I’M NOT KIARA

*Amelia*

I groaned in discomfort from my trance, I could feel my hands were tied, and my mouth too was sealed. My eyelashes trembled a few times before I was able to slowly open them, gazing at the unfamiliar ceiling in a daze.

No, it wasn't just a ceiling, but a car ceiling. I sat right immediately and my eyes widened in shock upon seeing the driver. He was the same man who had come to the toilet earlier and covered my mouth with a handkerchief.

I opened my mouth to shout, but it soon dawned on me that my mouth has been shut with a tape while my hands too were tied to my back. I blinked my eyes rapidly to see if my mind wasn't playing tricks on me, but it was the reality.

Furthermore, I attempted to lose myself while I cried out, but my voice only came out in a deep wail, causing the unknown man to laugh aloud wickedly.

“Don't sweat it, ma'am, you'll be free soon” he says and turned his attention toward me in the back seat.

Still, I choose not to believe his words. What he had just said was a bad omen. I've heard a lot about abductions and in most cases, they tend to always give assurance. Why would he even want to kidnap me in the first place when he was going to set me free soon?

I keep struggling to untie the rope, and my eyes were now filling with bitter tears. The kidnapper didn't even spare me a glance anymore as he focused on the road without a blink.

After so many attempts but to no avail, I lost my strength and stay still, looking out the window with a hundred and thousands of questions, but I couldn't get them out of my mouth.

I don't know who this man is, but whatever he has in mind for me isn't a good one. But who have I offended to deserve this? I'm a carefree lady who abominates animosity. Moreover, the last time I had a fight with someone was with Callie. Can I even call that a fight? She caught me with her boyfriend and misunderstood the whole situation, but we're fine now, or could it be this is her retaliation?

No, no, Callie would never do that.

The car stumbled on a gallop, provoking me to hit my head against the window sill.

Granny, how would she feel if she learned that I took Aiden to the restroom but didn't return? How would mom also feel? Kiara, Desmond, Mr. Alexander, Callie and Clare, Mack, and even Miss. Marian. Thinking about these people only caused more tears to prickle down my cheeks violently.

Some hours later, the car finally rolled to a stop at a roadside. I was beginning to doze off by this time, but observing the car stop, I flung my eyes open and was determined to face the worst.

The driver came down from the car and turned to come and open the back seat door and carefully pulled me out. I set my feet on the floor and I winced at the feeling of the hot floor. I guess the man noticed this because he smiled and quickly went to the passenger side and brought a rubber flip-flops to my feet.

I glared at him, refusing to wear the slippers.

“It's not my fault, miss, I'm only following instructions. Please wear it,” his words were quite compelling and from the friendly look on his face, I could effortlessly trace the truth behind his words.

After I wore the slippers, his smile grew, but the smile faded away soon as he said, “Promise me you're not going to make a noise after I remove the tape from your mouth,”

I scoffed inwardly, as I thought in my mind, what's the point of making noise now? It's not as if there's anyone out there who will hear my cries in this countryside.

After staring at his face for a long moment, I nodded in agreement, and he then wiped out the stitch in my mouth as easily as he could.

“Argh!” I yelped silently and released a long breath.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, and I barely nodded.

“So, where are you taking me now?” I asked bluntly, “And don't you think you should untie me too, I don't have a wing to escape neither do I have a black magic,”

Agape, he stared at my face as if he were contemplating whether to do it or not.

“Please don't run away, I do not have the strength to run,” he says while he inched closer and started to untie me.

“And what makes you think I have the strength to run either, especially with my chicken legs that could crack at any time,” I said sarcastically, but my words seemed funny to him. He chuckled softly while he continued to battle with the rope.

Shortly thereafter, he removed the rope and motioned at me to come along. I uncurled my both hands as I walked beside him obediently, and we soon arrived at a plantation with a modern building on it.

In a long and gentle stride, we eventually reached the farmhouse, and I could feel my heart beginning to throb wildly.

Moving into the house, the interior style tends to reflect the aesthetics of rural architecture, it also embraces modern comforts, creating a look that feels both cozy and stylish.

It wasn't bad.

“She's here, boss,” the man announced, and I looked up to see who he was talking to.

He was standing and looking out the window, his tall figure was dressed in a formal black suit and his back facing us, giving me no access to catch the glimpse of his face.

However, suddenly, he swiveled around and summed up his steps to where I was standing. Recognizing his face, I stepped backward continuously and swallowed hard.

It was him. The same man who had attempted to murder Kiara, the one I met some weeks ago in a restaurant with Desmond.

I retreated to the wall, only stopping when there was no place left behind me.

Nicholas. His name reechoed in my head instantly.

He inched closer, dipping his head toward my neck, “How have you been, my love?” he murmured, bringing his hand to my back and bolting the door.

I pushed him away roughly, “You monster! You attempted to murder Kiara but failed, what do you intend to do with me too? Huh!” I cried out hysterically, having no idea what was waiting for me.

Regaining his equilibrium, he shoved his fingers into his beards with a smug smile embedded at the corners of his mouth.

“That was then, Kiara. I made a great mistake and I regret it and that's why I've brought you here,”

Oh my goodness. He had mistaken me for Kiara, oh no, not again. I screamed inwardly.

Putting away his confident smile, “You see, I've lost everything, Kiara. My wife, my children, my grandfather, my company, I've lost everything”

“I was going to kill myself initially, but I recalled that I still have you, let's begin what we had again. I promise to be a better man this time,” his words were dripping with honey and could inexplicably soothe one mind.

“You bastard! Then why are you still alive? You should have just killed yourself when the thought had crossed your mind,” I shrieked, “What do you think? Huh, by abducting Kiara like this, then she would fall in love with you again?”

“Well, you don't have a choice, Kiara. No one is going to save you here, not even Alexander, and if you refused to comply with me, then I'll kill you for real this time” he sounded severe and my legs instantly felt as if they were chained to iron shackles.

“I'm not Kiara,” I confessed, the fear squeezing out of my throat.

Immediately after I said that he was silent at first but then erupted in a peal of contagious laughter.

“What do you mean you're not Kiara?” he asked with a laugh in his voice. He turned to look at the man who had brought me here, who is he, though?

“Can you hear what she just said? Denying her identity, is it?”

“Believe me, I'm not Kiara but her twin sister. My name is Amelia, not Kiara” I nearly shriek, hating the fact that there was no one to come to my defense.

He sucked in a quick sharp breath, then began, “Kiara or not, I don't care. This is your new home, the earlier you accept this, the better it would be for both of us” after his words, he put his hands in his pocket and strode away.

Understanding the hidden meaning behind his words, I couldn't help but collapse with shock to the tiled floor. It felt like invisible knives were wrenching my heart again and again as I begin to cry my eyes out.