Ashes of the Past

Valeria entered her room and saw Arthur and Luciano standing with worry written all over their faces.

"So?" Arthur asked. Valeria didn't reply to them, even though they were on the verge of losing their minds. She picked up a glass and poured herself water.

"Vionessa suspects that I have a grudge against her family!" Valeria blurted out. Arthur frowned. Valeria looked pale.

"Are you okay , Val?" "Did the old witch hurt you?" He asked and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"No, she didn't; she didn't hurt me, but for a moment I thought she discovered the truth about my identity ."

Valeria stuttered. Luciano came forward and held her hands.

"That's the reason why we are here, to protect you " . "As long as we are here, Vionessa or anyone from her family will not be able to harm you in any way." He reassured.

***

Selena walked down the stairs and saw an unfamiliar figure in the living room. His back was facing her, but she could tell that he had an astonishing physique.

He was wearing a black top and a pair of black trousers. His hands looked so strong that she felt her throat go dry from just looking.

The man turned, and Selena felt her heart skip a beat. If she was impressed before, now she was speechless.

The man before looked like he was made when God was in an excellent mood. His skin looked so pale, like that of a baby, and his lips.... His lips were so pink that Selena wondered if he was wearing a lip liner. Her eyes moved to his chest, and she swallowed hard. His chest looked so strong-his pecs were almost bulging out of his shirt.

And his tattoos....

"Good day, ma'am." Arthur greeted. Selena blinked and snapped out of her daydream She nodded and left. She couldn't say anything because she knew she just embarrassed herself.

Without thinking, Selena ran into the hallway with her cheeks flushed and her eyes closed. She didn't know when she bumped into someone.

Selena closed her eyes and expected to fall. But a pair of strong hands caught her; she managed to open her eyes, and she almost fell again.

The man in front of her looked like the man that she just saw in the living room. He had the same face, the same pink lips.

From the way he held her, she knew he was stronger. She stood awkwardly before she could melt into his embrace.

"Did you disappear from the living room?" Selena stuttered; she was still trying to gain her composure. Luciano frowned, but he smiled when he realized something.

"Oh, that wasn't me, ma'am; that was Arthur, my twin brother." He said with a smile that made Selena uneasy.

"I'm Luciano, by the way."

He said and brought his hands forward for a handshake. Selena took his hand; her eyes still didn't leave his face, though.

"I'm Selena, Selena Ravenmoor."

She replied. Luciano nodded and left. Selena sighed in relief. She dealt with one, and a few minutes later she fell into the arms of the other one.

"This isn't good." Selena exclaimed and went upstairs.Xavier stopped by the kitchen to take an apple.

He saw Valeria washing dishes in the kitchen, and he decided to troll her.

"You are becoming quite comfortable here, aren't you?" he asked as he chewed the apple. Valeria sighed.

She didn't know if Vionessa was worse than her son at this point. "Is there anything you need, sir?" she asked. An idea hit Xavier, and he nodded.

"I want chicken soup made with only chicken breasts, and I want Chinese sushi." He said calmly. Valeria nodded, but she didn't know what was coming next.

"I want you to buy the ingredients from the market by yourself.

Xavier blurted out and dropped a credit card on the kitchen counter. He looked at his wristwatch and then at her.

"I want it done in less than two hours." He said it calmly and left. Valeria cursed inwardly. If Vionessa was an old witch, then Xavier was a wizard. She quickly rounded up the dishwashing and left.

It's a good thing that she took catering classes before coming to work as a full-time helper for the Ravenmoors.

The house was quiet until Vionessa came in with someone. Selena was in the living room when they arrived.

She saw the familiar person beside her mother, and she jumped for joy.

"Aunt Vina!" she squealed and ran into the woman's arms. Ravina caught her, and she smiled.

"Hi, Aunt." Selena greeted after the woman kissed her hair. "Have you been a good girl, Selena?"

Ravina asked with a smile. "Yes aunty, and if Mom had said you were coming, I would have organized a welcome party for you!"

She replied with a smile. Ravina chuckled They both went inside the house together, and they wouldn't stop talking.

Vionessa smiled as she watched them. Selena isn't one that warms up to people or associates with people.

Ravina is one of the few people that she opens up to And that is no surprise, because Ravina is Vionessa's childhood friend and Selena's godmother.

She left Puerto Estrella for over twenty years after being involved in an accident, and this is the first time she is visiting the place after all these years.

They used to meet in places for vacations; Selena even stayed with Ravina for some years, but this was the first time that Ravina set foot in the country after all those years.

Xavier came downstairs and greeted her. He wasn't surprised to see her-his mother had already informed him that Ravina was visiting.

Typical Vionessa telling Xavier everything. Meanwhile, in the market.

Valeria was throwing curses everywhere. She didn't understand why Xavier hated her.

She hates him too, but it's for a good reason. Xavier ruined her life in a way, so it was expected that she hate him.

But Xavier? He doesn't have any reason to hate the new maid, but for some reason he does.

From the moment he set his eyes on her, he has been showing her different shades of hostility.

Valeria sighed and collected the last items.

She checked the time, and more than twenty minutes had passed Sh*t! She cursed and packed the bags.

On getting to the mansion, Valeria continued cursing. She still couldn't understand why Xavier was acting like a b*tch.

Valeria went to the kitchen and started preparing the meal. She loved cooking, so that made her calm down.

Valeria finished cooking, and she served the food to Xavier. He took the food and looked at his time.

"Right on time." Valeria said confidently. He shot her a hard glare.

She turned to leave, and he asked her to stand there.

Valeria nodded and cursed inwardly. Xavier tasted the food; he chewed slowly and raised a brow.

"I know it's good, sir." Valeria said again she knew she was being cocky, but she could trust her cooking skills.

Xavier continued eating, and he looked at Valeria. She had a proud look on her face, but she had the right to.

"So, sir, is it good?" she asked with a tone that made Xavier frown.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." He whispered and continued eating.