Valentina pov
I closed my eyes and squeezed my face as the maids carefully applied makeup, their hands swift and practiced.
“Madam, please relax and refrain from furrowing your brows,” Martha said, her voice stern, and I could practically feel the weight of her gaze drilling into me.
I sighed in frustration, my body already stiff and sore from all the sitting around. How long does it take to apply makeup? It had already been two hours when Martha and a number of maids barged into the room, forced me into the shower, dressed me in a form-fitting gown, and now this.
When I asked why she was dressing me as though I were attending a royal ball, she replied calmly, “Madam, it is for an upcoming event you will be attending with Master this evening.” Her tone was firm but professional as she added, “You must look your best, as today will mark the first time you present yourself to the world after your accident.”
I was shocked when she said that- because honestly, how could she wake me up at seven in the morning for a party that was going to take place in the evening? Were we really going to spend the entire day getting ready?
I thought it was impossible. But now, as I glanced at the clock and saw it was almost four in the afternoon, and they still weren’t done, I realized I had severely underestimated her determination.
Goodness, I just wanted to get some sleep.
I couldn’t remember when I had fallen asleep last night-hell, I didn’t even recall half of what I did. One moment, I was eating noodles with a bottle of whiskey in my hand, and the next… I remembered getting on the stool, but then I stumbled. Did I fall to the ground? Or was it on someone? Either way, I had landed on something hard.
Ugh, I couldn’t piece it together! How had I ended up in my room after I passed out? Did I crawl back here? What on earth had happened?
As I racked my brain, a groan escaped my lips as some words echoed faintly in my mind:
“Alexander… I’m sorry for what he did to you.”
Wait. Alexander?
Before I could delve deeper into the memory, a sharp pain jabbed into my eye.
“Ow!” I yelped, rubbing my eye instinctively.
Everyone instantly froze in place and the maid standing in front of me gasped in horror, her face paling. In a panic, she dropped to her knees with a soft thud, pressing her forehead to the floor as she trembled.
“M-Madam, forgive me! Please forgive my carelessness! I-It was a mistake!” she stammered, her voice trembling with fear.
I frowned as I watched her cower, my irritation quickly replaced by confusion. What on earth had just happened?
“Wait, you don’t have to…” I began, but she cut me off.
“P-please forgive me, madam. Please don’t tell the master. I beg you…” she pleaded desperately.
I tilted my head, utterly baffled, and glanced at Martha, unsure of how to respond.
“Why is she acting this way?” I mouthed the words, my brow raised in confusion.
Martha cleared her throat, her expression firm as she addressed the maid. “Go to your room and reflect on what you did. Do not let this happen again,” she scolded, her tone low and laced with an unmistakable warning.
Eh? It wasn’t that big of a deal. Why were they reacting like this?
Before I could speak, the maid quickly nodded, scrambling to her feet before bolting out of the room as though her life depended on it.
I frowned, as I watched the scene. Slowly, I shifted my gaze around the room, taking in the expressions of those around me.
Fear.
They all looked at me with fear in their eyes.
I raised a brow at this, but before I could dwell on it, another maid stepped forward, seamlessly taking over the previous one’s job and resuming the process of applying makeup on my face.
I sighed heavily, fighting the urge to roll my eyes as the tiresome and agonizing process continued yet again.
Two hours later, I found myself sitting in the limo with Daniel and Sebastian, both impeccably dressed for the occasion as they sat across from me, deep in a conversation.
Apparently, Alexander couldn’t come with us because he had some important matters to take care of and would be joining us later but for some reason I couldn’t help think that he’s avoiding me.
I sighed, touching my neatly combed hair out of instincts as I tried to remember what had happened with Alexander last night but my memory was blurry and I couldn’t remember a thing.
Why did I feel like I did something wrong- something ridiculous last night.
“Dr Daniel, p-please stop” A soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts and my eyes flickered to the blushing Sebastian and I took in with a slight tilt of my head and narrowed eyes.
Sebastian wore a well-tailored brown suit that perfectly complemented his neatly combed, brownish hair. He looked like one of those charming, bashful men straight out of a romantic comedy-the kind of man who always seemed a little clumsy yet irresistibly endearing.
I turned my gaze to Daniel, who was dressed in a sharp white suit. His long blond hair fell across his face, and the corner of his lips tilted up in an amused smirk. Two words to describe Daniel were beautiful and charming, with a look that could make any woman jealous.
Me included.
“D-Dr. Daniel, you’re sitting a little too close. Could you move a bit?”
“But why would I? I like it right here,” Daniel replied, his voice low, his gaze never leaving Sebastian. “What’s the matter? Feeling shy?”
“More like feeling crowded,” Sebastian muttered, trying to move away, his face turning bright red.
Daniel chuckled softly, his breath warm against Sebastian’s ear. “I think you like it, though. Why else would you keep looking at me like that?”
I blinked at the scene before me in confusion. Hmm, something seemed off. Something I couldn’t quite place.
“You’re lucky I’m even letting you get this close,” Daniel chuckled, and my eyes brightened instantly.
Aha! I know now.
“Are you two dating each other?” I asked with a teasing smile, and instantly, both of their eyes widened in horror at my words.
“W-what did you just say?!” Daniel screamed, quickly backing away from Sebastian, startling both Sebastian and me.
“I- did I say something wrong…?”
“Why would you say something so ridiculous? Dating? I’m straight, not gay! Did Alexander tell you anything? That bastard! Why would anyone think I’m gay? And most importantly, if I was, I wouldn’t like someone like him!” He mumbled under his breath with a scoff.
Almost instantly, I could see Sebastian’s expression change. His eyes turned sad, and he looked away, trying to hide the hurt behind his gaze.
Daniel paused, clearly sensing the shift in Sebastian’s expression, and the air settled into an awkward silence.
Well, this was uncomfortable.
“Haha, sorry, I made a mistake,” I said with a nervous laugh, trying to break the awkwardness. “Anyway, I have a question.”
Sebastian and Daniel turned, their attention now on me.
I didn’t really have a question prepared… but I had to come up with something.
“How was I before the accident? My personality, I can’t remember anything, so I want to know what I was like before I lost my memories,” I blurted out, the first thing that came to my mind. As soon as the words left my mouth, I noticed both Sebastian and Daniel stiffen, exchanging a brief, uncertain glance.
Seeing their uncomfortable stares, I opened my mouth to speak, “You don’t have to tell me if you’re not comfortable…”
Daniel cut me off with a shake of his head and a guilty smile. “I’ll tell you if you want to know.”
Sebastian pushed his glasses up nervously, his eyes darting between me and Daniel. As Daniel spoke, I couldn’t help but frown more at the words spilling from his mouth.
Was I that bad?
And then it hit me for a moment-how they spoke about Emily. They referred to her as if she were a completely different person from me.