13 ANAMNESIS LUKE’S POV The sound of my alarm clock was so loud that it jolted me awake from my slumber. It was nearly 5:00 am. After turning it off, I sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I glanced over at my friend Harriet, still sound asleep and covered in sheets. We had a wild night, and I was sure she was completely exhausted. It took me a few minutes to finally get dressed. I chose a sharp red suit and sprayed on a hint of strawberry cologne. My hair was styled perfectly, and as I looked in the mirror, I knew I was ready for the day’s important meeting. Today, our company was meeting with The Vitality Group to discuss a new project we would be working on together. I had already texted my assistant, Jack, who assured me everything was in order for the meeting. Last night was a nightmare, with those ruthless robbers appearing out of nowhere and wreaking havoc. We were lucky that the police arrived in time to save us, but the memory of the terror still lingered. My grandfather, who was celebrating his birthday, couldn’t shake off the horror of what had happened. It was supposed to be a special day, but it turned into a nightmare. As I made my way downstairs, I saw my cousin Riley watching TV. She was a smart seventeen- year–old, a true genius. She had come to stay with me for the holidays, and it was great having her around. “Riley?” I called out, causing her to quickly turn off the television and pretend to be asleep. I chuckled and walked over to her. “Cut the act; I caught you.” She immediately stopped snoring and sat up on the couch. I sat down next to her. “You’re a crazy girl. Were you really sleeping the whole time?” “Well, I woke up about three hours ago and couldn’t fall back asleep, so I decided to watch some movies.” I let out a sigh. “That reminds me of when I was sixteen. I used to do the same thing until one horror movie scared my buttocks to do since then, me and late–night movies are friends.” not Riley laughed. “Seriously, Luke, you were scared?” I nodded, smiling at the memory. “Yeah, that was the end of my late–night movie marathons.” She laughed again. “I always thought you were fearless.” I chuckled. “Is that so?” She nodded. “Is your girlfriend still here?” “Yes,” I replied, wondering where she was going with this. “Why are you asking?” “I don’t like her,” Riley said bluntly. I was taken aback by her words. “Why not?” “She treats me terribly when you’re not around; she’s like a devil on earth. But when you’re here, she’s one sweet little angel.” I was shocked by this revelation. “Are you sure you’re telling the truth?” “Why would I lie?” Riley looked at me. “She locked me in my room all day yesterday and didn’t let me eat until she left for the birthday party. I have no idea why she hates me so much, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. If this were true, Harriet would have to face the consequences of treating my family badly in her own home. I stood up, taking a deep breath. “I have to go now.” “Where so early?” niley checked her phone. “It’s only 6:00 am.” “I have an important meeting at work today, and I need to get there early.” “Oh, I see. I would love to work at your company someday,” I laughed, patting her shoulder, “Once you finish your studies, you know where to find me.” I smiled and walked away. “Take care, Riley,” “You too,“she waved at me. I smiled back before leaving the house. Four years ago ARIEL’S POV Andre and I sat together at the dinner table, surrounded by silence. I didn’t understand why, but I decided to remain calm and go along with it, refusing to be the first one to break the silence. Andre, engrossed in his fried chicken, furrowed his brows and glanced at my plate of vegetable lasagna. It made me feel a bit uneasy as he continued to give me that strange look. “Can’t you just have some chicken instead of this green mush?” Andre finally broke the silence, teasingly poking at my dish with his fork, Andre was a meat lover, while I preferred vegetarian meals. It had always been a source of playful banter between us, leading to lighthearted arguments, I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, Andre? Are we still doing this now?” He responded in a comical tone, “Doing what exactly?” I sighed deeply and continued eating my meal. “Acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about. He chuckled silently and took a sip of water before continuing his playful banter. “You should try eating meat one day. Trust me, it’s awesome. The taste will blow your mind.” “Nah, you should try some of this lasagna.” I playfully offered him my plate, but he pushed it back toward me. “Thanks, but I’m good,” he said, returning to his fried chicken. After a while, he asked, “Can I ask you something?” I took a sip of water before replying, “What’s that?” “Have you been vegetarian your whole life? Like, since the day you were born? Or did you just wake up one morning and decide to change directions?” I couldn’t help but giggle at his questions. “Why do you want to know?” “I’m just curious,” he replied. “I want to know if being vegetarian is something you’ve done since birth or if there was a specific moment when you made the choice.” I laughed again. “Well, it’s just how I’ve always been. I’ve never liked meat or anything related to it.” “Okay, then, Miss Lasagna. Message received,” he playfully bowed his head. I chuckled. “What are you doing?” “I’m showing you respect because there’s no way–and I mean absolutely no way–I’m going to give up juicy steaks like this.” He held up his fried chicken. “Come on, you should experience the taste of a perfectly cooked steak. Every bite is like heaven.” As Andre continued talking, I suddenly felt discomfort and pain in my stomach. I winced, gripping my belly. Andre immediately paused, noticing my distress. “What’s wrong, Ariel?” NAMNESIS Taking a deep breath, I replied, “I think my water just broke,” “What?” Andre’s eyes widened in shock as he quickly stood up. “But the doctor said your due date was in two weeks!” I nodded, trying to stay calm. “Yes, I know, but it seems like the little one wants to make an early entrance.” I forced a laugh, even though the pain was intensifying. “We need to act quickly,” Andre said, running his hand through his hair. “Just hold on, okay? Let me go upstairs and grab some things for the hospital.” He rushed off. I called my doctor, explaining the situation as best I could, but the contractions were getting stronger and closer together, making it difficult to speak. Andre came rushing downstairs, holding a bag, and helped me up from my seat. We left the house together, and he assisted me into the car. He drove with urgency, heading to the hospital. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine,” Andre reassured me as I focused on my breathing. After what felt like an eternity, we finally arrived at the hospital. The staff quickly took me to a delivery room, and Andre stood outside. / After a few hours of labor, I heard the beautiful sound of babies crying. “Congratulations, Miss. You now have two adorable babies, a boy and a girl,” the doctor said with a joyful smile, as I caught my breath. Tears welled up in my eyes, a mix of happiness and sadness overwhelming me at the moment. Read Complete Chapter Just Click HereThe Love From Vengeance ( Ariel )