CHAPTER 03

CASSANDRA

I looked at the people in front of me, dumbfounded. Is this mansion and everything inside and outside mine? How did it happen? Do I have other wealthy relatives whom I didn't know? But I had already met all of them, and they were the same as my family. They all looked down at me.

"What are you talking about? How did this mansion belong to me?" Are you joking, right? "

"We are not joking, Miss Cassandra. Our boss witnessed your suffering, and he wanted to help you. He wants you to experience a better life. And if you want revenge, he will support you."

"Why would he do that? "

"I don't know Miss Cassandra. Please feel free to ask once you meet him one of these days. But for now, Harold will help you and your Mother to settle down."

"Ma, do you believe them? They might be trapping us to gain our trust. We don't know what they are planning for doing this is." I whispered.

"We have no other choice, dear. We can't escape from them even if we want to. All we can do is follow them so they won't hurt us."

"Miss Cassandra, you are not a prisoner here. You can still go to school, and you can go wherever you want to go. No one will order you on what to do. The only change in your life here is that you are no longer a helper. You are the boss, you have bodyguards, and you have people to do your bidding. All these are not jokes nor traps to lure you. I just want to assure you that. " Harold said. But I still doubt them. They are strangers, but I can't do anything for now but follow them.

Harold guided us inside. The mansion is more beautiful inside, with expensive furniture, black marble floors, and paintings by well-known personalities hanging on the walls. When you enter the front door, you can see a spiral staircase leading to the second floor, and Harold led us there.

"The second floor is for the guests. There are five rooms here, a living room and a leisure area. The leisure area has a movie room, a billiard room, and a swimming pool. Tomorrow, I will tour you around the mansion after your class, so you'll be familiar with every corner of the mansion. "

"Let's go to the third floor. Your room is there." We quietly followed Harold. "This floor, you can do whatever you want to do here. There are five rooms here. One room belonged to Sir Alexander when he was here, but he didn't stay longer. He was always busy with business.

The room at the end of the hallway is Sir Alexander's. It is off-limits to everyone except me, so please don't go there because he doesn't like other people touching his things. Your room, Miss Cassandra, is at the end of the hallway opposite Sir Alexander. Let me show you your room." We moved to my room, and Harold pushed the door open.

"This is your room, Miss Cassandra." He opened the door wider and let us in, and my eyes widened as soon as I stepped inside.

The room is enormous and beautiful. Sky Blue bedding covered the bed, light pink walls, and white curtains hung the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. White fur carpet covered the floor, and a combination of white and pink furniture adorned the room. I looked around, and it seemed my painting had come to life. This room is my dream room. I drew it when I was ten years old. The design of the room and the color of everything here are the same, even the arrangement of the furniture. How did it happen? I remember I lost my drawing eight years ago, and I'm sure no one will paint and decorate their room like this. It was only a child's imagination; whoever this Alexander was, why did he have this room in his mansion?

"Who designed the room? "

"Sir Alexander hired an interior decorator to decorate and design the room. Do you like it? If not, we can rearrange everything to your liking."

I moved further into the room and opened the door, which is a bathroom in my drawing, and my heart pounded this is my drawing. I moved to the walk-in closet, and my eyes widened. Everything is the same in my drawing except for the clothes, shoes, and jewelry filling the closet.

Who is this Alexander? Was it only a coincidence, or was this room my design? But how did Alexander have it?"

"Do you like the room, Miss Cassandra? " Harold asked again.

"Yes. " I replied shortly.

"Okay, you can rest for a while. I'll call you when dinner is ready or if you want I can ask someone to bring your food here. You can use the clothes inside the closet if you want to change your clothes. It's all yours, and everything there is new. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to let me know. You can also use the intercom if you need anything. I'll show your mother to her room. The room next to you is for your mother, so you're near each other."

"Can she stay in my room for a while?"

"Of course, Miss Cassandra. Her things are in the next room if she ever needs them."

"Okay, thank you, Harold."

"You are welcome, Miss. I'll return to work now. Call me if you need anything."

"Okay." I faced Mama when Harold closed the door behind him. "Ma, who are these people? Do you believe them?"

"I don't know, dear, but they didn't hurt us since we arrived here. All the people here are good to us. Let's observe them first and then decide. We don't have any other place to stay, and Harold said you can continue your studies.

"I'm scared that they might do something while we are sleeping. I feel creepy. This room I drew this when I was only ten years old."

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ma. Do you remember the drawing I showed you before? I told you, Ma, this is my dream room. You even laugh because of my color choice."

"I don't remember."

"I was in primary four at that time. You were in the kitchen when I showed you my drawing."

"Wait, I think I remember." She surveyed the room, stood up, and rushed to the bathroom and the closet.

"Dear, Why does the room look like your drawing?"

"It doesn't look like Ma. This room is my drawing, even the color of the room. I lost my drawing two days after I showed you. I thought I only misplaced it but didn't find it anymore. How did Alexander get it? It was eight years ago, Ma. Did Alexander know me that long? How? I don't know any wealthy person. I met some rich people every time my family brought me to the party as their servant, but a wealthy friend, no.

Alexander is scaring me. He might be an older man who wants to have a young mistress. Ma, I'm scared. I don't care if we only eat one time a day and live on the street, but I don't want to become a mistress to an old man."

"It was heartless Carlos's fault. I hope God will punish him for doing this to you. Don't worry, Dear, if this Alexander abused you, I'll do everything to get you out of here."

"Ma, I'm scared. Alexander has been following me for a long time. He is scary. "

I jumped in fright when someone knocked at the door. " Miss Cassandra, Sir Alexander wants to talk to you over the phone. Can I come in? " I nervously looked at Mama, and she nodded.

"Please come in. "

"Miss Cassandra, Sir Alexander wants to talk to you." Harold handed me the phone, and I hesitantly took it and pressed the loudspeaker.

"I'll leave for a while. I came back when it was dinner. "

"Okay, thank you. "

"He... Hello? "

"Hello, Cassy, this is me, Alexander. " His voice doesn't sound like an old man. "Cassy. "

"I'm here. "

"I know you are wondering why I help you. "

"Yes, Why are you helping me? I don't know you. You are not my family, and you are not my friend, but why are you helping me? "

"I witnessed your suffering; a kind woman like you doesn't deserve it."

"Are you stalking me? This room...

"So, you notice. I'm not stalking you, but I put someone to guard you. And the person who helps you earlier is one of my men."

"But I drew this room when I was only ten years old. Would you happen to know me that long? "

"No, I first met you when you were eight years old."

He had known me since I was eight years old. How? When? I don't remember knowing someone named Alexander.