Be Your Own Spring novel Chapter 3

The window in my attic was drafty, and the cold air sent sharp, agonizing pain through my broken leg.

Just when the pain was becoming unbearable, Lucas Henderson knelt by my bed and gently began massaging my leg.

When he saw that I had woken up, his eyes were red, and he looked at me with a mix of sorrow and guilt.

"I had no idea you went through so much in prison," he said, his voice breaking.

"I swear, I'll make sure everyone who hurt you pays for it."

The one who hurt me most was you.

I bit my lip until the taste of blood filled my mouth, desperately trying to keep the surge of emotions inside under control.

I lowered my head, trying to avoid his gaze, but then I heard him speak again.

"Rozella Mogane, marry me. I can't stand seeing you suffer in this kind of place."

"This room is so run-down, the housekeeper from Mogane family wouldn't even stay here…"

Looking at him, with all his supposed love and care for me, I couldn't help but sneer bitterly.

"Do you really want to marry me?" I asked, the sarcasm barely hidden in my voice.

"Of course, I do," he said, his voice softening.

"You don't remember? We've known each other since we were kids."

"I liked you the moment you were brought back to the Mogane family."

He paused, then added with a hesitant smile, "It's just... my parents might make it difficult."

"If it doesn't work out, we could just elope."

"We can get married secretly, and let Olivia stand in for you at the ceremony."

"That way, no one will gossip about you."

He slipped a massive diamond ring onto my finger, a smile full of affection and care on his face.

But I instantly recognized it.

This was the same ring Olivia Mogane had worn.

It was a piece of jewelry once owned by the Queen of England, worth millions.

A symbol of eternal love.

The love was real.

But the ring on my finger was a lie.

I wasn't the one he truly loved.

With tears stinging my eyes, I forced myself to speak, my voice trembling with anger and hurt.

"After I came to the Mogane family, my parents never wanted me to be seen."

"They said I was unfit for public life, that I was just a 'foster daughter,' and made Olivia take my place, living a life of luxury and attention."

He pushed me away with a force that caught me off guard.

My injured leg gave way, and I collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Blood started to seep out from my previous wound, turning the floor beneath me red.

Lucas Henderson didn't even look at me.

He was too busy hovering around Olivia Mogane, his face filled with concern.

"Rozella Mogane, don't think just because you spent a few years in prison that you can boss her around!"

"If you hadn't come back, Olivia wouldn't have been so triggered and started drinking to cope."

"This is all your fault! You can't blame Olivia for any of it!"

"You spent a few years behind bars, but Olivia has been quietly suffering all this time."

"She's been through so much! Why can't you just let her be?"

"You're so disappointing…"

His words cut through me like a sharp knife, splitting my heart wide open.

I stood frozen.

It wasn't until he left, holding Olivia in his arms, that the tears finally began to fall.

So this was his version of 'special treatment.'