Chapter Five

Stick to disguise

Janessa's pov

Cole and I hurried downstairs. When we arrived, we saw a maid kneeling, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed in front of the shattered teacup.

"You filthy thing! You're just a maid, and you can't even do your job right!" Lucy slapped the maid. "Don't you know that teacup was worth more than your life, you bitch?"

"Madam... please... forgive me..." The maid plead.

As Lucy was about to slap the maid again, Cole stepped between them. He ended up being the one slapped.

"Mom! Stop! You're making a scene."

Lucy touched Cole's swollen cheek. "Oh God, son... Why did you do that?" Cole signaled the maid to leave.

“Mom, you can't just hit someone as you want." They sat on the couch, and I ordered the maids to bring an ice pack.

Lucy put the ice pack on his face herself. "Next time, don't meddle in my business... See what happens? That slap wasn't supposed to be on your precious face."

How dramatic.

"Cole... I'll get going now."

"Okay, have a safe ride."

"The brat is leaving again... When will she ever grow up?" Lucy murmured, and I chose to ignore it.

I went up to get my suitcase and put it in the back of my car as I sped off to my aunt's house.

Roy's mother and my father's sister were keeping her disguise as a teacher, but in reality, she had already killed a lot for the Mafia.

As I arrived at my aunt's house, I knocked. "Aunt Lauren... Are you home?!" I shouted so she could hear.

The door opened, and I was greeted by a hug. "How are you, dear? I heard you were coming, that's why I cooked a lot for my thin niece."

I hugged her back; only with her could I feel the warmth of a mother. "You're the best auntie..."

"Now, enough with the chit-chat and come in; it's getting cold out here." She took my suitcase and put it in the room she prepared, and I sat at the dining table.

It was simple but it felt home; the table was full of home-cooked foods.

"Roy is so lucky to have a sweet and cool mother like you, Auntie."

She sat beside me and chuckled. "Oh, dear... You're flattering me too much; I might end up believing it."

"Wait... Did you put poison in this, Auntie? I remember you said you killed your enemy one time with your sweet personality and poisoned food."

She laughed. "What a tease you are... You're doubting your own flesh and blood? I must say I'm offended."

"Auntie!"

We laughed the night away, watching TV and eating midnight snacks. Eventually, I fell asleep in her embrace on the couch.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of my alarm, and I didn't want to get up yet. I threw the alarm, and Elaine caught it.

"How did you know I lived here?" I asked, half awake.

"I asked the nurse at the hospital you worked in... I'm so resourceful, aren't I?" She spoke proudly and sat beside me, “Your aunt let me in.”

I covered my whole body with the blanket.

"Go away... It's so early; I'm still sleepy." She pulled my blanket away.

"Don't be so lazy, Janessa..."

My aunt then came in knocking on the already open door. "Elaine, right?"

"The one and only, ma'am..."

My aunt chuckled. "Drop the formalities, dear... Just call me Auntie, as you please."

"Okay, Auntie," Elaine smiled brightly.

"The food is ready, Janessa dear; go shower and join us after, okay?"

"Okay..." I spoke while my eyes were still closed.

"Don't be long, okay?" Elaine added and followed my aunt.

"Ughhh, so annoying... Just when I thought I could enjoy my day off peacefully.”

After showering and dressing up, I went down to join them at the dining table.

"Good morning... Looks like you both became best friends in a short time," I said grabbing a bread.

They stopped talking and looked at me. "I like your friend so much... She reminded me of my young self," Auntie spoke excitedly, like she'd met the one.

"Girl, your aunt is so cool! You're so lucky!" Elaine exclaimed.

"Janessa, I was planning on setting Roy up with her.... Your cousin has been pretty loveless since forever," my aunt whispered, and I almost choked on my own saliva.

"Auntie!" I then whispered back at her, "You can't just set them up... They're nothing alike... Roy is not a gentleman; and someone involved in the Mafia is not suitable for a president's daughter."

"No matter what you say, I won't listen. I want this girl as my daughter-in-law and that's final."

"So stubborn..." I pinched the bridge of my nose.

Elaine looked at us. "What are you both whispering about? I wanna hear; you can trust me very well."

"It's nothing, dear... We're just talking about how my son is a hopeless romantic... No one would date a handsome guy like him... Everyone thinks handsome guys cheat these days." My aunt then faked a cry, trying to appear as pitiful as possible, “ Poor boy.”

“That is sad... I can date him, I bet his amazing like you auntie," Elaine said, comforting my aunt, and as soon as she said those words, my aunt's face lit up, and they started planning things already.

Unbelievable.

They left, saying they would meet Roy, and I stayed at home the whole day, eating food while watching TV until I fell asleep.

When I woke up, it was already dark outside. "Why aren't they home yet?"

I went to the kitchen to grab some water, walking barefoot.

"I didn't expect I could sleep that long without realizing," I muttered. I opened my phone and called my aunt, but it went to voicemail.

As I was getting ready to go back to my room, I saw a dark figure at the window. I froze, and as I recovered, I acted like I saw nothing and went to my room. I slowly grabbed my knife and came back to the kitchen, but the intruder had disappeared. Then I felt footsteps approaching. His hands were fast as he gripped my shoulders. My heart is pounding and my hands are trembling.

"Don't move."

Damn it.