Dear fiancé: I am beautiful again

Identity crisis

Chapter Seventeen - Identity Crisis

Gabriella's POV

I snapped my eyes open, and they settled aimlessly on the wall clock. The time was 7:00am, but it was on a Saturday, which meant no work. Somehow, I had managed to wake up as early as 7:00am. I could not tell if it was because I was used to waking up so early or if it was because I could barely catch a glimpse of sleep last night.

My mind kept reeling towards the text message I had gotten last night, the one that warned me not to end up like my parents. Of course, I knew that it was not Tami behind the text message. Tami did not know about my identity, neither did she have an idea about my background. It was definitely not her. Who was it though?

Thinking about the text made me feel uneasy, it felt I was being watched and, frankly speaking, that scared me. I began to suspect that it was the same culprit that kidnapped my brother, who also sent me the text. I had sent the number to James last night, hoping he would be able to track it down, but James had contacted me by midnight to inform me that the text was sent through a burner phone. The person knew exactly what they were doing.

I picked up my phone from the bedside table and dialed James' number. He answered on the first ring. "Good morning Gabriella." James' voice rang through my phone's speakers.

"Hi James, sorry to disturb you with a call so early. "I just want to see how far you have gotten with the pictures of the documents I sent you last night." I asked, shutting my eyes close for a brief moment to hope that James had at least gotten far with his investigation, but when I heard a small sigh over the phone escape from James' lips, I felt disappointment wash over me.

"I am working on it Gabriella, give me some time till......" My attention drifted away from James' words the moment Lucian stepped into the room. He was dressed in a black armless fitted shirt and a pair of black joggers were clad to his long legs. Judging by his physical appearance and the water bottle clutched tight to his hands, I could tell he was out for a jog.

Since James had no important information to share. I cleared my throat and said "I will talk to you later." I said and hung up immediately. I placed my phone back on the bedside table and averted my full attention to Lucian.

"Good morning Gabriella, did you sleep well?" Lucian asked with a small smile playing on his lips. I nodded my head in agreement at him and returned the smile back to him. "Yes I did, what about you?" I asked. Lucian shrugged and nodded his head in agreement.

"Anyway, so I was thinking that since you and I do not have any work to do today, "We might as well spend the entire day together..." Lucian rubbed his palm together and said with an awkward smile. I rubbed the back of my neck, a bit taken aback by his sudden request. I mean Lucian and i were always all work and no play. We cared about each other, but we cared more about the reason for our contract marriage. That was why I was suddenly shocked by his suggestion.

"Of course, we can spend the day together. "However you want it to be," I said. Lucian nodded his head in agreement. "How about a walk? "My morning walks usually start by 7am," Lucian said.

"Alright then, I will get changed and join you in the living room," I said. After all, a walk sounded like a good way to start the day. Lucian excused me out of the room. I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. Right after that, I changed into a tracksuit. I tossed my phone into my pocket and sluggishly made my way downstairs. Lucian was not in the living room like we had agreed, instead Imani was the one sitting in the living room, tidying up the space.

I suddenly recalled her conversation from the last time. I had been meaning to confront her about it but I guess I had other things to worry about. I had not even given it much thought.

"Have you seen Lucian?" I asked, breaking the silence between us.

Imani dropped the piece of clothes she was using to clean the TV screen. She turned to gaze at me with a huge scowl on her face. "Since when am I his keeper?" She snapped at me.

My eyes widened in shock at her rude response. Was it that she had woken up on the wrong side of the bed or had she just been waiting for the exact moment to strike?

"All I did was ask a simple question. I see no reason why you should be such a b***h about it." I snapped back at her, I was slowly losing my patience.

Now it was Imani's turn to get angry at my rude response. She scoffed in disbelief and shook her head at me in disdain. "Did you just call me a b***h?" She yelled angrily.

"Yes, what are you going to do about it? You are nothing but a mere slave here. I honestly do not know what you and Victoria have cooked up in that dirty mind of yours, but let me remind you of your job here, to clean the house and make sure there is always food at home. "Learn to live with your position and stop chasing bigger things." I spat out bitterly.

The last thing I wanted to do this morning was allow Imani to ruin my day. I turned around and slowly made my way towards the entrance door and just as I was about to push the door knob open, Imani's next words left me speechless.

"I know who you are! I know your secrets, I know you are not who you claim to be!"