It was five minutes after eight in the evening when Marisa and her father arrived at the Earhart Mansion. It was an amazing view to see the mansion lit up with golden and silver light across the garden. There were fires lit up on each pillars. The main entrance was decorated with white and red satin curtains. She can also smell a sensual scent filled the air which she believed was coming from the burning candles inside the building.

The servants smiled and bowed their heads as they entered arm in arm. One of them took them into the waiting hall and announced, “Mr. Giancana and Miss Giancana have arrived,” he spoke out loud enough for everyone in the room to turn heads.

A beautiful blond woman got up from her seat and rushed towards Marisa. She kissed her cheek. “Marisa! It’s been a while! I’ve heard everything about what happened. You don’t remember me, do you?” she asked. Marisa was caught off guard by her approach and couldn’t say anything. “It appears you don’t. Well, I’m Annabelle the third child and the only daughter of Earl of Earhart,” she introduced herself with glittering smile. “Oh, you’re Kane’s sister!” Marisa exclaimed.

Annabelle nodded her head and looked around. “Sorry, Kane’s not here yet. But he’ll come for sure since you’re here. Let me introduce you to the others,” she said and turned to Mr. Giancana for approval. “Go on, m’lady,” he replied and took a seat near the window so he could have a full view of the room. She took Marisa hand and walked up towards the nearest person. It was Raoul.

“Marisa, this is Raoul Gerome. Our first cousin which is also the closest to Kane. It’s okay, you never met him before,” she said. Raoul smiled and kiss Marisa’s hand. “I’m Raoul. Nice to meet you, Miss Giancana,” he said. “Thank you,” Marisa replied, still feeling awkward of how the greetings should be. She’d prefer hand shaking though. “He’s not usually here but for some business reasons he’s here.”

“Move along now. This is Tristan, my brother and the earl’s second son,” she said. Tristan had the same appearance as Annabelle, golden hair with transparent grey eyes. For a moment she thought it was her twin. He bowed his head and kissed her hand. “We met again, Marisa,” he said. Marisa quickly turned to Annabelle. “Oh, yea. You’ve met all four of us before…Tristan, you’ve heard about what happened to Marisa, right?” she asked. He looked confused for a while then his eyes quickly widened. “Oh, what a fool I am. Yes, father told me about this before he announced the dinner. Well, take it slow Marisa. You’ll remember sooner or later,” he said and winked.

Marisa felt that Annabelle and Tristan were really similar. They didn’t just have the same looks, they even had the same sense of humour and the atmosphere around them was appealing and secured. She liked them both immediately. “Here is our cousin, Miss Colette Pepin. She is our second cousin to be exact from Raoul’s side,” Annabelle said. At first Marisa thought Colette was an obnoxious woman judging from her high thin crooked eyebrow, wicked nose, thin solemn lips and a raised head. It turned out she was correct.

Colette stared at her from the top of her hair to the heels of her stilettos. “Well, you’re Marisa? I’m Colette. Nice meeting you,” she said and turned away. Marisa didn’t even get to the chance to reply her. “If it wasn’t for her makeup she’ll look like a 40 year-old woman,” she heard Annabelle whispering to her. She turned and saw her grinning. Annabelle quickly pulled her away towards the window away from the crowds.

“Colette is engaged with Raoul’s oldest brother. That’s why she’s behaving like that. Heck! She’s been like that ever since she was a child! She thinks just because Raoul’s family is closest to us she thinks she can just come and go into this house. It’s okay, you never met her either.”

Marisa was speechless. “I thought I was the only one thinking like that…”

Annabelle smiled. “You’re not the only one. See Raoul over there? See how Colette tries to talk to him? He’s not even listening!” they both looked at Raoul who obviously ignored his future sister-in-law and continued reading a book. While Colette looked pathetic as she talked and talked as if Raoul was listening to her. “How can his brother proposed to her when she’s like this?”

“He didn’t, sweetheart. It was an arranged marriage. It’s hard to become the first child you know? From what Raoul told us before - Raphael, Raoul’s brother didn’t even know he was engaged until Raoul told him over the telephone! And he was already in a relationship with a girl from Italy!”

“When was all this?” she asked as they pretended to look and admire the garden’s beauty at night. “A week ago.”

Marisa turned her head so quickly Annabelle almost let out a surprised yelp. “A week ago? And she began coming here as if this is her home? She’s not even a part of Earhart!” Marisa whispered. “That’s what I’ve been telling you dear. She forgets that I am the woman of the house. Well, I never see her defy me as long as I am around though. But the servants reported to me few days ago when I wasn’t around that she demanded to be treated the same way as I do. Can you believe her?” Annabelle said with a killer gaze upon her eyes. “I just need to catch her doing that then I can kick her out.”

“So, did they treat her like they treat you?” she asked out of curiosity. The blond smiled at her. “They didn’t of course. To be precise, they couldn’t. They’ve sworn to papa since mama died that they’ll take good care of me since I’m the only female in the family. That made Colette blew up in fury.”

Marisa thought for a moment. “Hm, from what I know arranged marriage should benefit both families right? What is she doing here by the way? She has no connection at all with you people. From the looks of it, she acts as if she tries to wreck the relationship between your family and Raoul’s.”

Annabelle stared at her with a surprised look in her face. “Tristan! Raoul!” she called her brother and cousin. “Hey, I’m still talking to Raoul, Anna!” Colette exclaimed. Anna didn’t like anyone other than her papa and brothers to call her that. “I need to talk to Raoul. And who are you to casually call me Anna?” she said with a frighteningly firm voice. Tristan smiled. The way Anna talked was really similar with their mama. Gentle, soft but firm and strict. No one could defy her.

Colette shifted in her seat and looked away, defeated. “What is it, sis?” Tristan said as they came closer. “Marisa just said something I’m sure you’ll be surprised when you hear it,” she replied and repeated what Marisa said about Colette and the arranged marriage.

“My God! I need to tell Raphael about this!” Raoul searched for his cellphone in his pocket. “Dimwit! We don’t have any proof!” Tristan hit his cousin on the shoulder with the back of his hand. Marisa glanced at them with questionable face. “Um, what is going on?” she asked.

“Family feud.”

They four of them turned to the owner of the husky voice. Kane was standing behind Marisa. He was wearing a blood red shirt with baby blue floral embroidery along the line of the buttons. Such a majestic figure, Marisa thought as soon as she saw him. “A feud?” she said in shock. Kane looked at her and suddenly took her hand to his lips. “Welcome, Marise.” He then quickly turned to his brother. Tristan nodded his head once. “Well, this is a family matter after all. I apologize to you Marisa for dragging you into this. But we won’t burden you with anymore…stories,” he said and smiled at her. Marisa glanced at Annabelle and saw her nodded her head in approval. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll manage.”

The butler opened the slightly ajar door and announced to take their place for the Earl of Earhart was about to arrive. Kane quickly held Marisa’s hand and escorted her. Tristan took his sister’s hand while Raoul reluctantly escorted Collette who raised her chin in an irritating manner, as if she was SO important. “Damn…she doesn’t even have a royal blood in her…” Raoul mumbled in annoyance.

“You look beautiful,” Kane suddenly said. Marisa looked up and saw him staring at her with soft eyes. She had to turn away because she could feel the blood rushing towards her face. “Th-thank you,” she said, stuttering. Kane grinned, flashing his canine teeth. He glimpsed at Tristan, gesturing towards Collette who frantically try to catch Raoul’s flying hand. Clearly she wanted to be treated the same way as Annabelle and Marisa were. Tristan’s face became hard with fury.

When they arrived at the dining hall, a tall lean man wearing a business suit was standing near the table. He was looking out at the garden outside, obviously mesmerized by its dazzling beauty. “Oh, Blaise! You’re back!” to Marisa’s horror, Annabelle ran across the room with her 4-inch stilettos on the very sparkling tile floor. Annabelle embraced the man, his oldest brother with full of affection. “I miss you all so much, Anna,” he said.

Marisa suddenly felt an abrupt pain from her hand. Kane was squeezing her hand too tight. She saw his previously soft eyes became hard as he stared at his brother. “Kane!”

A stern voice was heard from the other side of the door. The Earl was there, with his cane, a symbol of his status. “Announcing the arrival of the Earl of Earhart! And Sir Giancana!”

“Good evening, father,” Blaise smiled and hugged his father. The Earl let out a soft laughter when hugged him back. “It’s been a year since you’ve returned, my son. How are you?” he asked, patting his head. “I feel the same as always. I just missed all of you,” he admitted so lovingly. Their father laughed again and turned his focus towards his youngest son. Kane flinched as soon as his eyes met his fathers’. “Kane. What brings you here?”

“Papa!” Tristan and Annabelle exclaimed in unison.

Kane’s heart was throbbing painfully. It was just as how he expected. He slowly let go of Marisa’s hand. “Kane?” she whispered. “I’m sorry I couldn’t join you tonight, my Marise. I hope we can meet again,” he whispered to her ear. “Again, you look lovely. As always,” he said and slowly walked away without looking at anyone’s face. She watched him leave in surprise. She turned to his father whose face was full of concern. “I-I’m sorry, Earl…I’d better go check on Kane. He promised to show me something before. I’d better go see it now before he forgets,” she said and briskly left. It was a lie of course.

Kane was far along the hallway now even though she left the room just seconds after him. She saw him tear opened his shirt, exposing his bare skin and ruffled his hair in frustration ruining his neat hair. He then suddenly turned to exit the building. She followed him to the garden when she realized where he was going. She couldn’t call out his name right now. Not now. Because Kane was sitting in front of a grave far behind the garden.

She was close enough to see the carvings of the gravestone in the dark.

‘HERE LIES THE COUNTESS OF EARHART, ESME CELESTE REGINE DIETRICH. A LOVING MOTHER, A FAITHFUL WIFE, A GRACEFUL DAUGHTER. ON THE DAY YOU WENT AWAY, YOU TOOK A PART OF US WITH YOU. IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU. YOU ARE ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS.

MARCH 3rd 1963 – DECEMBER 17TH 2005.’

Kane sat with his legs crossed and faced upwards towards the heavens. She thought she saw his mouth moved but she couldn’t hear anything other than the cold rustling night breeze. She knew he was speaking to his mother. Something in her wanted her to go and sit with him. But instead, she stayed still. She understood how it felt. When he woke up from her coma with no memory whatsoever, she felt devastated as well as guilty. She used to sit in the attic alone to give herself some time to think. She needed to be alone.

The same thing happened to Kane. He needed to be alone. She was staring at him long enough to notice he wasn’t talking. He was singing. He was looking at the starry sky, eyes closed and head swaying to the sides. She couldn’t understand the words as he sang louder as if to comfort himself. But she found it to be a beautiful song, fit for a night like this.

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A/N: Ah...demm. I'm sure you will find lots of grammar, vocabs and spelling mistakes here. It's just that i'm TOO lazy to double check heh heh. Hopefully you enjoyed and more is coming!