The Deceived Heiress

Growing up as the eldest child of Dimitri Stephanò Holmstrom, a half Greek and American business magnate, was a blessing. But in reality, it wasn't the best. My Patrì was a w***e in his own right. I already had six siblings who had different mothers at such a young age. Except for Blue, she and I share the same mother. Our mother died when I was four, and I barely remember anything about her. And ever since her death a long time ago, my father has never been the same. Patri sent me to his childhood home in Athens, Greece, where Blue and I stayed with our grandparents. Patri took down the house where he and my biological mother built. My Yiayia told me that Patri couldn't live in the house without feeling all its emotions. They were terrific, but it could never cover up the fact that I missed my father's attention. He was busy rebuilding his self-made business, and at the same time, mending his broken heart. And in between that mending, he got drunk and had a one-night stand with a Spanish beauty model. The same thing happened. Patri sent little Carnelian to us in Greece. And there, we lived peacefully for two years. My father finally came back to his senses and picked us up to travel to Manila, Philippines. And he involved himself again with a Filipina actress, which resulted in our little Opal. We stayed there for another year because Dad wanted custody over Opal, but her mother wouldn't allow it. But since his name was starting to grow, he made use of his connections, and we were now on our way to Italy to further expand his business. The happiest times in my childhood were in Italy, and we got to know a mother figure who baked us cookies every time we got good grades from our homeschool teacher. We would also float paper boats in the canals of Italy, only to run away when the authorities see us, since it's not legal to create such a mess. Three years after little Opal was born, my father married our mother— Gheniese Grant, who gave Patri three children of their own. A year before my eighteenth birthday, we had to fly back to Greece because of the news that grandma was bedridden at the hospital. But not before promising forever to a blue-eyed Italian boy. "Blue, how are you? Well, I'm fine. Just hangin' around doing everything." My sister suddenly popped inside my room while dressed in such scandalous articles of clothing. I threw her a disapproving look, "You know how he is with such clothes like that. It will only cause a headache for Patri. Go back and change, Blue." I could feel the frown on my face deepen as she just ignored my chastise. She lazily looked around my room while chewing her bubblegum. I could feel my eyes twitch from the annoyance building up within me. She abruptly stood up and made her way over me, not minding the things she was stepping on. "Please! Can't you just come with me? I'm slowly losing my mind here!" She whined as she pulled my hand. She stuck out the bottom of her lip and gave me her infamous puppy eyes. Her puppy eyes and pouty lips may have worked on me once upon a time, but now, all I feel is a pure annoyance. Tonight is our last night in Italy as my family and I are due to fly back to Greece tomorrow morning. Learning about our poor Yiayia's condition, we wish to ask the Almighty Heavenly Father to give our Yiayia more years on earth with us. And I've been praying to God to let Yiayia have more years to be with us. "Plus, there's also a high chance we could see and meet your crush," She teased, winking at me slyly as she playfully jabbed her elbow at my side. "For the tenth time, I don't like him." But as I said that, I felt my cheeks getting hot because of it. And I'm sure the freckles that spread on my face are red as a tomato. "Sure, and I'm a duckling. Go and change. I'll wait for you here." She sat on my bed and looked around, trying to look like a patient human being. But I know my sister so well. === "A-ametrine?" My head immediately turned to look at the person who spoke my second name. And an automatic smile made its way onto my face as I adoringly looked at the Italian boy who had managed to snatch my heart the moment I first saw him. He was a gentleman and possessed a kind personality. But sadly, I couldn't admit my feelings for him. Possibly, it could ruin our long-term friendship just because of these one-sided feelings of mine. Yes, I am afraid of rejections and heartbreak, knowing that your firsts are the worst because they could leave you traumatized. Hmm, so scary. "Alejandro, such a pleasure to see you again." I greeted him, my voice evident with enthusiasm. He grinned back at me and sat beside me on the bench. "I thought you had already left for Greece." He scratched his head and blushed deeply, probably because of his wrong assumption. "Tomorrow morning is our flight back. I'm supposed to be asleep right now, but Blue has other plans and decided to visit her friends before leaving and not knowing when we would come back." Then I saw how his eyes displayed sadness, and I felt my heartbeat picking up at the possibility that he would miss me. "Oh." We sat in peaceful silence, and I was looking at my knees. I wanted badly to confess, knowing that if he rejected me, I would not be here tomorrow morning so that it would be less painful, nonetheless still painful. "I will miss you, Ametrine, truly." I glanced up and saw his arms spread wide. I immediately latched myself to him and closed my eyes, relishing the warmth he was offering. I know he was thinking that we were just friends, and my heart is cracking at the thought of him meeting a beautiful Italian woman who will capture his heart before I do. But sadly, even before this thought, the regal and pretty-looking Allison probably has. He pulled away, but before I could ultimately have a great distance from him. He gently placed a finger on my chin and grazed it, and that small act caused my whole body to go into a frenzy. I could feel butterflies in my stomach, my palms were probably sweaty, but I didn't care. All I could think about right now was the blue-eyed boy in front of me who made me fall deeper for him just by touching my chin. "I like you." That threw me off guard as I stared at him with wide eyes and mouth agape. "I'm such a fool to confess, knowing you will be leaving me the next day. But I like you so much, and I've tried my hardest to stop it, because I know someday you will be leaving to go back to Greece, and distance will be our enemy. Yet, every day I get to see you laughing so hard, scrunching up your cute nose when you think of something you want to eat or do—" "I like you too." I cut him off, knowing that he would ramble continuously and I would never hear the end of it. But I'm lying if I said that didn't make my heart thump because it did. It feels like my heart is right next to my ear since I hear it loud and clear, thumping against it. "Yeah? Really?" His eyes glimmered with hope, and I nodded repeatedly. "Yes!" He fist-pumped in the air and pulled me again for a hug. I let my eyes close as I felt his hand running up and down my back. I clutched onto him tighter, praying to God that this wouldn't end soon. "We could make this work, and we can text each other or send letters even though we're far away. I could come to Greece every vacation to see you-" "You know that we can't handle that," I sadly said, losing hope for us, but his eyes showed determination in making us work. "No, Via, we can do it." He grabbed both of my hands and placed a kiss on them. Before I could answer him, I heard Blue calling my name, probably calling us to go home because it was past midnight. Well, it's her fault we're out here in the first place. "We have to focus on our studies, Alejandro," I said worriedly. He repeatedly shook his head and explained. "You will be my inspiration. Please be with me!" He pleaded, but Torness filled my heart with thoughts of him cheating on me with another woman while I was far away. I've seen this in the movies before, and I should know not to be stupid to agree on a long-distance relationship. I know that there is a one hundred percent chance because we are so far away from each other, which would cause a distraction between us. "We can't. I'm sorry." I stood up from the bench as I started hearing Blue calling me repeatedly and each time getting louder than the last time. "Goodbye, Alejandro." As my hand was beginning to slip from his, he pulled it and hugged me tightly before whispering in my ears. "Promise me that when you come back, you will be mine." I heard the desperation in his voice. I repeatedly nodded. "Use your words, signorina." "I promise you that we'll be together forever if we ever get the chance." With his last kiss on my forehead, I took a painful step away from him and into my sister, who immediately dragged me back to our house. "We're going to be in such big trouble; I received a text from dad. Oh no, Via, what should we do?" Her eyes panicked. I began panicking inside as well, but I felt more sad than nervous. Glancing back, I saw him standing beside the bench with his hands in his pockets as he smiled at me sadly. I waved at him before allowing Blue to drag me back completely. As I lay on my bed, I couldn't stop my tears from flowing. Is he my first love? Probably not because I only said that I like him. Groaning, I squeezed my eyes close and tried to sleep to push back the thoughts of him for a little while to get rest. But it seems like I won't be getting a peaceful night of sleep today. === Pushing myself out of bed, I began to check what I had packed to make sure I didn't forget anything. As I closed my suitcase, I heard a knock. "Come in." "Good, you're awake. I was knocking on everyone to wake up." Mother walked up to me and sat on the floor beside me with a radiant smile on her face. "Can I tell you something, mother?" I sadly asked, propping my arms on my knees while looking down on the carpeted floor. I felt her finger under my chin. She raised my head and gestured at me to go ahead and tell her what was bothering me. "Can I stay? Just for a month, and I'll follow you back to Greece," I pleaded with her to let her know that I wanted to be left here. She shook her head 'no' before asking, "Why? Is there something holding you back?" She grazed my cheeks with her thumb. It's not something. It's someone. But I didn't dare to tell her that. Instead, I just chuckled and relaxed even though I was shaking inside, wanting to convince them to let me stay. "Nothing, I'm just not ready to say goodbye to grandma." I lied through my teeth, but that was partially true because the sight of my old and sickly bedridden grandma would break my heart. "Well, it hurts to say goodbye to someone. But the good thing about that is that you had the chance to say goodbye." She then stood up from the floor and pulled me with her. "Come and check on your siblings while I prepare breakfast before we leave." === I tried to think of happy thoughts but knew it was impossible as I sat in the window seat of the private plane. Hearing my younger siblings' loud chatter and noise couldn't erase the void inside me as I sat alone. "Boyfriend?" I glanced at Blue, who already knows so much more about love than me. I didn't answer her and just stayed silent, observing my surroundings. "Well, did you have the chance to say goodbye?" I nodded and sighed. I was not content with a mere goodbye. "At least you had the chance to say it. Don't worry. If you're fated to be with him, then you'll be with him." She then left the seat beside me and went back to play with little Carnelian. And for the rest of the flight, I was restless.