“Are you ready, Lily? Seduce him so his memory comes back. Kiss him on the lips—maybe he’ll remember how your kiss felt,” Olivia teased.
“Stop it, sis.”
“Why stop? Isn’t that your purpose, to bring back his memory? Serving him won’t be enough. You have to recreate the happy moments you shared together. Let’s see if he doesn’t remember you.”
“What if he remembers me but rejects me?” I asked, worried.
“Don’t think about that yet. Focus on your mission,” she said.
When I put on the fake teeth I had made to disguise myself so Arlo or anyone else wouldn’t recognize me, Olivia screamed. My mouth looked comically large.
“Do you think Arlo would even want to kiss me looking like this?” I joked.
Her eyes widened even more when I added a large black mole on the side of my eye.
“Lily, I think you’re going to scare Arlo with your appearance. Instead of making him remember you, you might make his situation worse!” Olivia exclaimed, laughing. I joined in her laughter.
“Trust me, sis, I’ll bewitch him, especially that Valerie,” I said, laughing at Big Sister Violet’s reaction, as well as Maria’s disbelief at my antics—especially since I had asked Maria to buy black and red candles from the market.
“Tell me you’re joking, Lily .”
“Sis, when have I ever joked?” I replied.
“Lily, I bet Arlo will kick you out of his apartment within 24 hours,” Olivia said, laughing at me.
“I’ll use it for something else.”
“Lily, since when did you start believing in such nonsense?”
“Just yesterday,” I answered seriously.
“Include Arlo’s mother too. Maybe it will bring back her old personality,” Olivia teased.
“That’s possible,” I replied with a grin.
LILY
As I entered Arlo’s new apartment, I couldn’t quite explain what I was feeling. I was nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time.
This apartment was much bigger than his previous one. The architect who designed it was very creative; the design felt fresh, and even the furniture was elegant. Compared to my apartment, Arlo’s was far more impressive. I couldn’t help but marvel at how cozy and tidy it was—Arlo had always been meticulous about his belongings.
Looking around, I thought of how much Gabriella had inherited Arlo’s organized nature. My eyes wandered across the unit, and I felt strangely at home.
An older woman approached me. She was already dressed as if she were about to leave, which I knew she was doing that day. She led me to the room that would be mine.
“Oh, daughter, I’m Rita. Philip explained your purpose here in Sir Arlo’s apartment. Don’t worry; I understand everything. Just tell Arlo that you’re my niece. Also, sorry if I won’t address you as ‘ma’am.’ We can’t afford for Sir Arlo to figure things out,” Rita said.
“It’s okay, Aunt Rita. Thank you so much. I just need to do this for my family,” I replied softly.
“Everything will turn out fine, daughter. Trust in the Lord and pray; He will grant us what we ask for,” she said with a comforting smile.
“Thank you again.”
“Come, daughter, I’ll show you to your room,” she said, and I followed her.
The room she opened for me was near the kitchen. It was spacious, and the furnishings were brand new, including the bed. I was sure Philip had ensured that my room was well-prepared.
“I’ll handle unpacking my belongings, Rita,” I said as she was about to take the suitcase from my hand.
“Alright, daughter. I’ll also show you where everything is in the kitchen and other areas. Later, when Sir Arlo isn’t around, we’ll go upstairs, and I’ll tell you which items of his you’re not allowed to touch and which must always be in their proper places. I’m sure you know Arlo better than I do when it comes to his belongings,” Rita said with a chuckle.
“Not everything, Aunt Rita. I just need to know about the kitchen and some other essentials—I’ll handle the rest,” I replied.
After our conversation, Rita excused herself to sort out her things. I picked up my phone to call my mom and check on my twins. Even though it had only been one night since they left, it felt like a year to me. Just as I was about to dial my mom’s number, the doorbell rang repeatedly. My heart pounded as panic set in.
Since Rita was still inside, I knew I needed to act like I was already working. I glanced at myself in the large mirror to check my appearance. I made sure the mole on the side of my eye was still there.
“Thank God,” I muttered, relieved that the mole was still in place.
I smiled at my reflection, only to be startled by how my lips looked. It was as if I’d been stung by a bee.
“Pull yourself together, June,” I scolded myself in front of the mirror, almost forgetting my new name.
