Lily sat wrapped in a blanket. The room was lit by the dim glow of a wall sconce. Cleo had long gone to bed. A cold wind blew, stirring the curtains through the open window. Silence. The phone rang. She flinched. Lily hadn't expected a call, especially not from Aunt Tessa, whose name lit up on the screen. Lily froze. She had completely forgotten about her—just as she had wanted to forget her past life.
A memory flashed in her mind. Graduation day. Grandma wasn't there. Aunt Tessa came instead, saying, "Silver's blood pressure spiked, so I came instead. I'm sorry." Louis had left too, saying, "I'm going to Argentina. It's time we each lived our own life." An empty hall—she was alone. She and Cleo were in Munich, in her parents' house. And after that...
The phone kept ringing, louder and louder. Lily pressed the button, her hands trembling.
"Lily, dear, how are you? I didn't want to bother you, but…" came Aunt Tessa's soft voice from the other end. "I heard from Dr. Grosskopf that you and Cleo were discharged from the clinic. I don't really trust these doctors, or these trendy new illnesses—stress, depression. It's like some kind of epidemic among young people. In our time, kids only got chickenpox and sore throats. Are you doing okay? I'm so glad you're both out of the clinic and that you're feeling better—I was worried how things would turn out," Aunt Tessa rambled on.
"Yes, Auntie, we're fine. Everything's better now," Lily barely managed to reply, trying to keep her voice steady, not to let her emotions or memories surface.
"I'm glad to hear that," Tessa continued. "But... we need to sign the papers for the house. You're Silver's only heir, so the house is yours now. The sooner we get everything signed, the better. But there's no rush. Come to New York when you can. I'll explain everything."
Lily felt her heart race with anxiety, and the wave of memories hit her all at once. But she held back the emotion—only tears welled in her eyes.
That house had meant everything to her. Her carefree childhood filled with love happened there. It was where she was with her grandmother—the only person truly close to her. The house was small, always warm, and always filled with sunlight.
"Aunt Tessa, how I want to go home, to Grandma," Lily cried.
"Don't be upset, Lily dear, or I'll start crying too. Silver wouldn't like it if you cried. So come on, smile."
"I miss Grandma… I miss both of you. I'll come to New York soon, and we'll talk about everything," Lily said between sobs.
Aunt Tessa was silent.
"Aunt Tessa, can you hear me?" Lily checked the phone screen—reception was perfect.
"Lily," finally came the reply. "I miss you too. And remember, I'm always here. Come whenever you're ready."
Lily hung up and stared at the screen for a few more seconds. How had it all come to this? Why was she in this unfamiliar city? Why had she been treated at Dr. Grosskopf's clinic? So many questions. But one thing was clear—she had to return to New York and her past to start over.
Aunt Tessa's house had always been cozy and welcoming. That evening, she had made her signature dish—duck in orange sauce—and Lily's favorite plum pie. She had also invited an old ballet master, Marat Kuloff, for dinner. Lily was delighted to see him. Aunt Tessa set the table in the living room, and the three of them enjoyed the delicious meal. Lily started talking about her plans.
"I've signed the inheritance papers. I also visited a real estate agency today. I want to sell the house. What do you think, Aunt Tessa, Uncle Marat—will Mom be upset? It's her house too."
"Excuse me," Marat choked on his food and began coughing. Aunt Tessa fussed awkwardly, muttering to herself, "Forgot the knife, need to slice the pie," and went to the kitchen. Silence fell in the living room.
Red from coughing, Marat broke the silence, "Lily, we'll always support you. Do what you think is right."
Tessa returned and served everyone a slice of pie, adding, "We'll always be here for you, Lily." She didn't reply. The three of them quietly started watching TV, avoiding the subject.
The news was on: "New York police report the death of a major shareholder and board member of the Golden Stone holding, Theodore Jones. The body was found in the office. Preliminary cause of death: suicide…"
"What is this world coming to? Why can't people just live peacefully? How could someone do such a thing?" Aunt Tessa exclaimed. "Lily, turn this thing off. I don't like it anymore. In our day, there were only good news stories."
"I read in the paper that the Metropolitan Museum is getting an ancient Egyptian artifact. Maybe you should go, Lily, cheer up. You're an expert on those ancient things," Marat said cheerfully.
"I love ancient treasures too. Let's go together, shall we, Lily?" Aunt Tessa asked.
"Great idea, let's go," Lily replied, inspired.
***
That evening, while New York welcomed the night, Allen was in a luxurious Manhattan apartment that belonged to Stefan Ossa, president of Golden Stone. The meeting was about investment forecasts, and as always, Allen came well-prepared. He enthusiastically discussed market expectations, how to respond to changes, and what financial benefits Golden Stone could gain.
But the evening wasn't just about profits and figures. Tyra Thor-Ossa, Stefan's wife, joined them for dinner. In an elegant room with soft lighting and classical music, they spoke about life, business, and the future, enjoying dishes that could be considered culinary masterpieces. Allen, caught up in conversation, spoke about Aris meeting a mysterious girl named Lily—and how he hadn't stopped talking about her since returning from Zurich.
"Is she even real, this Lily, or just Aris's fantasy?" Tyra asked.
"Apparently she is real," Allen replied. "Now I'm curious too. Let me contact Dr. Grosskopf and find out how she's connected to the Caspace project."
He put the call on speakerphone, knowing the conversation would be important for everyone present.
"Dr. Grosskopf, this is Allen Corrado, advisor to the Golden Stone holding," he began in a professional tone.
"I know who you are, Mr. Corrado," she replied, not bothering with pleasantries. Her voice was cold but confident. "Why bother introducing yourself?"
Allen didn't waste time.
"Who is Lily? Aris met her today in Manhattan. You said she didn't exist. How did she appear?"
Dr. Grosskopf was silent for a moment, her voice slightly tense.
"This isn't a phone conversation, Mr. Corrado," she said firmly.
"Fine," Allen replied. "When can we speak via video?"
"In ten minutes," she said curtly.
"Alright, I'll connect. Mrs. Thor-Ossa will be joining us too."
Ten minutes later, the video call was established. Tyra, seated in Stefan's office, listened closely to every word from Dr. Grosskopf, knowing this information might be crucial.
Dr. Grosskopf began to explain what had happened.
"Lily and Cleo were participants in the Caspace program. I assure you, there's nothing to worry about. They don't remember anything from the last thirty days. Their memories were erased. Lily will return to Zurich soon. Her grandmother passed away about three months ago, and she inherited her house. She plans to sell it. Once she signs the contract, she'll return."
Tyra listened carefully, weighing the implications. When Dr. Grosskopf finished, she said without hesitation:
"Where is the house located? I'll buy it."
Dr. Grosskopf responded with a hint of sarcasm:
"It's in Brighton Beach. I'm sure Allen will find out quickly."
After the call, Allen and Tyra acted fast. They knew time was of the essence. The next day, Allen contacted the real estate agency working with Lily and learned the house was already up for sale. The Ossa clan had long controlled the New York real estate market, and the deal went smoothly.
The sale was completed swiftly and quietly. Mrs. Thor-Ossa purchased the house without even negotiating.
***
The next morning, Aunt Tessa and Lily, excited to see something extraordinary at the Metropolitan Museum, stepped inside. A huge security guard was addressing the gathered visitors:
"Ladies and gentlemen, there's been a theft in the Egyptian gallery. The hall is currently closed. We don't know when it will reopen. We apologize for the inconvenience."
"What's going on in this world? How could someone take something that's not theirs?" Aunt Tessa fumed. "People are so cruel now. In our time, everyone got along."
"Auntie, wait. Let me answer this call."
Lily answered the phone. It was the real estate agency: "You're lucky—today a client bought your house. The money will be transferred to your account within three business days."
The news stunned her.
"Aunt Tessa, it was the agency. The house has been sold. I'll have to go back to Zurich," Lily said, bewildered.
"What is going on? Everything's happening so fast. Let's go home. I don't like this New York anymore. Things were better in our time."
No one could have predicted how quickly events could unfold when powerful forces are at play.