The Prince's Surrogate Wife

CHAPTER FOUR

"Cassy, calm down, we'll find her. We've notified the police, haven't we?"

"Calm down?" Cassy wailed louder. "How can I calm down? Gina has been missing for almost twelve f*****g hours and we don't even have a slightest idea of where could be. We've searched everywhere! The police aren't even helping matters! What? Wait for twenty-four hours? What if something bad happens to her within that period, huh?"

"I understand but crying won't solve this problem, you know? Just stop sobbing first, have a glass of water." Yvonne, the class president suggested as she tried to feed Cassy a glass of water. Cassy took a sip and let down the glass.

"We should notify her guardian." Tony, one of the students proposed.

"No!" Cassy quickly protested. "I don't that's the kind of news her brother would like to hear at this time.

"Cassy is right." Mrs Clinton concurred. " Let's wait for twelve more hours. Twelve more hours and we can't still find her, we'll tell her brother."

Cassy picked up her phone and tried Gina's number for the hundredth time. She sobbed as the receiver said the number wasn't reachable. The thought of something bad happening to Gina scared her. What if she was kidnapped? With that thought in mind, they tried to check the CCTV footage about four hours ago but the officials didn't let them. They claimed Cassy needed an official request from the police before they could provide the footages.

We'll find her, we'll surely find her. Cassy assured within herself, holding onto hope.

***

THE NEXT DAY

The maids helped Gina pick a dress from Annabelle's closet. It was a flair gown that stopped right above her knee. The shoulders of the gown were off. Green emerald stones adorned the dress. She settled in front of the mirror for the hairstylist to style her hair. She looked in the mirror and saw another person entirely. She saw Princess Annabelle. Her hair was already dyed ginger and her eyes were now herald, due to the contacts she's wearing.

"This way, your highness." The maid bowed. Gina got off the seat, her palms rubbing together anxiously. With trembling legs, she walked out of the enormous room. She climbed down the spiral staircase to meet Gloria in the huge living room.

"Take a seat." Gloria offered, sipping her tea.

Gina sat down. Her sitting posture made Gloria frown.

"Sit down with your back straight and your legs crossed to the side. Your chin up and eyes looking forward!" She snapped, making Gina to quickly adjust herself. Gloria smiled in satisfaction as she let her cup of tea down on a stool.

"The three maids and workers here are my people so they know about all that is happening. You'll be taken care of by Daphne."

Daphne, the maid who helped Gina dress her hair, stepped out. Gina scoffed within herself. Take care of me or keep an eye on me?

"She'll be with you from today. Annabelle's life is not that complicated. It's like every other princess' life there but better. Mondays and Fridays she goes to her company to see to the activities. You'll see everything in the schedule Daphne will give you later. For now, you have to know how to do one thing."

Gina straightened up, ready to hear what it was.

"You have to learn how to behave like Princess Annabelle. Annabelle doesn't act so timidly and dumb like you do, sorry to say. Everything Anna does is with pride and confidence. She doesn't flinch at the sound of little noises like you do. She doesn't take s**t from anyone and she punishes whoever steps on her toes."

Gina nodded but within her, she thought Anna sounded like an horrible person in some aspects.

"You'll watch some of her videos and see what I'm talking about. But first, an instructor will arrive here shortly. She'll teach and train you about everything you need to know about being a Princess of a nation. Listen and take to action everything she teaches. Understood?"

Gina nodded.

"Open your mouth and answer!"

"Y..yes ma'am."

Gloria left, leaving Daphne and Raymond to look after Gina. Gina sat still on her seat, waiting for the said instructor. A few minutes later, a car pulled up in the house. A woman dressed like she was still in a modern victorian era stepped out of the blue Maserati. She adjusted her hat and walked in with elegance, her shoes clicking.

"Your grace." Daphne and Raymond bowed as the woman entered. She waved her hand in dismissal and faced Gina.

Gina stood up timidly, "good...good afternoon."

The woman scoffed. "This? This is the thing?" The woman asked in an expensive French accent. She scanned Gina from head to toe, disgust visible on her face. It was not Gina that disgusted her it was Gina's composure. From Gina's composure, she could see that she was very timid and inferior.

"My name is Lady Annette Adrienne Houghton the fifth but you can just call me Annette. You're timid and inferior. You have this 'i am innocent' face." Annette sat down and crossed her legs. "You are the type I hate the most. There is no life in your eyes."

Gina felt more inferior as Annette called out her flaws. That moment, she knew she wasn't gonna have a fun time with her.

"Anyway, show me your princess walk. Daphne, get me a cup of lemon juice."

"Yes, your grace."

Annette turned back to Gina. She frowned when she saw that Gina wasn't doing anything.

"I said walk!"

"Y...yes ma'am."

Gina went to the end of the room. She straightened her back, her hands beside her. Okay, let's do this! She breathed out deeply and took a step. She took another step, then another. Like that, she walked to and fro. At the end of her walk, she turned to Annette with hope of getting praised but what she saw was a set of unimpressed eyes.

"You are terrible."

That remark was like a blow in Gina's stomach. Annette stood up and joined Gina at the end of the room.

"As a princess, you walk as if you're saying 'i'm graceful and no one can stop me' in your head. You place all your weight on your back foot as you walk. Your back and shoulders straight. Your strides should be approximately half a foot length. Also, land on you heel." Annette explained she demonstrated. Gina watched with utmost attention, watching every step Annette took. It was as if Annette was floating as she walked.

"Now...do it with me."

And like that, Gina spent the whole evening learning royalty etiquettes. She hasn't mastered all but she learnt how to walk, speak, sit and eat like royalty. It was harder that it looked.

Around seven in the evening, Herald was coming back from his training session. He's been trying to call Gina all morning but the phone was switched off. He was about trying again when he saw a figure lying down in a bush. He approached the person hesitantly.

"Are you okay?" He crutched down and turned the person to face him.

"Gina!" He exclaimed when he saw the face of the girl. What is she doing here? Why are there bruises on her face? Why is she here in the first place?

"Gina! Gina, can you hear me? Gina!" He kept calling but she didn't regain consciousness. He quickly got her on his back and ran to the hospital. Gina, please be okay. He thinks the girl is Gina but she is another person. It was princess Anabelle.

'Gina' got treated quickly immediately she was brought in. She had a minor injury at the back of her head. Herald called Cassy to inform her of what's happening and also ask why 'Gina' wasn't with her. Cassy was so delighted when she heard that Gina was okay. She leapt for joy, giggling joyfully. But then she had to ask...

"She's been missing for two days! How come she's with you?"

"Missing? You know what, I have no idea what is happening. You should just come over here. She's injured."

"Okay, I'll be there. We're leaving tomorrow."

"Mhm, okay."

Herald looked over to Anna, who was sound asleep on the hospital bed. He stroked her hair, causing her to swerve a little. Her eyes fluttered open slowly.

"Gina? Are you okay?"

Anna looked at Herald with confusion. She looked around the ward. She seemed so lost and perplexed.

"Who are you?"

That question hit Herald like a truck.

"Gina? It's me... Herald, your brother."

"Who am I?"

Herald took Anna's hands. "Gina, it's me. What is wrong with you...why are you acting strange?"

Anna withdrew her hands in fear. She sat up and hugged her knees, visibly trembling. Herald decided to calm her down and get the doctor. The doctor did some examinations on Gina and came to a diagnosis.

"She has amnesia." The doctor announced.

"What?!" Herald exclaimed. "What...what do you mean. She has what?"

"Amnesia. I'm sure you saw the injury behind her head. She probably hit her head and that caused a damage to her brain. It's probably temporary but there's a high chance it's permanent."

Herald almost lot control of his legs. He felt lightheaded so he held the bed for support. "So...so you mean...she can't remember anything right now?"

"Not even her name."

"What will make her remember? Things I can do?"

"The best choice is to let her brain heal and not stress it. If temporary, she'll remember at the set time. Don't force it. Though you can take her to memory places to trigger her memories but don't force it."

Herald nodded. He glanced at Gina, who had her eyes lingering on him. What exactly happened to you, Gina?