Family Treasure

Earlier this morning...

"Good morning, Lady Graham. The Lord sent me here to fetch you." Standing next to the shining latest silver Rolls-Royce Phantom, the bright Benny greeted her with all smiles.

After having a sumptuous breakfast alone, she finished her shower and dressed, preparing to leave. She then sent George a message, who was in the middle of the meeting, to inform him she was ready to return to his house.

But then he corrected her, and that caused her heart to melt.

[It's our house.]

It was George's reply to her.

[Alright. I'll instruct Benny to fetch you. Anna agreed to postpone the photoshoot. You can rest at home.]

Alone in the bungalow, she could not stop blushing upon reading their chat conversation several times.

'We're just having a contract marriage. There is nothing to get excited about.'

Krishna berated herself so that she would remember what this marriage was all about.

However, reading the words house and home truly warmed her heart.

She remembered how she longed to hear these words. In the past, she looked forward to the day she and George, her fiance, built a home together. But he left her first.

'What's with this notion?' 

Krishna shook her head and brushed off the past. She was still very alive, and she had a son to raise. She dreams of giving George a complete family.

Although she never thought that it would happen through marriage with someone else, that man promised to protect her son if someone successfully dug into her shameful past.

She was actually uncomfortable and, at the same time, worried about her son George. The last thing she wanted was to lead him into an intriguing life.

George promised to take care of the situation once someone questioned this marriage. He assures her to take responsibility since he is the one who urges it.

Then maybe it's not bad to trust him.

'Fine! Whatever… I didn't climb into your bed, seduce you, or corner you to marry me. It's not my fault that if your name is dragged down if your world, the Upper Class, and aristocrats lash me for being your wife, it will tarnish your reputation.'

'Ah…' Somehow, she was still skeptical.

'Why would I have to worry about that man? Gosh! Why am I in this situation? Isn't he who forced this marriage?'

'It's truly advantageous for me. In this way, I would be financially stable. But I am not happy at all. I'd rather cry, honestly. I started feeling the pressure and stress just thinking of Mrs. Graham's title.'

She is not a coward but timid to do more beyond her comfort zone because she wants to live a peaceful life, not an intriguing one such as life in high society.

'Fine, then!'

She composed herself and looked the man straight in the eyes.

"Alright. Let's go, Benny."

She stepped inside the luxurious car. She'd like to return home to check on something and confirm she wasn't mistaken about the ring Chairman Crow wore today.

It took only a few minutes, and they arrived. When she reached her bedroom, she confirmed the ring was the same as the one in her possession.

Her maternal grandfather owned the ring and passed it to her after he passed away at the age of 98. She meets him when he is too old. Her grandfather married in his late thirties and had a daughter in his forties.

Therefore, it saddened her. She only knew a little about his life story.

And now, one thing has been added to the mystery: the brooch she received from her paternal family.

The designs did not differ from the rings. Then, it only means that her grandfathers really knew each other, including Chairman Crow.

Her grandfathers are both mysterious.

Pondering over it, Krishna shrunk in bed and hugged her legs.

Suddenly, she was having a severe headache as she dug into her head for the memories that were actually long gone.

Yes, they were supposed to not be there.

However, after that fateful night, those memories suddenly appeared, which muddled her head and shook her world.

She was like a person with a mental health condition for a long time, shouting and crying all night.

Gratefully, she gave birth to George without a problem, and he grew healthy. And thanks to her friends. They never leave her side but patiently care for her throughout her pregnancy, while she loses her sanity for almost a year.

It was the reason she hated that man so much.

By now, she wanted answers if these memories were real or just a part of her dreams. 

Maybe being Mrs. Graham can be a big help in digging into her past.

Krishna closed her eyes. She didn't notice she was drifting into a deep slumber, dreaming of the distant past.

~ ~ ~ 

"Ciao, mia cara note. I am your Grandpa Giorgio."

It was the first time she met this older man. Her parents visited an isolated place somewhere in Italy. After she was dropped off at the train station, her parents retook the train and left her with this older man.

"Hola, Grandpapa."

"Ah… Hola, Hija. How old are you?"

"I'm nine, Grandpa."

"Grande! Come with me." 

The older man led her toward an old black truck. It doesn't look lovely on the outside. 

She thought it would be uncomfortable inside, but she found it cozy. In fact, far from old. 

Her grandpa prepared some snacks; thus, she didn't starve.

The vehicle surprisingly ran smoothly. It only looked unpleasant to the eyes on the outside, but the engine worked all right.

"We aren't there yet, Grandpa?" After half an hour without stopping, she curiously asked the older man.

"Not yet, Hija. You can take a nap if you would like to."

With this reply, she suited herself by looking outside the car window until she fell asleep, so she didn't know when they arrived at the cabin.

Krishna soon woke up and realized she had been brought into the attic. She got off the bed and strode toward the window. She looked around and realized they were in the middle of the forest. All that met her eyes were giant trees.

As she surveyed her surroundings, she found the older man grilling outside. She gets out of the bedroom just to be shocked by those horns and the heads of an antelope. 

She took slow strides until she reached the first floor. Surprisingly, the small living room was homely, and the small flower garden that passed through the sliding door was lovely.

But her grandpa was in the backyard, so she used the kitchen door.

"Grandpa…"

"Ah, you're finally awake! Come on. Lunch is ready."

Her grandpa prepared a delicious meal. He grilled a big fish, and it tasted superb.

"Is it good?"

She nodded. She didn't speak as she kept stuffing her mouth.

"Tell me, your parents are so busy that they have no time to prepare good meals every day?"

She hummed in response to this question. They lived in the facility, and the food on their table was provided for free. The person who prepared her breakfast and dinner was the nanny assigned to her.

Thus, it's rare for her parents to cook, but only on weekends. Still, there are times when they leave home to work overtime.

"Is it good?"

"Hummed!"

"I'm glad. Later, I will take you to the lake."

"Lake?" There is a lake in the facility, so she was curious about what the difference was.

Mountains were far away and there were trees all around the lake her grandfather was talking about.

She was admiring the picturesque setting while standing on the dock.

"Come on, Hija."

Krishna runs toward her grandpa. She was puzzled when he handed her an earmuff.

"What do I need to wear this, Grandpa?"

"I want you to wear this so that the loud bang later won't scare you."

"Loud bang?" It puzzled her.

Soon, her questions were answered when her grandpa took out a big box from the back seat of the golf cart.

He then placed the wooden box on the picnic table and opened it.

Her eyes widened, shocked to be exact, after realizing what was inside.

"Grandpa…" Panicked exhibit in her eyes. Hence, her grandfather explained immediately.

"I want to introduce you to one of our family treasures."

"Family treasure?"

"Yes. Your great-grandpa passed down this rifle to me. It was a gift from his wonderful friend, Nicholas Crow. He may be the same age as my father, but he appeared to be around my age."

"Nicolas Crow? I somehow heard this name already, Grandpa, but I cannot remember where."

"Alright. Then, just pretend you didn't hear it from me."

It puzzled her again. "Why is that, Grandpa?"

"Well… It is not the perfect time. And so, you should cease to raise a question regarding him. I'm telling you this… In this life, some things are better left unanswered. Sometimes, curiosity can kill a person."

She did not understand her grandfather's words. She didn't care about anything then but the treasure her grandfather showed her.

"It looks cool, grandpa!"

"Is it?"

"Yes!"

"You have a good eye." The older man chuckled. "When I leave this world, I will pass it down to you, and I want you to pass it down to your oldest child."

"Oh…" She didn't understand the old man again, but she overlooked it. Instead, she asked innocently. "What if it was a girl, Grandpa?"

She meant to give birth to a daughter, but she doesn't know how to describe anything regarding marriage.

"Well, aren't you a girl?"

Her grandfather is right. Thus, Krishna beamed. Indeed, she found it thrilling just looking at the sniper rifle.

Her grandfather gave her the rifle to have a closer look. The rifle was made of silver and bronze. There was also an exquisite carving of a golden dragon in the stock.

"Krishna, I want you to remember this... You were not only carrying the name of Palermo. What's more is the name of your maternal family, the Moretti."

"Okay, Grandpa."

"Very well then... Now, I will teach you how to shoot."