Chapter 3

'Aliano Silvanus Rivvero, you need to kill him. Remember that...'

I gasp and took a step back, my body suddenly went cold while my hand starts to tremble while holding this note. I suddenly couldn't process the words I'm seeing. I knew how to read, but my brain tended to went blank because of being in denial. It's funny that I suddenly become not sure there are that many words in the language I'm using.

Who made this note? Why there is something like this here? Is this some kind of a tricked? If it is, how could someone make a note like this? This is not a joke. We are talking Aliano Silvanus Rivvero here, the man that I am supposed to marry. I still can remember how my mother always mention him to me since I woke up after the accident. He is always the center of our conversation, reminding me that he is the man of my dreams.

But why something like this existed?

I mentally shake my head and examine the note. Every stroke of the letters is neat and clean as if they were made like that to emphasize how important the note is. Every word convey authority which I don't know where did it come from. I just felt the intensity of the note. And the scent- that familiar scent which I can't remember what it is called. Although the smell of the paper has a mixture of dusty that tickles my nose and is a bit earthy and musty, a typical 'old room' smell still the familiar sweet scent lingers on my nose.

Why does it seem that the note is really for me?

"Miss Avi!"

I stilled on my spot taken aback that I am caught standing inside this abandoned room. But I immediately hide the note inside the pocket of my cotton shorts when I heard fast footsteps in my direction.

"Miss Avi what are you doing here?" the unfamiliar lady ask me with worry in her eyes.

"I thought this room is empty?" I query instead of answering her.

She roamed her eyes around and then she scratches the side of her neck contemplating how to answer me.

"When I came here, it's already like this Miss"

I tilt my head with her reply. So she's new? It explains why she doesn't look familiar to me.

"How long have you been working here?"

"It's more than a year now"

A year? So she's already working here even before I was discharged to my confinement at the hospital? But Mom said this room is been empty even before the accident...

"Do you know what's with this room before it becomes like this?"

"I don't think it's possible for her to answer your question, Miss Avi" Rosetta interject who suddenly came out of nowhere.

I saw how she secretly glared at the woman and gesture to leave us alone. My gaze follows her as she walks out without saying anything with her hands hiding on the back of her white apron.

"Why isn't possible?" I fire out again maintaining my casual facial expression.

She roamed her eyes around and smile politely at me just like she used to do every time she saw me.

"Because there isn't that much to tell" she shrugged her shoulder.

"It isn't that much or you just don't want me to know?"

"I can't remember you having an interest in what's happening around the mansion, Miss Avi"

My lips tighten and I fisted my hand while looking at the smiling face of Rosetta. Did I already mention that I hate this woman?

"People do change, Rosetta" I replied and turn my back at her.

"And you know that you can't change Avileigh" she reminds me.

I gritted my teeth and leave alone inside the room. Somehow she's right, Mom has already shown to me that there's no room for changes for me. It doesn't mean I can't remember anything then I shouldn't change what I used to do. I need to remain become the Sammia Avileigh that I used to be.

But after reading that note, somehow, everything doesn't look right. Doubt is slowly eating the trust I given to my parents just because of this mere paper. I sigh and shook my head while heading back to my room. I saw some of the housemaids cleaning the living room, they greeted me but I didn't greet them back. I couldn't even smile at them though I was told to be polite to everyone. It's just doesn't feel right at all. It's odd how that simple note changes everything in just a matter of seconds.

They are not lying to me, right? They can't do that to me...

I puffed out a breath and was about to walk in the opposite direction when I notice Morgan one of the house cleaner went out of my brother's room. I creased my forehead and walk closer to her.

What is she doing?

"Morgan" I called to get her attention.

"Miss Avi" she greeted me with a smile.

"What are you doing at my brother's room?"

She shook her head making me observe her natural blonde hair. She's a French Canadian woman but her eyes have just a typical brown color but it complements her blonde hair. It's not been long since she starts working here, but I prefer her to Rosetta.

"Rosetta said that I need to change the bedding, so I did"

My gaze goes down to the small basket she's holding with pieces of clothes that are needed to be laundry.

I am being suspicious for no reason...

"Don't follow Rosetta all the time, she's not the boss here. She just can't order you all around" I annoyingly told her before I went to my room.

I need to talk to my parents especially my mother. I just told her that I won't marry Silvanus not until I clear this doubt that keeps on stretching on the back of my head.

DINNER...

"Why are you here Morgan?" I stop combing my hair and glance at Morgan who's standing on the corner of my room watching me.

"Ma'am Madeline said you can't finish preparing yourself if not supervised?" She hesitantly replied.

I cracked an eyelid with what she said and rolled my eyes shifting back my gaze at my reflection on the mirror. I am wearing a simple lavender dress just above my knees and my hair is styled into a braided crown just enough for me to look casual but presentable to Rivveros.

I am nervous in I don't know the reason. I think this is just normal. I took a deep breath and bite my lower lip before I stood up. I look at Morgan and she smiles politely at me.

"You should be at the dining hall now" she reminds me.

I chuckle and nod my head. She's right but I am trying to look engrossed in fixing myself just to postpone my inevitable struggle once I joined them for dinner.

"You know Silvanus Rivvero right?" I mutter.

"Of course!" She exclaimed looking so excited all of a sudden "Everyone here knows about him. I even saw how handsome he is Miss Avi"

I mentally shake my head and just decided to went downstairs. As expected, everyone is busy arranging the great room where Mom and Dad planning to have some tea with Rivveros after dinner.

I ignore Rosetta when she looks in my direction and just heads straight to the dining hall. Pairs of eyes greeted me and it is my instinctive reaction to search my parents to ease the uneasiness I'm feeling. Dad's bright smile welcomes me when our gaze meets and he even moved his hand for me to come closer.

"Come here sweetie, I will introduce you to them"

My chest move when I heaved a sigh. The sound of my heels echoes followed by the fast beating of my heart.

Oh, come on, what's with this nervousness?

"Say hi to your Tita Fara and Tito Fird" Mom said.

Hesitantly, I dare to lift my gaze and meet the intriguing stare of the two people in front of me. The woman looks sophisticated with her mid-length hair and almond eyes. While the man beside him looks intimidating because of his unwelcoming stare.

Why are they looking at me as if they didn't know me?

"Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Rivvero" I politely said.

"It's been seventeen years since the last time I saw her" the woman utter before stretching her lips into a smile "You look so different hija, you're so beautiful"

I blink my eyes when she reaches me and kisses me on my cheek. I mentally sighed in relief when I heard her husband laugh, teasing her.

"You just didn't expect she'll grow like this"

"My daughter has been preparing for this day, Fara" Mom meaningfully interjects that made them all laugh.

I bit the inside of my mouth. Everyone really knows how I fantasize about their son and it doesn't sound so cool. I can't imagine myself daydreaming about this day. It's giving me goosebumps.

"Mom, I have been waiting my turn to greet the woman I'll marry. Will you give me some time to say hi?"

I stilled on my spot when I heard a naturally husky voice from behind. His tone sounds bored and annoyed but with a hint of mischievousness in it.

I heard Tito Fird chuckle humorously and shake his head. He looks at me and gives me a teasing smirk.

"My son is jealous Avileigh, I think you really need to greet him now"

I fisted my hand and force myself to turn around. And there I saw a man standing tall in front of me while giving me an intimidating stare. I step back when he steps closer causing the corner of his lips to lift a bit, but that's not what caught my attention. It was his eyes... His sexy deep forest green eyes that suddenly drown me.

"Y-You..."

"Yes it's me, your Silvanus" he mutters lowly.

As if on cue, I felt my head throbs followed by the fast rate of my heart. There are these sudden flashes of images on the back of my head, it is blurred and I couldn't familiarize each scene that giving me a hint about my past.

My breathing went heavy and I felt the bullets of sweat on my forehead. My legs falter and my hands tremble making me step back because of sudden suffocation. But then Silvanus suddenly grab my arm and pulled me towards him which made my eyes widened.

He smirks at my reaction and unexpectedly leans closer to me.

"It's been seventeen years..." He whispers "But are you sure you're Sammia?"