Chapter 4

“Peace unto this household,” Carden said as he stepped into their sitting room, looking at Carlos, who wouldn’t stop laughing at him in that priestly attire.

He wore a black robe with a small white collar around his collarbone, a fake rosary around his neck, a cross in his left hand, and a Bible in his right hand. Nerdy glasses sat on his eyes as he looked at Carlos, who kept laughing ridiculously.

“Man, this is silly. I can’t pretend to be like a priest just because of a woman. It doesn’t fit my aesthetic.”

“You don’t have a choice, Carden. Any other disguise you choose after this would be suicidal,” Carlos said.

Carden sighed heavily, like someone without a choice—because he truly had none.

“If you say so, Carlos… but still, it’s insane.”

“I know,” Carlos replied. “I got something that would brighten your mood.”

Carden’s smile brightened. “You do? Meaning I won’t be disguising as a priest?”

“Not that. Your disguise still stands.”

Carden’s smile faded instantly.

“I have a way of making it seem like you are a real priest. There’s this friend of mine in Sicily. I called him and told him everything.”

“You did what?” Carden frowned.

“Wait… I haven’t gotten to the interesting part yet.” Carlos continued, **“He said he has a way of making it seem like you’re a real priest. He said he would pay off the priest that normally goes to that mansion to pray for your dream girl, and make him tell the girl’s owner that he’s being transferred. Then a new priest would take over his position. Boom—that’s where you come in as the new priest without stress.”

Carden smiled again. “Yes… that’s a brilliant idea.”

“Yes—and you’ll be staying at a parish close to the mansion. So anytime you plan an escape, it’ll be easier for you to sneak back to the parish,” Carlos added.

“This is beautiful. How did you manage to make your friend pull this off?”

“I told him the girl is your long-time sister, and you need support to get her out of that mansion. I told him the owner kidnapped her when she was little and is using her as his money instrument,” Carlos said, leaning back on the chair.

“You’re such a genius, Carlos. What would I have done without you?” Carden said, walking close for a hug.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing,” Carlos joked as they hugged.

“Now all you need to do is master your disguise,” Carlos said as they pulled apart.

“Yes,” Carden said with a big smile.

“Now walk back and act like the priest that you are,” Carlos laughed.

“It’s not funny, Carlos. This robe looks ridiculous,” Carden complained.

“Yes it does,” Carlos laughed loudly, “and now I will address you as Father Damien Narvick.”

“That’s a good name. I’ll take that,” Carden said as he continued his rehearsals with Carlos’ help.

In the Mansion

Anna was on a video call with her parents, pretending all was well. She couldn’t tell them the stress she’d been going through all these years.

She flashed back to when she was seven. Her father was struggling, working two jobs to keep the family fed. She didn’t go to school because her father couldn’t afford tuition fees for her and her brother—until her dad’s brother, Uncle Arnold, called and said he wanted to take her to Sicily for a good education and a better life.

At first, her dad hesitated—he knew Arnold wasn’t someone who did good without getting something in return. He became even more suspicious when Arnold insisted he wanted only Anna. But he had no choice; he wanted the best for her, unaware that his decision would cost Anna her freedom.

“Anna… Anna,” a woman’s voice called from the video. “Are you okay, darling?”

She wanted to say no, but her uncle was standing opposite her, staring sternly like he was waiting for her to make a mistake so he could deal with her.

She looked at her uncle for a while—his gaze was nothing but a warning.

Anna turned back to her parents and forced a smile.

“I’m fine, Mother. Work has been stressful. It’s not easy modeling for different companies at a time.”

“Oh my dear, sorry about that. You are indeed strong,” her mother said.

She gasped inwardly. “I know,” she said, trying to hide her tears.

“Look at what your amazing career has given us—we are now the richest people in the countryside. It’s amazing and a blessing to have such a beautiful daughter whose beauty is the talk of the town,” her dad added proudly.

She smiled faintly.

“I’m glad you all are happy,” she whispered. “I wish I would be someday…” She turned her face away from the camera so her parents wouldn’t see her tears.

Her mother noticed and asked again, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded. “I’m just happy you guys are good,” she said, forcing a smile through teary eyes.

“Okay,” her mother said, still uneasy. “When can we visit you? I miss you, my little one.”

Anna looked at her uncle—he shook his head sharply, signaling no.

She turned back to her parents.

“Not yet, Mum. I still have a lot of companies to model for. If you come, I won’t have time to spend with you. And you can’t follow me to work because of company rules. So stay calm… I promise I will visit soon.”

Her uncle cut her off immediately. He walked into the call, greeted them, and told them Anna needed to go back to work. They said their goodbyes awkwardly and hung up.

“You don’t tell me when and how to talk to my parents!” Anna burst into tears. “Please let me go see them. Please!”

Arnold stared at her and muttered,

“Soon… I will arrange that. Only if you promise to be a good girl and don’t say anything to them. You know the consequences if you do.”

Anna nodded, wiping her eyes.

A heavy-built man walked in, handing a ringing cellphone to Arnold.

“It’s from the parish, sir.”

Arnold took the phone.

“Hello, Father,” he said.

The voice responded; they talked, and he hung up.

Feeling unstable and uncomfortable with what he’d just heard, Arnold clenched his fist and shouted sharply:

“There will be a new priest!!!”