Answers.
On the other side of the rain-drenched street, Lucy and her two children stepped out of the taxi. It had been an arduous journey, walking through the torrential downpour just to find a ride. By the time they had arrived, they were soaked to the bone, their clothes clinging to their bodies. Despite the miserable conditions, they had made it, and now, they stood before a villa that took their breath away.
Daisy, the older of the two children, stared in awe at the sprawling property. The villa was nothing short of magnificent. A fountain—carved into the likeness of a woman—graced the center of the courtyard, water cascading gracefully over its stone edges. Surrounding the fountain, the lush greenery of the garden bloomed vibrantly, a stark contrast to the dark skies and rain that had followed them. Soft, golden lights illuminated the grounds, adding an almost magical glow to the night. Daisy couldn't help but feel as though she had stepped into a different world.
"Mom, we've had this beautiful house all along… and we kept living with another man. Why?" Daisy asked, still gazing at the villa, unable to pull her eyes away.
Lucy, her mother, let out a deep breath as she stepped toward the villa's entrance, her eyes on the heavy wooden doors. "We were hiding, baby girl," she answered softly, not turning to meet Daisy's gaze.
"Hiding? From…" Daisy trailed off, her voice barely a whisper as she watched her mother enter the villa without hesitation. Her feet seemed to move on their own, and in a matter of seconds, Daisy was rushing to catch up with her mother, her mind swirling with unanswered questions.
As they stepped inside, Daisy couldn't contain the awestruck "Wow" that escaped her lips. The villa was every bit as stunning inside as it had been on the outside. The high ceilings, the intricate molding, the gleaming marble floors—it was as if she had just walked into the home of royalty. A large chandelier hung from the center of the foyer, its crystal droplets sparkling like diamonds. The air smelled faintly of lavender, and everything seemed to shimmer with a quiet elegance. Daisy couldn't help but feel small in the vastness of the space.
"Go prepare a hot bath in there," Lucy said, pointing toward a door at the far end of the parlor. "That room is the guest room. This house is your father's gifts to you… for your eighth birthday."
"Gift… birthday gift?" Daisy echoed, her voice faltering. "Why did I never get to see him once in all my life? Why?" The question hung in the air, heavier than any of the words Daisy had spoken before. She had wondered, even as a young child, why her father wasn't around. Why he had never come to her birthday parties or sent her letters. Why she had never seen his face, heard his voice, or felt his presence. Now, standing in this grand villa, she felt the ache of that absence more sharply than ever.
Lucy's expression softened, but her eyes remained distant, lost in her own thoughts. "Shhh… go prepare the bath for your baby brother before he catches a cold. He's still just a baby, and I'm sure after being drenched in that kind of rain, he'll be sick soon. We don't want him to catch a fever." Lucy's voice was filled with concern, and Daisy knew that her mother would do anything to protect them both.
Daisy nodded quietly and turned toward the guest room. As she walk towards the room,her mind buzzed with confusion. She couldn't stop thinking about the questions that had been swirling in her head since they left their old home. Why had her father never been there for them? What was the deal with the man they had been living with? Why had her mother insisted on keeping them hidden for so long? She had to know the truth. She needed answers.
The guest room was just as luxurious as the rest of the villa. A large four-poster bed sat against one wall, and the floors were covered in soft, plush carpets. The bathroom was even more impressive. It was spacious, with a freestanding bathtub that could easily fit two people. Daisy turned on the taps, letting the water run until it was steaming hot, then added a few drops of lavender-scented oil she found nearby, then added some cold water to make it warm.As she waited for the bath to fill, her mind continued to race.
Her father must have been incredibly wealthy to afford a villa like this. A mansion, really. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the kind of money it would take to buy a property like this. And yet, if he was so rich, why hadn't he wanted to be with his family? Why had he made a deal with another man to pretend to be their father? What kind of man was he? Was he involved in something dangerous? Was he some kind of mafia boss, a drug dealer, wanted criminal,or an assassin? The thought made Daisy's stomach churn.
"I just hope there's a reasonable explanation," she muttered to herself. "And I hope Mom tells me the truth tonight… because my whole life now feels like a lie."
Daisy was lost in thought when she heard her mother's voice calling her name. She snapped back to reality, her heart beating a little faster as she realized that her mom had probably entered the guest room. She turned to see Lucy standing in the doorway, her baby brother in her arms. The small child had already had his clothes removed, and Lucy was cradling him protectively.
"Get up and go take a shower in any of the rooms," Lucy said, her tone softer now. "Tour the house, find the room you like best, and once you're done, I'll be in the room painted… uh… I think it's blue and white. Just go, baby girl."
Daisy hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of her mother's gaze on her. It was as if Lucy knew exactly what was going through her mind. Daisy wanted answers, but she didn't want to push her mother too hard. She understood that Lucy was likely carrying a heavy burden, and tonight, she could feel it in the way her mother spoke—distant, weary.
"Oh, okay, Mom," Daisy said, her voice soft but trying to sound reassuring. "Uh… don't give me that look of sadness. Whatever it is—whatever your reason, or Dad's reason—I'm sure it was for the best. For all of us."
Lucy's expression softened at Daisy's words. She smiled gently, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Okay, okay. Yes, yes. Go change your clothes, sweetheart. I don't want you catching a cold too."
Daisy smiled back, but her mind was still racing. She could feel the weight of the unanswered questions pressing down on her. As she turned to leave the guest room, she glanced once more at her mother, who was now cradling her baby brother in her arms, gently rocking him to calm his restless cries. The sight made Daisy's chest tighten with a mixture of sadness and longing. Her family was fractured, yet they were all she had.
As Daisy walked down the hallway, exploring the villa's many rooms, she couldn't help but wonder how long it would take before the secrets that had been hidden for so many years finally came to light. Would she get the answers she was searching for tonight? Or would her mother continue to keep them in the dark, like she always had?
For now, all Daisy could do was wait—wait for the moment when her mother would finally open up and reveal the truth about their past. About her father, the villa, and everything that had been kept from her.