Chapter 2 New Identity

As I slowly opened my eyes, the world seemed hazy and distorted. Something heavy pressed down on my face, making it difficult to breathe. Panic surged through me as I gasped for air, struggling against the weight on my chest. With a sharp intake of breath, I sat up, wincing as pain shot through my body. My chest felt tight, constricted, as if wrapped in layers of bandages. Fumbling with trembling hands, I reached up to touch my face, only to encounter more bandages. My whole face was bandaged except for my eyes and nose. I was panicking as I looked around me, I was in the hospital. Before I could dwell on my thoughts, the door creaked open, and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the room. A nurse burst in, her eyes widening in shock as she took in the sight before her. "Oh my God, she's awake!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. "Quick, someone call the doctor!" Panic swirled in my chest, as she rushed toward me. The nurse rushed over to my bedside; her hands gentle as she reached out to touch my arm. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft and reassuring. "You need to relax; you've just woken up.’ she said as she placed me down on the bed. I tried to talk to her, to ask her what happened and where I was but no words came out as I tried to speak. Just then, the door swung open once and the doctor entered the room presumed, judging by the white coat he wore. "It's a miracle!" he exclaimed; his voice filled with awe as he approached my bedside. "You're awake, and you're going to be just fine." What had happened to me? And why did my body feel so foreign, as if it no longer belonged to me? It took hours before I could talk and the memories of what happened hit me. I cried and the nurses and doctors looked at me in pity. “What happened to me?” I asked in a small voice. “We’re sorry dear, but you were brought here with a bullet in your chest and your face was burnt with acid, whoever did this to you didn’t want you to be recognized,” the nurse said as she looked at me. My heart clenched at the news, as I looked at myself, I had lost a lot of weight, and I was skinny, and to add to that I lost my face, the impact of the news hit me. “It's a miracle you survived, the bullet was only a few inches from you heart and the acid did not burn through your eyes,” the doctor commented as I looked at him confused. “How long have I been here, who brought me here?” I asked as I looked at the woman in front of me. “I’m sorry, you have been here for two months, we didn’t believe you would survive and the person who brought you will be here soon, so you need not worry,” the nurse as my chest tightened. “Was anyone found alongside me?” I asked as I cried. “No, you were the only one that was brought to us,” she informed me. I cried as I thought of my mother, she was dead, and how was I supposed to live now without her. A week later I had plastic surgery on my face, as my face was completely damaged and my body looked better than it was when I woke up and cried myself to sleep every night. I didn’t see my savior, each time I asked nurses to dismiss me. Six months passed by, and the day to take off my bandages came, I sat in front of the mirror in my hospital dress, as the doctor came in. “Are you ready?” She asked me and I nodded as she reached forwards and took off the bandages. Once she was down a mirror was placed in front of me. And I knew I looked different, and beautiful; I touched my face as I wept.it felt good to be beautiful. “Ma’am, there is someone here to see you” a nurse said and before I said a word a woman walked into the room. I haven’t had any visitors since I came here for month, and I was speechless as I watched the woman walked towards me. I knew I haven't seen her before, and I was curious. “Who are you,” I asked as she sat down next to me. She claimed, "I am the one who rescued you from the clutches of death," and I narrowed my gaze at her. It was evident from her extravagant attire and designer accessories that she was wealthy. "Why would you go to such lengths to help me when we are complete strangers? Why spend a fortune on my behalf?" I inquired, although I realized my question may have come across as impolite. Nevertheless, I was genuinely curious to understand her motives. "Good manners, my dear, dictate that you should express gratitude. And, of course, I have my own reasons for helping you," she responded, causing me to bow my head in shame. I regretted speaking to her in such a manner, yet my curiosity persisted. "Please forgive me, but I am unsure how to adequately express my gratitude. However, if there is anything I can do for you, I would be more than willing to assist," I whispered, as she gazed at me and let out a sigh. "There is indeed something you can assist me with," she revealed, causing me to look at her with uncertainty. What could I possibly offer her? I was considered dead to everyone, as the nurse had informed me that news had spread about my escape from home after the tragic incident involving my mother's death. "What is it that you require my help with?" She rose from her seat and approached me. "I granted you a second chance at life, instilled hope within you, but now I want you to do something for me," she whispered, her eyes fixed on mine. "I am willing to do anything to repay your kindness," I declared, to which she responded with a smirk. "Excellent. I want you to bring down the Castillo family. I want your bitterness and pain to fuel your ambitions in seeking justice. I know you desire to see your sister and Max Castillo pay for what they have done to you, especially since he was the mastermind behind the tragedy that befell you and your mother." I stared back at her. I knew my sister had an affair with him, she showed me the picture, but hearing he was the mastermind did something to me. How did she know all these? Who was she? “Who are you”, I asked in fear as I stood up and walked away from her, scared of what she was, and who she was. "You don't need to know my identity, just accept the deal and refer to me as Eve," she stated, and I directed my gaze towards her. It has been eight months since that incident. When I listed everything, under the control of my sister. Revenge never crossed my mind due to the overwhelming fear and trauma caused by that event. The mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine. Moreover, it would be sheer madness to oppose the Castillo family. "If you intended to manipulate me as a pawn in your game, you wasted your time. Going against the Castillo family is madness, and you are well aware of it," I replied, averting my eyes from her. "I know you are frightened. I can perceive the fear in your eyes. However, there is no need for you to remain that scared girl anymore. Look at yourself now," she said, embracing me and turning me towards the mirror. “You are beau, different, don’t you want to avenge your mother’s death, why relax and let your sister win, she would never see you coming after all she thinks you are dead,” the woman said and her words stroked anger into my heart. The woman's words struck a chord deep within me, igniting a fire of anger that I had suppressed for far too long. She was right, I couldn't just sit back and let my sister win. I needed to avenge my mother's death and make her pay for taking away the person I loved the most. "But how do we take down someone as powerful as Max Castillo?" The woman smirked, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "There is one person that even Max Castillo bows to," she revealed, sending a shiver down my spine. "Silvio Castillo, the Don of the Castillo family."