A Start of a New Life (2)

I opened my eyes when I felt light shown on my face. It was already morning and the sun light was seeping in from the spaces of the curtains.

I have woken up in an timeline that has now diverted from the life I once knew. In my sleep, I was able to remember how I died. I can still feel the heartache and pain I felt seeing Joseph save Dianne first. The feeling of anguish and betray was still fresh in my heart.

Unfortunately, my memory of my past life is still hazy. I do not remember all the details but only some fragments. Nevertheless I am thankful for the second chance given to me.

"I am not sure why I have gone back in time, but I am going to mke good use of it." I said to myself.

There was still something that is bugging me. I have the inkling that I have something very important to me that I need to remember but I can't.

"Well, there is no helping it of I can't remember." I said to myself. "My past life is all in the past. I have been sent back in time to undo all the mistakes I did and start over again, and that is what I am going to do."

I hear my door open ans see Jullie come insie.

"Oh miss…" Jullie looked very much relieved. "You have woken up at last. You don't know how much all of us worried for you."

"Don't worry, Jullie. I feel perfectly fine after a good night's sleep." I replied with a smile.

"What do you mean one night?" Jullie said in tears. "You were in deep sleep three whole days. The young master was the most worried about you."

"What?!" I was shocked. "I was asleep for three days?"

"Yes, miss." Jullie replied. "Oh, silly me. I should start calling you now young madam, since you are now our boss." She wiped her tears.

"I-I think I prefer to be called 'miss', hehe." I was not used to the term 'young madam'.

I remember my adoptive father's last will and testament stating that I would hold onto the position of CEO of the Hamilton Hotels Inc. for a whole year starting that faithful day.

"Has my adoptive father's lawyer came to visit me when I was asleep?" I asked. "What was his name again… oh it's Brent Dawson."

I remember the young good looking lawyer that read my adoptive father's last will and testament. His looks can be up against my adoptive brother's own good looks.

"Oh, you mean the good looking tall guy?" Jullie asked. "Yes, he has been trying to see you for the past three days since you were asleep but the young master prevented him from seeing you."

"What?!" I asked kn disbelief. "But why?"

"I heard the young master say that since you are still sleeping, he cannot see you even if he is now your lawyer and legal guardian." Jullie replied. "And since this house is still private property he cannot trespass or the young master will have him arrested."

I cannot believe that Joseph can be this hard header. Since Brent is now my lawyer and legal guardian, he has the right to see if I am doing fine or not.

"The young master was clearly agitated when that lawyer comes to visit. I have never seen him like that before." Jullie said. "And the young master have looked after you more than anyone here in the mansion, young madam. Heck, he did not want to be away from you even a second."

"What do you mean?" I asked in disbelief. "Do you mean he stayed by my side for the past three days when I was asleep?"

"Yes." Jullie replied. "He was the most worried when your fever was so high and was scolding the doctor to why it is not going down. He nursed you personally in your bed. Well of you are asking why he is not here right now, he has just gone to take a bath. He would probably be here later. He will be thrilled when he sees you awake and in good health, young madam. I better go and tell him that you are awake." She said happily.

"Wait!" I grabbed Jullie bu the wrist. "I-I think it is better to leave him be for a while. He also needs some personal time alone."

I have given such a reason to Jullie, but the real reason was because I did not want to see him right now.

The pain from the memory of the past is still fresh and I am afraid that I will cry heaps if I see him right now.

"Well, if you say so." Jullie said. "Then I will prepare your bath for now, young madam. Seeing that you have broken your fever, the doctor advised to have you soak in warm water to help your body freshen up."

"Thank you, Jullie." I replied with a smile.

Jullie had gone and I was now alone inside my room. I was able to stop Jullie from informing Joseph that I have woken up, but I cannot avoid him all day long. For sure he will come to see me this morning and I am not confident my heart can take it.

"Why… why are you still treating me kindly?" I asked myself.

One thing I could remember from my past life is his face filled with the feeling of betrayal. After the lawyer read the last will and testament, Joseph has changed completely. He had treated me coldly since then until the day I died, letting go of the hotel railings in the balcony of the hotel room in the forty-third floor.

I can still remember his face filled with terror when I let go of the balcony railing I was holding to for dear life. I have lost all the reason to keep on living.

"All the reason to keep on living…" I tried to remember but I felt a strong wave of headache when I tried to remember. "Is Joseph the only reason for my existence?"

I stopped trying to remember since my head was splitting. I stepped out of my bed and tried to stand up but a wave of dizziness spread through me. I was about to fall when I feel strong arms catch me from behind.

"Be careful." The familiar voice said. "You had just woken up from and your fever had just broken."

I looked up and saw Joseph, looking at me with the familiar gaze he has always been giving me since we were young. It was still filled with kindness, but my mind was overlapping his face from the one from my past life, the cold and aloof Joseph I married.

I instinctively pushed him away feeling the wave of pain inside my heart.

"Yvy!" Joseph cried out when he saw me about to fall.

I closed my eyes feeling my body fall and waiting it to impact the floor, but I did feel any pain. What I felt was warmth hugging me safely.

"Are you alright, Yvs?" Joseph was the one to take the fall and have me safely in his embrace. "I told you you are still not well enough to stand up. You still need to rest."

"Why…?" I asked, trying to hold back my tears.

"What?" Joseph asked curiously.

"Why did you do that?" I asked again.

"Why did I break your fall?" Joseph asked. "Of course I would save you like always. I am your big brother." He paused as if he said something wrong.

Truthfully, my question was not pertaining to why he broke my fall just now. My question was aimed to the him in my past life. There are many why's that I wanted to ask the him in my past life. Why did he marry me, why did he have to be so cold and uncaring, why did he have an affair with Dianne, why did he save her first, why did he not just abandon me from the beginning to save us from all of this pain and regret?

'But I cannot ask him that now.' I thougjt to myself. 'The Joseph from the past is gone. The Joseph now does not know anything that happened in our past life.'

But still, there ks no gurantee that he won't walk the same path as in my pas life. Better to distance myself from him before it is too late.

"N-Never mind." I looked away from his gaze. "I am feeling fine. I think I can feel a lot better when I get a warm bath."

And right on time, Jullie came.

"Young madam, young master!" Jullie was shocked to see us on the ground. "What happened?" She asked.

"Right on time." I thanked the moment Jullie came. "Jullie, can you please help me go to the bathroom?" I asked.

"O-Of course." Jullie was still in doubt but was about to help me get up. "I have already prepared the bathtub for you, young madam."

I was about to reach Jullie's helping hand when I felt my hand being pulled back. I see Joseph's hand holding my hand firmly but carefully.

"I will take you there." Joseph said in a matter of fact tone.

"I-I can go alone with Jullie's help." I tried to refuse.

"With what just happened?" Joseph asked. "I am afraid not."

Joseph stood up and the next thing I knew I felt my body being carried up. I am now being carried by Joseph in his arms.

"P-Put me down…" I demanded. But my voice fell on deaf ears.

Joseph started to walk outside and strided the halls towards the bathroom. The maids that were kn duty that day saw us and I felt quite embarrassed.

'T-This had never happened before.' I thought to myself. 'I cannot remember something like this happening in my past life.'

My heart was beating fast. I am not sure if it is because I am embarrassed or due to the fact I am being princess carried by Joseph.

I can see the maids giggling as they watch us stride aling the way. I felt very embarrassed and barried my face on Joseph's shoulders. I heard him chuckle in delight.

"What are you laughing at?" I felt quite irritated with him laughing at me or at our situation right now.

"I am not laughing at you, promise." Joseph said. "It is just… I think I could get used to this."

"What, embarrassing me in front of the household help?" I asked in irritation but he did not reply.

I took a peak on his face and saw him smiling in delight.