Chapter 63 Delusions
Isla’s POV.
I hadn’t been myself since told me about the twin switch.
Sleep didn’t wink in my eyes, I couldn’t eat.
Every time I tried to comfort myself, it worsened.
I wasn’t angry or heart broken, I felt like I didn’t matter.
The words kept replaying in my head.
“You’ve been married to Damian all along.”
How didn’t I get to notice every single detail when they were right in front of me?
Lucia was right. I thought I was smart, but I wasn’t.
The phone on my desk rang, Damian or Dante, I supposed was calling.
“Get me the files on your desk.”
The line went dead.
I knocked on the door once and then stepped inside.
My legs almost gave out as I tried to steady them.
“These are the files you asked for,” I said, voice cold.
He didn’t look at me, he was focused on the files.
I turned to leave, he cleared his throat.
“You’re quiet today.”
My mouth opened, but my throat was dry. I didn’t know what to say to him.
Anger still burned in my chest.
He had been deceiving or playing games with me all along.
“Some things are best left unsaid,” my legs swung toward the door.
“You’ve been acting weird and it’s really getting me worried.”
“I’m not acting weird, that’s the real me.”
I closed the door behind me.
My body felt him looking at me through the glass walls.
The day went by slowly. I couldn’t wait to go home.
I wasn’t myself, my thoughts almost drifted off during the meeting section.
Even at the cafeteria, I lost my appetite. My colleagues kept asking if I was okay.
The day finally ended. I quickly packed my bags and headed to the car.
When I arrived, Damian wasn’t home.
The lights were still on, dinner was already served, it was just the butler, standing at the door.
“Madam,” she said, handing me some footwear.
“Dinner is ready. Sir, said he’ll be late. You shouldn’t wait for him.”
“Why don’t you call him, Mr Damian,” I said, looking at her.
She froze. Our eyes locked for a second, but she shied it away.
My hands reached for a seat. I sank in, grabbing the cutlery.
“Mrs, you…” her voice cracked.
“You don’t have to hide it anymore. You guys have played me enough.”
She closed the distance between us, feet unsteady.
“Ma, I didn’t mean to… Sir had instructed us to…”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s not your fault. You were just following orders.” I cut her off.
“You don’t need to tell him anything. Did he tell you when he’ll be back?”
“He didn’t.”
My stomach was already rumbling. But my heart was hurting more.
I went straight to my room after dinner.
My bed was the only thing that could comfort me.
My father hadn’t caused me any trouble lately and my siblings were safer than they had been.
After the kidnapping incident, everything seemed to be normal.
But I know he was planning something else. Who knows what it would be this time?
I gathered myself on my bed, the duvet covered me whole.
The room was so quiet, lights were switched off, only the sound of my breathing was heard.
My eyes slowly closed as I begged sleep to come, while I drowned in my thoughts.
Cold flared through my skin, but my lungs flared hot.
I twisted my arms around myself, my eyes were watery.
Thunder roared so loud as rain pierced through the glass window.
That was when it finally hit me. Like a knife piercing my heart.
My hands clenched to my chest, as if it would calm me down.
And slowly, I fell asleep.
“Mom,” I whispered, as the image of my mother appeared close to me.
She patted her hand on my hair while she sang.
“Isla, baby.” She said, smiling faintly.
A smile tugged on my lips, her eyes, they held this warmth I hadn’t seen for years.
“Mom,” I started, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Please don’t leave me again. I’m scared and tired. Mom…”
She placed a finger on my lips. “I know you’re tired Isla. I know you miss me. Mummy misses you too.”
“But you have to be strong… Mummy will always be here with you.”
My body curled into her arms as a sob left my throat.
“I have to go, Isla. You shouldn’t be here. Iris needs you, Josie needs you.”
“Don’t go mum,” I sobbed, as my hands stretched, trying to grab her.
“Mum! No…”
“I love you, Isla. Tell Iris I love him so much.”
“Mum… please. Don’t leave me here… I can’t hold on anymore…”
“Don’t let him win, Isla. You must punish him.”
She disappeared into the air.
The sharp sound of thunder woke me up.
My body moved before I could.
Heat flooded my thighs.
My hands lifted to my face, tears still rolled down my cheek.
“It’s just a dream,” I whispered to myself.
I pulled the bedsheets down to my knees, as my legs slipped to the cold ground.
The rain still hammered heavily on the window.
I didn’t turn on the lights, I dragged my feet to the window.
“How did I end up sleeping,” a yarn left my throat.
Why’s it raining so heavily?
The lights on the mansion were on, guards still moved around.
Those feelings tried to creep in, but I shook them off.
“Not again.”
The memory of my mother came flashing back.
How I had cried and begged her to stay. I almost thought it was reality, if it wasn’t for the sound of thunder that woke me up.
All I wanted was to never wake up. I wished I could spend more time with her.
And her words touched my heart.
“Iris needs you. Josie needs you. Don’t let him win.”
Of course I won’t let him win, not while I am still alive.
My phone buzzed.
Maybe it was Josie checking on me.
My hand tapped on the screen and I froze.
“Now you’ve who the right twin is. Will you still hate or love him?”
My heart sank.
Who was this person? And why has he been sending me anonymous messages?