The New Emily Hills

NORA

"What did you put in my drink?"

My voice trembled-not with fear, but with fury as my eyes burned with rage while staring at Andres, the man seated casually in front of me. This was the same man I once regarded as family, the man my father trusted with his life, his best friend.

And yet, there he was-smirking shamelessly, lazily inhaling tobacco smoke as if he were merely enjoying a pleasant afternoon. He sat comfortably, legs crossed, as though I were nothing more than a source of mild entertainment.

"You think too highly of yourself, Nora," he said mockingly, completely ignoring my question. "I never imagined it would be this easy to fool you."

"What did you put in my drink?" I repeated, my voice now firm and demanding, refusing to break even as I felt something horribly wrong spreading through my body.

I forced myself to stay upright, to appear strong, even as numbness slowly crept into my limbs. My fingers refused to move. Panic threatened to surface, but I swallowed it down as the realization struck me. I was losing control of my body.

I had a feeling that it wouldn't be long before I was completely paralyzed.

He burst into loud laughter, clearly amused as he watched my slow collapse.

"I must admit, I'm impressed by your self-control," he continued, clearly enjoying himself. "If you're someone else, you would have already collapsed on the floor by now. Since you managed to entertain me, let me share something... interesting."

I stayed silent, allowing him to continue even though every instinct screamed that I wouldn't like whatever was about to come out of his mouth.

"I killed your father."

My eyes widened in shock. I wanted to clench my fists, to lash out at him, but my hands were completely numb. Whatever Andres had slipped into my drink was poisoning my entire system, creeping mercilessly through my veins.

"Just like you, he was foolish enough to trust me," he continued coldly. "You're probably wondering why I killed him. It's simple-he stole Esmeralda from me. Your mother."

My mind reeled. I couldn't process his words.

"I met Esmeralda first," he went on. "But your father seduced her, and it eventually led to their marriage."

Despite the weakness overtaking me, a crooked smile formed on my lips. He noticed, and it infuriated him.

"Let's see how long you can keep smiling," he sneered before continuing.

"Of course, I couldn't accept losing Esmeralda, so I kidnapped her. Your idiot father even had the audacity to ask me for help to find her. I claimed your mother repeatedly. I showed her what real love felt like. But I didn't realize that your father had already poisoned her mind, and she started longing for him again."

His eyes darkened as his obsession spilled freely from his lips.

"I indulged myself in her, fuck her like my life depended on it. I planned to hide her away for good-but my wife caught me. I had no choice but to let Esmeralda go. What mattered was this. She will never be happy with your father again. I even staged her discovery, pretending I found her in an abandoned warehouse, lifeless."

My jaw clenched painfully as rage and frustration surged through me. Every fiber of my being wanted to tear Andres apart, to make him suffer for everything he had done to my parents.

But I was weak-powerless.

And worse... I never even knew Andres had a wife.

"After you're gone," he said smugly, "I'll take over your organization. So tell me-how does it feel knowing you'll lose everything?"

I forced another smile onto my lips, even as my vision blurred.

"I–I may die," I stammered weakly, "b–but you will never... ever... get my organization. You can never lay a hand on what's mine."

Summoning what little strength I had left, I attempted to spit at him, but my saliva barely left my mouth before falling uselessly to the floor.

I was consumed by rage and hatred, yet utterly unable to move.

I wanted to kill him.

"Hahaha!" he laughed loudly as my eyelids slowly began to close. "Oh, and since you were so curious-what did I put in your drink? It's a new drug developed by my organization. You're a test subject. I never expected it to be this effective."

He stood up after saying that.

What happened next, I never knew.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

But before that, blurry figures of people started coming into the room.

***

"Two hundred joules. Clear!"

Pain shot through my body.

What was that?

Beep... beep... beep...

"Doc, her vitals are stabilized now."

Whose voices were those? Where did that electric sensation come from?

"Good. Keep monitoring the patient. We can't afford to be complacent."

"Okay, doc."

I heard footsteps moving away, followed by the sound of a door opening and closing.

"Poor girl," another woman's voice whispered. "Her husband didn't even come to visit her."

"Shh! Keep your voice down. The patient might hear you."

"I guess this is really how the world of the wealthy people works," the voice muttered before they exited the room.

I remained trapped in darkness.

I could hear them-but why couldn't I see anything? Why couldn't I open my eyes?

Am I dead?

Is this the afterlife?

Why does everything feel so chaotic?

I tried to open my eyes, but I failed. I had no strength left.

Right... I'm dead.

But then-

"Emily... Emily, dear, please wake up."

Who was that? Why were they making noise beside me?

"Emily, it's Mommy. Please, open your eyes."

I could only hear her voice, but I felt the pain, worry, and overwhelming love behind it.

Soon, sobbing filled the room-and it irritated me. I didn't want to hear any noise.

"Esmeralda, let her rest," a man's voice said gently. "The doctor said she needs to sleep."

Esmeralda?

That's my mother's name.

No.

My mother is dead.

"But Rod, look at our daughter," the woman cried again.

I was getting annoyed. I needed to wake up and make her stop.

I tried-once, twice, countless times-until a blinding light pierced my vision.

"Emily!" two voices exclaimed at once.

I closed my eyes again, then heard the man speak.

"I'll call the doctor."

Footsteps faded away, followed by the door opening and closing. When I opened my eyes again, an older woman with swollen, reddened eyes appeared before me. There was a gentle smile on her lips, one filled with sincerity.

Who the hell is this woman?

"Emily, my daughter..."

Why was she calling me Emily? Why was she calling me her child?

She was about to speak again when the man returned with someone else.

"Let me check on her," said a man in a white coat-a doctor.

He reached for my hand, but I pulled away instinctively and glared at him.

"I need to examine you," he said calmly. "I won't hurt you."

Behind him were two nurses watching me closely.

"Emily, dear," the older woman pleaded. "Let the doctor check you so we know you're okay."

I looked at her again.

Something about her expression-her desperation-made me feel an unfamiliar ache in my chest. Against my will, I felt pity.

I said nothing. I simply looked at the doctor and nodded.

He examined me thoroughly before finally asking, "Do you feel any pain? Especially in your head?"

Why did he need to know that?

I instinctively touched my head and felt bandages wrapped around it.

"W–What... h–happened?" I croaked.

My voice was hoarse, my throat burning as I rubbed it gently.

"Water?" the woman asked, rushing to get some.

"Just dampen her lips for now," the doctor instructed. "We still need to run more tests."

"Okay, doc."

I watched her carefully as she soaked cotton in water and gently brushed it against my lips.

I didn't know why, but something about her made my chest feel tight-uneasy.

I felt unbearably thirsty, as if I hadn't had water in a year. I wanted more-but I couldn't.

"W–Who are you?" I finally asked.

Silence fell.

The woman looked as if she were about to collapse, but the older man quickly supported her.

They turned to the doctor, silently asking questions.

"She likely has amnesia," he explained. "Whether it's temporary or permanent, we don't know yet. She needs further tests. This is normal, considering she suffered head trauma."

Head trauma?

What did Andres do to me after I lost consciousness?

"Emily... I'm your Mom."

Emily?

Mom?

What the hell is she talking about?