difficult for him.

Edwin took the last bite of his sandwich and shrugged innocently.

"I am just stating facts Elsie."

Lester took a long breath to control himself.

"So the thing is that... that there is something you know. I have already written about it to my family. and now.... now I think it is time for you to know."

Augustus patiently waited for Lester to come on the point. Eloise was so irritated that she wanted to yell at Lester to say it, at last.

"Stop scaring like a chicken Lester. Your sweat just dropped in your food."

That was it!

"You dog! I am trying to muster courage of telling them that their daughter is my mate and you are acting like a fucking asshole!"

Lester threw daggers at Edwin with his angry eyes with his mind chalking down the plans of killing that obnoxious man painfully.

A deadly silence settled heavily on the breakfast table. Elsie thought she would die due to a lack of oxygen and pressure on her chest.

And Eloise... she was... stunned and frozen.

Edwin finally looked up from his plate and wiped his mouth with a napkin, he leaned back, relaxing in his chair with a smirk on his face.

Then it hit Lester like a brick thrown in his gut. He had said it and not in a way he had planned and expected. And it was all that smirking fools' fault!

"Very well."

Every head snapped in Augustus's direction with shock.

"Very well?" Elsie repeated his words incredulously.

His grey eyes were calm, just like him. "Yes. Congratulations to both of you for getting your mates. My daughter could not have got a better mate than you, Lester. I am happy!" he said.

But Theodora was confused.

Which daughter they were talking about?

Because both daughters had tears in their eyes and surprise on their faces.

"Really, father?" Elsie asked in disbelief.

Augustus finally smiled, nodding his head.

"thank you, thank you so much father!" Elsie stood up from her chair and ran to hug her father.

Theodora's focus shifted to Eloise. Wow!

She had not expected that at all. She always thought that if Lester found his mate in the O'Dell family, then it would be Eloise. They were always together since childhood. Even Lord Augustus believed so.

Oh, poor Eloise!

A cunning smile stretched on Theodora's face. She genuinely liked Lester, and his family name and status made him more desirable. She had always hoped that Moon Goddess would give a reason to tie a tighter knot between the two families. That was beneficial for the O'Dell family's status and prosperity.

And Lester being Elsie's mate made Theododa happier as the only person who never created problems for her was Elsie. Eloise deserved that for always disrespecting her.

She turned to face Lester and held his shoulder affectionately. Bringing the fake tears of joy, Theodora smiled.

"Oh, Lester dear! You just made my heart of a mother very happy! I am so proud of you both. I... just I... pardon me but I am just feeling so emotional for my dear daughter that I can not find the right words to express my joy."

She then sobbed.

Augustus put his hand on her back and rubbed it soothingly.

"Thank you, Lady Theodora. We need your blessings." Lester said, relieved that he finally said it.

Elsie then hugged her stepmother too.

"Oh my sweet princess. I am labelled as your step-mother. Although I have not given birth to you, I have always loved you and Eloise like my own children. You can not imagine how happy I am right now!"

The only person who fell into her trap was Augustus. But Lester and Edwin were trying to distinguish between reality and fakeness. But even for them, it was hard to tell.

"Thank you so much mother!" Elsie said through her tears.

Edwin's smirk faltered when Eloise pushed her chair back with a screeching sound and stomped out of the room furiously.

He sighed.

Elsie looked worryingly at him.

~"Do not worry Elsie. I will speak to her."~ Edwin told.

As Theodora went on telling how happy she was as a mother, there was someone listening to her shallow words, feeling disgusted by that woman.

Edwin stepped out of the room and was surprised to see Ruth standing there, lost in her own world. She was startled when he almost crashed into her but stopped before it happened.

He opened his mouth to say something, but she left in hurry without any word or another glance in her way. He watched her walking away in confusion.

What happened to her?

*

*

*

Eloise was raging in the fire. She felt betrayed. She was betrayed by not only Lester and her own sister, but also by the Moon Goddess. She had always worshipped their creator, believed in her powers and compassion. But nothing of that came to her aid when she needed it.

Elsie and Lester were mates?!!!

But how?

Elsie was not even worthy of Lester. It was her who the Moon Goddess should have chosen for him.

Throwing the things in her chamber carelessly in anger, she screamed till her throat hurt. The tears felt like acid on her skin.

The words she had said to Elsie about Lester ringed in her ears. When she thought that she was putting Elsie in her place, she was actually making a fool of herself in front of her and others.

Fannie, who was watching everything at the breakfast table, followed Eloise to her chamber. She heard Eloise screaming and throwing things everywhere.

She had suspected this for long. And now that it had happened she was thinking of using the situation to her advantage.

Daringly she knocked on Eloise's door then peeked inside.

"Lady Eloise?"

She saw Eloise shaking in anger.

"Lady Eloise, I am so sorry about what happened. I know you are devastated. I understand. It was very unfair with you that Lord Lester chose Lady Elsie over you. I wish it would have happened the other way around."

Fannie was surprised that Eloise had let her speak that much in this state.

"But the woman I know as Eloise O'Dell is not someone who will give up so easily. Right, Lady Eloise?"

"Get out!"

"But lady Eloise-"

"I said get the hell out of here!"

The Eloise that Fannie saw at the moment, was a totally different woman that she had not seen before. She was vengeful and infuriated.

Fannie quickly left after that wordlessly.. But her mind had already started working on how she was going to use this situation for her benefit.