Selena Whitlock

When Ming Yue opened her eyes, all she could see was light. It was blinding, pure, and all-encompassing. Her first thought was that she had died. Was she going to meet God? Was this the afterlife?

But then, the light began to dim, fading as if retreating into the distance. Slowly, her surroundings started to take shape. The harsh white glow transformed into something more mundane—an ornate chandelier casting its light over a grand room.

Is that a lightbulb? She thought, blinking rapidly to adjust her vision. Her body felt heavy, and sluggish, as though she had been underwater for years. Her arms twitched as the sensation returned, and then her legs. A flicker of hope ignited in her chest.

Am I alive? she wondered, tears prickling her eyes. Her last memory was the truck barreling toward her, the pain, the cold asphalt beneath her, and the agonizing betrayal that had stolen her last breath. But here she was, moving, breathing.

Before she could celebrate this second chance, the murmur of voices reached her ears.

"She's stupid," A man said, his tone sharp and disdainful. "Bringing down the family reputation with her antics."

Ming Yue frowned, confusion clouding her thoughts. What? Who's stupid?

Her blurry vision sharpened slightly, and she turned her head toward the source of the voice. A tall man stood at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed over his chest. He had striking white hair, so pure it seemed to glimmer under the chandelier's light. His icy blue eyes were filled with contempt as they bore into her.

Wait... She thought as she slowly processed the visuals. White hair? Do people really look like that?!

"Shut up, Lucien," Another voice said, softer but laced with authority. Ming Yue turned her head the other way, wincing as her neck protested the movement.

An elderly woman sat in a plush armchair beside the bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She, too, had white hair, though Ming Yue couldn't tell if it was natural or the result of ageing. Her stormy grey eyes were fixed on Ming Yue with a mix of worry and frustration.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she said, "Your sister needs rest, not your scorn."

My what? Ming Yue thought, her breath catching in her throat. Did she just say, sister?

Her pulse quickened, panic rising as she tried to piece together what was happening. The last thing she remembered was standing on the crosswalk, her heart shattering as she watched her boyfriend and best friend kiss. And then the truck...

Ming Yue's gaze darted around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn't a hospital room... It looked more like the bedroom of a rich heiress. The bed she lay on was massive, the room was filled with gold ornaments! 

She would remember if she was this rich! Nothing made sense! Where am I? She wondered, her panic mounting. Who are these people?

Lucien scoffed, dragging her attention back to him. "She doesn't need rest. She needs discipline. Do you realise what people are saying about her? The daughter of the Duke, associating herself with commoners in gambling dens? Picking fights in broad daylight? She's a disgrace."

Ming Yue blinked, her mind struggling to process his words. Duke? Gambling dens? What is he talking about?

The elderly woman shot him a glare that could have frozen fire. "That's enough," She said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I won't have you speaking about your sister that way."

Lucien's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he turned his icy gaze back to Ming Yue. "If she had any sense of shame, she'd apologise for the trouble she's caused us."

Ming Yue's heart raced as she stared at him, her mind screaming in confusion. This couldn't be real. She didn't have a brother. She didn't have a Duke for a father. And yet, these people were acting like they knew her, like she was someone entirely different.

The elderly woman leaned forward, her grey eyes softening as she reached for Ming Yue's hand. "Selena, my dear," She said gently. "How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?"

Selena? Ming Yue thought, her panic spiking. Who the hell is Selena? My name is Ming Yue! And I'm an orphan!

Her breathing quickened, and the room began to spin. She clutched the sheets beneath her, trying to ground herself. This had to be a dream, right? A strange, vivid dream brought on by the trauma of her accident.

"I…" Her voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I don't understand…"

The woman's brow furrowed in concern. "What don't you understand, dear? You've been unwell, but you're safe now. We're here to take care of you."

Ming Yue shook her head, her hands trembling. "I'm not…" She trailed off, unsure of what to say. She wasn't what? Selena? Their daughter? Their sister?

Lucien rolled his eyes. "She's playing dumb now," He muttered. "Typical."

The woman shot him another glare before turning back to Ming Yue. "You don't have to worry about anything right now," She said soothingly. "Just rest. We'll talk later."

But Ming Yue couldn't rest, not with the storm of questions swirling in her mind. Who were these people? Where was she? And why did they think she was someone named Selena?

"How dare that Nicholas Hawthorne, treat my daughter this way?! Treat us, the Whitlocks this way?!" Her 'mother' tried her best to stop herself from screaming. She was walking out the door along with Lucien.

She turned and gave Ming Yue an assuring smile, but for her, it was anything but assuring. She slammed the door shut making sure Lucien didn't try to bully her precious daughter.

Ming Yue didn't know who these people were, she didn't know where she was! She didn't know who this 'Selena' was and she felt like she was becoming crazy! 

She got up and hopped down, she felt dizzy in the process but she made her way to the vanity nearby. She had a feeling that... She wasn't herself!