Liz stirringly opened her eyes gently, waking up to the early morning beauty.
She stared at her husband who hadn't shown her love in a few weeks, and she still wondered why?
"Could he be stressed?" She thought to herself.
Just when she was about to get herself up to prepare breakfast for him, at least to get his favorable expression again, she stopped.
"Liz, have you checked your phone?"
The sound of Julian's voice startled her from her restlessness. She blinked, and against the light streaming through the windows.
Her phone buzzed on the bedside table, and she reached for it groggily. A message glowed on the screen:
"Join us for a grand sailing gala party to celebrate Voss Enterprises' 50th anniversary! A night of luxury, live entertainment, and recognition of our new staff. Setting sail this evening, don't miss it!"
A small smile crept onto Liz's face. The gala was a big deal, marking a decade of her family's hard work. Maybe it would be a chance for her and Julian to reconnect.
She imagined them on the deck, the moonlight casting a glow as they celebrated together. For once, the idea filled her with hope.
As she set the phone down, another notification lit up. This one was from Mara:
"Julian called me early this morning to help him with breakfast. Coming over now. See you soon!"
Liz frowned slightly. "Why would Julian ask Mara to help with breakfast?" she wondered. Just as she was about to reply, her step-sister walked into the room, looking fresh and cheerful.
"Good morning!" Mara greeted brightly, brushing past Liz's confusion.
"Mara," Liz asked slowly, sitting up in bed, "what are you doing here so early?"
"Oh, relax, Liz," Mara replied with a small laugh, heading toward the kitchen. "Julian asked me to help with breakfast, and I thought I'd swing by. Besides, I figured you'd appreciate the company."
Liz stood and followed her. "I could've done it myself. Why would Julian ask you to help?"
Mara glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "Liz, it's no big deal. I'm your sister, after all. Let's work together on this. Look at it this way; we can cook the meal, and I'll let him think you did it all. That way, Julian will eat the food without complaining."
Liz hesitated, but the sincerity in Mara's voice reassured her. "Okay," she finally said. "That sounds like a good idea. Thank you."
Together, the two of them worked on breakfast. Liz handled most of the cooking while Mara plated the dishes.
It felt comforting to have Mara there, a reminder of the bond they'd shared since childhood. Despite everything, Liz trusted and loved her step-sister.
When the food was ready, Mara picked up the plates and headed toward the dining room. "I'll serve it to Julian," she offered.
Liz smiled. "Thank you, Mara."
From the kitchen doorway, Liz watched Julian eat. Mara sat next to him, laughing at something he'd said. He seemed to be in a rare good mood.
"This is good," Julian said, nodding as he took another bite. "Nice work, Mara. You're better at this."
Before Liz could step in and explain, Julian stood up and leaned over, pressing a kiss to Mara's hands.
Liz's heart sank, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Julian," she said softly, stepping into the room. "Actually, I…."
"What?" he snapped, his expression turning cold.
"I was the one who cooked it," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
Julian's face darkened, and the warmth he'd shown just moments ago disappeared entirely. "How dare you accuse Mara of lying?" he barked.
"I…I wasn't accusing her," Liz stammered. "I just thought you should know that…."
Before she could finish, Julian's hand came down hard against her cheek, the sharp sound echoing through the room. She stumbled backward, clutching her face as tears filled her eyes.
"Shut your mouth!" Julian yelled, his voice seething with anger. "You have no shame, do you? Pathetic."
The second slap sent her to the floor, her vision blurring as pain radiated through her cheek. She sat there, stunned and broken, as Julian stormed out of the room, leaving her alone with Mara.
"Liz," Mara's voice came softly as she knelt beside her. "Are you okay?"
Liz looked up, her tears streaming freely. She pushed herself to her feet, wiping her face with shaking hands. "Why didn't you say anything?" she asked hoarsely. "Why didn't you tell him I was the one who cooked the food?"
"I wanted to," Mara replied quickly, her eyes wide. "I really did, but everything happened so fast. I didn't expect Julian to act that way. I was just… shocked."
Liz stared at her, trying to process her words. She wanted to believe Mara, she needed to, but she hoped her sister still got her back like she used to. "Mara, I can't keep living like this," she whispered. "I need to tell my parents. They'll understand."
Mara's face tensed. "Liz, no. You can't do that."
"Why not?" Liz asked, her voice cracking with desperation.
"Because," Mara began, choosing her words carefully, "if you tell them, they'll want you to leave Julian. You know how they are, they'll push for a divorce. And if you divorce Julian…" She hesitated, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "You won't be the heiress anymore."
Liz blinked, confused and hurt. "What does being the heiress have to do with divorcing Julian?"