AMELIA
The sweet, mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked food gently wakes me from my sleep. My eyes flutter open, blinking against the light in the room as I slowly sit up, stretching my sleep-stiffened muscles with a contented sigh.
A smile tugs at my lips as Beatrice bustles into the room, a laden food tray balanced expertly in her hands. An intoxicating aroma instantly wafts towards me – the unmistakable rich, creamy fragrance of her famous shrimp pasta, making my stomach rumble in anticipation.
“Thank you,” I murmur as she sets the tray down on my lap with a flourish.
Beatrice returns my smile, her warm eyes crinkling at the corners as she takes a seat on the edge of my bed. “How was your sleep, dear?” she asks, her voice laced with gentle care and concern.
“Good,” I assure her, picking up my cutlery and twirling some of the steaming pasta around the tines of my fork.
“That’s good to hear,” Beatrice says, nodding in satisfaction. But then her expression turns serious, a hint of something I can’t quite decipher flickering in her eyes as she reaches into the pocket of her apron.
My heart stutters in my chest as she pulls out a small, innocuous-looking tablet, holding it out to me with a somber expression. “He asked me to give this to you,” she says softly, placing the pill in my open palm with a gentleness that belies the gravity of the moment.
“Oh.” The word escapes me in a breathless whisper, my appetite vanishing in an instant as I stare down at the tiny white tablet. I don’t need Beatrice to tell me what it is – I know with a bone-deep certainty that it’s the morning-after pill.
A dull ache blooms in my chest. Of course, he would want to erase every trace of our night together, to wash away the evidence of our passion as if it had never happened. As if it meant nothing to him beyond a momentary lapse in judgment.
Swallowing hard against the sudden lump in my throat, I force a tight-lipped smile onto my face as I meet Beatrice’s gaze. “Thank you so much, Beatrice,” I manage to choke out, my voice sounding strained and brittle even to my own ears.
She nods, patting my hand with a comforting touch that only serves to make the ache in my chest intensify. “You’re always welcome, dear,” she murmurs before her expression turns thoughtful once more.
“Before I forget, Eric wanted me to tell you that Lily is sick and bedridden,” she adds, her tone laced with a hint of apology. “That’s why she hasn’t come to see you yet. Apparently, Eric didn’t know until you guys got back.”
“Oh, heavens above!” I gasp, my eyes widening in alarm as a fresh wave of worry crashes over me. “What’s wrong? Is it something serious?”
Beatrice shakes her head, a reassuring smile tugging at her lips. “No, just a little something,” she soothes, her voice calm and steady. “Don’t worry yourself, dear. She’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”
I nod, feeling a rush of gratitude toward her. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.
Beatrice simply nods, leaning down to press a soft kiss to my forehead before turning to leave. I watch her go, my heart heavy with a complicated tangle of emotions that I can’t even begin to unravel.
With a sigh, I pop the pill into my mouth and swallow it dry, wincing at the bitter taste it leaves on my tongue. I force myself to finish my breakfast, mechanically chewing and swallowing each bite even as my stomach churns with a sickening mixture of hurt and confusion. Once I’m done, I make my way to the bathroom.
Stepping into the opulent space, I’m surprised to find all of my usual toiletries and products already laid out, as if they’ve been moved from my own room. Nickolas must have told them to move it while I was sleeping.
“I think Nickolas is confused,” Marie’s voice suddenly filters into my mind, her tone laced with worry.
“Marie!” I exclaim, a genuine smile breaking across my face. “It’s so good to hear your voice again.”
“Hello, Amelia,” she greets, smiling. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m… good,” I reply, though even I can hear the hesitation in my voice. “Better now that you’re here.”
Marie hums in acknowledgment. “I’m proud of you, you know,” she says softly, her words filled with a quiet sort of conviction.
I frown, puzzled by the sudden shift in topic. “For what?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“For finally accepting that part of yourself,” Marie explains, her voice warm with approval. “For embracing your true nature, even if only for a moment.”
A slight smile creeps onto my lips as her words bring back the memory of how it felt to let go of all my fears and doubts and simply lose myself in my true form.
“Thank you, Marie,” I whisper, my throat tight with a complicated tangle of emotions. “For always being there, even when I don’t deserve it.”
“You always deserve it, Amelia,” she murmurs softly. “Never doubt that.”
And with those parting words, she fades back into the recesses of my mind, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more. Taking a deep breath, I step into the shower, letting the warm water wash over me. Afterwards, I change into my own clothes that have been moved into Nickolas’s closet. I slide into a comfortable pair of leggings and pull on an oversized sweater.
I make my way towards the door, determined to go see Lily to check how she’s doing and get some answers about my family’s fate. But before I can even touch the handle, the door swings open, revealing a familiar figure looming in the doorway.
Nickolas.