Chapter 19

“DON’T YOU like the phone that daddy gave to you, mommy?” Billie asked her shyly as she served her tea on the porcelain teacups toys. “You used to like everything that daddy bought for you.”

From the porcelain wares, Casey looked at the little girl. “I wish I could remember anything that I like before so that I’ll know when and what to react to anything that he did for me…” she said, speaking what’s really on her mind. “But I don’t know what I am before.”

Casey couldn’t erase in her thoughts the words that Alexander told her earlier. She didn’t know that the man is watching her and Billie playing the tea party because she thought he left them in the garden. But what most bothers Casey is what she saw in his eyes. He’s looking at her knowingly as if he can see her soul and what she really is.

Does he know? She asked as she tried to remember everything that happened between them. She tried to recall if the man has acted strangely whenever they’re together or if he’s looking at her questioningly. Casey leaned on her seat and sighed.

“He was always looking at me as if I’m a different person, and that is because I acted differently. But it was already justified because of my head trauma…” she murmured unwarily, “because I have amnesia.”

Billie poured tea on her cup, but because her hands were small. The kettle’s handle slipped, pouring the tea on the table instead to the cup. “I’m sorry, mommy…” She apologized and leapt from her seat to wipe her lap. “I didn’t mean to pour tea on you—”

“Baby, it’s okay,” Casey said and caught Billie’s hand that was about to wipe her lap. “It’s okay, sweetie.” She smiled. “I’ll take care of it.” She then took the towel from her hand and wiped the table. “Thanks for your effort in serving my tea, anyway.”

“Before, every time that I make a mistake like this, you will shout at me and tell me that I am stupid…” Billie told her with trembling lips. “Please, mommy… Don’t come back to what you are before… Please, stay like this?”

Casey looked at the little girl and once again felt her heart being squeezed tightly. “I promise, Billie… I will stay like this forever.”

“Oh, so here you are, Amara.” Alexander’s stepmother appeared in the doorway and called their attention. “I didn’t know that you like tea parties…”

Casey smiled at the woman. “I didn’t know too,” she said, trying her best not to sound sarcastic. She’s starting to hate this woman, not because of how she talked to her as Amara but also because of Billie’s cold treatment. “My daughter and I are having a small talk. Catching up and trying to remember the important things that I forgot.”

“Really?” The woman stood beside Billie. “What happened to your skirt?” she asked, then looked at Billie. “Did this girl poured tea to you?”

“She has a name,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “As far as I can remember, you introduce yourself to me as Alexander’s mom, then how come that you don’t know our daughter’s name?”

The woman’s brows slightly furrowed. “It’s because you never let her sit with us, Amara.” She touched Billie’s shoulders. Casey noticed the child’s reactions. She’s scared and uncomfortable with the woman’s actions. “And, you never play with her. Never.”

Casey swallowed hard. Why is this woman looking at her as if they shared something that’s not meant to tell? Was it a secret? She asked in her mind, then remembered the microSD card that she found in Amara’s room. Maybe this woman and Amara have plans… But what are those?

“Are you having fun with your mom, Billie?” the woman asked the child. She even leaned down to her to see her reaction. “Why are you looking away—”

“Stop it,” she told her. “Can’t you see? She’s uncomfortable with your presence.”

The woman stood straight and looked at her with an arched brow. “Do you know my name now, Amara? It looks like that you’re coming back to your old self.”

“Let’s not talk about that in front of my child, Esperanza,” she said and clenched her jaw. “We can talk about that at your most convenient time.” She glanced at her fabulous attire, and added, “I can see that you’re off to somewhere.”

The woman smiled. “I have a meeting with some of the investors. I’m preparing something for you,” she said, then turned her back at them.

As soon as the woman disappeared in her view, Casey blew her breath. She thanked Thelma in her mind for this intense moment because she’s the one that gave her all the names of people living in the hacienda.

First, Alexander’s sister, Georgia, that Casey thought was a lesbian and Amara was having an affair with her. Still, it turned out that the girl was just picking on her because she knew that she lost her memories. Thelma told her that the girl was a spoiled brat and never talked to her before because of specific reasons. Well, Casey guessed that she already knew what her reasons are.

Second, Alexander’s stepmother, Esperanza. According to Thelma, the woman was always having a conversation with her in the drawing-room. And, she also said that she and Amara were very close. Thelma’s knowledge about the woman was limited because she was secretive. That makes the woman be next on Casey’s list of targets.

But for now, she has to focus on something that Amara and the step-mom knew. She paused, the microSD… But, how am I going to open it? “The cell phone from Alexander…”

After sending Billie to her room, Casey decided to talk to Alexander. She went inside her room and looked at the adjoining door beside her bed. This is the first time that she will attempt to enter his space.

She swallowed hard. “Will he get mad at me for going into his room unannounced?” She shook her head. “I am his wife. I have all the right to see his room,” she said and pushed open the door.

But the man wasn’t there. The room was just a plain square, with a queen-size bed, large cabinet, study table, couched, and lamp. Casey’s brows furrowed. She didn’t expect it to be this plain and the total opposite of Amara’s luxurious room.

“Where is he?” she asked as she roamed her eyes around the room. “And, where did he put the phone?”

Casey decided to go outside and looked for him. She badly needed a phone now to advance on her plans. She’s been in the hacienda for almost two months now. However, the information that she has gathered is still not enough to destroy the winery… She paused. Does she really want to destroy the winery?

No, she replied in her mind. What I wanted to destroy are the termites that have dark plans for the winery. Whoever they are, Casey will find it out.

“You’re looking for Sir Alexander, Miss Amara?” Aura asked. She didn’t notice her standing outside her room.

“How did you know?” she asked, confused.

Aura smiled. “You went out in Sir Alexander’s room,” she said and suppressed a laugh.

“Oh, right,” she said and felt embarrassed. She didn’t notice that instead of going back into her room, she went out straight to Alexander’s door. “He’s not here…”

“I saw him going to the tasting room,” Aura told her. “It’s in the basement.”

“Thanks. I was also about to ask where it was,” she said and went down the stairs.

The tasting room was located in the basement. The narrow staircase behind the living room was its entrance. As soon as Casey reached the door, her chest started to hammer. Still, she didn’t waste any time and knocked on the wooden door. When no one answered, she pushed it opened.

“What do you need?” Alexander’s cold voice welcomed her. The man was standing behind the bar with multiple wine bottles on the counter. “You don’t like the smell of the wine cellar.”

Casey stepped inside the room. Her nostrils got filled with the pungent smells of fine wines. She looked around and was impressed by the interior. But she doesn’t have time to admire the place. She needed the phone now. She wanted to slap herself for refusing it a while ago.

“I-I wanted to apologize to what I said to you a while ago…” she said, trying her best to sound sincere. “And, I really wanted the phone… You haven’t dumped it, right?”

***