Chapter 11 The fear of forgetting
Flora
"I'm Flora," I whispered to my reflection. But the words felt weaker now.
"I'm Flora Rossi. I am twenty-three years old. My mother was Maria. My father was Antonio. I wanted to be a ballet dancer."
I kept whispering my own history like a prayer. But the stranger in the mirror just stared back with dead green eyes.
And I realized with growing horror that maybe Rafael was right.
Maybe if he kept this up long enough, Flora would disappear.
And all that would be left was Eva's ghost wearing my skin.
The thought terrified me more than anything else.
Because what scared me most wasn't dying.
It was forgetting I'd ever lived.
Rafael
I drove to Isabella's house with my jaw clenched the entire way. I didn't want to go. I had better things to do.
But Marco had insisted. "Boss, you need to go. Isabella won't stop calling. She'll only get more suspicious if you keep avoiding her."
So here I was. Pulling up to Isabella's estate on the north side of the city.
She was waiting at the door when I arrived. Her arms were crossed. And her face was cold as usual.
"You're late."
"I'm busy."
"Too busy for family?" She stepped aside to let me in.
I followed her into her study.
Everything was pristine and organized. Just like Isabella. Always in control.
She poured two glasses of wine and handed me one. I didn't drink it.
"So," she said, sitting across from me. "Are you going to tell me what you're planning with that girl?"
"Her name is Eva."
"Her name is Flora Rossi. I did research. She's an orphan who works at a café with no criminal record and no connection to our world at all."
"She's Eva."
Isabella's eyes narrowed. "Have you done a proper background check? A real one? DNA tests? Anything to verify who she actually is?"
"I know who she is."
"Do you?" Isabella leaned forward. "Because I've been thinking. What if she's related to Eva? That would explain the resemblance."
"Eva didn't have any siblings. Her parents died when she was young."
"That you knew of." Isabella set down her glass. "But what if there was family Eva didn't know about? What if this girl is actually Eva's cousin or niece?"
"She's not."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I feel it!" My voice rose. "When I look at her, I see Eva. When she moves, it's Eva. When she speaks, even in that wrong voice, it's Eva underneath."
Isabella was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke, her voice was soft but firm. "Something doesn't feel right about this girl, Rafael. I can't explain it. But my instincts are telling me she's dangerous."
"Dangerous? She's locked in a room. She doesn't even look like she can hurt a fly." I said, crossing my legs.
"That's not what I mean." Isabella stood and walked to the window. "I mean dangerous to you. To your life."
"I don't have a life anymore. I died with Eva five years ago."
"Exactly my point." She turned to face me. "You're already dead inside. And this obsession is just you trying to resurrect something that can't be brought back."
"Stay away from her," I said coldly. "This is none of your business."
"None of my business?" Isabella's voice rose with anger. "I loved Eva too! She was like a sister to me! And I won't allow some imposter to just walk into our lives and pretend to be her!"
"She's not an imposter. She is Eva!" I thundered.
"No, she's not!" Isabella slammed her hand on the desk. "Eva is dead! She's been dead for five years! And no amount of dyeing some poor girl's hair or forcing her to wear Eva's clothes will change that!"
I stood up, my hands clenched into fists. "I didn't come here to be lectured."
"Then why did you come?"
"Because Marco said you wouldn't stop calling. But I'm done now. Stay away from my house. Stay away from Eva. Or I'll consider you an enemy."
"An enemy?" Isabella laughed bitterly. "I'm trying to save you, Rafael."
"I don't need saving."
"Yes, you do. But you're too far gone to see it."
I walked to the door. "Goodbye, Isabella."
I left slamming her door shut.
The drive back to my estate felt longer than usual. Isabella's words kept echoing in my head. Imposter? Dangerous?
No. She was wrong. She didn't understand. She couldn't understand.
Eva came back to me. And I would do whatever it took to help her remember.
When I arrived home, Marco was waiting.
"How did it go?"
"Terribly. Where is Eva?"
"She's sleeping, boss. She was exhausted after today's training."
"Good. She needs rest."
I went to my office and poured myself a drink. Just one. I needed to stay clear-headed.
But one drink became two. Then three.
I kept seeing Flora's face. The hatred in those green eyes. The way she flinched when I touched her.
Eva never flinched from me. Eva loved my touch.
So why did this version of her look at me like I was a monster?
Because she doesn't remember yet, I told myself. Once she fully becomes Eva again, she'll love me like before.
Hours passed. The sun set. Night fell.
I couldn't wait anymore. I needed to see her. I had missed my wife.
I stood and walked towards the east wing.
Marco tried to stop me. "She's sleeping. You'll be intruding."
"I don't care."
I pushed past him and walked to her door. The guards stepped aside.
I didn't bother knocking.
I swung the door open.
And froze.
Flora was standing in the middle of the room wearing only a towel. Her black hair was wet, flowing down her neck to her back. Water droplets clung to her skin, making it shine under the dim light.
She was swaying slightly, humming a song. Some melody I didn't recognize. She looked peaceful and breathtaking.
Just like Eva used to look after her evening baths.
I swallowed hard, my eyes traveled from her bare legs up to her shoulders. The resemblance was perfect now. With the black hair and the way she moved, she was exactly Eva.
No more doubt existed in my heart. No more guilt. This was Eva. And no one would tell me otherwise.
Flora turned and saw me. Her eyes went wide with shock. She froze completely.
"Don't you knock!" She screamed, clutching the towel tighter.
I walked in slowly, still amazed by what I was seeing. When was the last time I saw Eva like this? Fresh from the bath with glowing skin and wet hair?
"I missed you," I whispered, walking closer.
She stepped back. "Stay away from me."
The Eva I knew would have rushed into my arms. But this one was running away.
What could I do to make this girl comply? To make her stop fighting and just accept who she was?
She kept backing away until her back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to run.
I looked down at her. Fear filled those green eyes. Real, genuine fear.