hidden desires

REBIRTH OF ESMERALDA

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Chapter 9: hidden desires

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Esmeralda descended the grand staircase of the mansion, her footsteps echoing softly in the opulent hallway. The sensation of being in her childhood home was both familiar and disorienting. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that she was trapped in a surreal dream.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she caught sight of her sister, Mercedes, who was standing near the entrance to the kitchen. Mercedes wore a warm smile, a striking contrast to the cold and calculated sister Esmeralda remembered from her previous life.

Her sister's transformation was unsettling, to say the least.

"Esme!" Mercedes called out, her voice dripping with sweetness. She approached Esmeralda with open arms, as if they were the best of friends.

Esmeralda's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Mercedes," she replied cautiously, accepting the hug but keeping her guard up. "What's going on?"

Mercedes pulled back, her hands still resting on Esmeralda's shoulders. "I just wanted to show you something I made for Father," she said, her eyes filled with a warmth that felt unnatural. "Come to the kitchen with me."

Esmeralda hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with suspicions.

This was not the Mercedes she remembered, the one who had orchestrated her kidnapping and betrayal.

But she couldn't deny the strange feeling that this was all a facade, a mask hiding something darker.

"Sure, I'll come," Esmeralda replied, forcing a smile to match her sister's. She couldn't afford to tip her hand just yet.

As Mercedes led her into the spacious kitchen, the scent of freshly baked goods filled the air. Esmeralda's senses were flooded with the aroma of vanilla and sugar. It was a smell that should have brought comfort and nostalgia, but under the circumstances, it only deepened her unease.

Mercedes gestured to the kitchen island, where a beautifully crafted cake sat in all its glory. It was a masterpiece of culinary artistry, its surface adorned with intricate swirls of caramel and a dusting of powdered sugar. The sight was enough to make anyone's mouth water.

Esmeralda stared at the cheesecake, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

This was the same scene she had lived through in her previous life—the cheesecake, the facade of sisterly affection. It was as if time had looped back on itself.

With a bemused smile, Esmeralda turned to Mercedes. "Cheesecake," she said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Mercedes's eyes widened in genuine surprise, a subtle flicker of her true self briefly slipping through the facade. "How did you guess what flavor?.”she asked, her tone filled with astonishment.

Esmeralda couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at her sister's reaction.

It was a small victory, a reminder that she was not the same naive girl she had been in her previous life. She knew that Mercedes's kindness was a charade, a mask hiding her true intentions.

"I just had a feeling," Esmeralda replied cryptically, her gaze locked with Mercedes's.

She was determined to play the game, to gather information and uncover the truth behind her sister's sudden change of heart.

Mercedes's smile returned, though there was a hint of tension in her expression.

"Well, I hope you enjoy it," she said, cutting a slice of cheesecake and placing it on a plate. "It's a special recipe I found, just for Father."

As Esmeralda took a bite of the cheesecake, she couldn't deny its deliciousness. It was a stark reminder of the life she had left behind, the life she was determined to uncover and reshape.

But even as she savored the sweet dessert, Esmeralda couldn't shake the feeling that she was treading on dangerous ground.

Mercedes's kindness was a riddle she needed to solve, and the answers lay hidden beneath the layers of deception and lies.

Mercedes leaned against the kitchen island, a serene smile on her face as she watched Esmeralda savor the cheesecake. Her tone was light, almost casual, as she began to speak.

"You know, Esme," she said, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia, "I always loved coming to the Moon Valley family house. It's so enormous, like a mansion straight out of a fairy tale. I used to imagine what it would be like to live there."

Esmeralda nodded, her attention divided between her sister's words and the creamy dessert on her plate. "Yeah, it's a beautiful place," she replied, her tone neutral.

Mercedes continued, her words taking on a wistful quality. "And the Moon Valley family themselves, they're something else. So influential, so powerful. It's like being part of their world is a dream come true."

Esmeralda couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.

These were the same sentiments Mercedes had expressed during the sleepover in Maverick's house, a memory that now felt like a distant echo. It was as if time had folded in on itself, repeating the same patterns with subtle variations.

As Mercedes spoke, her enthusiasm grew, and she couldn't contain her admiration for the Moon Valley family.

“And their sons, Esme," she said with a dreamy sigh. "Maverick and Axel, they're like the perfect combination of charm and charisma. You're really lucky, you know? Maverick being your mate and all."

Esmeralda froze for a moment, her gaze locking onto her sister. The words hung in the air, heavy with an unspoken truth.

Mercedes had never shown any interest in her romantic life before, let alone express jealousy. It was a revelation that sent a ripple of unease through Esmeralda.

She realized that her sister's sudden kindness was layered with hidden motives, that Mercedes had her own agenda in mind. It was a reminder that trust was a fragile thing, especially when dealing with someone as cunning as her sister.

As she continued to listen to Mercedes extolling the virtues of the Moon Valley family, Esmeralda couldn't help but wonder what lay beneath the surface.

The past may have been rewritten, but the underlying currents of deceit and manipulation remained the same.

Esmeralda knew that she had to tread carefully in this new reality, to unravel the secrets that lay hidden in the shadows.

The cheesecake was sweet, but the taste of deception was even sweeter.

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TO BE CONTINUED

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Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. And if you can, please support me by dropping a comment or gems <3... sincerely, me!!.