Alexandro Mansion
The Alexandro family sat in tense silence, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken questions. When Master Alexandro entered, his presence alone commanded them to stand.
"Enough games," he said, his voice cold and final. "My personal assistant will succeed me as the CEO of the Alexandro cartel."
Aunt Gomez, eyes blazing with anger, couldn't keep quiet. "Outsiders over family? How dare you!"
"Not an outsider," Master Alexandro corrected, his voice biting. "A loyal servant, someone who can actually run this cartel."
Debbie, clearly distressed, tried to calm her mother. "I'm sure Uncle has his reasons..."
But the venom in Gomez's glare could have cut glass. "I also built this empire. I won't let some outsider run it."
Ashley stood frozen, a mere bystander. His emotions were unreadable as the cold glare of the rest of the family turned on the personal assistant, who now was both revered and hated.
As Master Alexandro departed with his assistant the murmurs began. In the shadows, Aunt Gomez hurriedly made a call.
"I'll send you his picture. You know what to do. End him like you did to Mitchell," she hissed into the phone, her voice dripping with venom.
"Understood," came the chilling reply.
Edward, the loyal butler who has been serving the Alexandro family for years, overheard it all. His face turned pale. The truth sank in like ice in his veins. Mitchell's death was really not an accident. He swore to expose her, but he needed a concrete evidence to back it all up.
---
Alexandro's Office
"Monitor every one of them. I know the person behind this is in my family,"
Master Alexandro said, staring deeply at a picture of Mitchell from years ago. His gaze was intense, but there was a slight tremor in his hand. Grief masked by power.
Ashley's voice broke through the heavy silence. "But don't you think you're gambling with my life here, boss?"
Master Alexandro's icy smile sent shivers down his spine.
"Isn't that the point? Soon, someone will make a move on you. When they do, we'll know exactly who to target."
Ashley swallowed, feeling the weight of Alexandro's words. "And what about me?"
"I'll make sure you're kept safe," Alexandro assured him with cold finality.
After a long pause, Ashley spoke again. "Boss, can I... have some time off? I haven't seen my mother in years."
"Two weeks. That's enough, right?"
"Thank you, Boss." Ashley turned, but Alexandro's voice followed him. "Watch yourself. This family is filled with snakes."
---
Ottad Village
Ashley arrived at the village, the familiar sounds of children laughing and the soft twilight bringing a brief sense of calm. He saw children greeting him, their smiles innocent.
When he got to his compound, he saw his mother, a well of emotions burst free.
"Mum!" he called, rushing towards her. The sight of her, worn with age but full of love, broke the dam in his chest.
His mother, dropping a lamp in her surprise, rushed to meet him.
"My child! I've missed you!" Her arms enveloped him in a hug that made the entire world feel right for a moment.
"I'm here now, Mum," Ashley whispered, wiping away his tears. He hadn't realized just how badly he needed this until now.
As they sat together, catching up on lost time, Ashley's face grew serious. "Mum, I need to visit someone. I'll be back soon."
"Is it Clara?" His mother's gaze hardened, warning him.
"Yes, Mum. I have to see her. Please don't try to stop me."
His mother's silent disapproval hung in the air, but she knew she couldn't stop him.
---
Grandma Eve's House
Mitchell, still grappling with fragments of his past, wandered the grounds of Grandma Eve's house. As he stepped out, he paused, his eyes meeting the person he least expected to see.
"Hi," Mitchell greeted, though his tone was distant, unreadable.
Ashley froze, shock overcoming him. The young man, who should have been dead, was standing right in front of him, alive, breathing, but utterly foreign. His mind spun. How? Why doesn't he remember me?
Mitchell's impatience soon wore thin.
"If you're not going to say anything, then keep walking." He moved past Ashley, brushing him off like a stranger.
Clara, hearing the footsteps, rushed outside and froze when she saw the two men standing awkwardly. Her voice broke the silence. "Ashley? Is that really you?"
Torn between confusion and relief, Ashley finally found his voice, but Mitchell, now back inside, glared at them through the window, something in his eyes flashing with quiet jealousy.
Later, sitting alone with his thoughts, Ashley couldn't shake the unsettling feeling deep within him. Why didn't Mitchell recognize me?
He paced in circles, plotting his next moves carefully, the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together in his mind.
The next morning, after battling the tension in his chest, Ashley returned to Grandma Eve's house, seeking answers.
"Clara," he said gently, pulling her aside. "I need to know about the man I saw yesterday".
She glanced around, before speaking.
"We found him two years ago. He was dying. He lost all his memories after a violent incident. He doesn't remember anything, not even his family."
"You sound like you care about him?" he asked curtly.
Clara's response was cautious but truthful. "I just want him to remember... but he's struggling". She said, her eyes filled with tender care.
Ashley's mind raced. The man he'd once admired, now stood before them as a blank slate. He could see the depth of Clara's feelings for him, and it ignited a storm of jealousy within.
"I can't let this go," he thought darkly.
Later that evening, Ashley couldn't shake the gnawing questions eating away at him. He'd to act fast before a stranger steals the one he had always loved right from childhood.
Determined to change the course of events, he decided to go straight to the source. He would tell the CEO, nothing could stop him. The next morning, he lied to his mum that there was an emergency in the office, just to leave without raising suspicion.
As Ashley approached the Alexandro cartel, masked men suddenly pounced on him, dragging him into an unmarked car.
"What do you want from me?!" he shouted, struggling.
His pleas were met with silence as the car lurched into motion, taking him far from the company. Hours later, they stopped.
When Ashley was thrown from the vehicle, he stumbled and regained his bearings only to be dragged into a cold, dilapidated warehouse. His eyes went wide as one of the men removed his blindfold.
Aunt Gomez stood in front of him, cold amusement on her face.
"Surprised?" she asked, watching his confusion intensify.
"You always were naïve, Ashley. Too soft. I had to deal with the same stupidity from Mitchell years ago."
The reality hit him like a hammer. "You... you killed Mitchell?"
"Of course, I did. He was nothing but a nuisance. And you? Well, you're a step too far. You might think you know things, but you're just in my way now."
The last pieces fell into place for Ashley. He swallowed hard before daring to speak.
"Before you kill me, understand this... Mitchell isn't dead. He's alive. He just doesn't remember. I can lead you straight to him."
Aunt Gomez froze, her smug façade cracking just for a second. "Lies..." she hissed, but Ashley's eyes held firm.
"And what about the CEO?" Ashley pressed on, his voice low and unwavering.
"It's a trap. He never named me as the heir. It's all to catch whoever killed Mitchell."
The silence that followed was thick, tense, as Gomez processed the revelation.