Suspicion and Secret

While Silas pursued his studies in the college of science, he managed to raise enough money to enroll Steve in school at the age of seven. Initially, his late enrollment drew mockery, but fate had other plans. With the endless support of his wife, Silas was able to create an AI phone that lifted them out of poverty. Ellen was grateful for her chance encounter with Silas on the subway, and Silas was grateful for her contribution to his success. Soon after their first taste of success as a couple, Silas graduated and landed prestigious positions, building high-tech technology for various companies.

Silas sat silently in his car, reminiscing about how it all began. He started the engine and decided to head back home. Upon arriving, he walked up to his wife and embraced her tightly, shedding tears of gratitude on her shoulder. He thanked her late father for passing away and bringing his daughter into his life.

As the day drew to a close, Lara’s exceptional talent in the academy performance and her newfound passion for drawing and painting had left the entire class in awe. With a sense of accomplishment, Lara walked out of the school and made her way to the familiar spot under the tree, where she found solace, gazing at the beauty of the sky. It was there that Steve, with a mix of nervousness and admiration, approached her.

Lara sensed his presence and fixed her eyes on him, waiting for him to speak. Steve found himself captivated by the beauty of her eyes and couldn’t help but utter the words that slipped from his lips, “Your eyes are a guiding light for me.”

Caught off guard by his statement, Lara burst into laughter, unable to contain her amusement. Steve, uncertain if she was laughing at him, felt a pang of embarrassment. He stood there silently, admiring her infectious laughter and her stunning presence. Lara, realizing his concern, quickly composed herself and smiled at him.

“If my eyes are a guiding light for you, then what leads the way to your heart?” Lara playfully questioned.

“It’s your heart,” Steve replied without hesitation.

“But you hardly know anything about me,” Lara pointed out.

“Give me a chance to get to know you, or else I’ll have sleepless nights if you walk away again,” Steve confessed earnestly.

Lara, pleased to hear the truth from his lips, acknowledged his sincerity. “My guess is you didn’t sleep much last night,” she said, subtly referring to the thoughts she had overheard about him not being able to sleep if she didn’t spend the afternoon with him.

“Almost. My father intervened,” Steve revealed.

Lara’s heart warmed upon hearing his honesty, realizing he wasn’t simply making excuses. “Your father, the multimillionaire,” she said, acknowledging her awareness of his background.

“I see you’ve done your homework on me,” Steve remarked with a smile. “But I don’t know anything about you,” he added.

“Wait here for me. I’ll be right back,” Lara said determinedly.

Lara left Steve under the tree for the second time, but this time, she had a purpose. She sought out Collins and Jane, who happened to be engaged in conversation with their friends. Approaching Collins, Lara communicated her intention to stay back instead of going home with them. Though surprised, Collins understood and gave her a reassuring nod, indicating that they would expect her later in the day. Lara returned to the tree, where Steve patiently awaited her arrival.

“Apologies for the wait,” Lara said, breathless.

“I should be grateful you didn’t come back to tell me you couldn’t spend the day with me,” Steve responded, relieved.

Lara reassured him with a smile. “I will spend the day with you,” she affirmed.

Excitement coursed through their veins as they spent the day chatting and getting to know each other better. Steve made several attempts to buy snacks and soft drinks for Lara, hoping to please her, but each time she politely declined, claiming she wasn’t hungry. Steve was filled with excitement as Lara had chosen to stay back and spend more time with him. Eager to learn more about her, he began asking personal questions. However, Lara skillfully evaded some of his inquiries, attributing it to her lost memory. She deliberately concealed the truth about her past, wanting to keep her true nature a secret.

Amidst the jubilant atmosphere, Lara discovered that Steve was genuinely fascinating and the kind of person she wanted in her life. She admired his composure and was glad that he didn’t feel the need to rush into physical intimacy. Lost in the moment of their captivating conversation, Steve once again forgot his car at school as he accompanied Lara on their walk to her home.

Upon reaching her house, Lara bid Steve farewell with a warm smile of acceptance. Steve, confident that he had managed to win Lara’s favor, happily bounded back home. As he jumped with joy, his mind replayed the delightful hour he had spent with her. When he arrived home, his mother once again noticed his car missing and saw the excitement on his face.

“Let me guess, you’ve been daydreaming again,” Ellen remarked.

“No, Mom, this time we actually had a long conversation, and I even walked her home,” Steve replied, brimming with happiness.

“I’m glad you’ve found such joy in this young lady, but you mustn’t forget about your responsibilities, including your car,” Ellen advised.

“Mom, when I’m with her, I forget that I’m the son of a famous and wealthy billionaire,” Steve confessed.

“Well, why don’t you invite this girl who seems to make you so elated to dinner? I’d love to get to know her and understand what makes her special,” Ellen suggested.

“Sure, Mom, I will,” Steve agreed.

He affectionately kissed his mother on the cheek and made his way to his room. As Ellen reminisced about how she had met Silas and how a night of solace had led to the existence of their son, she couldn’t help but smile. She was delighted that her son had finally found the love he was meant to have, someone who made him forget about his family’s wealth. Unlike the previous people he had dated, who were drawn to his family’s fortune, this new woman seemed to be genuinely interested in him. Ellen felt a surge of excitement for her son, believing that fate had played a significant role in bringing this lady into his life, just as fate had brought Silas to her. With a smile still adorning her face, she returned to the kitchen to finish preparing the meal for lunch.

After bidding farewell to Steve, Lara entered the house with a smile on her face. Max and his family were already seated, enjoying their lunch when she walked in.

“Who was that you came home with?” Max asked curiously.

“That was Steve, the guy from school I mentioned yesterday,” Lara replied.

“Oh, so he followed you home? That’s sweet of him,” Stella remarked.

“Mum, you never smiled at me when my ex brought me home,” Jane chimed in.

“Well, that’s because I didn’t like him,” Stella explained.

“Ladies, enough talk about exes and new guys. Lara, come join us. You came just in time,” Max interjected, trying to change the subject.

As Lara approached the dinner table and sat down, she couldn’t help but notice Collins, who seemed to be ignoring her presence. He avoided eye contact and remained silent. Sensing Lara’s curiosity, Jane decided to speak up for her brother.

“Don’t worry about him, Lara. Sometimes he’s just like that,” Jane assured her.

Lara turned her attention to the meal before her, serving herself and beginning to eat. Collins occasionally glanced at her, only to avert his gaze when she caught him looking. Once she finished eating, Lara excused herself to take a bath. As she was bathing, she heard her father’s voice calling out to her.

“Lara,” Arthur called.

Quickly covering herself with a towel, Lara exited the bathroom, leaving the shower running. She walked to the mirror in her room, which suddenly emitted a bright light. In the mirror, she saw her father and mother seated happily on their thrones.

“Father, Mother, I’m glad to hear from you,” Lara greeted them with joy.

“My child, how are you faring in the world of mortals? Have you found true love yet? I miss you and long for your return,” Zara, her mother, asked.

“Yes, Mother, I have found the one whose heart desires me,” Lara replied.

“Then what are you waiting for? Kiss him and break the curse,” Zara urged her.

“Mother, I would do that if only I could figure out how to break his own curse,” Lara explained.

Interrupting the conversation, King Arthur inquired about the curse Lara spoke of.

“What curse are you referring to, Lara, my daughter?” Arthur asked with concern.

“Father, he is the son of a wealthy man here on Earth, and I’ve been told that every lady desires him, just as every man and god desires me in our world,” Lara explained.

Upon hearing this, King Arthur burst into laughter. “Lara, that’s not a curse; it’s a blessing. The people of the world you reside in are drawn to riches, so it’s only natural for them to desire him,” he explained before the door to Lara’s room suddenly swung open.

Startled, Lara turned towards the door, her parents had quickly closed the communication portal. Her heart raced with fear that the conversation she had just had might have been overheard. She anxiously watched as Stella walked into the room.

“I’m sorry for startling you. I heard the shower running and you talking to someone, so I had to come in to make sure you’re okay,” Stella said, trying to justify her intrusion.

“I’m okay,” Lara assured her, giving Stella an honest look. Stella walked to the bathroom and turned off the running water. However, she couldn’t shake off her disbelief. Jane had mentioned Lara talking to herself before, and now Stella had heard it firsthand. Additionally, Stella had seen Lara’s artwork, which depicted a supernatural realm, further fueling her concerns about Lara’s mental state. Stella made up her mind to get a Doctor to check on Lara’s well-being, worried that she might have some underlying issues.

Little did Stella know that Lara possessed extraordinary abilities and could hear the thoughts of mortals. Lara, aware of Stella’s suspicions, knew she was getting closer to discovering her true identity. She resolved to use her powers if the need arose, ensuring her secret remained hidden for now.