Chapter Eight
1118 Words
Amelia’s face twisted as she struggled to lift her head. Her eyes burned as she forced them half open, the room spinning slightly. She rolled over with a low groan, bringing her hand to her head, wanting to ease the pain. But seeing the ache was gone, she sat up immediately, feeling her head once more.
She felt her nose, and the familiar warmth was no longer there. She checked her sheets, and it was as if what had happened yesterday had been a dream, or rather a nightmare.
She looked again until she saw a bandage on her right arm. It was placed where her veins were. She scoffed. “I can’t believe this.”
She swung her legs over the edge, letting her feet hang for a bit before letting them drop. When her feet hit the cold floor, she took a moment to stand up before going into the bathroom. She gazed at herself in the mirror. Strange. I look oddly refreshed. Like I had been wiped down or something.
She took a quick shower and proceeded to go downstairs for breakfast. Reaching the dining area, Luca was sitting at the head of the table. There was no food in front of him, so it was assumed that he had been waiting for her.
She sat down two seats away from him. Neither of them said a word to each other.
After a few moments, two maids walked in, each carrying a tray of food. She noticed one of them was the same maid who tried to stop her from going upstairs on her first morning in the mansion. As she was serving Luca, she lingered a fraction of a second after placing his tea. She found her demeanor slightly different from back then. Almost...warmer. Back to the food, they both had the same thing, yet it was completely different. Amelia had three slices of bacon, a lot of scrambled eggs, and three toasts with lavender tea. Something she was going to need. Her eyes strayed to his meal, and she furrowed her brow. He had one slice of bacon, a handful of scrambled eggs, and just one toast. And to down it all with lotus tea. You’d think for a man like him, he ought to be eating twice the size of what I have. Yet he’s eating like a bird.
Once they started eating, Luca dismissed the staff.
“You knew. Didn’t you?”
He kept eating.
She dropped her fork and looked at him.
“I wouldn’t put it past you that you had a hand in that poison. Didn’t you, Luca? Because there was no way he would try such a thing in your estate and you wouldn’t know.”
Luca finished his meal and sipped his tea, his eyes glancing towards her.
Her hand curled up into a fist as she bit her lip.
“I could have died, Luca.”
“It was handled, Ame—”
“I’m not an object, Luca.”
The aggressive ticking of a wall clock suddenly became incredibly loud.
He dropped his unfinished tea and looked at her, saying, “Watch your tone, Amelia. Need I remind you who bought you out of that auction?”
Amelia felt a sting in her chest.
“I know. But if you buy something, you take care of it, Luca.”
He looked down at his plate, not uttering a word.
She sighed, then carried on, asking, “Why did you switch out the poison?”
“Had to make it look believable.”
She hummed.
As the air got a bit lighter, she got up and said, “Well, let’s get ready then. Can’t keep our guest of honor waiting.”
Luca watched as she left the table, probably going towards his office. He sat for a while watching the empty seat before leaving his own for his office.
He met her at the entrance and opened the door, allowing her to enter first. She sat down while he closed the door and walked over to his seat to sit down.
“So, now that the cat’s out of the bag, how do you propose we bring him in?”
“Hmm," Amelia tapped her finger on her hand.
“Well, I was thinking everything could go as planned. I would give him the blueprint, since none of it was real in the first place.”
“I doubt he’ll believe you’re still poisoned when you meet him.”
Amelia smiled mischievously.
“Oh, don’t worry, that’s what makeup is for. I mean, I do have to look the part.”
Luca smiled halfheartedly. Amelia caught the look. That has to be the most honest look I’ve ever seen him make.
He looked at her, his eyes softening a little.
“Be careful, Amelia.”
She looked at him. It felt like a simple warning, but she could sense there was so much behind it. She then gave a broad smile.
“I will, Luca.”
*Outside the Mansion*
Amelia went to the same location where she had met that man. He stood there. Still with that same expression as the last time she met him, only stronger, as if it just dawned on him that he was on enemy territory. He flinched when he heard footsteps and turned his head swiftly.
His body relaxed a little when he saw her.
“Where is it? Did you bring it?”
Amelia watched his pitiful state and brought out her hand from behind her, showing him the blueprint. He was about to grab it, but she took it away from his reach.
His veins almost popped out.
“What do you think you’re doing? Give me the blueprint!”
“The antidote. Do you have it?”
He paused. Irked, he placed his hand in his pocket on his jacket.
“Look, I have it here, alright. Now just give me the damn blueprint.”
Amelia’s eyes went to his hand in his pocket, and she quietly scoffed.
“Here.”
She threw it at him. He got to the floor and scrambled to get it. When he got up, he had a look of satisfaction on his face as he held the blueprint tight.
“Now where is the-”
click-clack.
Amelia’s eyes widened. Her hands trembled.
“What—what are you doing?”
“Ha, do you think I’m stupid? Who knows if you’ll go and tattle to Luca after that? Then what would be the point of me having this blueprint? Might as well tie up loose ends before I leave.”
His finger was about to pull the trigger until,
Bang.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD