The next two years passed in the twinkling of an eye with Genevieve—or to be more exact—her aunt trying to track down any of the staff who had been working at the mansion at the time of the incident.
From what she was told, Genevieve had realized that her aunt also had no idea what business her sister's family had dabbled in that put them under the target of dangerous people. They spent each waking hours they had making research on the internet and monitoring news outlets for any suspicious news that might mention her family's name.
But it never came until Anna came home one day with one of the guards who had been working in the mansion at the time of the incident.
~
Genevieve opened the door of the basement room she had lived in for the past two years, her eyes dilating in surprise when she saw that her aunt had company. She looked the man up and down, taking note of his amputated hand and built physique.
He looked like a bodyguard, but it was impossible to work as a guard while missing a hand, right?
''Aunt Anna,'' she called, after giving the man a court but respectful nod. ''Uh… is this someone I know?''
''Probably,'' Her aunt flashed her a reassuring smile before turning to the man, ''Come in, Mister.''
Genevieve continued to hold the door open, and as soon as they stepped in, she closed it behind them. She had barely turned the lock when the man snatched her hands and squeezed it hard, tears pooling at the rim of his eyes.
His intimidating physique contrasted sharply with the tears in his eyes, but he didn't seem to mind as he only pulled her closer.
''You are really alive, Young Miss. I… We all thought you died that day. How did you survive—No, that's not the point. Are you alright? Were you wounded?''
Genevieve blinked rapidly, not needing anyone to elaborate before she understood which day the man was talking about. Snatching her hand from his tight grip, her gaze hardened as she asked, ''I am alive. And I am alright. Who are you, though?''
Her aunt was the one who answered.
''Mr Rick, here was one of the elite guards who worked for your parents. Needless to say, he was one of those who fought against the intruders on that fateful day, and that's also what made him lose one of his hands.''
Genevieve's eyes softened at that, lowering to the man's hand and seeing it in a different way this time. Once again, her desire for revenge was refueled at the reminder that her family weren't the only ones who had lost their lives on that day.
Some of their employees also had; while the rest were rendered handicapped in one way or the other. A perfect example being this man standing in front of her right now.
''I…'' she paused, biting down on her lip to rein in the emotions threatening to spill. ''I am so sorry for what happened that day, Mr Rick. It was my fault… and if I had just allowed Papa to—''
''Don't,'' Anna interrupted her, ''I told you to stop blaming yourself, didn't I? The incident would have happened whether you liked it or not, as long as the people who initiated it still exist. Anyway, I met Mr Rick here by pure luck at one of the NGOs who want to provide extra funds for the orphanage. He recognized me immediately, and we were able to talk, so I brought him here in case you have any questions you might want to ask him.''
''I have a lot,'' Genevieve stated.
Anna shrugged slightly. ''I knew you had to. So go ahead and ask your questions. Mr Rick has a flight to catch; he's leaving the country in two hours.''
''What? Why? Why is he leaving so early?! I know he's not bound to my family forever, but…'' Genevieve questioned, shock evident in her voice.
''It's alright, Young Miss,'' the man chuckled, his laugh carrying a hint of sadness. ''I live abroad with my family now. Most of us guards and workers who were able to survive that day left the country as soon as we could afford it. We were scared the attackers who killed Master and Madam would come after us, too.''
For the first time in two years, Genevieve felt like some of the invisible loads on her shoulder had been lifted up. Her eyes brightened earnestly.
''Your words... That means you know who they are." The words came out sounding more like a statement than the question it was intended to be. "Who are they, the people who killed my parents? Did my parents wrong them in an unforgivable manner? Maybe that's not right. Mama and Papa… were they dabbling in illegal business? Was that why our family was always super secretive with everything they did? Was that why they were always prepared to be attacked every time and everywhere? Was that the reason why they had guards take and accompany me to and from school? The attack that day… was it a payback for what they have been doing to other people?'' her words came out in a rush, and she could not help but hold her breath when she was done.
The questions had bothered her every day for the past two years, even though her whole being had protested against the possibility of her parents being bad people like the people that came to take their lives. Now that she was getting the first, and probably the last chance to get her answer, nothing, not even the niggling thought that she might not like the answer she would get, was going to stop her.
"Tell me the truth, Mr Rick," she asked earnestly.
''What, Young Miss?!'' The man exclaimed, his face instantly morphing into disbelief. ''How could you think that of your own parents? I understand that they probably kept you out of the loop concerning everything that has to do with the family business, but still… have they ever done anything to make you feel they are bad people?''
''No, they haven't,'' Genevieve replied, shaking her head. ''But I still have to clear all thoughts that might make me think twice about revenge, from my mind. You mentioned the family business just now so I presume you know everything I don't know about them.''
The man averted his gaze from hers, causing her to probe, ''See, Mr Rick. I wouldn't ask you this if there was anyone else to ask. You must know that I didn't waste the past two years sitting around and doing nothing; i tried researching on the internet, but nothing came up when I searched my family's name."
She clasped her hand together, her eyes shrouding in disappointment, "I looked through social media platforms, news magazines, and even crime shows, but nothing came from my search. If i didn't live with them, I'd think they never existed. So please, whatever it is that you know about them, just tell me. It will go a long way in helping me sleep well at night... even though i know I don't deserve to.''
Mr Rick lifted his gaze, seemingly regarding her for the next few seconds before sucking in a deep breath.
''You are right, Young Miss. I don't think anyone can find out who your parents are with a simple internet search, given how even most of us staff who worked with them, didn't know much about them until they trusted us enough to tell us." He gave a small nod. "But I'll tell you everything I know about them and the attack that day, if it means this much to you.''
''It does! And I will take anything,'' Genevieve nodded eagerly, gratitute written all over her face. ''Don't even spare what you think might be the most useless information...'' She trailed off when her aunt placed a hand on a shoulder, calming her down.
''Relax, Genevieve. Rick knows just how important this is to us, so I'm sure he won't hold any important info back. Why don't we take our seats?''
Nodding in agreement to her aunt's words, Genevieve led the man to the only chair in the room. She waited until he was settled in it before going to sit beside her aunt on the only other furniture in the room; the small bed in the corner.
Rick started immediately she was seated, unable to bear the inpatient energy permeating the air in the room.
''I think I should start with this, Young Miss. The reason you didn't find anything about your family when you searched the internet is probably because you searched the wrong name."
"What do you mean wrong name?"
"What?!"
Genevieve and Anna chorused simultaneously, unable to believe what they were hearing.
Having expected their reaction, Rick didn't waste a second and continued, "Armani isn't your family name, Young Miss. It's just a name your parents chose because it was common in the district the mansion was situated at.''
Genevieve brows furrowed in confusion.
''What are you saying, Mr Rick? Are you trying to make a joke here or what?"
The man's stoic expression told her everything she needed to know. That he wasn't joking. "Wait... how is that possible? I know my name, my Papa's name, Mama's name, and Vince's name. Their full names. Except I'm adopted, which is totally impossible, how else would I have a different surname to theirs?''
''I didn't say you have a different surname to theirs, Young Miss. I'm saying that the name Armani is not—'' Rick cut himself off at the disbelieving expression on both women faces. ''Look, Young Miss, I was privileged to travel with the master and madam on most of their business trips. Either to far away districts or abroad, and as difficult as it must be for you to believe, trust me when I say they aren't addressed as Armanis' in those meetings."
Genevieve stared at him speechlessly. Turning to her aunt, she saw the same look mirrored on the latter's face and sighed.
"I believe you," she finally said.
At this point, she would believe whatever anyone who once knew her parents said about them. Why not? It was now obvious that even though she lived with them for 16 whole years; she hadn't known those people, or even herself.
The only part of them she had been privileged to know completely were their souls and the feelings they held towards her. Their love for her, as their daughter and sister. She forced a wry smile, flashing it at Rick.
"If they weren't addressed as Armanis', then what were they addressed as?"
"Valenciara... The Valenciaras," Rick replied.