A ROYAL SCANDAL

KARLIAH POV

I was determined to change my life, even if it seemed a little extreme. But my brother's death opened my eyes, and I stopped daydreaming. There was a knock on the door, making me snap out of my thoughts. When I went to answer the door, it was Matt.

I smiled at him.

"Hey, come in. I thought you were going to come a little later today."

He stepped inside and handed me a bag that contained some takeout.

"This calls for a celebration, Karliah, since you did well on your exams."

I went to the kitchen and removed the takeout from the plastic bag.

"I don't know, Matt. It seems a bit extreme, if you ask me. Maybe we should take things slow because I haven't received a call from that job."

I placed our food on two separate plates and went to the living room.

I handed Matt his plate.

"Thanks, Karliah, but honestly, you're being a buzzkill. I want to take you out so that we can have a proper celebration."

I rolled my eyes at him as I sipped my beer.

"Don't be a drama queen."

"Hey, what did you say?"

I focused my gaze on the movie.

Aunt Lucinda is definitely going to kill me when she comes back. It also seems like she was definitely hiding something from me.

Matt snapped his fingers in my face.

"Earth to Karliah, did you even hear a single word I said to you?" Matt asked angrily.

I sighed deeply.

"I'm sorry, Matt, I wasn't listening. What were you saying?"

"You know, forget it, girlfriend."

Everyone thought that Matt was my boyfriend, but that wasn't the case. Matt and I were just friends. Besides, Matt was already in a relationship.

He was gay, but he never had the courage to tell his parents, and they were very strict.

"So how's Link doing?" I tried my best to change the topic.

"Oh, he's fine, but he left town today for some job interview. I just hope that he doesn't get the job because I don't want him to move away."

I sipped my beer.

"Isn't that a little selfish?"

"You want someone to give up their long life dream and just let it go like nothing ever happened?"

Upon hearing this, Matt looked shocked.

"Don't take this to heart, but you wouldn't know anything about love because you don't have a romantic personal life outside this house."

He was right, but hearing the truth stung hard.

"Yeah, you're right. I wouldn't know anything since I don't have anyone."

Matt stood up.

"Okay, don't get all defensive, Karliah. I was telling you the truth. If you don't like it, then please handle your own life and deal with your own shit before you try to intervene in the lives of others."

"You know what, Matt, this little celebration is over. Maybe you should go."

"After all, you can't even be true to yourself, but yet you're here to lecture me about my love life when you don't even know what you actually want."

"You know what? I hope that Link gets this job and leaves your sorry ass behind."

Matt grabbed his things and stormed out of the house.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I sat down on the sofa. I lost my only friend. Come to think of it, maybe we weren't really friends because Matt was just using me as a cover-up.

I cleaned the house as a distraction, especially when I felt this upset. It was more like a remedy that made me forget about the anger inside me.

It felt like my whole life was being torn apart because when I finally thought that I was going to get a happy ending, everything would turn upside down.

LUCINDA POV

Today, I had to meet the lawyers in charge of Jake and Ronnie's properties.

"Why isn't Karliah Huntley present?" the lawyer asked curiously.

"Oh, I would have brought the girl with me, but she wasn't feeling well. I hope you understand."

He nodded quietly.

"But her presence is very important. Since you came here already, I will read her parents' will."

He pulled a file out of the cabinet and handed it to me.

I wanted to touch it, but he pulled it away from me.

"That's not for you, Ms. Williams."

"I'm sorry, I just thought that I could read it myself, but anyway, you're the lawyer, so I won't argue with you."

He stared at me keenly.

"Sure."

He opened the file, and I could already smell the money left in my name.

The lawyer looked up.

"Mr. and Mrs. Huntley stated that all assets should be equally distributed among their children."

"And what about me?"

"He also stated that you'll receive five percent of his wealth, but that doesn't include his properties."

"But since Karliah is the only remaining heir to the wealth, she's also receiving her brother's share, and now that she's old enough, she can take over her father's company, claim access to his bank accounts, and properties."

I slowly got up.

"Wait, so you're saying that Karliah, that spoiled brat, is going to receive almost every penny?!"

The lawyer narrowed his eyes at me.

"I'll be coming to fetch Ms. Karliah this weekend. Send her my regards," the lawyer muttered quietly and walked out.

I followed him.

"There must be a mistake. Jake was like a brother to me; he surely couldn't just leave that little percent of his wealth."

"Ms. Williams, I suggest that you go back home since it's already getting late."

"You know what? Jake and his greedy wife can screw themselves because I don't care about the little pennies they left me!"

I remember being dragged outside by the security team.

Once I went back home, I found Karliah watching a movie while eating some popcorn.

That spoiled brat took everything away from me.

"Turn off the TV."

She turned around, facing me.

"Aunt Lucinda, you're back! I thought you were going to spend the night."

"I changed my mind, and now go get me something to eat."

She nodded quietly and went to the kitchen.

Maybe I should kill her right now and make an excuse. I stared at the knife on the kitchen table.

It would be quick and painless.

I took hold of the knife.

"Do you want some juice to go with the sandwiches?" Karliah asked curiously.

I took a step forward.

"Yeah, that sounds good."

The knife glimmered in the dim light. I could feel my heart pounding frantically in my chest.