Mandes Estate

Dinner lay untouched on the table as Malcolm paced slowly, his phone pressed to his ear.

“Dr. Robert, how are things progressing?” he asked, his voice low but firm. “I don’t have much time, and I want the best. You know that.”

“Yes,” Dr. Robert replied. “I’ve already arranged for the nurses and the therapist. They’ll reach the estate before Ms. Tiara arrives. I’ll also conduct her health check-ups regularly, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Good,” Malcolm said. “I’m counting on you.”

He ended the call and turned sharply to the staff standing nearby.

“Make sure everything is perfectly arranged,” he instructed the butler and maids. “Tia prefers a neat, minimalistic interior. Her room should reflect that.”

He paused, thinking of her.

“She doesn’t like strong fragrances. Keep it light—vanilla or lavender. Nothing overpowering.”

Lazarus, who had been quietly observing him, chuckled softly.

“Hold your horses, my son,” he said. “She hasn’t even confirmed her decision yet. I’m glad to see you this excited—like a child—but don’t raise your expectations too high. She’s still recovering.”

“I know,” Malcolm replied calmly. “But I believe she’ll come. We went to Pacheco together. I know she wants her memories back. Staying here will give her the chance to spend more time with me… and maybe remember what we once had.”

Lazarus’s expression softened. “I hope to see you both happy together. Just remember—her happiness and well-being are your responsibility. Don’t repeat your mistakes.”

Malcolm nodded. “Yes, Dad. This time, I’ll make sure we create only good memories.”

Coelho Mansion — Luna's room

Why do they have to plan on sending me to stay with Malcolm? Luna thought, pacing her room.
Meeting him occasionally was already overwhelming. Living with him felt terrifying.
Please, Lord… let my memories come back.
Mom… Dad… I miss you so much.
Her chest tightened as tears welled up. Anxiety clawed at her from the inside, leaving her breath shallow and uneven.
Why do I have to go through all of this?
She wiped the lone tear slipping down her cheek and turned toward the bedside table.
The wooden box.
She picked it up and rested it on her lap, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened it. Slowly, she took out the diary.

Dairy – page no. 1

Today is my birthday.

Happy birthday to me.

Mom made my favorite chocolate cake with cream cheese filling. I turned 15 today.
*I am a big girl now :-) *

Papa brought someone home with him today. He said he is his friend’s son and will live with us from now on. His name is Alex Abreu. He is my age.

I think I fell in love with him at first sight <3

He is so handsome. I’ve decided I’ll make him my boyfriend once I’m in college.

Papa said no boyfriends before college :(
It makes me sad, but I will obey him. I love my Papa too much :) hehehe…

Diary– page no. 2

Today, when I was in the third-floor corridor, the bullies at school pushed me so hard that I fell. My school project broke.
I spent so much time on it. I barely slept last night.
When I asked them why they pushed me, they said they didn’t like me.
They tried to push me again—but guess who came to save me? Yes! Alex.
He chased them away. I was so embarrassed he saw me like that. I couldn’t stop crying.
He hugged me. He comforted me. He even tended to my wounds and helped me rebuild my windmill.
I will keep it forever.
I love him even more now. My love, Alex <3

Luna’s fingers brushed the small wooden windmill from the box.
Fragments of memory flickered.

Alex in his school uniform.
His warm smile.
Both of them crouched together, carefully fixing the broken pieces.

Her lips curved into a fragile smile, eyes shimmering with tears.

“Alex…” she whispered.

“What are you doing, Tia?”

The sudden voice shattered the moment.
Startled, Luna dropped the diary. It hit the floor, and a Polaroid photo slipped out.

Maria picked it up.
The picture showed a woman watering a small garden.

Maria’s brows furrowed.

“Martha?”

She looked sharply at Luna. “Where did you get this photo? And this diary?”

Luna hurriedly picked up the diary and clutched it to her chest.

“It’s nothing.”

Maria snatched it from her hands and began reading.
Her face flushed red with rage.
“Again with this nonsense,” she snapped.

She began tearing the pages—one after another.

“What are you doing?” Luna cried, panic rising. “That’s mine! Give it back!”

“I should have destroyed this long ago,” Maria said coldly. “This is all nonsense.”

“No!” Luna shouted. “This diary proves that everything I remember is true. And you’re trying to make me believe otherwise!”

“This diary proves your madness,”

Maria said sharply. “I thought if I ignored it, you’d forget and live a normal life. But clearly, that won’t happen.”

Luna’s voice trembled. “Tell me… what are you hiding?”

Maria inhaled deeply. “Alex is not real.”

Luna froze.

“He is a fictional character,” Maria continued.

“Someone you created.

A part of your imagination.

There is no one named Alex.”

Tears streamed down Luna’s face as disbelief hollowed her expression.

"Ten years ago, Maria went on, when you returned from Pacheco Village, you behaved the same way. You kept talking about Alex—someone no one had ever seen.

We consulted Dr. Pao. After a few sessions, you became normal.”

“When you turned eighteen, you asked your father to publish a book you wrote.

He agreed. It became successful. You said you wanted to be a writer.”

“Alex was a character from that book.”

“We had never seen you that happy. So we didn’t stop you.

You even changed your name to your pen name legally. We let it be.”

Her voice softened. “But after the accident… you started relapsing.”

“I’m sorry, Tia. I don’t want you to suffer anymore. Please stop thinking about these things. We’ll help you. You can see Dr. Pao again.”

She hesitated, then added gently, “Why don’t you go to Mandes Estate for a few days? A change of place might help.”

Luna couldn’t hear her anymore.

How can everything be made up?

Am I… insane?

Her heart pounded violently. Sweat broke out across her skin. The room spun.
It felt as if the ground beneath her had vanished, and she was falling—endlessly.

Alex doesn’t exist?
No. That’s impossible.

“No… no… NO!” Luna screamed. “You’re lying! You’re a liar!”

She staggered backward.

“I remember them—my mom, my dad, Alex.

The picture—show me the picture!

That’s my mother!”

She sobbed.

“What do you want from me? Why are you keeping me here? Please, for God’s sake, let me go!”

“I’m your mother,” Maria said, shaken. “Don’t call just anyone your mother. I gave birth to you. I love you.”

“No,” Luna cried, collapsing. “You don’t love me. You’re not my mother. My mother is… my mother is…”

Her voice broke.
The world went black.
Luna lost consciousness.