I had to admit that my move was rather childish, but in the heat of the moment, this was the only way I could think of to prove my identity.
I thought he’d be convinced when he saw my ID. Instead, he cast a disdainful glance over the card and laughed mockingly.
My hands shook as my diffidence rose.
Just then, Emery came over and looked at my ID. She frowned and tugged on my blouse. She seemed to be coaxing me to stop. “Keep it, Letty.”
“Why?” I couldn’t understand the situation. I snapped, “Can’t my face and ID prove that I’m Anthony’s former wife and Gregory’s mother?”
“The former Mrs. Featherstone was named Sienna, not Carlette,” Joseph explained.
There was no more fight left in me at Joseph’s words. I tightened the grip on my ID sheepishly.
Now I recalled Marcus’s words as he handed me my ID. “Carlette, not to be confused with Sienna.”
Was this just a big misunderstanding? Could I really look so alike to someone else?
Witnessing my daze, Anthony let out a deep sigh. He appeared to rein in his anger as he said quietly, “The Jade has been performing well under your management, but that doesn’t give you leeway to stick a nose into my private business. I want you to prepare an official apology for this. I don’t want to see this happen again, or I won’t be so forgiving next time.”
Anthony’s words were directed at Emery, though his gaze was on me.
I had this odd sensation that he was seeing someone else as he looked at me. Or maybe, he’s just like Emery and the rest. They see me as the dead “Sienna”, yet they won’t let me become the real Sienna.
Emery wasn’t a woman to be trifled with, but faced with Anthony’s firm demeanor, she could only agree meekly. “I’ll give you a proper explanation.”
She dragged me out of the room after that.
As we reached the door, Anthony’s deep voice rang out. “You may not be able to carry the burdens of another person’s life. Don’t overestimate your abilities.”
I heard his meaning loud and clear. I’m not Sienna, and I don’t deserve her life.
Little did he know that his attitude only served to strengthen my resolve. I glanced at Gregory out of the corner of my eye, my emotions still a jumbled mess.
After leaving The Jade, Emery offered to drive me home.
I rode shotgun. I buckled myself in at an excruciatingly slow pace as I replayed the scene in the shop over and over in my mind.
Emery could tell that my mind was elsewhere. With one hand on the steering wheel, she began assessing the situation. “Don’t you think Anthony was acting weirdly just now?”
“Was he?” I was clueless.
Emery elaborated on her thoughts. “Think about it. If he had been convinced that you were impersonating Sienna, he would have skinned us alive! Why would he let us off unscathed?”
“Maybe it’s because I’m close to Gregory,” I guessed.
“I don’t think so.” Emery shook her head. “You know what I think? I don’t think he didn’t recognize you at all; he didn’t want to.”
I knitted my brows in confusion.
He recognized me but didn’t want to? What the heck does that mean? Who else can take better care of her own child than a mother?
Emery turned serious as she said, “It’s too complicated. I can’t explain it to you now. Let me put out some feelers first.”
Since she herself was confused about the whole ordeal, there was nothing useful I could do at the moment. “Ok.”
After a moment’s thought, I asked, “What did Anthony mean by my obituary? What kind of person was I?”
Maybe it’s not that Anthony can’t believe his wife is still alive. Maybe he just can’t acknowledge that he had ever married a woman like this.
My mind was a tangled mess. I asked Emery shakily, “Maybe you really did recognize the wrong person. You saw it yourself. Perhaps I just happen to share a face and a similar name with this ‘Sienna’.”
I furrowed my brows. I didn’t know if I was unable to figure out the truth or unwilling to accept my supposed death.
If my closest family can’t wait to erase traces of my existence, how am I different from those people who are rejected by the rest of the world? I’ll always feel like I’m living in some purgatory, forgotten and left behind by all that I love.
Emery opened her mouth as if to say something, but I didn’t have the emotional capacity to listen to her. I lifted a hand to stop her. “It’s fine. Let’s not talk about this anymore. I’m tired; could you send me home?”
Emery didn’t force me to face my emotions at this very moment. She drove toward home in silence.
As the car passed through the technology district, I had an urge to talk to Marcus. I had Emery drop me off at the side of the road.
It wasn’t hard to locate White Corporation. A short five-minute car ride later, I found myself walking into the lobby of its offices. The receptionist greeted me warmly, “Good day, Miss. Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but I’d like to meet Marcus. I’m his, erm, friend,” I stammered, glancing towards the office area surreptitiously.
I had never been to Marcus’ office since I woke up from my coma. It was crowded with tech workers dressed in flashy attires. It looked hectic.
The receptionist frowned at my explanation. “Mr. White has many friends, and he doesn’t meet just anyone. Please register, and I’ll give you a call if he’s able to meet you.”
Looks like Marcus’ business is thriving.
“That’s fine. It’s not urgent.” I was just acting on a whim. If Marcus was busy, I could always talk to him later.
The receptionist raised a brow as she kept the visitor log. She said indifferently, “Have a nice day.”
Just as I turned around, the elevator doors opened with a ding. Marcus exited with a few men. An older man in the group appeared to be his client.
I guess he has a business meeting.
Marcus saw me immediately. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before talking to the assistant standing beside him. He arranged for the client to be brought to a meeting room. Thereafter, he approached me. “Why didn’t you tell me you were dropping by? I could send someone to drive you here.”
The receptionist probably didn’t expect us to have such a close relationship. Her face soured.
Before I could reply, Marcus had slung his arm around my waist. He dragged me with him as he said, “Let’s go to my office.”
I shivered involuntarily at his sudden and intimate gesture. Once the doors of his office closed, I stepped away to put some distance between us.
Marcus seemed to be used to this. He merely fetched a glass of water for me.
After taking a small sip, I explained, “I had a spot of free time, so I decided to come and check out your office since I was in the area.”
“Why did you suddenly feel like leaving the house today?”
“I went to meet a friend.” I decided it would be prudent to keep some information to myself.
Maybe it was because I didn’t know many people here, but Marcus immediately guessed, “Ms. Moore?”
“Yes.” There was no point in hiding this.
The atmosphere became awkward after that conversation. I held on to my cup as I mulled over the suspicions in my head.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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