TWO WEEKS LATER.

Tristan was sitting, dejectedly opposite Alyssa and Rosalie who were impatiently waiting to hear good news from him.

For two weeks,he had searched,he had even employed private investigators.It was as if Audrey had disappeared into thin air.

"I couldn't find her,Mrs Delucca"

Alyssa's heart fell."Why....I mean what's the problem?Do you need more resources?I can...."

"That's not the problem.Audrey has social phobia, she's scared to mingle with people,so she has no friends,she isn't close to any of her neighbours,no one knows when she left the house,no one knows where she went to.The CCTV footage of her apartment building only caught her leaving hurriedly but never captured her returning."Tristan explained, ruefully.

Tears pooled from Alyssa's eyes."This is all my fault"She murmured.

"Do you think something must've happened to her? Maybe she got hurt or...."

"Mother,calm down"Rosalie said, soothingly.

"I hope she's safe wherever she is"Tristan brought out a recent picture of Audrey and gave it to Alyssa.

The woman wept the more staring at the picture.

"My little girl has grown up.She's so beautiful"

Rosalie scoffed, inwardly.

'I'm prettier than her'She thought, triumphantly.

"Oh Tristan!What should we do? Should we report this to the police?"

"The police sucks at acting quickly.I've got some private investigators who are currently looking for her.These guys are good.We just have to pray for her safety,I will not stop searching for her"Tristan declared.

"I should reward you for..."

"Oh please,Mrs Delucca.I can cover all the expenses.Audrey is important to me too"

Alyssa nodded and stared at the picture with heavy eyes and heart.

'I can't wait to meet you,my dear'She thought,sadly.

Tristan headed to the parking lot.

"Tristan"He heard Rosalie called.

He turned to face her.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if you have seen Nadia, perhaps she has come to visit Dante or is she sick?"

Tristan was well aware that she was Nadia's love-rival, including two other women.

"Miss D'Aquanni is fine.She'll be discharged this week"As soon that slipped out.

Tristan wished he could take it back,the accident was supposed to be kept a secret to prevent scandal but then Rosalie wouldn't do anything to ruin Dante's reputation, right?

"Dios mio!(My God)What happened to her"Rosalie asked, curiously.

"She was involved in an accident but last I heard from Mrs D'Aquanni... she's perfectly okay now.I'd like to get going"With that,he got into his car and drove off.

He had his own problem to handle and he would rather not waste his precious time talking about Nadia.

Selena stood, anxiously as she watched doctor Renzo peel off the bandage from Audrey's face.

She had been sedated for two weeks so that she wouldn't wake up and ruin the procedures.

Selena gasped on seeing the girl's face.

It was as if she was seeing Nadia.

Audrey stared at Doctor Renzo then at Selena.

"Who are you?"

Selena cleared her throat.

"I'm your mother, Selena D'Aquanni"

Audrey was totally confused,it was as if her brain was empty.

"I can't remember you"She choked out.

Renzo walked closer to her."You can't remember anything,even your name.You were involved in a terrible car accident and you have amnesia"He explained.

Selena sat on the bed and held her hands.

"You're Nadia D'Aquanni.Everything's okay now,honey.And for your lost of memory...you don't have to worry.I'll be with you and guide you every step of the way"Selena said,sweetly.

Audrey sighed.Why does this feel so wrong?

Everything Selena was saying to her felt so strange.

She looked sideways and saw her reflection on the glass window.

'Wow, I'm so beautiful.Why does being this beautiful seem so foreign to me'She thought.

Selena placed her hand on Audrey's cheeks.

"My dear. I know things might seem so strange to you.It's normal, okay?You have no memory of your past,you don't know how much it hurts me that you don't even remember me or your late father,but I don't want you to desperately try and remember, okay?The doctor said it's bad for your health.You might remember everything someday.For now, don't make me sad,huh.I love you,honey"She said with tears filled eyes.

Audrey grinned,touched by her kindness.

"I love you too, mother"

Selena hugged her and smiled triumphantly.

Now,no one would ever replace Nadia.

A substitute fiancee is on the way!

Dante walked into the hospital.

He wasn't here to rejoice with her because she had woken up.He was here to berate her ass.

Audrey heard a sound from the door,she looked up to see a man walking into the room.

A lump formed in her throat as her eyes widened.

Dark hair,olive skin, covering high cheekbones and a strong jaw.

Dangerous,gray eyes seemingly staring into her soul.This man was the definition of intimidating.

Aside from the fact that he was incredibly scary.He was insanely attractive.

In a tuxedo, white shirt open and bow tie hanging rakishly undone,with a potent aura of raw sexuality surrounding him.

His hands were thrust deep into the pockets of his expertly tailored black trousers.

"Bravo,Nadia! Driving while drunk?How great of you"He began, sarcastically.

She swallowed,she didn't like this man...he was making her feel so scared.

He walked towards the window, gracefully.

"As if cheating wasn't enough.You had to get into a fucking accident.Imagine if this had gotten to the news.'Dante Baroncini's fiancee is a worthless drunk'...I think that would made a perfect headline or 'The Baroncini has poor taste in women'...And worse...my father wouldn't blame you but me.He'd say I'm not dominating you enough.Seriously? What's your problem?Do you have any idea how delicate my reputation is?"He asked but she didn't reply.

She was staring at the door, waiting for him to use it.

"You're lucky you survived, it'd have made me free from you if you'd died anyway"

Now,she was freaking out.This man was a demon.

"Who are you?"She asked,so quietly that he had to strain to hear.

Dante scoffed."Now, you're trying to pretend as if you don't know me!"He thundered.

Tears threatened to fall from her eyes,her lips quivering in fear.

"Ca....can you please leave?"She bit out.

He turned to face her.

She could feel his cold icy gray eyes piercing through her soul.

"How dare you ask me to leave?"He barked and moved closer to her.

He gripped her hand.

"You ain't even feeling guilty for your actions!"He yelled.

Unbidden and unwelcomed tears pooled from her eyes then rolled down her cheeks in thick sheet.

Dante frowned."Stop crying!"He ordered but it as if that only increased the volume of her cries.

He was a little startled to see her tears.No matter how much he insulted Nadia,she never cried.Instead,she would talk back at him and that only made him want to berate her more but the Nadia in front of him was practically wailing.

One would think he had hurt her physically.

"What's wrong with you,I said stop crying!"

But the the wailing continued.

Selena burst into the room.

"What's going on,Dante?Did you hurt her?"She asked, alarmed.

Dante stepped away from Audrey.

"I didn't"He replied, nonchalantly.

Selena sat on the bed,pulled Audrey into her arms,she started stroking her hair and murmuring soothing words to her.

"Dante,you should understand that she's very sensitive right now and she has amnesia"Selena said.

Dante's lips firmed.Oh!He had thought she was pretending.

"When will she be discharged?"He asked.

"Tomorrow"Selena replied.

"I'll be mindful of what I say to her then since she has not fully recovered.... mentally.Take good care of her, Selena...for me"He said as if he cared.

"I will, Dante.Thanks for visiting"

He nodded curtly, glanced at Nadia then walked out of the room.

As soon as he got to the hallway,he exclaimed.

"Che due balle!(what a pain in the ass)"

Soon,Audrey sobered up.

"Who is he?"She asked, moving free from Selena's hold.

"Dante Baroncini...your fiance"Selena announced.

Audrey's jaw dropped."Why....why is he my fiance? I don't like him"She stuttered.

Selena held her hands.

"Oh shush, honey.You love him.Maybe he just got angry about the accident.He's a very good man.Don't worry,with time, you'll get used to your life again"Selena assured.

Audrey released a breath that she had been holding.

Why does everything feel so bizarre?

Jerome walked into the living room and picked up his cellphone which had been ringing.

"Ciao,Boss"

"You incompetent fool!"A voice roared at the other end of the call.

"What....."

"Nadia's alive and just so you know... she's going to get discharged tomorrow"

Jerome's eyes widened.How could anyone survive that accident?

"It can't be...."

"It's the reality.This was the fucking perfect time to end her life,everyone would have thought that it was her fault."

Jerome sighed."Do you want me to...."

"Just lay low for a while,we wouldn't want to raise any suspicion that someone is after her life"

"Alright"

Jerome ran a hand through his hair and exhaled loudly.Nadia D'Aquanni survived.

"Unbelievable!"

Audrey stared at her home.

Why does it feel quite unnerving that she was wealthy?

She stared at the different maids and guards walking about....taking orders from Selena and Ruggiero.

Selena led her to her bedroom.

"Would you like to live with me or go back to your apartment?"Selena asked.

Maybe she might find something familiar in her apartment.Something to make her feel like she belonged here.

"I'd like to go back to my apartment"She replied and sat on the bed.

Selena shrugged,she could always have Ruggiero monitor her as usual.

"Ruggiero will take you back to your apartment.You have a shoot the day after tomorrow, don't worry, It's for Dante's cream company so he'll have someone pick you from your apartment"

"A shoot?"Audrey asked, confused.

"Yes.You're a model"

Audrey surpressed her lips in a tight line.

Another strange discovery.

"And every weekend,you should always visit Dante at his home"

Her eyes widened.That frosty man!

"Do I really have to visit him? I don't...."

Selena held her hand and smiled sweetly at her.

"Dante is yours, forever.You would get used to your relationship with him but don't annoy him.Always be submissive.If not...we could lose everything we have...we could be penniless....and I would be devastated,you wouldn't want to make me unhappy, would you?"

Audrey could sense a hint of anger from her voice so she shook her head.

Selena rubbed her hair,tenderly.

"Good girl"

A knock sounded from the door.

"Come in"Selena instructed.

Ruggiero walked in.

"Miss D'Aquanni,you have a gift from Sir Dante"He announced.

"Awwn,how sweet of him."Selena cooed."C'mon,go and see what he has for you"She urged.

Reluctantly,Audrey stood up and walked out of the room then down the stairs.

She was glad when she saw another man waiting for her downstairs and not the demon.

Tristan turned around to face her.

"Sir Dante is busy,he sent me to give you these on your quick recovery"He stretched out a bouquet of flowers and a parcel.

Audrey stared at his face....

Finally!

Someone looks familiar.

But who is he?