Chapter 22 — The Devil’s Proposal

The flight to Auburn City from Italy was as dull as tap water. Nothing exciting happened nor was Cedric being his whimsical self and for that, I am grateful. Released from the hospital and taking in moments of fresh air helped relaxed my nerves for the next hours of being in mid-air. What’s more, I still had to be brought to another hospital upon arriving to treat the wound on my head. The stitches done on the back of my head and other injuries I had were to be taken account for at the hospital back in Auburn City as per request by Cedric Dixon, who wanted me to get well soon. This didn’t mean I was going to exchange words with him for trying to care for me.

Bits of memories came more frequent than I was back in Italy, now that strange and unknown places unraveled before my eyes as we passed by buildings and other places—memories of the past springing them back to life as images of me or people I’ve been hanging out came back in flashes. It seemed like I was in a film, watching myself walking down sidewalks or entering stores I didn’t dare go to back then.

But I still haven’t recovered the most important memory of all, leaving me frustrated for the entire time. Cedric was no help either, pestering me to speak to him or tried to bribe me with things I have never dared imagine such as trips to other countries or jewelry. The past me would have cared enough about such things, jumping onto the first opportunity and to the next one. But that past side of me has died along with my parents, casting a gray shadow over objects and activities I would have enjoyed back then.

The traffic light blinked red, making Gerard slow the car down to a stop. Beside our car was an old elementary school. Instead of bursting out with kids and their noises filling up the playground, it was empty for the holidays. Snow covered most of the ground as it continued to fall slowly but surely as January was creeping up behind us. Unable to look away at the familiar building, I smiled faintly.

“Why won’t you come and play with me?” Ten-year-old Francesca coughed a bit, clutching her backpack as we walked down the sidewalk and paying no heed to the other children playing in the playground. Some were even roughhousing despite the many attempts of the teachers to forbid it. “My mommy and daddy wouldn’t mind. I wouldn’t mind. Besides, I am feeling a little better than yesterday.”

Spinning around to face her, I shrugged. Pigtails holding back my long blond hair from flying with the strong breeze. “You’re weak, Francesca. I don’t want to get scolded again because I made you sick. Don’t you have other toys to play with? Doesn’t your mommy buy you those dolls every week?”

Francesca nodded softly, still sporting a sad pout which made me question what was making her feel that way.

At the memory, I stifled a bitter laugh. Even back then, Francesca was greedy. She had everything from the day she was born. A wealthy family who can give her anything she wanted, but still she coveted those she couldn’t have.

She wanted Cedric, too.

Eyes widening at the voice that I haven’t heard from in a while, I went still. I was regaining my memories little by little, making me complacent and happy that this other me has disappeared. But it hasn’t and it has come back to haunt me.

I’m not going to disappear, Reese. Not until you embrace who you truly are.

Stop it.

I’m never going away, Reese. I am a part of you, after all.

Don’t.

Wait, I am ‘you’.

No, you’re not!

It’s only a matter of time until you remember everything you’ve done.

“Stop it! Get out of my head!” My screams filled the car as I tried to clutch my head, pulling on the hairs, and was close to doing more damage to my injured arm. Cedric was quick to pull me, calming down with an astonished face. Even Gerard was taken aback.

“Reese, it’s all right—”

“No!”

Nothing was all right.

Days went by like a blur in motion. I wasn’t allowed to work—not that I wanted to—and I was cooped up in the house most of the time. The trips to the hospital were frequent and what was more irritating, Cedric often stayed next to me. I didn’t dare ask him why he was still around and not working as he is running a company; afraid it might give him hope that I have forgiven him. What was even more surprising, he hasn’t attempted to kill me off after the stunt I pulled on him back in Italy.

Is this his way of coping? Why isn’t he doing anything? I did what Hattie told me, but he hasn’t said a word nor confronted me about how I know or if I regained my memories. What is he waiting for?

But even Cedric couldn’t wait around forever. Today was the first time he has left my side, stating he had to go back to the office to see some papers. Whether or not what he said was true, I watched him from my bedroom window as he got into his car and sped away. Taking this chance, I began searching high and low around the house for anything that could shed some light on what happened before the car crash.

My parents’ room has never been opened even after their deaths. I haven’t gone inside since then and I was too afraid I might break down once I do. However, today was an exception. I must go and look into each corner of the house for answers. Taking the key to their room hanging inside my closet, I padded down the hallway and to their room at the end.

“Mom, I can’t find a decent necklace! Do you have anything to spare for me?” Peeking into their room, Mom was sitting in front of her dresser while putting on her earrings. Dad was in front of the mirror, trying out the ties he had. Tonight was another important party at the Grand Mari Hotel. What made it important was that George Richardson and his family were about to make it official that they were going to step down as the owners of the hotel. The night where my parents would sign the papers, making them the new owners of the Grand Mari Hotel.

Unfortunately, no matter how much I dolled up for the occasion, Cedric couldn’t come due to an emergency. All my phone calls directed towards him were denied or ended with a beep. Worry weaseled its way into my heart, but I couldn’t falter now when my parents have prepared to appear their most modest for tonight’s party.

I had to do the same.

“A spare? Look into my jewelry box and wear whatever you like.” She grinned as she put on emerald encrusted earrings.

Swallowing hard, I jabbed the key into the knob and turned it. Hearing a click, I took the key out and turned the knob. The door creaked open, the air from inside carried to my nose. Their scent was still evident inside as if it was trapped in time along with their presence in the room. Tears started to form in my eyes as I went inside. Everything was untouched and remained the same aside from the dust that has accumulated.

Approaching the dresser, Mom’s perfume bottles and makeup still sat there, waiting to be used again. Dad’s slippers were at the side of the bed, a remnant of which side of the bed he used to wake up in. Mother’s hair curlers were on the armchair as if thrown there to the side in a hurry. The bed was made, but some of her hairs that had fallen were still underneath her pillow. It was as if they were still here on earth, causing me to cry at the scene in front of me. Everything screamed about them and their lives that had ended abruptly.

As I composed myself, I inhaled sharply and went back to the task at hand. Digging into the drawers took time with one hand. All I found were their clothes, undergarments, and old photo albums of us. Clicking my tongue, I went to their closet and the first thing that caught my eye was the vault.

I couldn’t help but curse when I realized I didn’t know the combination.

Open your mother’s jewelry box.

Rolling my eyes at the voice, I went on searching until I turned up with nothing other than more pictures of my family and old documents such as the deed to the house and the vault to which I couldn’t open. Hand on my hip, I sighed at what I have discovered so far.

Open your mother’s jewelry box, I say.

Listening to you is like heeding the devil’s proposal.

Listen to me and open it. I promise you… It will be the key to answering all your questions, as long as—

What?

You won’t hurt Cedric.

Taking in a deep breath, I straightened my back at the proposal.

All right. Her… jewelry box, you say… Wait, her jewelry box?

Realization dawned upon me when I haven’t spotted the black jewelry box Mother used to keep on her dresser. Heart pounding, I began searching around the room again. About to give up and my injured arm was hurting, I collapsed on the edge of the bed as I gathered my thoughts.

Where could it be? I’m sure she placed it on her dresser…

Glancing at the vault again, I sighed. “No, don’t tell me it’s inside that!” Bemoaning my situation, I approached it and tried every combination they could have made up. With every twist and turn, I grumbled every time it didn’t open. “What is the combination? Surely they must have left a clue or written it on a paper…”

Scratching my head, I tried to input the numbers that matched my birthday as a last resort. What I didn’t expect was for it to open, making my eyes grow wide in excitement to see what was inside.

Mother’s black jewelry box was inside and what seemed to be other papers. Taking the box, I set it down before pulling the papers out and began skimming through them.

It was the deed of sale to the Grand Mari Hotel as Hattie has given to me except it was the original document. Another was papers signed under Father’s name and who seemed to be the mayor of Auburn City. The rest that followed were the same papers except they were often signed by other famous people from celebrities and politicians. Then, upon flipping to the next page, thin papers fell down to the floor, prompting me to drop the others to pick them up. However, they were no ordinary papers but checks.

Oh my god, what are these doing here?

Most of the checks were for my father, but upon seeing one sent for Francesca Richardson, I couldn’t help but wonder why my father had to pay her a million. Checking the date, I furrowed my brows to see it was made two weeks before the car accident.

Why did he want to give her a million? What made him do this? If it’s here, then that means she didn’t take it…

Keeping the check, I diverted my attention to Mother’s jewelry box and opened it. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as I looked through it, recognizing the emerald earrings she wore multiple times. To see that it is still here made me wonder what else she hid in the jewelry box’s compartments. Curious than ever, I opened one and chanced upon what seemed to be a ring box. Taking it out, I opened it and stared at the ring intently. It seemed to be an engagement ring.

“What?”

Cedric’s shock was evident in his handsome face as I told him the best news ever over dinner at another fancy restaurant I found near Auburn City’s central park. Tonight was a special night because my parents finally swindled the Richardsons into selling the hotel for a cheaper price to pay their bills and made it official last night at the party. Wherever they got the money was unknown to me and frankly, I didn’t care as long as we could continue our business. What more, I could still support Cedric behind curtains until we get married. This momentous occasion had to be celebrated, and I chose to do so with the man I love.

“Yeah! Isn’t it great?” I gushed, reaching out to grab his hands across the table to squeeze them. “Mom and Dad have bought the hotel! It doesn’t have to be shut down after all. You and I may inherit it one day if we ever get married!”

Cedric was quiet all of a sudden, refusing to speak as he seemed deep in thought. I couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong, so I tapped on his white knuckles. “Hey? Is there something wrong?”

“That doesn’t sound right… I thought, well—you see I had plans…” Rubbing his temples, he sighed. “How did your parents buy it? Wasn’t the Richardsons running the hotel? Why wasn’t I told that they would sell it?” Frustration evident in his tone of voice, I felt restless and wondered how to make it all better. “They own the Grand Mari Hotel, didn’t they?”

I scoffed. “Used to own it. They filed for bankruptcy; didn’t you know? Weren’t you listening to the news or the whispers in the streets? Surely you must have!”

“That doesn’t make any sense—”

“I don’t see why you should get so worked up about it.” I frowned slightly, pulling back to cross my arms across my chest. “Shouldn’t you be happy for me and my family? Why do you seem so concerned about the Richardsons?” When he didn’t reply, I continued with a giddy smile. “Anyway, I spotted you at Tiffany’s last week and saw you buy a ring. Isn’t it too early to propose? I mean, I know you want to marry me because you love me—”

“Who said I wanted to marry you?”

Blood reaching frigid temperatures, I shakily glanced up to meet Cedric in the eye at his astonishing question fired back at me. Jaw dropping, I was sure my whole body was as cold as ice at what he just said. “Huh? What are you—”

“I’m sorry, Reese. But that ring you saw me bought wasn’t for you.” He easily confessed, not even batting an eyelash at my stunned expression. “That was actually for your beloved friend, Francesca.” Clicking his tongue in disappointment, he sighed exasperatedly. “What am I going to do now that my plans have been thwarted? How are you going to compensate me for this, huh?”

“C-Cedric, what are you—”

“Don’t act dense, Reese. Or were you this naïve after all? Such a pity.” He laughed, standing up from his seat as he shot me a condescending smirk. “If it’s not obvious, I have been using you all along.”