Chapter 8:
The Veil Of Past
Diana's POV
My heart was racing within my chest. My head was feeling dizzy. My hands were shaking. I didn't know what was happening around me. Why are they here? What do they mean by I have a lot coming for me? My throat was feeling dry. Dakota held my left hand in between her soft palms and gave me a light squeeze. She might have noticed my uneasiness. I looked at her and gave her an uneasy smile.
"So Diana when do you plan on marrying?" Amelia's father in law asked me.
Whoa straight hitting on marriage! I must say they have courage. My subconsciousness said.
Shut it.
"I don't know sir. Perhaps when I fall in love." I replied stuttering, my hands were still shaking I didn't know what I was supposed to do.
"What if I told you if you'd marry my son I would give you money and you can renovate this place or better still find a fancy new one." He said with a cold face.
I swear this man. Does he think of you as some w***e!? I'll beat the s**t out of him. You just wait. My subconsciousness said angrily inside my head.
He's elder to us calm down. I said.
Whatever you say.
"But sir why would I marry your son? And of all women out there why me? I don't mean to sound rude or anything because you are elder to me but this is certainly not acceptable. " I replied as politely as I could.
"I am giving you money. My son is rich. What else do you want?" He spoke in an arrogant tone.
Just because he's rich does it give him the right to insult you. I swear kick this family out of the cafe. And don't forget to slap that old brat. My subconsciousness was burning in fury.
"Sir I am sorry. I can't marry your son. And I am certainly not a gold digger that I'll marry your son for money. I don't want a fancy restaurant . 'Cause this one is my life. And lastly I don't even know his name neither yours. Why in the name of God would I marry him?" I said trying to keep my calm.
"Diana I know. Dad didn't mean to be rude? Actually if you hear his past, you might help him. Just hear it once. After that its completely your choice. And our last name is Grey. " Amelia said pleadingly.
"Grey I feel like I have heard this name somewhere before. I don't remember." I said. I was confused so as to where did I heard this name from.
"Umm you must have heard of the Black And White Hotel or The Grey Enterprises?" She asked me.
" I don't remember clearly. I might have." I said still thinking where did I hear this Grey from. " Anyway who is this person you all want me to marry and why do you want me to marry him?" I asked curious. I mean why such a rich family would ask a mere baker like me to marry their son.
"So the thing......."she paused just then the man beside her piped in and said," You lo- "but before he could finish a sharp look from Amelia was enough to shut him up. She continued," Umm why don't you hear my brother in law's story and if you feel like this is all rubbish we all will leave without another word. But if you feel a bit of sympathy for him or for either of us. Please would you marry him and him and help us?" She asked me with a sad smile on her face. I smiled at her and said," Of course I will be more than happy to help but would you tell me what the matter is?"
"So it was like three years ago when it all started. Started from a girl........."She started speaking and I felt like losing myself in the story as it continued.
"3 years ago, Ash met a girl named Selena. They bumped into each other and Ash being himself shouted at her and expected her to say sorry. But she did the exact opposite. She fought back and said it was his fault and went her way. She was interviewed and later got selected as his assistant. Ash loved obedience but she loved to defied him. This way they started developing feelings for each other. Both were growing attached but were not ready to confess to each other. This went on for a year but luckily at the end of the year something happened that made Selena jealous and she unknowingly confessed to Ash. He confessed to her to end they both decided to marry each other. But before the wedding day there was this important contract that needed to be signed and stayed at the office till midnight.Ash offered her to get some fresh air with him and she agreed. They went to the opposite direction of the building and were walking on the side of the road when a car was speeding towards Ash. El noticed but Ash was too busy talking on his phone. She pushed him but the driver hit El and ran away. This happened so fast that Ash was still in a state of shock."
She stopped and took a deep breath. Out of curiosity, I asked her," What happened to Selena? Did ......... Did she make it?"
She had a sad look on her face as she continued," Ash took her to hospital. After operation, the doctor said she was in coma due to the major brain injury during the accident. For a week her heartbeat was steady. During that time, Ash never left her side. But the very next day someone called Ash and he went outside the room to take the call. But by the time he came back inside, Selena wasn't there. She was gone. He tried finding her for these 2 years but was unsuccessful. Someone took her. He hasn't been himself since then. He loved the coffee she made, the food she cooked, the way she fought with him, the way she got concerned when he was hurt. He loved her, he even tried to kill himself but we made sure it didn't happen, after that he drowned himself in work and stopped contacting us." She took the glass of water in front of her as she drank from it.
His story was so sad. I felt a ping of sadness hit my heart.
"Can...........Can I meet him?" I asked not sure if they would like it or not.
"Sure. He will be here any minute. We called him already." Amelia's dad said.
"What about Selena? You never found her body?" I asked Amelia with a curious look.
"No but you." She was about to say something but she stopped
"What about me?" I asked her.
"You almost look like her. They almost seem like the same oceanic blue eyes which once entrapped Ash."
I passed a sad smile to Amelia.
"Tell us something about your past." Anastasia asked breaking the uncomfortable silence which was slowly taking surface. I knew her name because she once came with Amelia and Dakota to the cafe.
"Well I kind of had an accident and woke up in a hospital bed. I didn't remember anything much but there was a woman who claimed herself to be my mother and so I went with her and we lived together until she died from cancer. Her body was buried by my uncle. I don't know why but I wasn't allowed to go to the funeral. " I said remembering the day when they locked me up in my room and said that I wasn't allowed to step even a foot out of the house.
"What about your childhood?" The man sitting beside Anastasia, maybe her husband, asked.
"I don't remember a thing." I said. "I lost all my memories. I just remember waking up in a hospital."
"Oh! I am sorry about your loss though." Anastasia said passing me a small smile. I passed back a sad smile to her in return.
"Hey Dad." The voice sounded familiar. I turned to look at the owner of the voice.
And there he stood.
My saviour in all his pride and glory.
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