CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 71 HER SOULMATE

*ALORA*

It was time for dinner. Caden and I were seated in the dining room, eating quietly when Ellie sauntered in.

I watched in disgust as she stood beside him.

“So I was thinking of moving in.”

He glanced at her. “Moving in where?”

“To the Mansion house. Mom said she and your other employees stay at the staff quarters. I’m not one of your staff, plus you seem to have so many rooms in this house, I could use one of them, It’s more comfortable.”

God, No!

“I had recently gotten the staff quarters furnished again, I think it’s comfortable enough.” He replied.

Yes!

“Please, Caden. Just let me move into the main house. I promise I won’t be a bother.”

“Ellie, you might not be one of my employees but you’re the daughter of my staff so you have to stay at the staff quarters.”

“But...”

“Let’s not have this conversation again.”He cut in, dismissively.

I bit back a smile.

It was already hard enough that she could come and go out of the main house as she pleases, it’ll be unbearable if she moves in, completely.

She sighed and walked over, taking a seat at the other side of him.

He stared at her. “What are you doing?”

She shrugged. “I’m hungry. I can have dinner here, right?”

“No. You might want to get the house rules from your mother.”

“Does the rule state I can’t eat here?”

Caden nodded.

“But Alora is eating here.” Ellie whined, gesturing at me.

I shot her a glare.

The girl kept getting on my nerves.

Caden replied. “Alora is my wife. I am eating dinner with my wife and I prefer it that way, just the two of us. Alone.”

That made me almost explode with surprise and joy.

In your face, Ellie!

“You should leave now.” He ordered.

If looks could kill, hers would have killed me instantly.

I slung her a triumphant smile.

Why did he like the way he addressed me as his wife?

I had to hold myself back from standing up and doing a happy dance.

She reluctantly stood and left the dining room.

*Alora is my wife. I am eating dinner with my wife and I prefer it that way, just the two of us. Alone.*

These words reverberated over and over in my head and my cheeks heated up so much.

I kept curling my lips, trying to stop smiling.

But then when I recalled the way he hugged her earlier, my smiled ceased.

I turned and glared at him.

Caden frowned.”What?”

Why was I even feeling angry?

I knew the true nature of our marriage. We weren’t like a real couple who were supposed to be romantically involved and also committed to each other.

He had replaced my runaway groom and we were only to stay married for some time.

Why was thoughts of Ellie bothering me so much?

*****************************

*Alora is my wife. I am eating dinner with my wife and I prefer it that way, just the two of us. Alone.*

His wife?

His wife?!

Ellie was so furious as she paced to and fro in her bedroom located at the staff quarters.

She had refused to believe Caden was truly married even when she saw the wedding pictures.

She had wanted to believe that there must be a reason for this marriage.

He couldn’t be married!

He couldn’t be in love with her?!

And why the heck does he still treat Ellie like a sister?!

They weren’t related.

She didn’t want to be his sister, not in a million years.

Why doesn’t he get it?!

When her mother started working for Caden, she was seventeen and preparing to go to college.

That was four years ago. His company was fairly blooming then and he lived in a quite luxurious apartment.

Her mother was paid to cook and clean for him, occasionally.

When Ellie followed her mother to work one day, she had ran into Caden in his apartment and fell in love with him at first sight.

She couldn’t get him out of her head.

And few months later, she finally summoned courage and told him about her feelings but he replied, he had said she was too young for him.

He had told her that she should crush on boys her age.

That had made her so angry but her feelings for him did not change. She kept doing everything to please him, to make him see how beautiful and womanly she was.

Still, he didn’t look at her that way.

When she saw a random woman leave his house, she had been devastated.

Her mother had already told her the Caden was a playboy.

But seeing another woman who had slept with him had absolutely left Ellie heartbroken.

She wished he could at least sleep with her.

But he didn’t look at her, sexually at all.

She decided to focus on going to college instead, focusing in school and trying to forget about him.

That was why she wasn’t around him for years, but she couldn’t help being curious about him. She would occasionally ask her mother about her.

Her mother had informed her when Caden moved to a mansion. Caden had wanted to employ Esme to be his housekeeper and he tripled her pay.

It was a great offer and Esme was happy to continue working for him.

The last thing Ellie had heard from her mother was that Caden was still a playboy.

So Ellie felt that maybe, she might have a chance with him now that she had become an adult.

She was twenty-one now and she was ready to win his heart.

But nothing prepared her for the news about his marriage!

She wanted to console herself and believe that his marriage wasn’t real.

Oh, she would give anything to be in his arms.

Now, she felt she was more than old enough. She was old enough and matured to be with him. And she had to do everything to make him love her back.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in.” Ellie said and slumped on the bed.

Her mother walked in.

“Ellie, I do not like how rude you were to Alora earlier. If anything, she’s older than you and she’s Caden’s wife. I want you to go to her and apologize.”

Ellie rolled her eyes. “Over my dead body.”

“Ellie! I really want you two to get along. Even with how popular and great she is, Alora is a nice person. You two could be great friends.”

“She’s the last person I can ever be friends with.”

Esme sighed. “Is this, perhaps...about your crush on Caden?“

“It’s not a crush, mom. It’s love!”She thundered.

“Ellie, I thought you were over that. That man has not the slightest bit of interest in you as a woman. Why can’t you just accept that and leave him alone?!”

“Sometimes, I wonder if you’re my mother. How can you say that to me?! Ellie barked.

“I’m your mother, Ellie and for that reason, I can’t lie to you. I will always want what’s best for you. If Caden were to be interested in you, I might’ve considered supporting you. You know that. He doesn’t like you. And I don’t want you chasing after a man who doesn’t want you. I know you’ve liked him for years and it won’t be easy to forget about him but you can if you try. If seeing him everyday will make you like him even more, I suggest you move out.”

Ellie scoffed. “I thought you missed me so much and you wanted me around you.”

“Yes, my child. I want that so much but I also have to accept that you’re not my little girl anymore. You’re all grown up now and you need to find your path in life, the right path.”

“I’m not moving out of this place. Unless, you’re kicking me out.” Ellie announced.

Esme sighed knowing she couldn’t do that.

“Fine. Just be nice to Alora and don’t cause any trouble, I’m begging you. I have this feeling that Alora is exactly what Caden needs. I have always wondered why he was such a playboy. And this sudden marriage of his seemed strange. But do you see the way he looks at her? I think Caden might’ve found his soulmate.”

Ellie almost puked at that.

She forced a smile out of herself. “Don’t worry, mother.I won’t cause any trouble.”

His soulmate?!

Ellie was boiling up.

Caden was her soulmate!