Chapter 5 The new Natalie

Chapter 5 The new Natalie

The sun penetrating in through the window woke Brielle up. She opened her eyes only to find herself in a room. Taking in the surrounding, Brielle realized that she was in the hospital. Memories of what happened last night flashed into her mind's eye. Just remembering what happened to Natalie made her want to cry. Knowing that she was now forced to live her life made the tears flow uncontrollably.

The door burst open and she looked up to see a guy walk in. He was the same one in the pictures she had seen. The same man she has been instructed to kill. Archer's mortal enemy-Prince Sinclair Miller.

"How do you feel?" He asked.

Brielle had to admit that apart from having a handsome face, he also has a perfect voice and she couldn't take her eyes off him. The door opened again and someone walked in. Looking up at the door, Brielle gasped out in dismay when she saw the person. Why is he here?! She mused.

Still starring at the man who just walked in, Sinclair Miller who has been starring at her finally turned around to look at the intruder.

"What do you want?" He asked impatiently.

"Well I just want to know how the young miss is doing your highness." The man said

"You ate not a part of my team so who are you? or better still who sent you?" Sinclair asked

"It's my boss, Archer Allen." He replied.

"I should have known!" Sinclair hissed, a angry look settling on his expression.

Brielle stared at the Prince and saw the way he reacted with just seeing one of Archer's guards. She recognized the man because he was the one who had always hang around Archer and she was sure that he came in only to confirm that she hadn't been telling the Prince any thing about the plan. The thought of Archer's funny nature makes her so angry.

"You can tell him to mind his darn business and the next time you come in like that without knocking, I will personally throw you in jail." Sinclair said angrily.

The guard only bowed his head after giving Brielle a warning look before he left the room.

"The nerve of that bastard! How dare he send his guard here to check on you?! You were never close with him, Natalie! So how come he is asking about you?"

"I...I...I-" She couldn't utter a thing because she was scared of rattling the whole plans out. Any wrong words would ruin all of Archer's plans and that would mean loosing her father.

"It was our engagement party last night, you should have had enough decency to have stay behind after the great scandal you caused." He said again.

"Scandal? I caused a scandal?" She asked.

"Yes, You did. Don't tell me that this little accident you had, has erased your memory."

"I really don't know what your talking about."

"The doctor said you only hit your head and suffered a bruise which he thinks it hadn't been caused by the accident more like a punch on the face and something I can't remember."

He was probably talking about the punch the impact of the hit on her head and the last blow on her face.

"Apart from that you are perfectly okay. You certainly can't be having amnesia and besides you have to tell me how you ended up running your car into a tree." He demanded.

"I...I can't remember anything." She lied.

"You were perfectly alright when you left the party. You didn't even drink."

"I don't know what went wrong. I have no idea." She touched her bruised face.

"Fine, if you don't want to tell me. That's your problem. We aren't that close to want to pry in each other lives."

To know that Natalie and the Prince weren't close enough with each other only made her feel wary. How can two people who want to spend the rest of their lives together not meddle in each other affairs?! She wondered. Brielle has never had a guy who cherished her or loved her. Working a lot made her so busy that she hardly had time for it. But now she has no option than to be in a relationship which she certainly doesn't want!

"What matters now is what you did at the party. You really got everyone angry." He said.

She sighed gently. Brielle doesn't know what Natalie did before she left the party yesterday. The stupid Archer should have at least have some knowledge in this before sending her into the dragon's den. Now what would she say to him?

Suddenly his phone began to ring and he let out a hiss before picking it. After speaking on it for a while, he turned it off.

"That is my mom, she has just called to tell me that we are all over the news again."

"Can you please tell me what happened last night?" She asked as gently as she could mutter.

"My goodness! So it is really easy for you to forget right?" He asked. Anger was clear in his expression.

"I didn't forget it on purpose...no I mean I was caught up in an accident and I can't recall some few things anymore."

"Fine then since you claim to be having a temporary amnesia, I will tell you what you did. Yesterday was supposed to be the day we get engaged but due to your stupid pride you have made it all useless. Have a look at this!' He said, tossing his phone at her.

Brielle picked up the phone see Natalie kissing a man at the balcony. It was clear that she wasn't aware someone was filming her. A while later she saw a picture of Natalie and her lover kissing being displayed on the big screen at the engagement party. she wondered if leaking a video of Natalie kissing someone else was all Archer's plot. If only Natalie had known that entering her car would be the last one for her that night then she probably would have stayed back at the party.

"So? What do you have to say to that?" He questioned fiercely

She sighed. "I am sorry for causing all this problem." She didn't miss the surprised look on his expression. What is wrong now? Did she just said something wrong? She mused.

For a while Sinclair kept on starring at her. Did Natalie Harrison just say sorry for causing a problem? Has something come over her? Perhaps has her brain be affected by the accident? He can't seem to believe that Natalie Harrison just apologized to him. She was so calm. And she was screaming at him or hauling insults for nagging her.

When Sinclair saw the video of her kissing another guy, he didn't feel jealous or to feel the things that should be felt by an engage besotted guy. He wasn't i n love with her and she can have her own lover for all he care but she could at least have done it with a little bit of discretion.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Brielle asked.

He didn't take his eyes off her. It kind of feels strange and he doesn't know why. He feels that the Natalie Harrison that woke up after the accident is different from the one of the past. Why he was feeling that way he would never know. Could just be his head wishing for a better Natalie. He thought before putting it at the back of his mind that he needed to see the doctor again.

"You surprise me, Natalie. You never apologize to people but suddenly here you are! Apologizing to me? I should surely be surprised right?" Sinclair asked searching her face for a while but it remained as blank as possible.

Odd. He was able to read her thoughts by reading her face and tell what she was thinking so easily in the past but now, he can't possibly read a thing. Has she built some kind of barrier around herself?

"Was I that really bad?" She asked.

It was at that point he concluded that, Natalie needed to have her brain checked again. She has certainly forgotten that she has a bad character. A personality which almost everyone hate including himself. If it hadn't been for the merger, he would have left but he had to wait. He would keep on waiting until he gets the chance to get her signature on the document and then he would leave her life completely.

"As bad a witch, you tormented always everyone around you." Sinclair replied, still staring at her. He wanted to make her feel guilty for a while. "You are a very-" He was interrupted by the opening of the door and it revealed her parents.

"Finally she is up!" Minister Harrison said. "Good to see you are awake!"

"You have brought nothing but disgrace to us, Natalie! Nothing but disgrace!" Her mother yelled at her.

Brielle sat on the bed and stared at them while they yelled out words at her for ruining her engagement party. Natalie must have had a whole lot on her plate. She didn't say anything until they were done.

She heaved a deep sigh, clearing her throat before speaking up. "If I have caused any problem or pain to anyone here then I am sorry." She apologized again. She didn't know what else to say or do. Archer should have made her study Natalie well so she could at least act the bad side of her at this point. She wasn't even sure of how Natalie would have handled this situation. "Damn you, Archer." She said internally.

Sinclair was sure that Natalie's parents were thrown off by her apology too but they didn't show it as they continued to rant and rant on about the failed engagement party. The Natalie Harrison they knew so well would have yelled at them to shut up or would have ask them to leave but this after accident effect on her has made her stay mild and accepted all their insults. Sinclair thought. This is something new to him. He continued to ponder not wanting to meddle in the family conversation.

"I am sorry." She whispered again.

"So finally you have learn to say the I am sorry word right? Well it came at the wrong time. You have tarnished your reputation in front of his majesty and I only hope that you can live to bear the consequences." Natalie's mom hissed.

"Your highness, we will understand if you decide to cancel the wedding." Minister Harrison feigned a serious look. Deep down in his heart, he prayed the prince wouldn't cancel the wedding for Natalie's mistake.

Sinclair felt relieved at the man's word. If I said yes to canceling the wedding then he won't have to continue this farce. Should he take on this opportunity to end this forced marriage? Wait, would the Harrison be willing to still sign the merger? He thought.

Just as Natalie's parents stared and wait for his response, Brielle also did the same thing. She hoped that he cancel the wedding so she would have to be in a relationship with someone she doesn't even know. She waited for him to give an answer and she prayed silently that his answer would be the end to all of this. If he refuse to marry her then Archer would have no choice than to set her free from all this. After all she won't be useful to him anymore.

"Your Highness, you still haven't said anything." Minister Harrison called out to him.

Sinclair glanced at her and she felt uncomfortable by his look. She looked away still hoping within her that his answer would be to cancel the wedding.

"It has been agreed that Natalie and I get married. The media knows it and everyone too and most importantly the merger depends on this. What you did yesterday should have made me cancel the whole thing but this merger has to take place. So the wedding has to continue." He replied.

Brielle closed my eyes in disappointment. Why would he still agree to get married to a lady who has caused him so much humiliation?! Is he a dummy or what and what the hell is the merger rubbish about?! She thought as she fiddled with the sheets in her hand.

"That's a relief." Natalie's parents chorused at the same time.

"Your Highness, you won't regret making this decision. As from today, Natalie will act like the responsible bride that she should be, I will ensure it." He shot her a glare. It was almost as if his stares were boring holes in her face.

"I hope so. I also hope that this won't happen again cause I hate being the centre of attraction and I won't let anybody do that to me again." Sinclair had a stern look on his expression.

She looked at him and saw him staring at her in anger. If he really hates Natalie that much, there is no need to get married! She though.

"Did you hear that?! No more stupidity, Natalie! In few days time, you will be marrying his Highness so I hope that you learn how to curb your reckless behavior." Mrs Harrison said, staring at her daughter who only nodded gently.

The door opened again and a good looking nurse walked in. She bowed gently and instructed everyone to leave the room so Natalie could rest. It was a relief to see them leave and as soon as it was empty, she burst into tears. Why does it have to be her? Why exactly did she have to look so much like Natalie? Why didn't this jerk named Archer leave me out of all this?! Why does she have to do this dangerous mission?! She thought sadly.

Brielle clenched her fists when the door opened up again, on seeing Archer at the entrance, she sat upright.

"Wow, it's just the first day and you are already shedding tears." He grinned.

"This is not some thing I can do, Archer. Can't you just find some one else...please." She begged.

"We have both agreed on this mission that you won't fail no matter what. Natalie Harrison, that will be your name from now on." A bright beam crossed his expression as he stared down at her.

"Can't you see that this is something I can't pull off, I am not some one to lie easily. Why can't you just find someone else and leave me out of this?"

"No one else would do the job perfectly and that's why I chose you because you are perfect for it! You have the same looks and I am sure that that good for nothing Sinclair didn't notice anything right?"

"And what if I told you that he did notice some things and as time goes on I am sure that he will notice some thing is wrong." She told him. Out of annoyance, he grabbed her bruised chin. "Ouch! Stop! You are hurting me, Archer!" She gasped out in pain.

"I forgot to say this to you, If Sinclair ever finds out that you aren't the real Natalie, your father will die and I will make sure the death of the real Natalie falls on you. What do you think? With your father dead and you put behind bars for killing Natalie Harrison your future will looks so great right?" He told her harshly.

"Are you planning on blaming me for what you did to Natalie?!" She gritted.

"You are not so dumb after all. So my dear, act your part and until I say I don't need you anymore, you wont leave and you will tell no one! I mean it, Brielle Allen." He seethed his teeth.

"Okay." She replied , gritting in pain as he let go.

"Be a good girl and do what you are asked to do and while you are doing it always put it in mind that every mistake you make, your sick father will pay for it." He turned to leave the room.

"Wait Archer." He stopped and turned to stare at her. "Wh...what happened to Natalie? Did she really...die?"

"She is dead and my men have buried her body somewhere only I know. So don't feel worried, the dead would never come back to life." He said, giving her an evil grin as he turned around to exit the ward.

Brielle laid back on the bed crying. Why? For the death of Natalie Harrison. For what Archer is forcing me to do. For my father who is still in his evil hands. And for the fake life she would be living from now on. Why does it have to be her?! Why?!