If Only

C H A P T E R 22

MEASURE

MIRANDA

The guards Raven had stationed in and out of the mansion would not let me leave. I have been imprisoned for longer than a month and I am growing restless; occupying myself with monitoring my warden's activities and watching out for Ruen's made it a little challenging.

It's been hectic and stressful, to be honest.

Spending most of my time playing with Ai and talking to Harriette, I am starting to acclimate myself with my new reality. I have a lot more to lose that means I have so much to protect.

Ai slept on my lap, she was tired from chasing after the puppy and teaching him tricks. The poor puppy wasn't as enthusiastic about the lessons as my niece was hence, the running around.

"She's out early." Harriette chuckled. She knew about me and Raven being married but she did not intrude with questions. I appreciated it.

"I think the puppy was serving its purpose." I smiled at her.

"Little by little, Ai's growing cheerful." She placed a small quilt blanket over her. "I was starting to worry the child would withdraw from us. She was missing her parents so much."

It's a cruel turn of fate for two generations of the women in our family being left alone.

"Harriette, can I ask about Evelyn?" She must know things about the woman they say was my sister. "Did you know about me being related to Raven's in law?"

"I won't lie," she stated. "It crossed my mind the moment I got a good look at you inside my car."

"You suspected?"

She nodded. "But I figured I was wrong when you checked in using the name Miranda Montenegro. People could alike without being related, I thought."

"I was adopted by an elderly couple." They were people Ruen knew and asked for help. She was taking care of them too–providing for them. They readily agreed to give me their name. "That's the reason why you kept quiet?"

"No. It was Raven's reaction to you that made me." She looked apologetic. "She was so taken by you I decided not to get involved with my suspicions. She wasn't that well when you met."

"She called me Evelyn."

She was perplexed by my statement, "Raven did?"

"Yes."

Thinking the name Raven called me as when we first met was her girlfriend's, I was convinced she loved her dearly.

The way she said her name and the tenderness in her eyes made me think that maybe she had feelings for Evelyn. But it turned out differently. The woman was her sister-in-law.

"She has mistaken me for her."

"You could not deny that there were similarities between you and her. It's glaringly obvious." Harriette said.

"But she kissed me thinking I was her?"

She was quiet for a minute before answering. "I suspected she was crushing on her but Raven would never betray her brother."

"Did Evelyn return her feelings?"

"No. Not that I know of," she maintained eye contact as she said this. "Your sister loved Galvin. It was evident. That was the reason why I found it hard to believe she was involved with Alfred. She loved Galvin with such undying fierceness. I doubt it fizzled out over the years they were together."

"If so, what happened to them?"

"I don't know," she bit her lip as if weighing her next words, "all I know was that from the moment I was introduced to their uncle, I have never liked the man."