The Mafia's Precious Pet

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT.

~Rose

I lay in bed, the soft glow of the moon, penetrating into my room through the half-open window, my back on the queen–sized bed while I looked up at the ceiling, as my mind wondered why my so-called stepmother, Amanda, was in so much hurry to marry me off, despite my condition. I really had to know the reason behind the sudden decision. A month had passed, and I was still living in darkness, unaware of who I truly was and if this life was truly the life I lived.

I was unfortunately too aware of what had befallen me. I had lost everything, every single part of my past life, not even a reflection of memory was left. It all felt so surreal, everything that was happening in my life at that point and I had gotten so sick of it that I soon found myself accepting it as it was. I mean, what did she, my stepmother, really have to gain by lying to me?

Night after night since we returned from the hospital, I would stare at my reflection in the mirror, searching for any glimmer of recognition, but my eyes would gaze back at me like those of a stranger. I felt like a ghost hovering between worlds, unable to grasp the life I once knew.

The hospital staff had tried to help me, showing me pictures and asking me questions back then in the hospital, but everything seemed foreign to me. I felt like I was living in a dream, with no anchor to reality. I prayed to wake up sooner. As the days passed by, my sense of identity was no longer there. I felt lost and alone, a stranger in my own skin. The memories I so desperately sought to remember remained hidden, and nothing was still clear to me.

"Rose?...Rose?"

I felt a small repeated tap on my shoulder and I jolted back to reality from my hazy daydreaming—more like day-mares, if that was even a thing.

I turned, a little dazed, in the direction of my stepmother, whose big brown eyes glowed with sympathy for me.

"Yes." I replied softly and gave her a small nervous smile, to which she sighed and took my hand in hers,

"Look, I know that it's all too sudden, and it's only been a month since you were discharged from the hospital but, time is no longer on our side anymore. It's something your father would have wanted and the company is also in peril and that's his criteria for you to inherit the company." She said, her voice calm and soothing, though the words pierced through my heart like the sharp tip of a sword.

We were sitting in the brightly lit lounge area. A huge shiny and elegantly designed chandelier dangled over our heads from the middle of the ceiling. Its light bounced off every corner of the lounge, giving the chandelier a bright crystal glow effect.

The walls of the lounge were painted a soft creamy hue, providing a warm and inviting backdrop for the luxurious furnishings and making the light the chandelier gave off, feel and look almost heavenly. The floor was made with polished hardwood, gleaming with a warm golden light that seemed to dance off the surface, matching perfectly with the lighting and the wall paint, adding sophisticated elegance to the lounge.

Impressive paintings and works of art adorned the walls. I could recognize one among the paintings. It was "The Scream," by Edvard Munch. The paintings weren't clustered, rather they were strategically spread apart on the walls.

At one end of the lounge, a grand stone electric fireplace was built. It looked extremely cozy and inviting. It was a perfect spot to read a book or get lost in thought.

Two gigantic spiral staircases, one on the left wing and the other on the right wing, were erected at the end of the lounge, and it was connected to the top floors of the mansion.

There were four strategically arranged oversize armchairs and sofas, all with creamy-colored cushions and gold highlights around the top and arms as well as the feet of the furniture. A medium-sized portable glass tea table was placed at the center of the furniture.

In all, the lounge was really a testament to the kind of wealth, shall I say, my family possessed.

I was seated on the two-seater sofa and Amanda, my stepmother, was sitting next to me.

"It's a bit too rushed indeed," I said to her with a small voice which was almost inaudible.

She flashed me a warm smile and rubbed the back of my palms with her thumb,

"I know it's all hard for you to believe, but it's all in your father's will," she explained.

"Let me show you something." She said and stood up, "I'll be right back." Then she walked out of the lounge towards the staircase on the left wing.

Her strides were graceful and yet, a sense of authority emitted from them, like she was born into this kind of life from the very beginning.

As soon as she disappeared from my sight, I let out a very deep sigh. I was still struggling with accepting the fact that I may never know who I am and now, I had to get married.

After a couple of minutes, I was distracted by the sound of her heels as she descended from the stairs with a brown envelope in her hand.

"Sorry, I had a little trouble trying to find it," she said as she came back to take her seat beside me.

She stretched the envelope out to me, "Here, take it."

I looked at it with skepticism and the hesitation I felt was evident with how slowly my hands moved as I reached for it.

My eyes darted back towards her with uncertainty, but she flashed me a reassuring smile.

I knew I had to question everything that was playing out in front of me, but Amanda had not given me any reason not to trust her. However, I still needed to be sure that she could be trusted.

I was about to pull out the papers when a thought came to my mind.

I looked up at her, "what relationship did you have—" I was a bit hesitant but something inside me urged me to ask her, "—with my mother?" I completed.

She blinked a few times at me, shock evident on her face. She wasn't expecting such a question.

She shifted in her seat and intertwined her fingers which she placed on her laps, "Well, I won't lie to you. I didn't really know your mother. But your father always spoke about her with a lot of respect and love so I believe she must have been a lovely and kind woman. But it's unfortunate that she died so young." Her voice was solemn as she spoke and it struck a chord in my chest, the things she said.

I sighed deeply, I guess I’ve already confirmed what I wanted to. Amanda was indeed a good woman and I could trust her.

I pulled out the document and I saw what was written at the top in bold black font; Last Will and Testament.

"The lawyer had come by to hand it over to me yesterday. If you do not sign it after a month, it will be dissolved and your father's property will become government property and he wouldn't want that to happen to all his hard work." She stated.

My eyes glanced through every bit of word that was written on its pages as I slowly flipped through, making sure not to leave anything out.

Everything Amanda told me was true. My father had entrusted the company to me but it was stated there as a criteria to inherit the company, that I had to get married within a month, upon reading the will. And also, all my assets as the CEO was to go to my husband because he will be the figurehead of the company.

"Do you see now what I'm telling you?" She asked.

I looked up at her, "I guess I don't have a choice then."

"Oh well, you still have a few weeks to find a suitable man but if you would allow me, I would like to make a suggestion." She said,

It wasn't like I had any reason to object. So far, all she has ever done was help me.

"And what's that?" I asked her, eager to hear her out.

"David." She said,

My brows dipped in confusion, "who's– who's David?"

"He's your fiancé. The same man at the hospital who had almost run mad after hearing what happened to you." She said, her face, looking forlorn and laden with sadness.

"Why then do you speak of him with so much sadness?" I asked her.

"Well, it'll also be all too sudden for him. And this rush might not be what he wants but I do hope you can explain it better to him. He will accept nevertheless, because you both had intended to marry, that is, before the accident occurred." She replied.

She was right. He must have really loved me, and he was the perfect candidate. I mean, I had seen how sad and broken he had been when he saw the state I was in at the hospital. For a few weeks also, he occasionally came by with flowers to pay me a visit. And more importantly, my time had started counting. There was no time for me to go about trying to form new connections with men out there.

A month was all I had to get married.

"So, what's your decision?" Amanda asked me.

I had no decision. I was left with no choice and no memory of who I was.

"I'll go to him," I replied.

It seemed like I had everything but in truth, I had lost it all in that accident. What more did I have to lose?

"I'll marry him." I added, with more conviction, to try to encourage myself internally that I was making the right choice.

But even as I said that, a pang of pain and hesitation struck my chest; however, I ignored it.

'He's a stranger,' my mind nagged,

Well, if I

had to marry a stranger to uphold my father's last wishes, then I will. What's the worst that could happen anyway?