Chapter Four

Amelia's POV

"We're here to take you back home."

Those words had never sounded so sweet. My eyes were already popping out of their sockets even before the convoy got to the main building. It took all of my willpower not to let my jaw drop, because of course, Isabella Domitia is meant to be used to the sight of her family's mansion by now. So I forced myself to maintain a bored expression as I stepped out of the car and headed into the house.

An army of maids hurried to meet me as I walked in, and I couldn't resist letting my lips curl into a smile.

Now, this is the life, I thought with a silent sigh.

"Welcome, Miss Domitia," the one in the lead said.

I gave her a cool look.

"You are…?"

"My name is Daisy, Miss Domitia," she replied.

Her soft smile said that she's used to Isabella Domitia forgetting her name.

"Is there anything you want me to do for you?" she asked.

"I want you to accompany me to my room," I replied immediately.

The last thing I wanted was for somebody to notice that "Isabella Domitia" doesn't know the way to her own bedroom. Thankfully, Daisy didn't find my request odd. I got the feeling that Isabella really was the sort of spoilt rich brat that needed help with even the simplest things.

I walked behind Daisy, up the stairs with its gilded railings and down a corridor with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, till we got to a door. Daisy opened it, and I had to bite my lip to keep myself from gasping. Isabella's room was so tastefully furnished, it looked like a VIP room at a five-star hotel.

Daisy led the way inside and I followed her, doing my best not to look out of place.

"Would you like me to draw a warm bath, Miss Domitia?" she asked.

This felt like a routine. I guessed that Isabella wasn't joking when she said that they were used to her running away. It was like the maids no longer freaked out when she disappeared. They just carried on with life until she got back, and continued to act normal.

"A warm bath sounds nice," I said.

I had taken a bath at the hotel, of course, but I wasn't going to turn down the chance to soak in a luxurious bathtub for as long as I wanted.

"Right away, Miss Domitia," Daisy replied.

I took my time with bathing, and by the time I stepped out, I smelt like roses and lavender. Wrapped in a pink bathrobe, I sat at the vanity, staring at myself in the mirror while Daisy brushed my hair.

"I want to see my parents," I said.

If I was going to be playing Isabella Domitia for the rest of my life, I needed to find out the kind of people my new parents were as soon as possible. To my surprise, Daisy's hands stopped on my hair, and in the mirror, I saw her staring strangely at me.

"What is the matter?" I asked, putting on my best Isabella Domitia tone. "Why did you stop?"

"It's… well, you know you can't see your parents right now, Miss Domitia," she replied.

"Why not?" I demanded.

"Because they haven't sent for you," she replied in an apologetic tone. "You can't go to them unless they send for you, remember? They're too busy at the moment."

Wait, what? I thought. What kind of parents are those? They can't even make time for their daughter that has been gone for days?

"I'm truly sorry, Miss Domitia," Daisy said, noting my frown.

"Whatever," I replied. "Get me something to eat."

"Yes, Miss Domitia."

I watched her leave, then I stood up with a sigh and headed to the closet.

……

I was scrolling through my phone later in the evening when I heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"It's me, Miss Domitia," a maid replied.

"Well, what do you want?" I demanded.

"Your parents want to see you, Miss Domitia," she said.

Finally, I thought.

I went with her immediately, and she led me to another wing of the mansion. Mr and Mrs Domitia were in their study, and that was where the maid took me. Of course,it was yet another ridiculously fancy room. My new parents dismissed her, then fixed their eyes on me. I stared back at them, feeling a little confused. As far as they knew, I was their missing daughter who had just been found. So why were they not hurrying to hug me, or asking where I was, or at least looking like they were pleased or relieved to see me? Why were they just sitting there and looking at me like I stole something from them?

"Isabella," Mrs Domitia said sternly, "what have you done with the money?"

I blinked at her, utterly confused. How the hell was that the first thing she had to say to her daughter that just returned home?

"What money?" I asked.

"The money you stole from us just so you could run away with that stupid boyfriend of yours," Mr Domitia snapped.

Wait… I thought. They're looking at me like I stole something from them because… I actually stole something from them. Or Isabella did, at least.

That was when I remembered the money she and Elijah had been talking about.

But it was just a hundred million dollars!

Last I checked, that much should be nothing for the Domitia family. Why were they glaring at me like that over what was literally peanuts for them?

"It was just a hundred million dollars!" I complained.

"Just a hundred million?!" Mrs Domitia thundered, looking prepared to set me on fire. "You have a lot of nerve saying that to us, young lady. How many times do we have to say it before it sinks in? Our business is failing, Isabella. You can't be out there squandering our savings when our family is going bankrupt!"