Riiing! Riiing!
The alarm went off in Diana's room.
It was Saturday morning and usually she will sleep in for a few more hours. But her friends from work reminded her last night to meet them up in the morning for breakfast at The Modern Harvest, a quaint breakfast restaurant near Kate and Armie's apartment.
She was by herself in the apartment today since Heather had an assignment out of town since Monday and will be back on Sunday.
Stretching out her limbs, she shook the remaining bits of sleepiness. She moved about, choosing what to wear for the day, checking how it looked on her on the full-length mirror. She got ready quickly and went to meet them at the restaurant.
She gave her name to the host of the restaurant and she was led to the booth where Kate Lane, Miriam Chudwell, and Armie Lee are seated.
"Diana! You're here!" Miriam exclaimed.
Sunday morning, Diana kept rolling in her bed, making up for the rest she didn't get from the day before. She planned to procrastinate that day. She was reading the book Witches and Bandits all over again. It's the trilogy that she loves. The very one that is being made into a movie. She reread the second book as the second part of the movie will start showing in cinemas soon. She had music playing in her speaker that was connected to her phone until suddenly the music paused, replaced with her ringtone. "Owww" She was so startled, she dropped her book on her face. Taking away the book, she massaged her nose. Frowning, she got up and checked her phone. 'Lucas' The ringing stopped. She was too late to pick it up. 'Should I call him back? What if it's important? Wait, it's a Sunday, what important thing could it be? And beside
"...and a cup of coffee for me." Lucas finished his order, handing the menu to the waiter. This is the second time she came to The Waterfront Well and inside Lucas's private room. Prior to meeting him, she never had the chance to come here. Diana fiddled at the napkin on her lap. 'What is this situation?' "We'll have breakfast first. It's going to be a bit of a drive to the shop we're going to." Lucas explained. "I see." Diana nodded in understanding. She thought for a moment, grasping at a topic to talk about. "So--uh...how's your week?" Lucas crinkled his eyes in amusement, noticing Diana's nervousness. "It was the usual meetings and seminars. What about you? How was your weekend so far?" Lucas smiled, easing her discomfort. "hmm..It was fun." A bright smile appeared on her face as she recalled yeste
Diana looked around the shop looking for grey suits with white undershirt. She grabbed it and gave it to Lucas for him to try on in the fitting room. While waiting, she kept looking for other suits. She found another one she liked but as she was taking it off from the display, another hand hurriedly grabbed it. When she looked at the hand's owner, she was surprised to see Beatrice, Chantal's friend. "Mine." Beatrice harshly said. Diana was confused as to Beatrice's attitude. "Okay. Have it then." Diana conceded, moving on to look at other suits. When she was about to grab another one, Beatrice hurriedly took it as well. "I got it first." Beatrice raised an eyebrow, challenging her to react. Diana shook her head. "Here. Try this on, Troy. I'm sure you'll look gorgeous. I don't even know why some people are coming here. This i
"Your acquaintance?" Lucas asked Diana. He didn't recognize the two people. Although Beatrice was there when he first met Diana, she made no impression on him whatsoever. Diana tilted her head. "Not exactly. They are my sister's friends." At this, Lucas's turned frosty. 'Ah. The ones who humiliated her?' Not wasting his breath on those people, he motioned for the sales associate to hand out the packages. Beatrice had to admit that Lucas's image was too incredible. It was as if she was in front of a famous celebrity. 'Where did Diana meet such a person? He's even dressed so elegantly. Surely Diana can't afford to dress him up. I don't think the Winchester family would pamper her the way they do with Chantal.' At that moment, the owner appeared with a sales associate in tow. She must have told the owner
At the Moonlit Fork Club, Chantal and Henry's entourage gathered. Taking a sip of her Mojito, Chantal was pensive. Beatrice has just told her what happened back at Giovanni's Thread. She gripped the glass tightly that it's almost about to break. Seeing Chantal's reaction, Henry took her hand in his and massaged it, calming Chantal slightly. "So you're saying that the guy she was with at the party is actually a rich guy?" Leah was curious. "How did she even end up meeting one?" "I know, right?! All she did back at school was study--study--and study. And every time the Winchester Family has an event, she doesn't really go around interacting with anybody." Beatrice recalled. Leah snorted. "You mean, nobody wanted to interact with her. Pfft!" Chantal took a glance at Henry's face, trying to see what his reaction was. Henry was s
Diana pursed her lips as she listened to Osmond rant on the phone. His voice was so loud, even Lucas heard it. He held her hand tighter. "We're just parking the car, father." Diana calmly answered. "..Good." At this Osmond finally stopped. But upon realization at Diana's words, he immediately resumed. "We? Who's we? You brought your friend Heather?" "No, I'm not with Heather. I brought my boyfriend. Alright father, I'll hang up now, we're going inside the hall." Diana hung up after they entered the hall where the voices were loud. Hearing the dial tone, Osmond shoved his phone into his pocket. He gritted his teeth in anger. What is she up to now? She said she's already moved on with Henry but why is she still causing a scene? Why would she keep having someone pretend to be her boyfriend? He hurried up to look for Diana, tryi
Chantal anticipated for Lucas to make up a story. She expected him to come up with an incredible story to impress the family. Henry on the other hand, quietly listened, waiting for Lucas's answer. Lucas's eyes were frosty, contradictory to the smile playing on his lips. "Chantal!" Diana jumped out of her seat and went closer to Chantal. "Isn't this party about both of you and your fiance?" Wendy sensed the tension on the table. "Is your family into business?" Henry queried, ignoring Diana. He wanted to unmask this fraud. Lucas nodded. "I doubt the Winchester and Ward Families would meet my family in the business world", sounding humble. Not only could he read people's personality, he could even imitate them. Henry squinted his eyes. "Are you saying your family is above ours." He challenged him. If Lucas would take the bait t
Diana was silent during the drive. A thousand thoughts ran through her head. The memory of her being happy with her family was a distant past already. It seemed like all they do know is becoming more estranged to the other. Will Lucas be discouraged with her? Chantal and the others' behavior at the party wouldn't give anyone a good impression. Can't they be happy for her the way they are happy for Chantal and Henry? Diana wondered if Lucas would change his mind. To be with her meant having to deal with a troubled family life, Glancing at Diana once in a while, Lucas tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. He could sense her somber mood. All he wanted to do at that moment was to take her away from them and never bring her back. He parked a car in the bay area. Diana wondered why they stopped here instead. She followed Lucas
Lillian, Ernest and the rest arrived at the airport and were quickly assisted through the process. They were able to leave the airport and head to their residence easily. Adrian looked around and saw that everything seemed strange in his eyes. Nothing was familiar to him. It was when they were finally close to the mansion when he recognized the structure. He had dreamt of this place so many times. It had become hazy at some point. But now, he could see that this was more or less the place he lived in before he was taken. It had some new additions along with other changes such as the paint and the landscape design. But the overall structure was the same. As they entered the gates, he saw that there were a lot of people outside of the house. They were lined up even in this cold weather. Most of them seemed to be wearing uniforms under their black coats. The only ones who looked different than the others were the three couples and two young men. “Ah.. Everyone’s here.” Emma smiled
Adrian and Violet were apprehensive when they saw the big plane that they were going to ride on.Fortunately for them, they were flying through the private plane of the Lovell family, else, they would be even more embarrassed by the way they were acting.To their memory, this was their first time being on any plane.That simply was not true for Adrian, as the family had gone on vacations before that needed the plane. It’s just that this memory may have been forgotten by Adrian already.As for Violet, this was her first ever flight.They at least knew what a plane was.They were only anxious as to how they would feel once they’re already up in the air.Lillian and the rest tried to distract them from these thoughts.Hugh and Leroy offered them some wine and snacks.Emma and Priscilla showed them the movies they could watch on the screen in front of their seat.Lillian especially made sure they felt warm and comfortable, giving them blankets and pillows, showing them how to recline thei
“Yes, Dad. Alright–Mn..Goodnight.” Lucas said to Hugh on the phone.Hugh had called him to let him know that they would be heading back in the morning with Adrian and his friend, Violet.Hugh and Leroy’s secretaries have received updates regarding a background check on Violet’s family.They’ve decided to let Violet stay with the Lovell family as a guest.In the residence, there’s usually only the elders living with their staff. Usually, it would be busier during holidays and if there are any special occasions. In those times, everyone would gather in the residence and stay in their rooms reserved for them.Lillian and Ernest have held out hope that Adrian would return to them so they never thought of letting anybody else use it.Lillian would personally clean it and it was only in the later years that she let her staff help her.She wanted to preserve whatever remaining scent Adrian had left.There were times when she would burst out in tears, realizing that she could no longer recall
Soon, the driver, John Garcia, pulled up outside of the hotel where Lillian and the rest were staying.Adrian was no longer as anxious as he was half an hour ago, still he could still remember the bullets trying to penetrate through the car and the explosion after those goons’ cars had collided.Detective Jones glanced at him, noticing how pale Adrian was.Still, he commended him for not breaking down and not getting in their way.And also, because of him, they were able to rescue so many people who have been missing for years.Perhaps the Mayor might even think of rewarding Adrian because of his contribution.At the moment though, it was inappropriate to bring it up, given what the man had just experienced.So after escorting them to the hotel, Detective Jones left them, joining the other Officers with the rescued people.It was a field day for the reporters, gathering outside the police department.On the televisions of most households, they showed several people with their heads lo
As John Garcia was driving the car forward, everyone in the car held their breaths.They already knew that those people were Mortimer’s men. They could only play along for now, hoping for them to think that Adrian was in the other cars.But then–that possibility is very low.The black car they’re in was far from ordinary upon close inspection.And like clockwork, shots rang.Adrian ducked, covering his head with his arms.John Garcia gripped the steering wheel while Howard Dawson and Detective Jones cocked their guns.A voice of one of the policemen came on the comms. “Keep going. Follow the second group!”No matter what, they couldn’t let Adrian and the people who had just been rescued be in Mortimer’s hands again.John Garcia didn’t hesitate and quickly sped on.Mortimer’s men have picked the road where there’s only farm crops on each side, the road only leading one way.The city was still quite far so blending in or hiding in some alleyway would still be impossible.For now, they s
The drive was calm, with John Garcia, the driver not making any stops if he could help it.The car could drive even without gas as it can run on solar power.It could be recharged at a charging station, could store gas and could be powered through solar. This is all thanks to the upgrades done by the Lovell Technologies.With the drive being calm, Adrian fell to sleep.Even Detective Jones dozed off as well, his head hitting the window a couple of times.An hour into the drive, the car suddenly beeped in alarm.Adrian and Detective Jones groaned, having been woken up by the alarm.“What is it? What’s happening?” Detective Jones asked.“There seems to be an accident up ahead.” John Garcia answered, pointing at the GPS shown on the screen in front of him.“Is there another road we can take?” The bodyguard, Hoyt Cole asked.“This is the only road back to Westbury..” John Garcia answered.“Maybe the road is not totally blocked–” Detective Jones said.“Alright then–we’ll keep going..”“Sta
After canvassing the full layout of the building and accounting the number of people inside, Detective Jones and the other Officers made their strategic plan.An hour later, they made their move.Adrian was made to stay in the car while he viewed their perspective from the tablet device.He was given eyes for different cameras. Two more Officers were also monitoring it from their tablet devices.They compared every person found to the sketches from Adrian’s description of the people held captive. And also of the ones Adrian said were the people who ordered them around.Adrian watched as the trained Officers infiltrated the area covertly.CCTV cameras were hacked and made to play the same view over and over again.They knocked out the guards with tranquilizers, making sure they wouldn’t be waking up so soon.They were separated into groups. One made way to the sleeping quarters of the captives, another entered the main building, and another surrounded all possible exits.There were onl
Adrian held her hand, squeezing it.At that moment, Hugh returned to the room and was startled by the silence.“What happened?” He asked. His eyes wandered to Violet who now had her head lowered, her hand covering her eyes and her shoulders shaking.‘Is she crying?’ His brows furrowed.“Violet just remembered what happened that time when she was taken away.” Emma summarized it for him.He nodded. “By the way–I’ve just received information just now. Violet–it has something to do with you. If this is not a good time, I won’t say it.”She looked up, quickly wiping her tears with the cloth napkin.“No, please, I want to hear it.”Hugh nodded.“What is it, Hugh?” Emma asked.“It’s about her family.”They all glanced at Violet, gauging her reaction.“I remember–my mother died that time.” She said.Hugh nodded, confirming what she had remembered.Her heart fell. Deep inside, she was hoping that she was wrong. That she remembered it wrongly.Tears continued to fall down her cheeks. The napkin
Knock. Knock.“I’ll go get it..” Emma said.She opened the door and saw her younger brother, Adrian.“Ah.. Adrian.. What is it?”Adrian was startled.He stepped back to check if he knocked on the correct room or not.“You have something you need from Violet?” She smiled.His brows shot up. “Oh. Um–I was going to bring her to the dining room.”“Ah.. I see. Well, just in time. We’re done here as well.” Emma smiled. She turned her head and called over. “Come on you two..”“Okay!” Priscilla said. “Let’s go Violet..”Priscilla brought Violet over.Adrian was struck for a moment when he saw Violet.He had never seen her so dolled up.Her hair was beautiful and so is her overall look. Her face was even more beautiful than usual.Violet’s head hung as her cheeks blushed bright red.Adrian cleared his throat.“Let’s go..” Adrian tilted his head.“Mn.” Violet nodded.