“Tep-Tep? Seriously! Give that to me!” I scowled as I chased the guy who took the bouquet of flowers I had picked.
“No way! Why would I give it to you? These are from our garden anyway, so it’s mine!” He picked up his pace even more. “And stop calling me Tep-Tep! I’m not a kid anymore!” He went straight into the mansion.
“You’re something else, Stephen! You enjoy teasing Thalia just because she’s younger than you.” A young woman carrying a bunch of red roses approached me.
“Here. Just take these. Don’t mind Stephen. You’re sensitive too; that’s why he loves teasing you all the time.” She handed me the flowers she was holding.
My eyes seemed to light up because of this. “Thank you, Shantel!”
She smiled at me and playfully pinched my nose. But our attention was interrupted by a sudden call.
“Shan!”
We both turned to the newcomer.
“Why did you give the flowers to Thalia? I picked all those for you!” he complained.
Shantel rolled her eyes at him. “I just can’t understand why you insist on giving me flowers. I’m not even fond of them.” She turned away and left.
I chuckled at Ace and sheepishly handed him the flowers. “Take these, Ace. I’m sorry if Shan gave them to me.”
He gently tapped my head, causing me to look up. “It’s alright, Thalia. Just keep it. I don’t mind at all. Truth is, I also picked some for you. But I left them in the basket. I’ll just get them real quick, okay?”
I smiled and nodded in agreement with him. I can say that among all the friends I’m with here, Shantel and Ace are the ones closest to me.
When he returned, he had a basket with him. I placed the flowers Shantel gave me in there as well before we joined our friends hanging out in the other part of the garden.
We found Ryza and Riley playing chess. I sat on an empty chair and arranged the flowers Ace gave me. However, my attention was diverted when I heard them arguing again.
“Well, what can I do? I’m a genius.” Ryza crossed her arms.
Riley frowned. “No way! You’ve won for the second time already. I’m sure you’re cheating!”
Ryza shot him a sharp look. “What the hell? I don’t have a habit of cheating just to win! You bastard!”
I gasped. “Ryza!” They both turned to me. “Don’t say that again! It’s a bad word!”
I had heard that word once from another close friend, Aries, and he got scolded by his mom for it. She said it was a bad word.
Ryza just rolled her eyes at me. “Poor baby, Thalia. How innocent of you.”
I furrowed my brow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you will know soon,” Ashter said as he suddenly put his arm around me.
Just then, Stephen emerged from the mansion. I was taken aback when he quickly walked towards us and forcefully removed Ash’s arm from around me.
“Get your filthy hands off her!” He glared at his close friend, his jaw clenching.
“Woah! Calm down, man!” Ash grinned with both hands up.

Liam whistled. “How territorial!”
“It’s not yet official, Stephen. And don’t be like you’re committing child abuse,” Rhyz interjected, one earphone still in his, ear.
“You guys are so noisy! Someone’s sleeping here.”
I was left in astonishment when I saw Oliver lying on a branch above, looking half-asleep. He’s such a sleepyhead. Meanwhile, on the other branch, Amelia was sitting engrossed in her book, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings.
Among the whole group, those two have their own world. I looked at them, bewildered. “What are you talking about?”
The truth is, my friends often discuss things that I can’t understand. Probably because I’m a few years younger than them and they’ve become more mature now.
But even so, they don’t want me to call them “older sister” or “older brother.” So, over time, I got used to it.
This time, they looked at me seriously. Even Stephen, who often teases me, was serious.
He held my hand tightly, surprising me.
“Someday, you’ll become a queen, and when that day comes, you should be ready.”
I blinked at him and looked at everyone one by one. They’re all older than me, but I can’t understand why they often make me feel like I’m above them.
“If that day will ever come, though.”
We were taken aback and turned to the new arrival all at once.
Aries.
“Oh no! That’s enough! Nathalia, would you like me to help you arrange these flowers?”
My attention was now focused on Mads, who was sitting in front of me.
In an instant, I forgot about the seemingly distracting conversation earlier. “Sure.”
Damon, Harold, and Albert also joined us. The four of them are the children of Stephen’s bodyguards, whom we often hang out with. That’s why we got closer to them, and they became part of the group. Besides that, I was able to get along with them easily because they were just my age.
“Who’s that?”
I looked up as Stephen suddenly spoke. Almost all of us directed our attention towards the door where Uncle Isaac was, accompanied by an unfamiliar child.
Uncle Isaac smiled. “He is the newest member of our growing family. His name is Cole.”
“Woah! That’s great! How about a game with the newcomer?” Ash suggested.
“What game?” I asked, furrowing my brow.
He smirked. “Of course, our favorite. Hide and seek.”

I slowly opened my eyes. I coughed as I felt the dryness in my throat.
I blinked several times until my vision became clear. I jolted upright when I realized I was in an unfamiliar place.
“Ouch!” I instinctively touched my forehead as it suddenly throbbed. But I stopped when I felt something covering my forehead.
It was only then that I remembered falling in the woods earlier. But along with that memory came a rush of recollections from the past, including scenes from my dream.
Tears slowly welled up in my eyes. If I’m not mistaken, that event was the very last time we were together and played hide and seek.
Because after that day, nightmares plagued my life.
I covered my hand over my mouth before I quietly sobbed. I remember them. I remember everything.
But why? Out of all the things I could forget, why does it have to be them?
I reached for the photo I had placed in my pocket earlier. Now I remember who they were in my past and what my connection to them is. They’re my precious friends. My family.
But why didn’t they tell me and explain the truth? Why did they have to pretend as if they had just met me?
I was startled from my thoughts when I heard the door creak open slowly. Quickly, I hid the photo in my pocket and wiped away the tears that continued to trickle down my cheeks.
I clenched my fist as Aries came into view. He closed the door and locked it behind him.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
I grimaced as I suddenly felt the pain in my body. It was probably because of the fall earlier. Only now did I also notice the bruises and wounds on my arms and legs.
He approached me slowly. I glared at him.
“Let me go from here!”
He gave a slight grimace before sitting on the edge of the bed. I instinctively scooted towards the headboard, trying my best to stay as far away from his demonic presence as possible. It made me want to vomit.
“Things wouldn’t have come to this if your parents had chosen me for you right from the beginning. They could still be alive today, and we could be together happily,” he said.
I was taken aback and furrowed my brow at his statement. “What do you mean?”
“Do you still not remember anything?” he countered.
I swallowed before shaking my head. Perhaps it’s better if I continue pretending to have amnesia.
“No. Why? What am I supposed to remember from my past? Tell me!”
He shrugged. “Well, even if you did remember, you wouldn’t know about that matter.” My heartbeat suddenly quickened. What else do I not know?
Damn! Why do I feel like I’m living on lies?
In an instant, his eyes widened and his jaw clenched.
“If, right from the beginning, I was chosen to marry you someday, our lives would be peaceful now.”
I held my breath and couldn’t believe I was staring at him. It felt like my stomach was being twisted due to this new revelation.
“It means it’s not really you.”
He abruptly stood up. “Yes! It’s not me, it’s Stephen! Stephen was the one you were supposed to marry!” He ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
My mouth fell open. Stephen?
“I was the first one you met and spent time with. Then they were going to arrange your marriage to someone else?” He laughed demonically before pacing around.
“There’s no way I’ll let that happen! That’s why I sought help from Dad just to thwart their plan. Just to remove your friends who were also obstacles in our lives!”
I was taken aback as he suddenly approached me. I held back tears as he shook my shoulders. I could still feel the sting from my wounds there.
“But despite everything I did, he still managed to take you away from me and hide you! I endured and waited a long time to get you back, Nathalia! So now that I have you in my possession, I won’t allow him to take you away from me again!”
I was nearly dizzy as he released me abruptly. Then his heavy footsteps followed as he exited the room where I was.
I can’t believe it. It was Stephen. He was the one I was supposed to marry!
Now, the question in my mind about why he frightened off the men who tried to court me before was finally answered. Now I know why he suddenly had me abducted and married.
My gaze lowered to the ring on my finger. I closed my eyes before gently kissing it. Now that I know everything, I must fight even harder and find a way to escape.
Stephen, please save me. Lord, please let me live. I have yet to tell him how much I love him.