[GIOSEFFO]
I realized that she resembled her mother. Perhaps that’s why she caught my attention, and I found myself mildly intrigued by her. I smiled to myself, thinking it was something else.
Amelie Pearce, the only daughter of Astrid Pearce, and I believed she would follow in her mother’s footsteps.
I’m now focused on the documents containing information about the Pearce family, from Astrid’s spouse to the child. I pondered whether I should consider eliminating her entire family right in front of her before finishing her. It’s a tempting idea.
I examined Amelie Pearce’s profile closely; she appeared innocent but with a potential for malevolence in the making.
“Sir, Sir Taddeo is here,”
my train of thought about the Pearce family was interrupted. I raised my gaze and exhaled. I stood up from my seat and walked to where Taddeo and I usually hung out when he came to our house.
“Ah!” Taddeo exclaimed when I made my move. “Checkmate,” I declared. We were playing chess, a pastime we both enjoyed. Since we started playing, Taddeo had never beaten me.
It’s easy to play you just need a strategy and the ability to read and predict your opponent’s moves. And when it comes to that, no one in our generation can beat me.
Disappointed, Taddeo slumped in his seat. “When will I ever beat you in that game? We’ve been playing for years, and I can never figure out your next move,” he complained.
I gave him a grin. “Dream on. You can’t beat me in my own game.” He smirked at me and gazed around.
“You were saying, you see the one who killed your grandpa and grandma at the party we attended?”
I nodded while rearranging the chess pieces. This was our usual routine I’m the one who tidied up after the game because when Taddeo lost, he lost interest and became lazy. What a sore loser.
“I also met her daughter,” I said briefly.
Taddeo remained silent, so I had to look his way. I caught his meaningful gaze.
“What about her daughter? Are you planning something with her too?” he asked.
I continued to look at him. Taddeo probably got my point because he just shrugged.
“Does Uncle Agatone know about your plans? We’re only 12 years old, Gio. Our capabilities are limited, and you’re planning to kill someone who managed to kill our grandparents…”
“She pulled a cheap trick. I won’t fall for it. Her fate is sealed, and anyone who gets in the way of what I’ll do will face the same consequences. Be it her daughter or anyone else,” I felt anger boiling inside me, but I suppressed it. “Dad doesn’t know, only you do, aside from the people involved in the plan. Don’t you dare tell him, Taddeo.”
He kept his gaze on me, as if assessing my seriousness. I noticed him swallow and raise his hands in a gesture of surrender.
“I don’t want to die at the hands of my cousin,” he joked.
“As if you’d let me kill you that easily,” I replied.
We exchanged glances for a moment before Taddeo burst into laughter, and I couldn’t help but smile a bit. When it was just the two of us, we sometimes dropped our guards and laughed. As I’ve said, Taddeo and I are close, so we’re both open about various matters with each other.
In the following days, when I had no obligations like training or classes, I would go to the Pearce’s house. I spotted Astrid Pearce riding in a car with her husband, leaving their daughter behind. I wanted to mock her; she appeared to live peacefully, undisturbed, and decent, with her hands tainted by the blood of my family members.
I observed their house, contemplating the next steps when I noticed someone coming out of the gate.
It was Amelie Pearce. I was once again taken aback when I saw her. She had her back to me, but I could feel the same effect she had on me when we first met.
She was currently looking in the direction her parents’ car had taken. The slump of her shoulders indicated sadness, and she raised her hand to wipe her eyes. Her movements suggested she was wiping away tears.
She entered their house, and for the second time, I felt a heaviness in my chest. I didn’t even get to see her face.
~***~
Visiting and observing the Pearce mansion had become a part of my daily routine. Sometimes, I would go in the morning, but there were times I found myself returning there repeatedly within a single day, depending on the volume and weight of my tasks. I always felt a sense of delight whenever I caught a glimpse of her.
I saw her coming out of the house with another woman who, to my judgment, appeared to be taking care of her, perhaps for their morning walk. Her car was parked far enough that I knew she wouldn’t spot me observing her. I lowered my window slightly to hear what was happening outside.
“Millie, don’t go too far! Your mom might scold you again!” I overheard her say as they passed by my car.
As Millie walked by the side of my car, I noticed bandages on her body, which left me frozen and chilled in my seat. Where had those come from? You don’t get those from tripping or falling. Did someone hurt her?
They stopped close to where I was positioned, and I managed to catch some of their conversation. “If I go too far, will Mama get mad at me again? Is she going to hurt me again?” Millie said in a small voice.
My hand clenched in anger, and my jaw tightened upon hearing this. Was her mother really hurting her?
I was overwhelmed with anger, almost wanting to confront Astrid Pearce right then and there.
“We can’t be sure. She might come looking for you suddenly. You know how your mom is. Come on, let’s go back.”
When I saw Millie walking home again, her smile was gone, and her face bore a sad expression. I grew even more infuriated with her mother for robbing her of her happiness.
I closed my eyes and realized that my thoughts were consumed by Millie Pearce, even though my attention shouldn’t be solely focused on her. She was going to be a part of my plan, but not the entire plan. Yet, it seemed like everything was revolving around her now.
“Seriously, who are you visiting at that house? Is it her mother for revenge, or her daughter for some other reason?” Taddeo and I were playing chess again.
When I returned home from the Pearce residence earlier, I found Taddeo waiting for me. I didn’t tell him where I had been, but it seemed like he knew my whereabouts. We had become too familiar with each other to have any secrets.