5] The memories of the past

"Mommy! Can you tell us the story of you and your father again? We have a new sister now, she must hear it too!" The young girl Caroline asked giggling. "Of course, my sweet Caroline, you too Ariadne, come here!" Both of the girls rushed to the bed and sat next to their mother's side. "Matthew, come here too, don't you want to hear about your mother and father's story?" The woman mocked, giggling. She knew that her oldest son had a sore spot for romance, especially when it came to his mother. His father was the enemy at that point, and he wanted to protect his mother.

However much father and son loved each other, they always competed for Amelia's love. It has always been a funny and cute game between them too and everyone makes fun of the both of them. "Mother, I say you be careful with that man, also I don't have time to listen to this crap." He said, rolling his eyes in annoyance. He stood up from his leaning position and left the ward unhurriedly.

The girls in the room laughed out loud, the mother shook her head in astonishment before continuing. "Well then, let us start with the story, shall we?" Amelia asked with a smile on her beautiful face. "Yes!" Caroline screeched "Yes, mommy!" Ariadne followed.

"When I was seventeen, I was sent to a village to assist a doctor there as I was a new nurse back then. They had told us that someone needed help there. A man was shot, as they said, but nobody knew why he wasn't coming to the hospital. The doctor back then ushered five nurses to follow him. But we didn't know that man wasn't any good, we all thought that he was a good person, but little did we know, he was sending us to our death. So we hopped up to the ambulance and went on our way. After reaching there, men welcomed us, each of them holding a gun. At that time I didn't think much of it, so we continued our way to a warehouse. There were three injured men, all bleeding out and bullets had torn their skin. We were instructed to get the bullets out and save the men. After some time, we had successfully done the job but one of the men died from blood loss, and it was then that everything changed. The men rushed inside and took hold of the nurse in charge. They grabbed her arms and ushered her outside. But I couldn't let it happen so I stood in front of them and told them that they have no right to take her away. I don't know how much time passed while arguing with the men, but at some point, another man came in. He was tall, muscular, and handsome, very very handsome.

"Daddy!" the girls squealed in excitement at the same time. "Yes! It was daddy. But back then we didn't know each other. He asked what was going on with his firm tone, scaring everyone in the shed. After that, I heard a gun reloading from behind me, so I turned my head, and then it was that I first saw him. His eyes are dark and fierce. I fell in love with him at first sight. But I didn't know back then, as he had put a gun to my forehead, asking why his man was dead, instead of alive. I calmly explained to him what happened and that we weren't spies, and gradually he believed me but sent the other nurses and doctors away. Until now, I haven't understood what happened to them, but I have an idea."

"Daddy killed them." Ariadne giggled, as Caroline followed suit. "Probably. Well, after that, the handsome man said that if I wanted to survive, I must marry him, since they don't hurt my family. And back then I was unwilling to do so. But your father was very persistent, he once again put a gun to my head and said, if you don't agree, then I'll send you on your way. Which was a nice way of saying that if I don't agree, he'd kill me. I was very angry at that time but also scared, and the man noticed and shook his head. Then he waited for an answer and after a long while I agreed."

Present

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"I guess true love does exist, huh?" a female, rough but velvety voice sounded from the corner of the room. Her tone was disbelieving and unattached, as well as cold and stern, it seemed that the girl did not believe in love, Amelia thought to herself. The younger girl, probably in her early twenties, chewed on her gum as she sat on the wooden plank, next to the fireplace.

Her posture seemed strong and her expressions were poisonous. She sat there, legs open and elbows on the wooden plank, as she watched the fire on the sorry of an excuse place she and Amelia called their house for the past month. It had four walls, at least that was something, right? The girl turned her head to the side, peeking openly at the woman who had to stop reminiscing as if ushering her to continue. Amelia looked at her again, her eyes glistened with happiness. At last, she found her, even in such circumstances she had found her. She found the girl that was made for her husband. A fearless woman, even at such a young age, a warrior that would go to any measure to protect her loved ones, and she had witnessed that for herself.

[a month ago]

At first, Amelia didn't think she'd get attached to her, but even with her cold demeanor, Amelia understood that the girl named Aurora had taken a liking to her. In the past month, Aurora had protected Amelia with her life. Her body was filled with wounds, bullets, and slashes after a fight. Six months after Amelia gave birth to her little girl, she went to the hospital for another check-up. When she was leaving, this girl showed up on the street relentlessly looking for a taxi.

The thirty-two-year-old woman saw her and wanted to help her, after all, it was her nature to be kind, unlike this girl called Aurora. So, she told the driver to pull over and help the girl. In the car, the older woman carefully observed the girl. She had bleached white hair, really white as if she was trying to prove a point, and deep blue eyes picturing and coloring the deep adventurous ocean.

The girl sat at the other side of the car, never glancing at the woman again after giving her a nod of appreciation. The girl seemed to be in a hurry and Amelia noticed her attire next. Black leather top, open in the bridge of her small but fair-skinned breasts and stopped exactly above her belly. Black leather high-waist pants, glimmering in the sun's light, reaching three centimeters above her ankles. And lastly, black matte stiletto heels. This girl was something else, Amelia thought to herself as she continued observing her.

"Are you done staring, madam? Don't you have a husband or something?" the girl spoke up, her raspy and sexy voice made Amelia raise an eyebrow. The girl though, instead of looking at the woman, raised an eyebrow and leaned elbows on her knees before smirking at her. "I do have a husband. One that I think would love to meet you," she muttered, bewitched by the aura of the young woman. "Hmm, not interested in married men, but thanks for the offer," Aurora said as she squinted her eyes, suspicious writing all over her facial features, but then she turned her head to the window, leaning in her seat, she closed her eyes and hummed a song slowly.

At that moment, Amelia knew this girl was the one. The one that would make Ares feel again. It pained her that she had to do this, but she loved her husband so much that she couldn't let this opportunity slip away. What she didn't know was that fate had already made sure they were going to meet, after Brian Clark, Valentino's best friend and best man had hired her for a job. But Amelia didn't know that at that moment, someone was following them closely.

"I am Amelia." the older woman smiled warmly, and the girl couldn't help but feel the warmth on her face when the woman looked at her. The girl even with closed eyes could feel the woman's gaze on her, so she opened them and looked straight into Amelia's ones. Aurora knew this woman was pure and innocent, so she didn't want much to do with her, afraid she'd do something to taint her. After all, the woman was the light, and she was the darkness, or so she thought. But in Amelia's heart, this girl was the light for her and her family. "I am Aurora, nice to meet you." the girl responded after seeing the hope on the older woman's face, she didn't want to disappoint her for some reason.

Everyone else in life didn't care what they thought of her, but this woman somehow felt different from the others.

"Someone is following us."