Chapter 7

VII. Farewell.

. . . . .

Days passed in a blur, each one filled with meticulous preparations for the upcoming ceremonial event that would mark my official introduction to the mafias and the influential figures within our organization.

On that day, I would be recognized as the official heir. The event promised to be grand, with every detail scrutinized to ensure it reflected the power and prestige of our family.

Invitations had been sent out to other bosses, each one a carefully crafted message that demanded their presence alongside their trusted assistants.

Weapons are strictly not allowed.

Even I, am displeased about such rule but I do understand that it's for everyone's safety.

Who knows though.

No one can predict everything after all. On top of that, the event will be filled of bosses belonging in separate factions.

Assassinations are inevitable, especially during events like this, which is why security is five times tighter this time. The stakes are high, and the presence of influential figures from various mafias necessitates an environment where threats are mitigated as much as possible.

I'm currently sprawled out on the bed, scrolling through the blogs and reading the threads posted by my past associates and acquaintances. I heed them no mind. After all, the person they knew are no longer existing. The moment Lucia stepped out of Singapore, she ceased to exist.

One last look and one last conversation with everyone I knew. That's what I did before I started removing everything on my timeline.

'It was about time I left them.'

I couldn't be bothered to feel sad.

Our friendships were all fake, everything was fake.

I could care less if they felt abandoned. All they needed to know was that 'Lucia' no longer wanted anything to do with them.

Few more taps on my screen, typing my password on it, and. . . confirm. My accounts are now due to be completely deleted in 30 days.

I let out a long breath and placed my phone down, staring at the white ceiling of my room, deep in thought. 'Three days from now, the event will take place. It had been two weeks since the incident at the manor, and the Dimitri's had yet made any actions against us Viviana's.'

I don't know anymore.

I'm no longer certain.

Beep beep. My phone automatically lit up as it vibrated, indicating that someone had sent me a message. I can only stare, I did not pick it up. I already know what the contents of it.

After all, it has been days since I've been receiving creepy texts from someone.

Minutes later, I sat up from my bed and held my phone. Reading the message, I can only sigh in exasperation.

It read, 'What got you so gloomy darling?'

I shut my phone off after reading that abhorrent message. It makes me feel nauseous.

Isn't it great? I have a fucking stalker. The irony is almost laughable—my room doesn't have any surveillance cameras, yet somehow, this person seems to know everything I do. I'm puzzled about how my stalker is able to gather such intimate details about my life.

Eventually, after a week or so-so, I had given up and can only act unhinge about this. Despite feeling bothered about the fact I'm being watched. I was able to appear calm.

Which got even worse.

The stalker resorted to name calling. Knowing that a scowl was plastered on my face every time I read such messages.

I can't help but react in such a way.

Name-callings disgusts me.

Plus, we're not even that close or in any type of relationship for that annoying stalker to refer to me as darling, honey, sweetie, sweetheart and so on so forth.

It's not fun.

I held up my right hand and bended my fingers to show him my middle finger before I plumped down on my bed again. Fuck off, stalker.

I remained unmoving and dazed.

Knock knock.

"Ah." I could do nothing but stare blankly at the door as it swung open. The figure who appeared was Lorenzo. Just as I expected. He is the only one I would tolerate in this space, even though he entered without permission.

"What?" I muttered in a husky tone, my throat feeling dry from lack of water or food. I felt too emotionally empty to even bother with pleasantries.

Lorenzo's eyes looked at me with worry, and I slowly sat back up, blankly staring at him.

"Sister. . ." he murmured, closing the door behind him before slowly walking toward me.

"What?" I repeated, my voice still husky and tinged with irritation.

I could hear him sigh deeply, a sound heavy with unspoken thoughts. He sat down on the corner of my bed with a soft bounce, the mattress rippling outward from the impact. "Well. . . I—" He lowered his head, clearly struggling to find the right words.

"Well, what?"

"I just want to make sure. . ." He murmured in a whisper.

"I don't have all day, Lorenzo." I grumbled darkly, narrowing my eyes at him. My patience was thin today, and for some unknown reason, I felt unusually moody.

Which was concerning.

Lorenzo bit his lip in anxiousness. "Well, I just want to make sure that you want this sister. . ."

I raised my right brow and looked at him incredulously. "Be more specific." I ordered. "Make sure that I want what?"

He finally answered, "Being the heir."

I flopped back onto the bed, shut my eyes, and simply responded, "Yes, it became my responsibility the moment I was born." Peeking through one eye, I gave him a brief look. "Why? Do you wish to be the heir?"

My tone was earnest, serious. If he desired it, I would relinquish the title and carry on with the plans I had formulated weeks prior.

Almost immediately, he answered emphatically, "No!" Then, catching himself raising his voice, he feigned a cough. His tone softened, returning to its usual gentleness. "I mean, no, sister. . ." he amended, prompting me to scoff.

He truly never fails to make me smile.

I closed my eyes again and muttered, "Very well, then what brings you here?"

"Well. . . I just want to thank you. . ." He murmured in a low voice, but it was enough for me to hear.

"What for?"

"For setting me free." He had an idiotic smile on his face as he said those words.

For a moment, my heart ceased to beat as the realization dawned on me. 'After all these years. . . My brother was compelled to assume the pretense of an heir, bearing burdens in my place. . .' My heart tightened, I felt a pang of hurt for him. 'How could I have been so self-centered? I took him for granted.' Rising swiftly, I enveloped him in a warm embrace, feeling the weight of my emotions crash over me like a tidal wave. Tears streaked down my face as I clung to him, overwhelmed by the depth of my feelings.

"I'm sorry. . ." I whispered, my voice heavy with sorrow. "I'm sorry for all you've endured because of me. . ." I continued to murmur apologies into his ear, though I knew no amount of them could erase the pain he had borne.

The threats he faced, the pressures, and the expectations one has of an heir. All could have been avoided if I had been acknowledged as the heir first. But they insisted on concealing me all those years.

He suffered on my account.

While I lived freely in another country, he remained bound here. And yet, he bore no resentment towards me.

"Oh Lorenzo, I'm sorry. . . I should've known. . ."

He chuckled, "Sister, it's okay... I told you, you've set me free. You kept your promise." He gently pushed me back and reached for his handkerchief, dabbing at my tears. "You said it yourself. The past stays in the past, the present is what counts." He flashed a cheeky grin.

Despite my sadness, I giggled, "I didn't say those words just for you to throw them back at me."

"Too bad. It's your word against your own, sister." he replied with a hint of arrogance.

I hummed in acknowledgment. "Mhm." Really, how could I argue with that? "But honestly, what's with all the sudden thank-yous?" I inquired, looking at him with suspicion.

He offered an apologetic smile and said, "I'm moving out, sister."

Oh.

"Don't worry, I'll still keep in touch with you and father," he assured me, but I remained motionless in shock. "Father said it's my time to see the world. Can I have your blessing too?" His adorable brown eyes pleaded with me.

I could only nod slowly, returning to the present moment. "Oh! Y-yes, of c-course. Y-you should do what you feel is right. . ." I managed to stammer out.

I must admit, the thought of him leaving hadn't crossed my mind. But he's grown now, surely able to make wise decisions on his own. All I need to do is support him in whatever he does, and if things go awry, perhaps then a scolding might be in order.

I smiled warmly and patted him on the head. "It's high time for you to do this. Don't fret over me. And thank you for being the heir during the years I was absent. You're brave."

Lorenzo's smile broadened, beaming at me. "Thank you, I love you, sister!" he said softly.

Aww. . . "Love you too," was all I could respond with.

He hugged me for the last time. As he pulled away, I felt a pang of sadness at the thought of him leaving. But I understood that he had his own responsibilities to attend to. The maid's call echoed from the hallway, reminding him of the time. His transportation awaited downstairs, necessitating his immediate departure.

I chose not to accompany him to bid adieu. Instead, I stayed within the confines of my room, observing from my balcony the black Porsche as it departed through the manor's gates.

A silent goodbye gesture filled the air, my hand waving with a wish for my younger brother's adventure to be full of happiness. 'May the world grant him its finest blessings.' I whispered, fingers clasped in silent prayer.

My eyes lingered on the vehicle as it faded into the distance, which became a blur the farther it got.

'I am not engulfed by sorrow,' I reassured myself, dabbing at my cheeks. 'No, I am not sad. . .' This mantra served as my solace.

Telling lies.

When the car was no longer in sight, I turned my back and went straight to my bed.

Not sure what I'm feeling anymore.

Am I sad? Disappointed?

Or pissed because my phone once again lit up. Turning it on, there's a floating notification that says, 'Awe don't be too sad darling.'

Feeling pissed now, I furiously tapped on the screen, deciding that I should reply. 'What the fuck do you want? Leave me alone.'

I blocked multiple phone numbers but this stalker of mine just kept coming back with a new one. I even changed my own number but they're still able to get their hands on it. Just, who even are they?

'You.' They sent me that and again, I blocked the stalker's phone number.

Maybe I should consider moving out of this room now. Thinking about it, 3 days from now I can move to another quarters.'

I eyed my phone.

That stalker will need to make changes to set up everything to continue their stalking.

I once caught the house surveillance moving on its own despite it being set to static. I deemed the stalker as a very talented hacker because of that.

Putting the pieces together, I only have two possibilities about who might be the stalker. Dakari Dimitri or an obsessed fan of mine when I was still under the guise of Lucia.

Human capabilities are not one to underestimate after all. Especially when I'm dealing with those lunatics.

Now that my younger brother left the manor, other mafias might 'test' me to see if I'm an easy target.

I do not have the motivation to even bother showing off my capabilities to them. For me, they are not worth it. Let them think whatever they want. I do not give a damn. "Fuck it, what am I doing with my life?" I rolled my eyes, truly, is this the life I want? It has the thrills and everything I needed just to have a life full of drama.

Ding. Beep Beep. My phone lit up as it vibrated.

I already know who that is. I venomously glared at it as if it was the vilest thing in existence. "FUCKING HELL LEAVE ME ALONE!!"