Chapter 4.
Nerea Point Of View.
"What do you mean by every thing parents ever owned will vanish." I croaked my lips quivering.
"I thought you started noticing it I'm so sorry that you are getting to find out about all this now." Rosa said the letter still in her hands.
"I really don't understand what you are saying why will my parents arrange a marriage between i and man whom I barely know and I'm just getting to find out his name today." I said and sat at the edge of the bed." And why are you suddenly telling me this ? Is there any more secret I need to know ? why didn't my parents tell me about this while they were alive?"
Rosa exhaled and she walked to where I was sitting.
"I know how you feel Nerea, but I guess your parents were so busy with everything that they forgot to tell you about this and their death was so sudden."
"But they should have at least told you don't expect me to get married to him to you I am just 22 and I am not done with college."
Rosa placed her hands on my shoulders.
"You have to take it easy on yourself, getting married to Lucien is the only way forward,you have to get married to him."
Rosa's last statement made me boiled with anger and I got up immediately.
"What if I refuse to get married to him what if I run away I have dreams, I have aspirations I am a struggling actress I have lots of things to do with my life than stayed married to a man I don't know."
"This is because your life is tied to him."she said almost immediately her voice matching mine."you don't have to tell me I know you have one of those dreams that leaves you drained and weak."
" How did you know." I stuttered reeling back in shock.
"This is because I am your nanny and I know you so well Nerea, the only way you have to stop those dreams and get back your life is to get married to Lucien Avery Del Mar,he holds the key so you can have a life free from sickness."
I was already starting to believe her when her words look like something out of a movie.
And I gave a bitter laugh.
"Is this some kind of fantasy movie or what I don't believe what you are telling me, how can my life be tied to an ordinary man,oh please."
" Nerea." She called in a small voice walking towards me.
"Just leave me alone I have have enough of this tale."
"It is not a tale Nerea, you have a short lifespan, your sickness was caused by a kind of magic and unless you get married to Lucien Avery Del Mar you won't leave long."
My heart began to beat rapidly and I could hear it loud and clear, I wanted to use my palms and close my ears to everything that Rosa was telling me I didn't want to listen to her anymore I wanted to turn around and run away tears began to drop that for my eyes.
"You are saying this to me because you want me to be scared and agree to the marriage right?" I asked my voice tinged with sadness." Rosa I want to be an actress,I want to find love."
Rosa walked to me and held my hands." My sweet little Nerea, I have watched you grow to become a beautiful woman and I dread these days so much hoping that it won't come but you have to agree to it."
" I don't want to." I sniffed.
" You have to, Nerea, you have just 3 days to make up your mind and get married to him.I don't want you to leave so soon, please Nerea."
I jerked my hands from her grasp.
"You are lying Rosa such a thing can never happen, my parents could have told me about this."
" They wanted to tell you before they got into a car accident,they made me swear that I will tell you and now the day has...."
But I didn't let her complete her sentence when I yelled.
" No,I won't , I run away from he h
as fast as I can and I will find him and give him a piece of my mind and cut whatever ties I have with him." I said my voice growing stronger and my eyes glowing with anger.
Rosa slowly turned away
" It was the night of May,1999." She said and inhaled." Paul and Louisa where on the verge of losing the only child, it could have been possible for them to pay medical bills if they weren't dirty poor . The tried every possible ways to find money to take care of their only child but nothing and the little baby died.Louisa was heartbroken, standing outside in the cold and crying her heart out, a rich gentleman came he had pity on them and gave their little baby the breath of life which to him he was forbidden from giving out." I heard Rosa sniffed before she continued." But the healing of that baby wasn't complete, the sins of her past life will forever hunt her down and so she was left with just a little of that dreadful sickness. The gentleman seeing that the couple were too poor to care for their little one gave them a pendant which attracts good fortune and he made them agree that when she comes of age she will be married to him and they agreed ,failure to keep to their promise everything he gave them will return to him.And the couple became the richest in all of America." She finished and half turned to me before turning to the window.
"What has the story got to do with me?" I asked I was already fed up with everything that was happening and all I needed right now was a good sleep.
"It is because you are that baby."Rosa finished." If you don't go to him or agree to this marriage proposal you will definitely lose everything, every wealth your parents made will be lost and if he does come for you ,your sickness will worsen."
I was staring at Rosa though I wanted to believe everything she was telling me but a part of me was proving so stubborn.
"I wanted to tell youbthat two of the shareholders of the company had withdrawn and five of the maids had resigned."
I shrugged my shoulders.
" So,what has that got to do with me if they leave more people willl take their place."
Rosa eyes opened wide she couldn't believe what I just said.
"Why are you so stubborn why can't you listen to all that I have been saying to you? Aren't you sick of going to be hospital every now and then."
"I don't care I know you and my parents formulated the story to force me into getting married to that Lucien of a guy but news flash I won't do it."
Rosa looked so downcast she was already tired of explaining things to me and it was better that way because I wanted her to leave me alone.
"I'm a struggling actress and I really want to take this seriously." I said to her .
" Lucien Avery Del Mar is very wealthy." Rosa said to me .
" I don't care and I don't believe a thing you said to me." I picked up my bag and began to walk the door when I stop."you speak of a certain pendant my parents have, do you know where it is?"
Rosa stared at me for a moment and my question made her look so confused. "What do you want to do with the pendant."
I shrugged my shoulders." For evidence if you want me to believe your story."
" Its in your parents.."
But she couldn't complete her sentence as we heard a knock on the door and one of the maids came in looking frightened.
" Something terrible had happened." She said in a croaked voice and I and Rosa e
xchanged puzzled glances.
" The company was burnt to the ground last night."