The hidden mansion
“Melissa, Melissa, don’t leave me. Please don’t go.” Mark called in agonizing pain in his sleep.
Sneering in her heart, Sasha dragged the doctor to a corner as soon as he walked in. “I need you to make him forget his past life. I promise to pay handsomely for your services.” She instructed him. Since the accident, Sasha has been by his side taking care of him, but the only person he called for in his sleep was Melissa. She was getting fed up with having to hear that name over and over again.
“What are you saying?” Looking from her to the patient, the doctor asked.
“Erase his memory, make sure he remembers nothing from the past year.” She insisted.
“And how do you suppose I should do that?” The doctor stared at her as if she had gone crazy.
“Drug him or take him for another surgery. I don’t care, as long as he forgets her.” She said looking at Mark.
“Ma’am I can’t do that. He has made a tremendous recovery. What you’re suggesting risks losing his life. My work is to save people’s lives, not take them.” He shook his head as he glanced at the patient.
“Either you do as I say or you say goodbye to your precious daughter. What will it be? Her life or the simple procedure.” She handed him his daughter’s picture taken at her preschool.
“Why do this? It’s not right.” The doctor trembled, staring at his daughter’s picture.
The whispering woke up Mark and for a while he silently watched their conversation, often closing his eyes whenever they looked his way.
Despite the medication to ease the pain, he remembered what Sasha did before the accident. He glanced at her and wondered how far she would go to achieve her goals.
Thinking back to the pain in Melissa’s eyes that day broke his heart. He fought very hard every day to get back to her.
‘I’ll make everything right. Nothing and no one can come between us. My sunshine.’ With his eyes closed, he thought to himself. Smiling to himself he recalled Melissa’s beautiful face sleeping beside him.
…..
Melissa woke up disoriented with a slight headache.
Sitting on the bed she looked around the massive room as memories of what happened to her flooded her mind. Everything that had happened seemed like a dream, but blinking her eyes, she realized it was not a dream.
From the floor to the ceiling glass window, to the queen-sized bed with white linen bed sheets, she realized it was not the tiny room she shared with Lisa at the apartment.
Remembering what the man promised to do to her, she got out of bed in a panic and checked herself.
“I have to get out of here.”
Anxiously trying to leave the dimly lit room, Melissa opened the first door, but it led to another room almost as big with a bathtub, a shower head, and a toilet behind sliding glass doors.
She splashed water on her face then stared at the disheveled reflection in the mirror, winching in pain from the bruises she sustained during the accidents. Without giving up, she kept going and tried a second door. The walk-in closet was massive. Though only sleeping gowns were hung, it looked clean and well kept reminding her of the villa house.
“I see you’re awake.” A male voice from behind made her jump and caused her to hit her forehead on the door frame.
“Ouch!” The man smiled at her standing at the doorway, hands in his pocket. He was tall, lean and well-built, with long hair. Every time he smiled, dimples formed on each cheek making him look more young and handsome. If she didn’t know otherwise, she would say he was a spitting image of her father.
Massaging her forehead, Melissa walked out of the closet. Slowly she closed the door backing away when he took a step towards her.This is from NôvelDrama.Org.
“What do you want from me?” She asked as her gaze darted to the opened door contemplating an escape plan.
“I’m sorry I startled you. Do you need ice for that?”
“No, no I’ll be fine.” She stepped back when he tried to touch her and almost fell on the bed.
“I’m not going to hurt you. Come, let’s go out if you don’t believe me.” Smiling at her he offered his hand. “Don’t worry, I called your aunt and informed her of your whereabouts.” He assured her when she hesitated to take her phone as he handed it to her.
Making sure not to get near him, she walked out with him following closely behind her.
When she stepped out of the door, Melissa glanced from the locked doors on each side of the corridor to the beautifully adorned flower pots. Following the path down the stairs Melissa stopped to look at the family pictures on the wall.
No kidnapper would take her to his home. She thought, glancing at the man standing a foot behind her. Taking a closer look at the pictures, she smiled at the attractive lady’s face then stopped when she saw her father’s picture.
There were family photos of her father, an older couple, and the man she saw Diana with at the spa. All of them showed the family’s history with her parents’ picture at the bottom.
“Are you feeling better now?” Approaching them, a white-haired man supporting himself on a walking stick inquired.
“Yes.” Nodding her head, Melissa stepped away from them.
“Ask Lucy to prepare something special for her to eat.” The older man instructed the man in uniform accompanying him.
“Don’t bother, I’m leaving.” Melissa said walking to the door but stopped when he called her.
“Isabella.” Melissa turned her attention to the old man. No one ever called her that name.
Staring at them she remembered her conversation with Mr Stevens.
She had visited him again in jail before the hearing and he explained in detail who the Edwards were to her.
All her life, her dad lied to her and her mother about his family and his past life.
“I’m grateful you saved my life, but I want nothing to do with you.” She walked out of the door only to be welcomed by the cool evening breeze.
The fountain water fell around a statue of a dancing woman with beautiful green grass around it and blooming flowers along the tiled pavement.
“Are you going to let her leave like that?” The young man asked, looking out the glass windows as Melissa walked away.
“She is right not to want anything from me. I was so afraid to face her that I stayed away, though I knew she was looking for me.” The old man said, pouring himself a drink.
“But she is here now grandfather, you two have a chance to talk. Explain everything to her.” He insisted, looking at his grandfather.
“Let’s give her time. She will come back.” Mr Edward sat on the couch, going about his business.
“As stubborn as she is, I doubt it. I’m going after her.”
Looking ahead Melissa didn’t see the gate or a road nearby where she could get a taxi. All she saw were trees and more trees.
With a heavy sigh, she stopped to glance back at the big mansion that was bigger than the Johnson’s.
It was the closest thing to her and probably they could direct her to the nearest road or any other way out of that place. The thought of going back to ask for help crossed her mind but she kept walking.
“Do you think you will get to the city at that pace?” The young man asked, stopping his blue Lexus car beside her. She was so engrossed in her thought she hadn’t noticed the running motor coming towards her.
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes, as long as I get out of this place,” Melissa said, walking ahead not bothered by him.
“Stop being stubborn and get in, I will take you to the city.” He offered then opened the passenger door.
With no other way out Melissa got in the car. “Have this, Lucy insisted I should bring you breakfast.” He handed the cup of coffee and freshly baked bread to her.
“Thank you.” The sweet aroma reminded her stomach she had not eaten for a while, making it protest anxiously waiting to be filled.
“Eat.” He encouraged her as he drove slowly along the path from the mansion.
The huge house was located out of the city with a thick blanket of trees surrounding it. The fresh air made the place serene.
Wiping her mouth after the delicious meal, she placed her head out of the window feeling the cool air. Closing her eyes she remembered dancing on the sand at the seashore with Tommy and Mark. Reflecting on how her life had changed in the past months, she felt tears fill her eyes.
“Are you not going to ask who I am?” He asked, holding the steering wheel driving through the forest.
“No, I don’t want to associate myself with people who never cared for me.” She said sitting back.
“Mr Edward loves you so much, he is just as stubborn as you are.” With a smile on his face, he glanced at her.
“When I went out Looking for him, he didn’t want to show his face to me. So right now I need nothing from him and please stop smiling at me like that.” She stared at him as he drove, ever smiling no matter how rude she was to him reminding her of her father. “I’m sorry for being rude.” Sighing she apologized as he stopped outside the apartment building.
“It’s okay, I’m not offended. I understand what you have been through is not easy.”
“Thank you for the ride.” She smiled at him then opened the car door.
“I’m David by the way, call me anytime. My number is saved on your phone.” He leaned towards the window handing her her phone back.
“Sneaky.” Melissa giggled, taking the phone from his hand. “Nice meeting you David.” She waved at him as he drove away then walked into the building.
At the carpark, two men sat taking pictures as instructed. From where they sat, the scene earlier looked like two lovers saying goodbye.