The sunlight hits her eyelids and the birds began to sing outside her window. Her long violet lashes are stuck on her sun-kissed skin, eye mucus and tears sealed her swollen eyes shut until she could wash her face.
Annoyed by the sun and the birds, the little girl groaned with her hoarse voice before reaching for her blanket and covered her head with it. At least she could run away from the sun.
"Mimma," Vincenzo's soft and gentle voice called out to her, disturbing the peace of sleep. Though his youthful voice was pleasant to listen to, now was certainly not the time.
"Time to wake up, mimma." He added on, his little bronze hands carefully moving the tear and snot stained blanket away from their tiny bodies. "Come on, mimma. Your older brother has already gotten ready for the day. It's your turn now."
Viviana groaned once more before sitting up. Because Vincenzo was such a cute little boy and such a sweet older brother, she'll comply for now.
Leo never woke her up this nicely; he'd yell at her, shake her, pour cold water onto her face, and hide her blankets until she got up to find them. She'd beat him up but she always lost to that stupid MMA addict. And then he'd laugh in her face and tell her, 'That's what you get for not waking up when I asked nicely, brat.'
That bastard... She'll miss him.
Viviana's eyes were still sealed shut and she couldn't remember when the maids were coming here to help her get ready for the day.
"Open your eyes, mimma." Vincenzo kindly commanded.
"I can't, Vincenzo... it's too crusty and it hurts to open them." She complained, proving her point as she faced him. Her eyes struggled to open and she groaned in pain as the harden eye mucus stabbed the rims of her swollen red eyes.
"Pft—" her new older brother began to burst in melodious laughter that pierced Viviana in the gut. "Mimma can't open her eyes!"
'You little— I thought you were different from Leo, turns out you're just as much as a traitor...' Viviana shook her head in her heart. And here she thought things could be different... Well, at least this brother of her's wasn't an MMA addict who liked using her as a punching bag.
After the ten-year-old's laughing fit, he finally brought himself to a standstill.
"I'll be right back," he told her as he was leaving her bedroom. "I'll tell the maids to fetch some water for you, mimma."
And so, Viviana was left on her bed; cold, tired, blinded, and dehydrated. Her tiny hands tried moving around the queen's sized bed for her precious blanket but she couldn't find it.
'Damn, so this kid is basically Leo's would-be son, isn't he?! That little brat!' Viviana told herself.
And then a wave of sadness hit her. Leo probably would have been able to be in a relationship, get married, and have kids if he wasn't always so busy having to take care of her.
Their parents died around the time Layla was six, and Leo was ten years older than her. The only family they had was their uncle who then proceeded to die seven years later. Leo was fresh out of university that year and had to work extra hard to be able to cover bills, funeral expenses, and to take of his little sister. He never had time to date... and Layla made fun of him because of that.
'I'm sorry, brother! I never saw your sacrifice to take care of your ungrateful bratty sister! I'll cherish your memory and take good extra care of Vincenzo! I'll be the best baby sister anyone could ask for! Go on and forget about me, Leo! You're the only one left to carry down the Liu family line!' Viviana internally cried.
The door opened and Viviana could hear the footsteps of multiple people enter her bedroom.
"I'm back, mimma!" Vincenzo's cherry voice fills the room. "And look! I brought the maids and the maids brought water! See?"
"Vincenzo, it still hurts to open my eyes..."
"I know, that's why I said, 'look' and 'see,' sister." The ten-year-old laughed once more. "Aren't I funny, mimma?"
Viviana sat in silence, inwardly cringing at her brother's attempt at a joke. She then felt someone gently grab her face and bring a damp cloth to her eyes, rubbing away the sealant on her eyes.
Vincenzo was lucky that Viviana chose to honor Leo's memory just a moment ago... otherwise he'd be catching these hands with zero hesitation! Even though Leo had raised a dumb bitch who died from a slip in the shower, he didn't raise a dumb bitch who couldn't throw a proper punch.
After getting her eyes and her face cleaned, Viviana finally opened her turquoise orbs and was carried to the large golden three-way mirror in the corner of her room. There was a small golden stool that the maids gently placed her to sit on, and then they began to gently brush her violet waves.
In the mirror, Viviana watched as her elder brother stood by the window, looking out from it. He really did change out of silk pajamas and into a fresh set of clothing; he suited up quite nicely. But his turquoise orbs looked far away as he continued to stare outside.
From the corner of her eyes, she could see the other maids switching her dirtied sheets into clean ones.
Just what is Vincenzo thinking of? He was weird. Last night he was all sweet and now he was completely the opposite.
An imaginary breeze ran up Viviana's skin. Was there something wrong that was being kept from her?
After a few minutes, her hair was in a beautiful half-up-do. The top half of her hair was in a lovely twisted bun and the lower half of her hair was left in its natural wavy state.
"Mimma, you don't find your older brother funny?" Vincenzo asked, his lips pulled into a pitiful pout as he looked at his sister from the window sill.
Viviana opened her mouth as if she was to reply back to her brother, when a wooden toothbrush was immediately shoved into it. The maid then started brushing her teeth, back and forth.
The rims of Viviana's eyes almost welled up with tears; the toothpaste they were using in this day and age had no right of being this incredibly spicy! The burning taste of pure star anise and pure cinnamon was overbearing! The five-year-old almost choked on the toothpaste and the toothbrush for goodness's sake!
"You don't like spicy things, mimma?" Her brother laughed at her.
It felt like forever until the maid pulled out the toothbrush out of her burning mouth and gave her a glass of water. Viviana gurgled the cold water around her mouth and throat before spitting it out into the disposal bucket. It was a while until her mouth cooled down from the toothpaste.
Just who was the kind little boy who crawled into her bed last night to comfort her? Where is he? Where is the real Vincenzo, you devil?! Is there a twin she doesn't know about? Get this evil twin out her sight and bring forth the one from last night!
The maids then began to change her white silk nightgown into a beautiful fluffy pale yellow dress with white ruffles and lacing. She was given white stockings and little sunny Mary Jane-like shoes. Although Vincenzo was asked to leave the room, he stubbornly refused.
"Someone out there tried to kill our mimma," He stated in a cold voice. "The safest place for mimma to be is by our side and in our sights."
The maids flinched at his words, the light-hearted atmosphere that was in the room faded into the void and into nothingness. Viviana watched as the maids' nonchalant faces immediately scrunch in a fearful expression. Though his words were not directed at her, Viviana still felt chills run up her skin and her hair stick up.
It was at that time, Viviana's latest memory came crashing down. She was drowning in a body of water... but why? It seemed pretty deep from her memories. Why and how did a five-year-old end up there?
And most importantly, what kind of ten-year-old says that kind of shit, huh?! Ain't he a little too young to be saying things like this? Is there no such thing as Child Protection Services here? Child psychologists? Any allies of children at all???
"Come, mimma," Vincenzo's calm voice broke through his younger sister's thoughts. He reached out his bronze hand towards her, waiting for her to take it. "Father and mother are waiting for us in the dining room for breakfast. We mustn't keep them waiting."
Afraid of showing any signs reluctance, Viviana immediately placed her sun-kissed hand over his and walked together to their parents. The maids bowed in respect as they left her bedroom.
'Leo, o' legendary MMA addict... I took you for granted, please forgive me.'
In her heart, Viviana swore she could hear 'My Heart Will Go On' playing as she replayed her memories of Leo as she walked hand-in-hand with her new older brother. It was almost weird how comforting and encouraging that song was to her situation.
The young child took note of the wide marble hallways, decorated with magnificent paintings rimmed with golden frames. Once in a while, there would be a marble or a shining golden statue in the place of a painting. The floor was a blanc marble endorsed with a rich turquoise carpet that was placed like in the center, reminding Viviana of the Red Carpet.
In her memories, Viviana recalled that her family was a dukedom. But even this amount of wealth was excessive, it was as if they were royalty themselves!
Wait a minute...
Vincenzo, Viviana, and mimma...
Those names sound pretty Italian, back from her past life... Italians, an excessive about of wealth that shouldn't be allowed for a normal dukedom to have, and having someone out there for her blood...
Is...
Is this family a mob family?!
Oh, god— they have to be! It's no wonder someone tried to kill her! They were definitely trying to get back at her family! There's no other logical reason besides that her family's involvement with the underworld...
This family is definitely a mafia family!
And that explains why Vincenzo has a switch personality! Being the heir to this mafia dukedom must have its own different set of expectations. He must be able to fool the masses as a benevolent Duke in the daytime and as a ruthless underworld don in the evening. Ah, all that training must have confused the poor kid, it must be stressful learning how to play two roles at once...
Oh, the truth is coming into the light! The Heavenly Father has forsaken her for her mistreatment of her blood brother from her past life and made sure she was placed in this family to repent for her sins!
'Oh, my god! We're a mafia family! I'm a mafia participant! An unwilling one but still one nonetheless! Fml!" Viviana sobbed in her heart.
The pair of siblings finally reached their destination and the white doors were opened by servants whom stood in the doorway.
"Father and mother," Vincenzo announced as soon as they took a step into the dining room. He then bowed at a 55-degree angle and placed his right arm over his chest. "I apologize for the delay."
Viviana felt her heart thump at a quickening pace and curtsied, her hands lifting her dress as she did. She had forgotten what day and age she currently lives in.
'How odd...' Viviana thought. Why does Vincenzo speak to their parents in a formal way? Ah, it must be for his education as the next don and heir of this family, there's no other acceptable reason.
"I'm sorry, mama and papa." Viviana added on. "Please forgive me, it's my fault— I overslept. Vincenzo was just helping me."
She made a pitiful face, her lips pulled into a small pout, her button nose and chubby cheeks quickly became rosy, and her eyes watered.
Even if her brother was going to be the next don, it's not like he could choose whether or not he wanted to or not. He had no say. Determination bloomed within her, she'll help her brother in this lifetime! Just as long it doesn't include having to kill someone... She already made the oath anyways, it was too late to turn back. This was the least she could do.
The sound of a chair sliding against the marble floor filled her ears as she watched as her father rise from his seat at the dining table and rush over to her. He looked at his two children with a gleam of love in his blue-green eyes.
His large hand adeptly wiped away her unshed tears and caressed her cheeks.
Her father then turned to her brother, who stood still beside her, and caressed his cheek as well. He then proceeded to kiss the two children on their cheeks.
"There is no need to apologize, my dear children." Their father stated, grabbing each of their hands and guiding them towards the long dining table. "Now, come eat! You both must grow and become strong for your mama and papa."
Viviana took the seat next to her mother while her brother and father next across from them. Her mother greeted her with kisses scattered over her face before doing the same to her brother. Though he tried his best to hide his emotions, he couldn't hide the blush on his youthful cheeks and the small smile resting on his lips.
What a loving mafia household...
The small family of four began to talk about their day and how they slept last night. Viviana let Vincenzo do the talking and silently watched as he left out the part where she told him the contents of her dream. The young girl only nodded in agreement at his words and looked on at their parents' reactions. Both mother and father seemed worried about her nightmare and were relieved to hear that Vincenzo came to her rescue. Listening to her brother's tale, her mother gently stroked her head and her father gave her a soft smile.
Topics changed and Viviana stopped listening as soon as the servants arrived with their meals. Her father was served red wine, her mother a caffé latte, and the two children were given hot chocolate.
The warm liquid touched her tastebuds and Viviana felt euphoria light up in her body. The taste and the feeling of the lukewarm thick chocolate running down her throat soothed her nerves. The hot chocolate in her past life were from cheap Nestle packets and were a lot more watered down.
Their breakfast was a fruit macedonia. The fruits consisted of fresh chopped ripened apples, pears, strawberries, kiwis, and a mix of both red and white grapes. The fruits were then dressed in a mixture of freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar. The fruits soaked the liquid up, mixing their juices together, a burst of sweetness and sourness each bite! She savored every bite and gulped down the entire plate.
'Delicious! I could die eating this!' Viviana internally screamed.
Layla used to eat fruit whenever she could and when she started, she couldn't stop. Leo would get mad at her because she would refuse to eat anything but fruit and he'd yell, 'Stop eating all my fruit and eat some real food, you damn fruit fly! These are for my protein shakes!'
Ah, she could all the fruit she wanted in this world without having to be yelled at! This was the life! She could almost forgive this family for being a mafia family...
Her euphoria was interrupted by a knock on the dining door.
"Come in," her father's clear commanding voice cut the air.
The door opened and a butler entered the room.
"His majesty, the crown prince, has arrived. He wishes to see the young mistress, my lord."
The entire family stopped their movements and turned to look at the patriarch for answers. For what reason would the crown prince have to come to meet with the youngest of the household? Especially since she was currently recovering from her assassination attempt just days ago?
Viviana's blue-green eyes switched between her family members in fear.
Oh god, the crown prince must've found out about her family's shady dealings and he was going to annihilate her family into pure dust! It's over! She'll die once more!