Chapter 1

Rolling around in bed, enjoying how soft the sheets are and how fluffy the pillows feels on my head but that did not last as I came to my senses and remember that my bed is not as soft.

I open my eyes to a strange room with a pounding head, I turned my head to see someone lying next to me, 'oh no' I thought to myself checking under the sheet and realizing I was not clothed down there.

With as much speed as I could muster, I get out of the bed, put on my clothes and proceed to walk out of the door but I hear a voice behind me.

"Where are you going in a hurry?" I heard a deep voice that I assume belongs to the strange man on the bed.

"I am sorry but I have to go." I reply without looking back, I opened the door and walking through it, I hear him say "wait" but that makes me move faster.

As I walk out of the house I remember coming here last night, it was a celebration party and I needed for few minutes to not be myself but clearly that was a very big mistake. I am not the type to have a one night stand, I am not even a party person and I have no idea how I ended up in that room with that man.

The last thing I remember is having a drink at the house bar. I bring out my phone and dial Jane's number, we came here together last night but it seems she left without me because I just saw a message from her that asks where I am, and tells me she has to go.

"Jane, I just read your message, what happened?" I asked as I walk down the street with the sun coming down hard.

"I am sorry Hayley, James got bursted with another DUI and I had to go meet him." She says, then asks.

"When did you get home?"

I refrain from telling her anything, because I do not understand it on my own.

"Um, I am on my way home. What time did you leave?" I ask, trying to make her forget about me just going home as it is almost noon.

"What? This is almost eleven o'clock Hayley, how are you just going home." She asks ignoring my question

"I know the time genius, can you answer my question?" I ask again opening my door and walking into my house.

"I know we got there by eight last night but I can not remember anything after taking the shots so tell me what you remember and when you left." I dropped on a chair resting my head to reduce the throbbing.

"I left after we had the third shot, remember you told me you wanted to dance, then I saw you dancing with a guy I couldn't make out in the crowd, I got the call from James but when I turned around I couldn't see you anymore. I looked around for you, searching one room after another but was interrupted with another call from James and I had to leave, that was around ten." She explains

"Oh no" I exclaim placing my right hand on my forehead. "I remember dancing with some guy at the party but he suddenly got grabby and when I tried pushing him off me, his hands got tighter around my waist pulling me into himself forcefully."

"He led me somewhere right after that and tried kissing me but he was thrown off me before I could do or say anything." I get off the chair, going to get an aspirin for my head and returning to the chair.

"Wow, by who?" She asked obviously intrigued.

"I don't know, I couldn't make out his face because my vision was blurry. Taking those shots was a bad idea." I leave out the part that I woke up in a strange room, on the bed with a strange man, naked.

"I'm sorry I left you there Hals, but I'm glad you are okay." I could hear the guilt in her voice.

Jane and I has been friends from high school, we clicked the first day we met and has since then been best of friends. She is a twenty three years old lady, just like me, beautiful face like that of a model, five feet six inches tall, brown hair, green eyes and a shape that would have you looking twice.

Her only flaw is falling for the wrong men, like James. She met James right after college and as much as I hate his guts she loves him, I have told her he is not right for her but I support her decision. We were living together till James asked her to move in with him.

"It is fine, I am home now, I just need to rest my head." I say closing my eyes.

"Alright, we will talk later." She answers.

"Yeah, later." I end the call and drop the phone next to me on the chair. I slowly feel the headache reducing and I drift into sleep.

In a dream, I find myself running from a group of people chasing me with all sorts of weapon, I run as fast as my legs can take me but I am pushed to the ground and turning around I see red glowing eyes surrounding me and coming close.

"Please don't hurt me" I manage to squeak out as the person in front of me raise a dagger, and stabbing me in the chest, making me jolt awake, with racing hearts and confusion. These nightmares are becoming ever so frequent.

I hear knocks on the door, and gasp, only to calm myself, and open the door, to see Jane, holding takeouts.

"I came to make it up to you." She says as soon as I opened the door lifting her hands for me to see that it is sushi.

"You don't have to, I told you I am fine." I say closing the door and walking behind her as she goes to the kitchen.

"Yeah yeah, you said so, but you are not the boss of me and so you can't tell me what to do." She says turning to face me and rolling her eyes.

Today is Saturday, meaning we don't have to work, as we both teach in an High School. Weekends are ours to do as we please which was why we were out partying last night.

"I was taking a nap before you came. I need to go take my bath and brush my teeth before I eat." I say walking out of the kitchen and going to the bedroom.

"I knew from the way you sounded on the phone that you needed me." I jump as I hear her voice behind me, I didn't hear her following me.

"Do you want to give me an heart attack." I glare at her and she grin at me, showing her perfect white teeth.

"Oh please, I can do better at scaring you if that was what I was aiming for." She dismisses my words with a wave of her hand.

"Besides you are easy to scare." She says going out of the room.

_______

I get out of my crop top and jeans, stand in front of my mirror and stare at myself.

My brunette hair hanging from every direction, my blue eyes dim, my oval shaped face showing the signs of stress and I look at my five feet three inches statue for while, wondering how a girl who does not go to parties nor drink, will end up hooking up with a stranger the first time she goes to a party and takes a drink. I walked into the bathroom, running my hand through my hair.

As the water run down my body I feel relaxed and at ease.

I wonder who the man is and how I ended up in bed with him. As much as I try, I can't remember anything.

After getting ready, I leave my room to the Kitchen where Jane has set up the food and drinks.

"I thought you wouldn't come out of the bathroom, the food is almost cold." Jane says as she sights me coming into the kitchen.

"The water was soothing, I didn't want to come out." I reply with a smile, siting down, wondering if I should tell her about this morning.

"Is something wrong?" She says, snapping me out of my thought.

"No I'm fine. Why?" I say, eating.

"How did you get home." She asks.

"I ordered a ride, there's actually something I need to tell you." I say, deciding.

"What is it?" She ask curiously.

"I woke up this morning with a strange man on the same bed." I say with a low voice.

"Is that a joke?" She asks the questions all at once.

"I am not joking, I can't remember how I ended up there. Like I said on the phone, I remember being grabbed by that other guy but after he was pushed from me I blacked out." I try to remember, but feel an headache coming.

"Oh my God, have you taken anything since you got back, like an after pill"

"Shit, I have not. I panicked, left there."

_______

"Were you able to help James with the DUI?" I ask Jane as we watch Tv, trying to put my mind off the strange man.

"Yes I did, we got into a fight right after that." She said looking sad and my heart breaks a little.

"About what?" I ask, despite knowing already.

"I do not want to talk about it." She waves it off, I nod and we watch the movie in a comfortable silence.

My phone rings, and I grab it, smiling when I see it's Mom.

"Hey Mom." I smile.

"Hayley, baby girl, how are you?" She says, but there's a seriousness in her tone which is unusual.

"What is wrong, Mom?" I say, trying not to panic.

"Can you come home, your Dad and I need to talk to you about something." She says, and now, I am freaking out, because the last time I got a call like this, Meemaw had died.

"What is going on, Mom?"

"Nothing is going on, just come home, I made your favorite." She says, and hangs up, providing no further clarifying information.

I stare at Jane, and she looks worried.

"I have to go, can you lock up when you leave? She sounded bad, and I am worried something bad has happened." I say, and she nods.

"Alright, babe. Can you call me when you hear anything?"

"Of course."

I walk into my Parent's house, surprised to see Dr. Martin with them, is she sick?

"Hey Mom, Dad, Dr. Martin. What is going on?" I cut to the chase, sitiing across them.

"Sweetheart, we love you and we always will and this is not going to change what you mean to us." My mom begins.

"Mom you're scaring me, what is really going on?" I ask getting impatient as the suspense builds.

"About a month ago we got an anonymous mail telling us that you are not our daughter." She says, and naturally, I laugh, because, I am twenty-eight years old, so that must be a joke.

"She is telling the truth." Dad says, and I blink.

"I know it is a lot to take in but we are here for you if you have any question." My mum says.

This is not real, it can't be real, I must be dreaming and I need someone to wake me up.

"Do you at least know who my parents are?" I ask my voice cracking and my eyes tearing up.

"Yes, their names and address was sent with the last mail. Apparently you were switched at birth, we don't know why because the mail didn't say." She explains and more tears roll down my eyes.

"Oh honey, I am sorry about this but like your mother said, nothing is going to change, we will always love you and see you as our daughter." My dad says. I hug him and sob on his shoulder, my life crumbling before my eyes.

"What is their name?" I mumble out the question to my dad.

"The Merchettis." He answers, I sit up to look at him and I know he can see the surprise and questions on my face.

"Yes honey, I know what you're thinking, your mom and I thought about it when we saw the name in the mail." He explains.

The Merchettis are a very popular Family in New York, some considers them royalty. I have lived in California, Sanfracisco all my life, and now, I was going to New York to see some Family?

The world has gone mad for The Merchettis to be my Parents.