Falling For The True Heiress

Amelia slowly opened her eyes as the first weak rays of morning sunlight slipped through the hospital curtains.

The room was quiet, except for the soft beeping of the monitor beside her bed and the occasional sound of footsteps passing outside the door. Her body still felt heavy, and there was a dull weakness in her arms and legs as she shifted slightly beneath the white hospital sheets.

She turned her head to the side and immediately noticed Sylvia.

Sylvia had fallen asleep in the chair beside the bed. She had leaned forward and rested her head against the edge of Amelia’s mattress. One of her arms was folded beneath her head while the other hung loosely beside the chair.

Her black hair had fallen over part of her face, and the position of her neck made it obvious that she couldn’t have been comfortable.

Amelia stared at her quietly. A strange feeling settled inside her chest.

She didn’t like seeing Sylvia like that.

Sylvia had stayed beside her throughout the day instead of going somewhere comfortable to sleep. Even the chair looked too small for anyone to sleep on.

Amelia slowly pushed herself up a little. The movement made the mattress creak softly, and she paused when she felt a faint ache run through her body.

Her eyes moved toward the blanket lying near the end of the bed.

She reached for it. Her fingers closed around the soft fabric, and she carefully pulled it toward herself. After a few attempts, she managed to lift it and place it over Sylvia’s shoulders.

Sylvia moved slightly.

Amelia froze. She watched her carefully, afraid she might wake up.

But Sylvia only shifted her head against the mattress and settled back into sleep.

Amelia released a quiet breath.

She looked at Sylvia for another moment before gently moving a strand of hair away from her face.

The room suddenly felt different. There was something peaceful about seeing Sylvia asleep beside her.

Amelia lowered her hand.

The door suddenly opened, and the soft sound immediately caught her attention.

She turned toward the entrance.

Someone walked into the room, and Amelia’s expression changed.

Janina.

The sight of her made Amelia’s body go still.

Her dream immediately flashed through her mind.

Amelia’s fingers tightened around the bedsheet.

Her breathing became slower as she tried to control the fear rising inside her.

It was only a dream.

She knew that.

Still, the image was fresh enough to make her skin feel cold. She didn’t want Janina to notice that she was afraid of her.

Amelia forced her shoulders to relax and kept her face as calm as she could.

Janina walked farther into the room with an ugly smirk on her face.

"If it’s not my half-dead cousin, who will it be?" she said cruelly, letting out a mocking scoff.

Her eyes moved over Amelia’s hospital gown and the wires connected to the machines around the bed.

Amelia said nothing.

Janina took another step forward. She looked down at the bed and noticed Sylvia sleeping beside it.

Her expression changed immediately. Her fingers tightened into a grip.

She had heard that Amelia had anemia.

The news had already reached her, and seeing Amelia lying weakly in the hospital only made her more satisfied.

A small smile appeared on Janina’s lips as she walked toward the bed.

Amelia watched her carefully.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. Her voice came out quieter than she intended, but she quickly steadied herself.

Janina shrugged.

"I just came to see how my girlfriend was doing since you decided to stress her."

As she spoke, she looked toward Sylvia.

Amelia frowned.

"What?"

The corner of Janina’s lips lifted. She had noticed the confusion immediately.

It was exactly what she wanted.

Janina looked back at Amelia, studying her face before glancing at Sylvia again.

"You mean she’s your girlfriend?" Amelia asked.

The question came slowly. Her heart tightened as she managed to ask it.

Janina’s smile widened.

"What were you thinking before, Amelia?" she asked with a quiet laugh. "You can’t possibly have a girlfriend."

Amelia’s gaze moved toward Sylvia. The words struck something inside her.

Her dream returned again.

Maybe they got close to me to kill me, she thought.

Her fingers slowly curled into the sheets.

She remembered the feeling of fear from the dream.

Amelia swallowed.

Janina noticed the confusion on her face and smiled even wider. She could see that Amelia was struggling with what she had just said.

"Now you know she’s my girlfriend," Janina said.

Amelia looked at her.

Janina took another step closer to the bed.

"Better stay away from her, or I won’t guarantee your safety."

The words settled heavily in the quiet room.

Amelia’s throat went dry. For a moment, she couldn’t respond.

She looked down at Sylvia.

Sylvia was still asleep. Her face was peaceful, completely unaware of the conversation happening only a few feet away from her.

Amelia’s fingers curled into a tight fist. Her knuckles turned white.

There was something frightening about the way Janina spoke.

It wasn’t the kind of warning someone gave as a joke.

There was something behind her eyes. Something cold.

Amelia slowly raised her gaze. Janina was watching her.

Amelia swallowed hard.

"Fine," she finally said. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I will stay away from her."

Janina’s smile returned. "Good."

She straightened and turned toward the door. The sound of her shoes against the hospital floor was soft but clear in the quiet room.

Amelia watched her walk away.

Janina reached the door and placed her hand on the handle.

She wanted to leave before Sylvia woke up.

She didn’t want Sylvia to hear their conversation.

But before opening the door, Janina stopped. She looked back over her shoulder.

Her eyes went directly to Sylvia, then they shifted toward Amelia.

"Keep your promise."

Amelia didn’t answer.

Janina’s gaze hardened. She glared at Amelia one last time before turning toward the door. Her hand tightened around the handle.

Inside her mind, a cruel thought formed.

I will make sure you lose everything you have, Amelia.

Her lips pressed into a thin smile.

And I will make you die slowly since you insist on surviving.

Janina opened the door and stepped out.

The door closed behind her with a soft click.

Amelia remained still.

For several seconds, she didn’t move. The quietness of the room suddenly felt different.

The monitor continued beeping beside her.

Each sound seemed louder than before.

Amelia slowly looked toward the closed door.

Janina was gone, yet her words remained.

Stay away from her.

Amelia lowered her gaze. Her hand was still clenched into a fist. She slowly relaxed her fingers and looked at them.

They were trembling.

She placed one hand over the other, trying to stop the shaking.

Her eyes moved toward Sylvia. Sylvia was still asleep.

The blanket Amelia had placed over her shoulders had slipped slightly, exposing part of her arm.

Amelia stared at her.

The sight made something twist painfully inside her chest.

She didn’t understand why Janina’s words had affected her so much.

She had only said that Sylvia was her girlfriend. But the thought of staying away from Sylvia felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Amelia slowly reached toward the edge of the blanket and pulled it back over Sylvia’s arm. Her fingers lingered there for a moment, then she withdrew her hand.

The dream came back again. Amelia squeezed her eyes shut.

She didn’t want to see it. She didn’t want to think about it.

She opened her eyes again and looked at Sylvia.

She was still asleep. Her breathing was slow and steady.

Amelia watched the gentle movement of her chest for some seconds.

There was something calming about it. Something that made the fear inside her settle slightly.

Amelia slowly reached out and touched Sylvia’s hand. Her fingers rested lightly against Sylvia’s.

Sylvia’s hand was warm.

Amelia stared at their hands. A strange ache spread through her chest.

She remembered Sylvia’s voice telling her that she was her girlfriend.

She remembered the way Sylvia had stayed beside her. She remembered her holding her hand.

But now Janina had told her to stay away.

Amelia looked toward the door again. Fear tightened her stomach.

Was Janina really telling the truth?

Amelia turned her attention back to Sylvia.

Her hand was still resting over Sylvia’s.

She slowly pulled it away, then she hesitated.

Instead of completely withdrawing, she placed her hand beside Sylvia’s.

For a few seconds, she simply watched her sleep.

Outside, nurses moved along the hallway, their quiet voices occasionally reaching the room. Somewhere nearby, a trolley rolled across the floor, its wheels making a soft rattling sound.

Everything around Amelia continued as though nothing had happened.

But she couldn’t forget Janina’s warning. She couldn’t forget the look in her eyes.

Amelia lowered her gaze.

She had promised to stay away from Sylvia.

The words had already left her mouth.

But as she looked at Sylvia sleeping peacefully beside her, she felt a strange heaviness inside her.

She didn’t want to hurt Sylvia. She didn’t want to push her away.

Yet Janina’s threat still echoed in her mind.

Amelia slowly pulled her hand back and placed it against her chest.

Her heart was beating faster than usual.

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a slow breath.

When she opened them again, Sylvia was still there.

Amelia stared at her quietly. Then, without realizing it, she whispered, "Why does this feel so wrong?"

Sylvia didn’t answer.

She remained asleep.

Amelia looked away and pulled the blanket higher around herself.

The fear hadn’t disappeared.

Neither had the confusion.

And somewhere outside the room, Janina was already walking away with a satisfied smile, believing Amelia had accepted her warning.

But inside the hospital room, Amelia remained awake, staring at Sylvia and wondering why the thought of losing her hurt more than anything Janina had said.