ANISHA'S POV
It was already three months from the time I knew Amelia as my mother. The DNA test was done, and it showed that indeed I was her daughter. I requested for some time and space, I did not want to meet her yet. It was difficult for me to tell what I felt about Amelia. I did not hate her, but I felt I needed some time before I could accept her as my mother. My studies and job were both going on very well, and I had found myself an apartment. I loved it very much; it was warm. It made me feel good when I looked around it and saw all the things that were my belongings. I was hardly ever alone in that room, because the sweet lover of my heart had also made it his own home. He visited me countless times; and no; I had no complaints about that.
I still either visited or took Liam out on Sundays. The Woodruffs, who had continued to extend their fostering period, were beginning to bond very well with the little boy, and he no longer threw some of his previous tantrums.
It was a Tuesday; one day after the wedding: Ciera and Keith Junior's. Dylan had initially attended it with a heavy heart, for he really wanted me to attend it as well; but I begged him and explained to him and did all I could, telling him that I was not there to ruin him and his family's relations. In the end they all had a nice time at the wedding; which I felt was the right thing for any family.
I was feeling fine and madly in love. The man was spoiling me rotten; showing me love that I had never known existed before. He was my first boyfriend, yes, but all the same, I had never expected that being in love would feel that good. He treated me like a queen, and sometimes I could not help but pinch myself; for I failed to believe that I was that happy. Most of the times I stayed at his mansion as well, we were always together, at either place; his or mine. There were nights that we spent in the theatre; after watching a movie and trailing off to sleep. Yes it happened more than once. And I slept in his room more than once. I feared so much that we would end up engaging in sex, and although I did feel the pressure from every angle of my being; I did my best to fight it. I mean which lady would not have felt the same? The man was insanely handsome, and everything about him was excellent. The way he spoke, the way he laughed, his eyes, his nose, mouth...everything! I was madly in love with him and I felt that my world was at peace. But then again I still upheld my values. I strongly believed in saving myself for marriage. The person who married me was supposed to be the one to first have access to my purity; that was me.
OK so on that Tuesday afternoon, Dylan and I were shopping around for my school staff. We were talking and laughing, having the time of my life, when a female voice called me, "Anisha!". I turned around in surprise, for I had not expected anyone at the mall to know me. It was Ciera. She smiled, and she looked guilty…or at least I thought she looked guilty.
"I thought you would be gone for your honeymoon," I smiled, not knowing what else to say to her.
"We're flying off tonight. Err, Anisha, let me clear off something. I don't hate you." She looked past me and faced her brother, who was standing behind me.
"We're here to get a few things; we'll be leaving tonight." She addressed Dylan, and he just nodded his head. Keith Junior appeared from behind Ciera, and greeted us with a warm smile.
"I don't hate you," Ciera said.
"I don't hate you too." I was totally unaware of how to answer such a statement.
"If everything was in my power, I would have had you attend the wedding. But…you know….it wasn't all up to me. I honestly would have wanted you to be there," she smiled and took my hand in hers.
"Don't worry about that. I understand," I said truthfully.
"Would you please make sure you go home and get some cake? I would be hurt if you say no. Dylan, please take her home! Let mum give you guys one of the cakes…it's just my way of apologizing…"
"You really don't have to…" I began to speak before she interrupted me,
"But I want to! Please Anisha, please get the cake. I will tell Iris to pack it for you. You may go there tonight if you want."
I turned to look at Dylan, and he said, "Ok thanks Ciera, we will go and get it."
We said a few more casual talks before the newlyweds went their way.
Dylan and I were still busy shopping when his phone rang. He took the call and after it had ended he looked at me, "it was mum. She said we must go to the manor on Friday. It seems like Ciera has already told her about the cake. So she said you and I must go there this coming Friday. It's nothing fancy; not a special dinner or anything. We'll just pass by and collect the cake."
"Oh!" my heart was pounding. I feared her; that was the honest truth. The truth that I could not bring myself to tell Dylan.
"Don't panic. I've got you," he smiled and hugged me.
"Thanks," I whispered. A sigh escaped and all the joy that I had had earlier on suddenly disappeared.
***
We arrived at the mansion soon after 4PM, and as if I was seeing it for the first time, I re-discovered the beauty of the Clear Opal Manor. During my initial visit I had not managed to tell, for it was dark. I looked in awe as the gigantic building stood before me, speaking volumes of great wealth and luxury. Feelings of being unworthy started to creep up, and I had to constantly remind myself that Anisha, you are worthy.
"The manor is too beautiful," I whispered.
"You think so? Would you like a tour of it? I can walk around with you."
I almost agreed to it, but I decided not to; for I feared how Mrs de Milo would react was she to find me touring her mansion. I knew she disliked me a lot; so I decided not to add fuel to the fire.
"N...no thanks. I will see it another time."
"Why not today?" Dylan insisted.
He pulled me by the hand and led me towards one wide hallway. Everything was immaculate; it looked more beautiful than the hotels that I had seen on TV. Oh my word; it was too nice. From floor to floor, Dylan showed me around. Every now and then, we bumped into a man or lady dressed in the staff uniform. They bowed gently and greeted us, "sir Dylan, how are you? Miss, how are you?"
Not used to such kind of life, I found it weird and I also was not sure how to respond. Dylan hardly ever responded to any of them, besides the gentle nod which he gave here and there.
There were many rooms, some of which I had never known to exist. The basement, in which earlier on I had seen a huge swimming pool, also held a tennis court and a other fancy places.
There were lounges, kitchens of various sizes, and some of the bathrooms were so big that I wondered how many people were meant to bath in each of them.
The suits that Dylan and his sisters used during childhood were real houses, in my eyes. It was like each child had been given a full house to themselves. Each child had a suite, with a lounge, bedrooms, a study, a bathroom and a balcony. The luxury was too much. The suite that I was looking at was way nicer and bigger that some whole family homes that I knew. For sure, Dylan and I were from different worlds. I noticed that when we came to the sixth floor, Dylan avoided his childhood room. It held bad memories. I also wanted to walk away from it fast, for I started seeing images of Logan and my naked self crouching on the floor as I awaited my fate. Probably reading my face and being sensitive, Dylan quickly led me away. We did not enter into his former suite.
For me, chandeliers were special ornaments reserved for special rooms...that what I had always believed. But as I toured the mansion, I realised that previously, when I had thought that I knew chandeliers; I had not known them. Hanging from the spotless white ceilings of the rooms hung exquisite chandeliers, and I doubted if I could afford to buy even one of them. Even the doors to the rooms; all of them were more than classy; and everything left me wondering if the de Milos and us were from the same world.
The manor had these long hallways which forked into various other divisions; all of them sparkling clean. There was no error in anything. There were mirrors placed in some places, and in some places huge portraits, or canvas paintings, hung on the walls with unbelievable beauty.
Dylan took me through it all; the dining rooms; the kitchens, the lounges, saunas, bedrooms, flex rooms, suites, hallways, indoor pools, sunrooms, ballrooms, living rooms…the movie theatres, the bars, man caves, libraries big and small, gaming room, formal living room, drawing room, music room...some of the rooms I saw; I had no idea that such rooms existed. We went through many wings which stood out as full homes of their own; each with a theme of its own. The Victorian themed suite was especially standing out, but I think I loved the rustic theme more. There was one lounge which was so classy that I even feared to enter. It was pure white with a touch of gold. And on some doors, much to my amazement, Dylan scanned his finger or palm before they opened. Some doors had some digital locks. It was all too much for me. Never in my life had I seen such. Of course I had seen it in movies before, but my mind had convinced me that it was nothing but the works of computers.