BRUTAL MINDS (A DARK ROMANCE)

CHAPTER 27- A NEW LIFE.

                  As she descended the stairs that
afternoon, Allison's heart raced with anticipation. She knew her aunt's critical eye would be upon them all during dinner. The family gathered in the formal dining room later that evening at 7 the atmosphere tense. Vera's surveyed the table, her gaze lingering on each face.

"Girls, you all look...presentable. Though, Ruth, your hair would look better pulled back, and Lina, that dress is a bit too revealing, don't you think?"
"It's my night wear."
"I didn't ask! What insolence! Your father did a very lousy job raising you bunch! Urgh! He should have listened to me and gotten yet another wife"
The sisters exchanged uneasy glances, their faces flushing with discomfort.
"And, Allison, dear, you need to work on your posture. You slouch like a servant, not a future business leader."

Allison felt a sting from her aunt's words as she straightened her back but remained silent, knowing better than to argue. As dinner progressed, Vera's criticisms only intensified, targeting everything from their table manners to their conversation topics. The sisters squirmed in their seats, their eyes cast downward.

"Has the Will been read yet?"
"Well erm..."Ruth began, nervous about what they had done.
"Well? Have you gone dumb?"
"It has been read"
"So soon?"
"Yes Aunt Vee"
"So? What did each of you get?"
"Father barely had any properties left." Allison answered. "Due to innumerable business losses, He owned a lot of people debts which He had to sell of most properties to pay back and even at that, things didn't get better"
"I see"
"So sadly, it's just the Mansion and the company"
"And how's business going with the company?"
"I...I shut it down"
"What?! Whatever for?!"
"It was only temporary Aunt"
"We'll discuss this afterwards"

After dinner, Vera turned to the topic of marriage, her voice firm and commanding.

"Girls, it's time you all started thinking about your future. Marriage is a crucial aspect of our family's legacy and business dealings. I expect each of you to make suitable matches, ones that will benefit our empire. Your father is gone now, leaving me as his only relative to care for you all and I can't have all five of you being liabilities to me."

              As the evening drew to a close, Vera turned her attention to business matters, discussing mergers and acquisitions, her mind sharp and calculating. The sisters listened intently, their faces pale and worried.

          Allison knew her aunt's words were a reminder of the sacrifices they would have to make for the sake of the family business from now on and she wondered if she would ever be able to break free from the gilded cage that was her life.

"Do well to go over all I've said, I'll be retiring to my room now" Vera said, standing to her feet. "And yes, just so you know, I'll be leaving for Italy in a few days. I don't intend on staying here for long."
"Ofcourse Aunt Vee, we would miss you."
"Goodnight Aunt Vee"

              With a scoff, the woman climbed up the stairs and retired to her bedroom. The girls let out a sigh of relief as they heard the door close upstairs.

"That lady has to be a witch"
"She's so insufferable!"
"What's wrong with my hair?"
"And my night dress!"
"She just doesn't see the good in anyone"

VERA'S GUESTROOM
9:00PM

Knock, Knock

"Yes? Who is it?" Came her irritated voice from inside.
"I'm sorry to disturb your rest, Aunt Vera" Allison came in, holding a flower vase.
"Yes? What is it?"
Allison forced a smile. "The maid said you didn't like the Sun flowers earlier so I thought you'd prefer roses instead"
"Indeed, set it down over there"
"Thank you Aunt" Allison set the vase on a table at the other end of the room before walking back to her Aunt.
"Actually Aunt...I would love to talk to you about something"
Vera sat up on the bed. "Have a seat"
"Thank you for giving me an audience"
"Hmm, you might be the youngest, but you do seem more ethical than the others"
"Thank you"
"What did you want to say?!"
"Please Aunt, if you wouldn't mind, I would love to go to Italy with you and learn your trade."
Vera blinked, confused. "Wh...what?!"
"A lot has happened Aunt and honestly, I just want to be far away from this county for a few months. I want to go with you Aunt. I know you're a famous Jeweler, I would love to help you run the place, be your manager if possible."
"But child you know absolutely nothing about what I do."
"I know enough to know that you're a strong powerful woman with so much charisma that I envy you so much Aunt. I want to be like you."
"Oh..." The woman smiled, flattered.
"My kindness and good heartedness has been trampled upon by the ones I loved so much and now I just want to be a different person. One that no one gets to cross, just like you Aunt"
"I see where you're heading child and I can't tell you how much I love your resolution"
"Yes Aunt, if it be possible, I would..." Allison let out a sigh before continuing "....I would love for you to adopt me"
"Pardon? Allison?!"
"Yes, I need a new identity, a new name. I just need to start life anew, all over again"

Vera thought for awhile. All these years she had dreaded the day she would pass on and with a multimillion dollar fortune that no one would get to inherit because she was childless and now here was the chance beaming at her. Not to mention, she was planning on planting yet another jewel company right here in
New-York? Why don't she take this opportunity and mold this young lad into a trophy she would be proud of someday. Someone exactly after her footsteps just like she had always dreamt of. Vera turned to Allison with a smile.

"How would you love to be my daughter?"
"Yes Aunt Vera, thank you so much"
"In public, you must call me mother but in private I'm okay with Aunt"
"Ofcourse, Ofcourse anything you want"
Allison smiled, glad that she was getting another shot at life, far away from her painful past.

It was settled, much to the surprise of the other four sisters who had no idea what was going on. The evening they were about to travel there was a ghastly accident on the road to the airport causing a tight gridlock. The media went hazy with the personality that had died. The whole city was glued to their screens. Both cars had exploded causing severe burns and damage to the victims that their bodies could not be identified. The reporter stood just by the sidewalk as He read out the latest reports.

"Amongst the Victims of today's accident at Van Wyck Expressway was our very own dear senator, Avery Montgomery and his wife Hilda Montgomery and the other victim was identified to be the director of Doreen Corporations, Miss Allison Doreen and all three victims have been confirmed dead!"

JFK AIRLINES
VIP SUITE
1PM

"You can take your hood off now sweetie" Vera said, sitting on the seats.
"We're the only ones occupying this suite"
"That's a relief"
"Have you heard the news?"
"Not yet, what are they saying?"
"Our plan was perfect" The woman smiled. "Now with the world thinking that you're dead, you now have a hundred percent chance at starting life afresh."
"But what would people think if they were to see me in public?"
"What else? A doppelgänger Ofcourse, a look alike and with you bearing my name, they have nothing else to say."
"Thank you very much Aunt Vera, I'll forever be grateful"
"We should be back to New York in a few months and until then..."

"Welcome to your new life Allison"