The Way I Survived

Chapter One.

Chapter 1

"Amelia! Get down here this instance!" said my wicked stepmother as I groaned and got out of bed lazily.

As I headed down the stairs of our huge house, which I always thought was kind of unnecessary since it was only my stepmother, my awful stepbrother and I who lived here, I heard chatter downstairs. The voices, excluding my stepmother, were foreign to my ears. I got strangely curious about who would visit us this early in the morning and what I had to do with it.

I was usually a lonely person, not social. I used to be, a very long time ago, before my life came crashing down upon my head. The day I lost everyone and everything I loved. I shuddered as I pushed the thoughts out of my head. I've been depressed for way too long, I haven't moved on but I'm trying to. But the thought of moving on seemed somehow as if I'm betraying them by even abandoning the thought of them. I always try to remind myself that they would've wanted me to have a happy life, but I couldn't fool myself, ever.

"Amelia!" my stepmother voice interrupted my thoughts as I scrambled my way down the stairs. As I entered the dining hall, I caught the sight of an extremely attractive man. His face was rough, yet admirably handsome. He had a perfect jawbone, luscious full lips, a straight nose, and mesmerizing green eyes that absorb you fully. I felt my heart flutter as I saw him staring right back at me with a studying look on his face as he took in my appearance. I frowned at myself for having such feelings for a stranger I never met before when I haven't felt any feelings for anyone else whatsoever since the incident.

Someone cleared their throat and I blushed scarlet as I saw an older man who was looking at me with an eyebrow raised. He looked like the younger man so there was definitely some sort of blood relation between them.

The older guy extended his hand to shake, "Good morning, Miss Rogers. My name is Felix Rosvert and this is my son, Christopher."

I turned to look at Christopher and saw his hand extended waiting for me to shake. As I placed my hand in his, the finest touch sent a jolt of electricity through me. It felt pleasant and filled me with warmth. Instead of shaking it like his father did, he raised my hand to his face and placed a soft kiss on it. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rogers," he said politely. His voice was melodic and it was the best sound my ears ever heard.

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Rosvert. And please call me Amelia," I said in the softest voice possible.

"The Rosverts are here to take you with them," said my stepmother whom I have completely forgotten about.

Let me introduce my stepmother, Mrs. Gwendolyn Rogers. She had fine blonde hair that made my brown hair look like ash compared to its shine, as well as blazing blue eyes that pierced through your soul. She was beautiful, no doubt whatsoever, but that was only her appearance. She was a deceiving person who lied her way through life and treated me with complete cruelty only because my father left her to take care for me on her own. She thought it was useless to care for me since there was nothing but legal bonds that related us.

"With all due respect, I don't think it would be appropriate being sent away with people I have only just met. And anyway, why am I going to accompany them?"

My stepmother glared at me and was about to speak when Felix cut her off, "you're coming with us upon court orders. We are now your legal guardians and have rightful claims on you. Your father was an old friend and has written down in his will for me to look after you. His will was discovered last night and to honor his death, we're doing as he wished."

I stared at him speechless, a million thoughts going through my brain. Legal guardian? Did that mean I was free from the wicked witch? But what if they're not any better? Felix knew my father? Why would he want him to look after me and not his own wife? Not knowing what to ask first, I asked the first question that came to my mind.

"Why you? And how come I've never seen you if you were close friends with my dad? Surely I must've seen you at least once."

"It is beyond me why he chose me to look after you, but I will not dismiss his wish. And as for why you've never seen me before... you've only been in my presence as a baby, when you were very young. I doubt you would remember me. Around the time you were three, I had to move away to England. When I got news about your father's death, I took the first flight back to California. I was at the funeral, but I don't think you noticed me. I've been here for quite a few months, I had a feeling I'd have to stick around for a little longer. Guess I was right with the news we have right now, I'm very sorry but you're going to have to come with us back to London."

I stared at him, trying to absorb all the information that has been given to me. My father trusted him, so I guess I should too. But why do I have this uncomfortable feeling that there is a grave secret that the Rosverts are hiding, they seem quite mysterious and secretive.

I nodded, still in shock; heading back to my room to start packing, praying that my father has done the right decision.