Lorenzo's expression stayed unchanged, so is Cooper's.

Emily felt like she is the only one who heard the kids just now, and she wondered if these two are really humans or stones pretending to have blood and flesh.

“You heard them” she spoke up, her voice lower than intended.

“What were you expecting, Laura. You left them for a year and more. They wouldn't jump into your arms and give you a darn hug” Lorenzo replied, his words curt.

“I'm not Lau…”

“Watch your tongue, Laura” Lorenzo cut her off, reminding her of her current identity.

Emily quickly gathered herself together, brushing her hair back with her palm.

Lorenzo entered the mansion, and a lady came out, taking Emily's bag from Cooper who retired to his own quarters afterwards.

“I'm Maggie, the maid” The lady introduced herself with a smile so radiant it could lighten a room.

Emily liked her immediately.

“You're the new Mrs. Vasquez. The boss told me everything about you already. You only have to ask me anything about the real Mrs. Vasquez or the kids, and I'll tell you” Maggie smiled again, politely.

Emily went closer to her, and the lady leaned closer too.

“Why couldn't he tell them about their mother's death instead of hiring me to act like her? They are bound to find out sooner or later” Emily spoke in a low voice, and Maggie sighed.

“They were born with weak hearts, and the doctor already warned against any shocking news. It might kill them no matter the slightest, and they both loved their mother a lot. So, the boss had to keep it from them. Every member of the inner circle and family members are aware, but the had to pretend just to fool the kids.

“Oh” Emily blinked, developing sudden pity for the kids without planning to.

She could imagine how hard it must have been for them without their mother for the past one year, and with a father who is like the devil's advocate.

Emily grew up in an orphanage till she was adopted by the rich Laurent family at five. She had lived with the family for five years before she was framed for theft.

At ten, she was thrown out of Laurent Mansion. She met Sophia who was another orphan in the street, and they had strived and grew together, only for her to become a thorn.

Growing up without either parents was hellish, but as kids with weak hearts, a year without a mother would have been harder.

Right there, Emily decided to do all it would take. They are free to stay mad at her for as long as they want, she’d earn their forgiveness.

“The boss had lie to them continously that their mother went for a confidential mission in America. But then, he saw you in a GMI modelling shoot and kept an eye on you since then. The opportunity showed up after the thing with your groom happened” Maggie kindly explained and Emily took a deep breath, taking everything in at the same time.

“Thanks a lot Maggie” she gave the woman a short but genuine smile.

“You are very welcome, ma'am” Maggie replied, leading her inside.

The interior color of the mansion has the same as the exterior, and the designs are intricately modest, clean with a long staircase which led upstairs to the rooms. A large model kitchen, a spacious dining room and the lavishly furnished living room which was exceptionally designed with gold.

The kids aren't any where around, so Maggie led Emily upstairs to her room, right beside the kids room.

“If you need anything ma'am, please call for me. I'm at your service” Maggie told her before leaving.

Emily looked around the neatly-arranged room, the smell of Laura's strawberry perfume still lingering in the air.

She has never had a room this big all her life.

She noticed there are two other adjoining rooms and proceeded to opening them.

The first one is the bathroom which is as big as her former room in her former place.

The second room is a closet — Laura's closet, full to the brim with her luxury wears.

But then, they are in twos. Each wear has a twin, and she frowned as she tried to make out what it means.

Emily's mouth couldn't close as she stared, till her heels hit something on the ground.

She squatted, picking it up.

It's a bottle of cognac, and there's a half smoked cigar right beside it.

Emily's lashes flicked. Lorenzo Vasquez is obviously not over his dead wife.

He obviously came here to reminisce about her.

Seems the boss was down bad for his wife and is still down bad even after loosing her.

Laura Vasquez was a lucky woman.

Emily ran the tip of her fingers over the line of expensive clothes on the hanger, the itch to try out one of them making her suddenly stop.

An eager smile bathed her face, and she picked one out of the outfits — a black short gown, obviously only suitable for home, because of the thigh slit. It would need an inner short too.

Nevertheless, Emily tried it on and it fitted perfectly. The fact that she even has the same body proportions as Laura is frightening, but she brushed it off and step in front of the mirror to check herself out.

She wasn't opportuned to take a look when Lorenzo entered the room.

She saw him through the mirror, and she turned around quicker than she had planned.

For a moment, Lorenzo stood there, stunned by the way she looked in the outfit exactly like Laura, and the way her eyes batted thrice is the exactly what Laura looked like whenever he was checking her out.

“Is there…a problem?” Emily's question jolted him back to reality, reminding him that this is Emily not Laura. Not his Laura.

Anger suddenly surged Inside him. But to avoid hurting her, he kept it low and went closer to her.

“Take it off” he said in the coolest way he could.

Emily batted her lids again, taken aback by his sudden command.

“Why? Why should I take it off?”

She could feel the intense shift in the air as he took another step closer.

“Take it off, it's Laura's. And you're not allowed to wear anything that is her's” he said, riding each word off his tongue as carefully as ever.

“But I'm playing Laura, shouldn't I have access to her wears and…”

“I said take it off!” he snarled, louder than intended. “You're playing Laura but you're not her. I literally bought you from the government as a fake stand-in, so you might as well know your damn place” the words came out harsh, making Emily's throat shake.

“I was ready to go to jail, you offered to save me yourself so don't say you bought me. Don't do that!” she snapped back, her palms balled.

“I got the duplicates of her dresses and they are at the left part of this room. They are the only dresses you can touch, so beware and take that off. I originally came here to tell you this” he said, inserting one hand in his pocket before walking out, still trying to keep his anger in check.

Emily turned to the left side of the closet like he said, and there are really duplicates, more like clones of Laura's wears.

How come she didn't notice earlier?

She took off the one she was wearing and hung it back to it's original place, then she took the clone one and put it on.

How could he say that to her though? He bought her?

She can't get her mind off that particular statement. It hurts more than it should.

And then, why the mad obsession with his DEAD wife and her belongings?

~~

Cole and Cora share a room since they insisted, but the room is in two parts.

The right side is designed black completely, even the bedspread and walls in that part are black, but the other side is ash and white. The respective owners are obvious.

The two are seated on their beds when Lorenzo came in, and their eyes turned to him at the same time.

“Drop the attitude, right now” he said.

“We wanted her to return, but that doesn't mean we forgive her for one year she spent apart from us” Cora spoke, the black ribbon in her ponytails dangling.

Her sass is like a signature in her voice.

“We'll act mad at her for as long as we want, that'll be her punishment” Cole added.

Lorenzo expected this level of toughness with them, and not to be unreasonable, but he's somehow pleased with it.

She's a facade anyways, and maybe he doesn't want them to grow connections with her at all.

Maybe they are free to stay mad at her for years, just maybe.

The two let on their respective beds without any more talks, pulling the duvet over their heads.

Their telepathy stretches too much, and it's scary to strangers.

Knowing his twins so well, Lorenzo didn't bother talking further.

He left the room, and at the same time, Emily came out of her room — Laura's room.

She froze when their eyes met, the effect of his words from moments ago weighing her.

His eyes frosted as he walked fast to her, and she expected him to egg her with words again, but he only walked past, making her turn.

“Can I…enter the kids room?”

“Do what you want, but be careful. They're mean when they are mad” he replied, descending the stairs and leaving the mansion.

Emily maintained her position, weighing his words in her mind till Maggie showed up.

“The kids can't hold themselves back when they see their best snacks”

“Homemade waffles and beet juice?” Emily raised her lids.

“Sure, I'll help you ma'am” Maggie replied kindly, and Emily sighed in relief.

This woman is surely a godsent.

Emily followed her downstairs into the kitchen.

The Asylum Den is like a rendezvous; A meeting point for all members of the inner circle.

They have their meetings at least thrice a week if there are no problems on ground to solve.

Cooper drove into the underground park, and Lorenzo carried himself powerfully, walking into the Den which is surrounded with trained guards.

Cooper followed him into the secured building where they met the three other members waiting already in the dark-walled room.

There are black couches surrounding a long glass table like a conference setting.

“Look who's here” Apollo boomed, pouring himself a glass of vodka.

He's shirtless, the tattoos on his skin looking ruggedly ominous.

Apollo is carefree and at the same time a hardtack member of the circle. His Salvatore family owns the hospital, which is why it was so easy to get Emily treated there.

“Still can't believe he actually snatched her” Valérie said beside him, mounting her legs on each other.

She's a tall beautiful woman, who has a strict badass look, and of course she's strict. She's Apollo's step sister with the same father.

Lorenzo sat beside the third member who is usually the most quiet but stern, and Cooper stood behind him.

“I believe we are here to talk about The Rocco, not my substitute wife. Get the talk on the table” Lorenzo spoke straight to the point.

“Were you paid to always ruin my fun?” Apollo groaned.

“Go with Lorenzo's order, Apollo” Valérie spoke in all strictness, dropping her wine glass.

“I spoke with The Rocco family last night as arranged, and their boss has agreed to meet here next week” Colby finally spoke, his voice devoid.

Colby Reagan is the only American in the circle, and his unhinged aura is close to Lorenzo's.

Colby is actually a crazy man who covers his craziness with sternness, but he is a great strategist, together with Lorenzo.

Every plan they made together has always resulted in victory.

“It's somewhat suspicious. The Rocco boss agreed to meet just like that? The fact that he'll also be the one to fly down here is not to be overlooked” Lorenzo said.

“Your trust issues is still intact, Lorenzo” Apollo said.

“Not taking enough precautions led to the bombing last year, are you all willing to do that shit again?” Lorenzo spoke rigidly.

No doubt, the bombing left scars on everyone to be remembered for a lifetime. Not only did Lorenzo lose Laura, both Colby lost both his parents too.

Valérie lost her mother, and the father she shared with Apollo too.

The memories are still fresh, still lingering and haunting.

Back then, they were all still careless folks, who knew close to nothing about how the Asylum worked, but the bitter occurrence forced them to take over the circle with hearts thirsty for revenge.

The Gambino enemies planned the bombing, and they eliminated every single member of the gang except their boss, who is still hiding, still wanted and will soon be caught and slaughtered.

“Run more investigation on the Rocco, and dig out everything there is to know before we meet” Lorenzo said.

“Yes boss” Cooper replied behind him.

“I'll do some diggings too” Valérie spoke”

“Good” Lorenzo stood.

“A drink with us wouldn't take your head, Lorenzo” Apollo stood too, placing one hand on his shoulder.

“Or at least with me alone” he said.

With a plain glare, Lorenzo shook Apollo's hand off and left with Cooper.

“You have a substitute wife now, no time to drink with us anymore! I'll meet her one of these days and trick her, send her out of the country secretly so we'd have our Lorenzo back” Apollo shouted after him.

“Aren't you too obsessed with Lorenzo?” Colby said indifferently.

“Zip it up, Colby. You're just as obsessed as I am, you only mask yours” Apollo pointed at him.

“Whatever makes you sleep at night” Colby said casually, and Valerie smiled, leaning forward on her chair.

“I badly want to meet this new Mrs. Vasquez. I love hardheads”

“I'm all here for the games, those twins are too witty to be deceived” Apollo grinned.

~~~

[Vasquez Estate]

“Do you think they would like it?” Emily asked, unsure of what to expect.

She just finished making waffles and beet juice with Maggie. Though, Maggie just watched her.

Emily refused to let her help with anything. Waffles and beet juice are one of the things she read on the tab at the hospital. And thankfully, it wasn't hard to learn.

She's a fast learner, making things easier. Honing her skills wouldn't take time at all.

“Trust me, they can't look away from waffles” Maggie assured, and Emily calmed before going upstairs with a tray containing the delicacy.

She stopped in front of their door, giving it a soft knock.

“Babies, I made your favorite snack” she said waiting for a minute before speaking again.

“I know I left for a year without a goodbye, but trust me, the circumstances were beyond my control. It wasn't my plan to leave you two, it just happened. I missed you both, and I'm still missing you right now. Please open the door and let's eat this together over chats like we did” she said, fighting back her emotional tears.

She needs a medal at this rate, this acting is too raw.

The door opened and she sniffed as Cora showed up without Cole.

“What mission did you go for?” She questioned with an unfriendly look.

“It's for the Aslyum…”

“The Empire is more important than us?” Cora interrupted shaply, and before Emily could talk further, Cora knocked the tray away from her palm, wasting the juice and waffles on the ground.

The glasses broke on Emily's feet, but she didn't wince till Cora went back into the room and slammed the door on her face.

“Cora!” Emily hit the door again, despite her bleeding feet.

“Cora!”

At the base of the stairs, Lorenzo stood.

He has been watching since Cora came out of the room. He actually arrived few minutes ago.

He turned around, walking out of the living room.

Emily saw him and quickly rushed after him, following him to the balcony.

At the same time, Copper entered the balcony.

“Boss, the bodyguard who raped a teenager in a club last night got caught” he reported.

“Waterboard him and hang him upside down. Leave a little life in him, I'll take it in one hour” Lorenzo ordered in all mercilessness.

Cooper left to carry out the order, and Maggie entered the balcony with a tray containing a cigar pack and a lighter.

Lorenzo took both, and Maggie left.

He lightened a stick, ignoring Emily's presence totally.

Before he could start smoking, Emily spoke up.

“Your kids are too much to handle”

“You think?” He faced her, the smokes from the cigar clouding her face.

He looks mad, and it seems all directed at her.

“What do you mean?” she frowned, her hazel eyes shrinking.

“They are too much for you to handle because you're not her. You're nothing like her. You're failing, and at this rate they will find out within twenty four hours. If that happens, I'll fucking hand you over to the cops myself” he said, meaning every word.

Despite the burning fire in his eyes, Emily went closer, eating the remaining space between them and calling out her bravado before speaking bodly.

“Are you threatening me? Lorenzo?”