23 Dark Clouds

The Miller's Mansion, at 9:00 in the morning.

Donna was having a conversation with her best friend Valeria on the phone, on the balcony overlooking the blooming garden.

"The arranged marriage between Peter and Helen is over," Donna informed her best friend.

"Whaaat-? But why!?" asked the enraged Valeria.

"I will go to Cirmeald District this afternoon to bring Helen back to our mansion," Donna said.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Valeria shouted on the phone.

"My husband had arranged a marriage for Helen to one of the heirs of Genesis Business Empire," Donna answered.

"B-but you can't do just that! We already agreed to facilitate Peter and Helen's wedding after a few months! You can't back out!" Valeria insisted.

"I'm sorry, Valeria. You and I have arranged the marriage of Helen to Peter without my husband and my daughters' knowledge and consent, that was my biggest mistake! Now, I have to get Helen back and marry her to one of the heirs of the Genesis Empire!" Donna said adamantly.

Valeria was sighing laboriously at the other end of the line, enraged, she hangs up on her best friend for the first time.

Donna stared at her phone. "How rude!" she said, her mouth twitched in displeasure.

Stephanie arrived on the balcony, holding a glass of strawberry juice in her right hand. She noticed her mother's sour mood while staring at her phone. She lowered herself on the couch. "What's wrong, Mom? Why do you look like you just had a bad dream in the middle of the day? Who provoked your ire this time?" she inquired.

Donna pouted and placed her phone on the center table. "Nothing, I'm just talking to Valeria and informed her that I already canceled the incoming wedding of Helen and Peter," she replied.

Stephanie sighed. "It's all your fault, Mom. Why did you enter into an arranged marriage agreement with the White Family without informing Father first and me?" she asked in astonishment.

Donna was shaking her head. "Yeah, I admit it's my fault this time. Anyways, I don't want to stress myself over this matter anymore. Let's go to Cirmeald District and get Helen out of Peter's house and everything will be alright," she said optimistically.

"I hope so..." Stephanie said, sipping her strawberry juice, enjoying the morning sunshine. Her blond hair cascading behind her back and her well-manicured nails glowing in the sunshine.

Donna picked up the pitcher and poured orange juice into the glass and drink the refreshing liquid bottoms up.

Stephanie looked at her mother. "So - what did your best friend Valeria replied to your sudden news?"

Donna sighed deeply, then shrugged. "Of course she was angry that I changed my mind abruptly. I think she will never talk to me ever again after this. Our friendship just ended because of this disaster!" she said furiously. A moment later, sadness clouded her features.

Stephanie took a deep breath. "Lesson learned, Mother dearest! You made the most stupid decision ever! Next time don't be dumb, don't rush in making decisions without seeking father's approval first!" she said, scolding her mother in the process.

Donna glared at her daughter. "Stop scolding me, Stephanie! Don't you forget that I'm still your mother!" she yelled at her, warning her.

"Sorry, Mom!" Stephanie rolled her eyes and rose to her feet. "I'll go back to my room to take a long shower to prepare myself for the huge stress that I'm going to encounter later," she said and left the balcony without giving her mother a second glance.

Donna's nostrils were flaring up in anger. Valeria already destroyed her day and Stephanie didn't even hesitate to add to her misery. Damn!

She breathed deeply and poured more orange juice into the glass and drink bottoms up again. Her daughter is right, she should never make any bold decision without informing her husband first to avoid his wrath and her daughter Stephanie's insult.

She stayed on the balcony until 10:00... then went back to the master's bedroom to take a bath in the bathroom and soaked her body in the bathtub filled with aromatic essential oils for a few minutes hoping her bad mood will melt away.

Hours passed by quickly.

After lunch, the mother and daughter duo were getting ready to leave the mansion.

Fifteen minutes later, they boarded Donna's car, the family driver is driving the vehicle for the journey.

The car was exiting the gate out of the Miller property and finally out of The Alcove Empire Estate, heading to the main road. It's going to be a two hours journey towards Cirmeald East District.

Meanwhile...

Inside the White Family mansion.

Valeria was in a hurry, descending the last steps of the stairs and reached the ground floor in no time, and exited the mansion... she boarded her car that was parked outside. She started the engine and drove her car out of the gate.

Earlier, she was furious after receiving the call from her best friend Donna informing her that the arranged marriage between Peter and Helen was called off abruptly. Now her plan was destroyed in just a blink of an eye.

But even so... she knows from the guard who reported to her daily that Peter and Helen were madly in love and living like a true couple before Helen found a job in a seafood restaurant just a few minutes away from the industrial store. The guard also informed her that Helen was already staying in the free accommodations provided by the restaurant and Peter was vising Helen every night at her workplace.

Aww...how romantic the couple is!

But what are they going to do now that they are bound to be separated?

How will Peter and Helen feel about their impending parting?

The couple is probably not aware that today is the day they will be separated from each other because Helen is going to marry another wealthy guy.

Peter would surely feel devastated!

She can't wait to see the pain and sadness in his eyes.

Wow! She has to be there to witness the drama and everything!

A few moments later, she was having an internal debate, whether to inform the lovers about their impending parting or no need?

Well...she still has plenty of time to think about her decision and speculate on what can she benefit from it?

Right now at this very moment, Helen is working in the seafood restaurant while Peter is busy with his industrial store.

Poor lovers!

Tsk! Tsk... their word is about to be turned upside down when Donna and her daughter will finally come to town to get Helen.

Everything is happening so fast! And she was unprepared to do anything about it.

One of her plans has just been destroyed, but it doesn't mean that she can't enjoy watching the debris burn down in front of her eyes.

A devilish grin appeared on Valeria's lips as she was driving her car out of the vicinity of The Alcove Empire Estate.