C3 THE FOUR BACHELORS AND I

Fairy tales aren't real. They don't exist. There's a price for everything. This is life, and there's nothing magical about it.

When I was a kid, my parents taught me that instead of wasting my time believing in fairytales, why don't I spend my time helping them?

I grew up in a poor family, and wasting my time thinking about those things wasn't a good idea.

The only thing that stuck in my mind when I was young was that curses and wicked people were the only ones who existed. A happy ending is a choice. Well, a happy ending is truly a choice if you work hard. Fairy tales are for those who don't want to settle for less.

I don't want to be mean, but fairy tales are only for kids. If you still believed in fairy tales and fictional books until now, then I think you need to change your perspective on life.

There is no prince charming who will take care of you when you are sick, and if there is, then I think that guy was just trying to impress you.

I felt someone wipe a wet towel on my cheeks. I slowly opened my eyes to check who it was, and I almost jumped in shock when I saw Carter, who was now looking at me with his furrowed brows.

Based on his look, it looks like he was annoyed when he saw my reaction. I saw him looking at me while gently wiping my cheeks. What does he expect my reaction to be?

I slowly looked around the room where I was, and I almost cursed when Carter brought me here inside his room. This is the first time that he let me stay here, and I couldn't help but feel confused—of all the rooms he could lend me, why did he choose to lend his own?

"Finally you're awake, little princess," he said, in a sarcastic tone that made my brows furrow. He leaned back in his seat and added, "Do you have any idea what you did to me last night?"

My face turned bright red because of what he asked. Yes, I still remember what I did to him last night, but I didn't expect that he would open up about that conversation.

I slowly covered myself with the bedsheet that was on me when I felt that I was only wearing lingerie. Carter saw what I did, and I'm glad because he didn't question me about what I did a while ago.

"W-What are you talking about?"

His smirk widened a bit because of what I asked. Fear was visible in my tone because I knew that he would insult me for what I did last night. I know that until now he is still accusing me of being a whore for staying here in their house.

He once accused me of being one of Caleb's sex toys, so I'm not expecting that his treatment of me would change after what I did to him last night.

"You threw up on my polo shirt, and you kept me up all night by puking in my room."

I almost sighed in relief because of what he said. I thought he would humiliate me, but I'm glad that he didn't.

I wonder if my seduction bothered him last night.

"By the way, about what happened last night..."

His eyes narrowed, but he continued to listen to me, even though his face was a bit red.

"I'm sorry. What I did wasn't right," I added.

He leaned against his seat while crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes darted at me for a few minutes before he smirked playfully.

"You should," he answered, making my lips pucker. "You have no idea how many times I rubbed my polo shirt just to wash those stains."

I slowly turned to look at him and said, "That's not what I meant..."

"You don't know how much it costs, so you should pay me," he added, ignoring what I said. "Being my personal maid as your compensation wasn't enough, though."

"Carter, my apology isn't for your polo," I said.

He turned to look at me with furrowed brows. Based on his face, I knew that he had an idea of what I wanted to say, but I don't know why it seems like he wanted to cover up with complaints the things I wanted to tell him.

"I just want to apologize for kissing you," I said.

I slowly lowered my head when I felt that he was surprised by what I said. I don't know what was surprising, even though it was already obvious from my words a while ago what I wanted to convey. He was just trying to change our topic because I knew that he was ashamed of what happened between us last night.

Carter chuckled sarcastically, which made me secretly curse to myself.

"I didn't know that apologizing after you purposely kissed someone was necessary," he said, as if the person he was talking to was himself. He then turned to look at me and raised his brows, as if mocking me with the way he stared at me. "What are you sorry for? That your plan to give me your virginity didn't work out, Jia? Am I right?"

I felt offended by what he said, so I did everything just to conceal my feelings by glaring at him when I had the courage to.

He smirked when he saw my offended look. "Don't worry because I'm not interested in you."

I'm not interested in you either, so I can say that we're the same.

I pursed my lips because of what he said. He averted his eyes from me while furrowing his brows. It looks like he was offended by his insult to me based on his look, so I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

Ever since I lived with them, Carter's treatment of me has never changed. I feel like I offended him without knowing the reasons for his rude behavior towards me. He always humiliates me, even if his brother was with us or if someone else was with us.

I know that girls from the upper class could only pass his taste. Ever since I lived here in their house and lived my life with them, he has never dated girls from the lower class. He never dated such girls, so I know that Carter will never love me, even if I admit that I like him.

It's like he's a moon that I couldn't even reach, even if I wanted to.

The door to his room slowly opened. We both turned to look at the person who had rushed to the bed where I was sitting. I almost lost my breath when Caleb hugged me tight.

Carter averted his eyes from us, while Caleb hugged me tight as if we hadn't seen each other in a long time. I chuckled when his hug tightened a bit before he worriedly turned to look at me.

"Exaggerated," Carter whispered before he decided to walk out of his room.

I stared at him for a long time before it went to Caleb when he tried to get my attention by pinching my cheeks.

"Didn't I tell you not to leave the house?" he asked. His brows were furrowed, but I know that he's not upset. "Why did you leave? You didn't even answer my texts last night. If I hadn't asked Yemi, I wouldn't have known where she took you."

I puckered my lips, which made him smile and pat my head like a kid.

Unlike Carter, Caleb is a cool guy. He always chooses the brain over emotions. He's a kind and caring friend of mine, and I don't know what would have happened to me if Caleb hadn't helped me before.

I owe everything to him. If he didn't help me before, then I would definitely be struggling until now to pay my debts.

"I'm sorry," I said before I lowered my head. "I didn't expect that Yemi had plans to make me drunk. She told me that she wouldn't send me home if I didn't obey her."

He stared at me for a couple of minutes, and it made me feel awkward. He then sighed and continued to brush my hair as if I were a child.

"I found out that Yemi's friend put some drugs in the beer that was given to you," he said.

My brows furrowed because of what he said, and my jaw dropped when I remembered the man who gave me liquor last night.

"Female enhancement pill," he added before his eyes remained on me. "I'm glad because Carter found you even before something bad happened to you..."

His eyes slowly darted to the lingerie I was wearing, which made me hurriedly cover it with the bedsheet that was on me. His brows furrowed, and his eyes turned dark when he saw me wearing it.

"Did something happen between you two?" he asked.

I hurriedly shook my head, which made him sigh in relief and smile reassuringly at me.

"That's good then," he added.

I couldn't help but bite my tongue to stop myself from saying something.

So, that drug is the reason why I was heated last night?

I'm glad because Carter didn't let himself touch me that time. Despite Carter's rude behavior towards me, he's still a gentleman who didn't take advantage of my weaknesses.

If Carter did what I wanted to happen last night, then there's a possibility that I no longer have the treasure I've been keeping for a long time.

Yemi repeatedly contacted me just to say she's sorry. She told me that she did not expect that her friend would do that to me. Even though I felt bad for her, I still tried to forgive her.

Carter and Caleb told me not to talk to Yemi because they knew that she would only bring me harm, but I never listened to their advice.

Yemi was my best friend before I even met them, so they can't blame me for wanting to forgive her again despite her mistakes.

"I'm sorry, Jia!"

That's the three words I've been hearing over and over for the past two weeks. I always tell her that I have already forgiven her, but every time we talk about her party at that time, she repeatedly apologizes for her mistakes.

I admit that I get irritated by her voice saying those words repeatedly for the past two weeks, but I can't say that directly to her because I'm afraid I'll offend her.

I just wished that she realized that I already accepted her apology, even though it's obvious that I have forgiven her based on my actions towards her.

She leaned closer to me, which made me look at her with my narrowed eyes.

She smiled mischievously and asked, "Do you know what I found out from Caleb?" My brows furrowed, so I leaned towards her and waited for her to say something. "Caleb told me that his cousin and their best friend will stay here with you."

I leaned back on my seat once again while my eyes remained on her. Her smile was wide while she looked at me, and I couldn't do anything but furrow my brows because of confusion at what she said.

"Caleb didn't tell me about it, Yemi," I said.

She rolled her eyes and played with the vodka she was holding.

"Of course he won't tell you about that because he wants to surprise you," she said.

Irritation was visible in her tone, but the smile etched on her lips remained. I don't know how Yemi can hide her irritation, even though the annoyance is obvious on her face. I don't know either why exactly she hates me.

I saw Carter, who was now leaning on the balcony. Yemi just left, and it looks like she purposely didn't want to cross paths with the twins because she would visit me every time the two of them weren't here, but when one of them suddenly arrives, you won't see any traces of her, even a small one.

Carter was leaning on the balcony. He was not wearing a top, so I could clearly see the masculinity of his body.

It looks like he just came from the gym, because his whole back is still soaking wet with sweat. Even his sweatpants have traces of his sweat.

I slowly walked closer to him. I imitated his posture, and it caught his attention. His furrowed brows raised when he saw me with him.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Jia?" he asked.

Just like usual, annoyance was evident in his tone.

My lips twitched before I shrugged at him. I replied, "I just want to breathe some fresh air."

He secretly rolled his eyes. I saw how he pursed his lips and averted his eyes from me. I don't know why, but the annoyance on his face a while ago slowly faded because of what I said. I couldn't help but avert my eyes from him and take a deep breath.

"Yemi told me that you're expecting someone to stay here with us."

Because of what I said, he slowly turned to look at me with a smirk etched in his lips. I puckered my lips and tried not to question his reaction to what I said.

"Why? Are you excited that someone will be added again to your collection?" he asked and chuckled without humor. "Yes. My cousin and his best friend will stay here for the mean time."

He then turned to look at me with his serious eyes, and based on his look, I feel like he is secretly judging me in his mind.

"If you're able to tempt us, then you're mistaken if you think that you can entice my cousin with your seductive body," he said. My brows furrowed because of what he said.

What seductive body is he talking about? Is he attracted to me?

He leaned closer to me and smiled mockingly. I could do nothing but stare back at him, even though I felt agitated by his glares at me.

"I'll leave if I were you," he said, while looking intently at me. He then smirked and added, "That's if you don't want to be eaten alive."

I couldn't understand what he was saying, so I couldn't reply to him. I don't know either if he was serious about what he said or if he was just fooling me.

Yes, Carter is attractive, but his rudeness is the reason why I don't like him.

The day passed quickly. Caleb was too busy working on their company, while Carter was doing nothing but attending gym sessions for workouts. I don't know why he exercises a lot when his body is already masculine.

Neither of them have girlfriends, and that's just one of the things that puzzles me. I know there are a lot of women who are trying to get their attention, so I couldn't understand why they were still single until now.

I almost jumped when someone gently knocked outside the door. I was the only one in the house, and Caleb told me that no matter what, I should not let a stranger in without letting them know.

I then remembered the time when I let some strangers into our home without questioning them. I almost died back then, but it's a good thing that Caleb was there to save me.

Caleb is a bit busy these days, so he won't be able to watch over me. He told me not to let strangers in without knowing their identity.

They also didn't mention that they had visitors today, so seeing those two strangers behind that door confused me a lot.

"Who are you two looking for?" I asked while sneaking a peek at the window near the porch where they were.

The guy wearing black shades turned to look at the window where I was. He removed his aviator, and I almost hiccuped when his dark and mysterious eyes darted at mine.

His brows furrowed, and he asked, "Who the hell are you?"

It looks like he didn't expect that there was a girl living here at Caleb's house, so I couldn't help but furrow my brows.

"I should be the one asking you." His friend slowly faced the window where I was and smiled a bit. "Who are you and why are you here?"

The guy who smiled at me replied, "We are friends with your boss, and we're here to talk to them." My brows furrowed even more because of his answer. "Are they here?"

"My bosses weren't expecting guests," I said. They both turned to look at each other as if they were confused by my answer. "If you guys intend to rob, then I think this is not the right time for that."

The guy who smiled at me chuckled a bit, while the other one looked annoyed because of what I said. The man who smiled at me looked friendly, while based on the look of the man with him, I feel like he's arrogant like Carter.

"Stop being so moronic, woman. Let us in!"

This guy is very demanding.

I secretly rolled my eyes and hurriedly went to the kitchen to get something. If they don't want to leave voluntarily, then I think I have to force them to leave.

"Finally, you opened the door—"

Even before the rude guy finished his sentence, I hurriedly splashed on their faces the water I used to clean the cubicle a while ago.

"Look for another house to rob!" I said that and pushed them away.

I thought Caleb would be proud of me for what I did to the two guys who introduced themselves as his guests. Carter couldn't help but burst into laughter when he found out what I did to his cousin and his best friend.

Yes, the guy I splashed with dirty water a while ago is their cousin and their best friend.

"It's my fault," Caleb said as if he were accepting my stupidity. He chuckled and added, "I didn't mention this one to her. I'm so sorry for that. It's not Jia's fault."

Daniel chuckled a bit and replied, "It's okay, Caleb," before he smiled at me.

Carter playfully smirked at me and said, "Good job, Jia," as if what I did to his cousin was nice.

Before I could lower my head in embarrassment, Matthew and my eyes accidentally met each other.

His eyes darted at me as if he were mad at me for what I had done earlier. His dark eyes remained on me, and it looked like he had no plans to look away from me, so I voluntarily looked away from him.

Yes, I know that he has the right to be mad at me for driving them away, and the rudeness he is showing me right now is acceptable.

I'm not expecting that he will treat me nice, just like Caleb and Daniel did.

Honestly, I'm afraid of what my life would be like if these four devils stayed with me in the same house.

I feel like my life will be in trouble, especially now that these four bachelors will stay with me in the same house.

The only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work, and if being a maid for these bachelors is the only solution for me to be successful, then I'm in, even if being with them would be hell.