Chapter One

Emilia.

Everything was back to normal—or at least that’s what I thought after finding out my father was a killer. That wasn’t the only way to describe him, but I definitely wasn’t going to bring back all the memories I had kept aside. Sometimes it feels like all of this is still a dream, and there are moments when I want to wake up and face my reality.

I have seen and discovered things about my family, so I wouldn’t be surprised if I find out more unsettling truths in my life.

It still feels like a dream to know that my father could do such a thing to a man he once called his best friend. It still feels surreal that he killed my mother—the woman he always claimed to love. I guess he didn’t love her enough to spare her life in order to hide his secret. Even though he wasn’t here, I hate him so much. I hate him for almost taking my sister from me so early. I hate him for putting her in that condition. But right now, I am thankful that everything is over. I am grateful we don’t have to deal with any of that again.

Years have passed, and everything has returned to normal. We have a perfect family, and everyone goes to great lengths to ensure that each other is well protected. Our family has expanded over the years, and I still can’t believe I have so many little ones looking up to me.

“Miss Rodriguez!” I snapped out of my thoughts, blinking rapidly as I looked around. My cheeks immediately reddened when I realized where I was.

Shit! I was in class, and once again, I had found myself thinking about my family.

“Are you going to tell the class what’s so important that you’re daydreaming?” Mr. Ashton asked with a small scowl on his face.

I cleared my throat and sat up straight. “I’m so sorry, sir,” I apologized, not breaking eye contact with him, waiting for him to let it slide.

“I’ll let this slide just this once, Miss Rodriguez.” I let out a sigh of relief as he pulled back and returned to the front of the class.

I tried to focus on his teaching after that, but it was still difficult. The rest of the day passed in a blur, and before I knew it, it was past two in the afternoon, and class was over. I began packing my things but paused when I felt a shadow beside me. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

“What do you want now, Nicolas?” I asked as I dumped my laptop and other items into my bag.

“You got called out today?” he said, and I could sense the curiosity in his voice.

“And?”

“And? You’ve never been called out in front of the whole class before, so what were you thinking about this time?” he asked, and I let out a tired sigh.

I could feel this question coming when I sensed him beside me, but I wasn’t going to give him the answer he was aiming for.

“What I was thinking about is none of your business, Nicholas,” I said with a big smile and started walking out of the classroom.

Nicholas let out a low laugh before catching up with me. Nicholas Winston is one of my best friends on campus. He’s everything any girl would want in a guy. He doesn’t push our friendship, and he knows when to ask questions and when not to, so I consider him one of my closest friends.

“You really aren’t going to tell me what got you thinking in class?” he asked as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

I glared at him, hoping it would make him pull away, but the little brat acted like he couldn’t see me.

“Can you please drop this?”

He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Camilla cut in.

“You seriously have to stop bothering my best friend, Nic.” She walked over, pulled Nicholas’s hand from my shoulder, and wrapped hers around my waist.

I tried not to roll my eyes at their banter. She came in to save me only to do the same.

“I’m sorry for hurting your feelings, Camilla, but Emilia was my best friend first,” Nic added, and even without looking at him, I could tell he was glaring at her.

“She wasn’t your best friend first. I saw her first—”

“Can we drop this, please?” I interrupted, looking at the two of them. They both looked so cute, especially when they were behaving like this, and I love them.

“The two of you are my best friends, and nothing is ever going to change that. I love you,” I said. The glaring stopped, and I watched as smiles slowly crept onto their faces.

That’s more like it.

“So, what would you like for lunch?” Camilla asked as we continued walking.

I hadn’t decided yet, but I wanted something light. Nope, scratch that. I would take anything that would fill my stomach in the next second.

****

It didn’t take long for our orders to arrive, and I didn’t waste any time digging into mine. I was starving.

“So…” I kept chewing and waited for what was to come.

I knew that “so” had a deeper meaning, but I wasn’t going to do or say anything until she continued.

“I got this yesterday from an anonymous person,” Camilla said, and without waiting for me to respond, she pulled something from her bag and dropped it on the table.

I looked up from my food with a frown as I noticed a little box wrapped in gift paper sitting on the table. If I was right, a diamond necklace or something equally extravagant was inside, and I already knew who the 'anonymous person' was.

“Where did you get this, Camilla?” Nic asked as he grabbed the box and quickly tore it open.

That was Nicholas for you—he never waits before diving into things.

“I found it sitting on my table when I got back from the restroom, and it was addressed to you, my dear best friend,” she said, her gaze fixed on me.

I shook my head and returned to my meal. “I don’t want it.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw her shoulders drop in disappointment.

“Oh come on, Emilia. This is a gift from someone who obviously likes you. Are you really going to reject it?” she asked, but I nodded without looking at her.

“Wow…” Nic gasped beside me and dropped the empty box back on the table. “This looks expensive,” he added, and I didn’t bother to look because I already knew it would be.

“Are you seriously not going to take a look at it?” Camilla pressed again, and I shook my head.

“What do you want to do with it?” she asked.

I shrugged, then looked at her and said, “You can take it if you want.”

She stared at me as if I had suddenly grown three heads. “You did not just say that.”

“I did, Camilla. I don’t want it, so yes, you can have it,” I replied. She opened her mouth to say more, but I shook my head.

“Can we please stop talking about this and focus on our lunch?” I asked, feeling tired of the conversation.

Camilla had been a thorn in my side ever since she found out I wasn’t planning to date anyone again. After my last breakup—which had gone horribly wrong—I was advised to steer clear of relationships and focus on myself and school. I didn’t want to deal with anything related to ‘relationships’ anymore, at least not until he, who shall not be mentioned, comes to his senses.