Currents of Fate

PROLOGUE

The Fall

Francine Stuart

Was it really all my fault for wanting to know who I was? I know that woman wasn’t my real mother. I know that she never gave birth to me. We never shared anything. She was blonde, I was a ginger. She didn’t have the thick Scottish accent that my father had. She never even made time for me. She only cared for me when father was only looking or when society has their eyes on us. This woman has never uttered a word in Gaelic. She does not know my culture. She is a stranger to me.

Words cannot express how much I hate this woman. That’s why I never wanted to be like her. I knew deep inside that this woman was never my birth mother in the first place, and I was correct. Woe to me! I feel like I’m a stranger in my home.

Papa and I never talked. She would always butt in and make the conversation about her damned love and passion for the arts. Sure, I do indulge myself in art, but not to the point where I would spend the money that my father earned throughout his whole life and the money he inherited from our ancestors. This woman has taught my father to keep on spending and splurging his money on useless stuff.

I have been praised numerous times that I strike a resemblance to Queen Mary of Scots. It is only the fiery red hair that we shared. Yet, I disagree. I bear a striking resemblance to Alasdair Stuart, my father. A once powerful man that belonged to the highest ranks of polite society due to the royal bloodline, now forgotten as modern times came.

A fall from grace as one might say.

My solstice and refuge were the dreadful ballet lessons that I once shared with my friends Alfina, Danielle, Zahria and Joan. Beautiful ladies with their own stories to tell. I do hate her less because she insisted in enrolling me in that class in the Guerrero Spanish Mansion with wayward students who are also from polite society. Mrs. Spencer was cruel and abusive towards us, Alfina always took the blame and punishments when we were misbehaving or forgot how to do a plie. Thankful always for her, but so unnecessary. Little by little, these girls helped me see that there was more to the world than hate and material things.

It indeed backfired on her since I remained the same, still ice cold and I have never been affectionate towards her. This woman, Rebecca Stuart is the bane of my life. She is the reason why I decided to study overseas and hid my whereabouts.

I am afraid of becoming like her.

All is well when I studied in the beautiful Norwegian town called Tønsberg, until I met him. My greatest downfall, my greatest what-if, and my greatest love.

“You’re spacing out again, kjære (dear). Are you okay?” Theodoro Austad asked as he gently messed up my hair. This man is in his last year of studying medicine. A prodigy as one might say, for he is the youngest student currently enrolled in medicine. He was dreamy and one of a kind. Those lovely green eyes, warm smile, and seemingly perfect jaw never failed to mesmerize me.

If Adonis was here, he’d be jealous of this man.

“Tha mi ceart gu leòr (I’m fine). I’m just thinking about the people back home,” I admitted as I grabbed his hand to make him stop ruffling with my head. “I thought you didn’t want to talk about them?” Theo asked.

“I know, it’s just that. What if she was really my mother? That would be a total drag. I would be so embarrassed if that gold digger woman is my mother,” I answered.

Theo gave me a sad look. I couldn’t blame him; he had the ideal life. Perfect family, rich, normal parents, and even a healthy lifestyle. The concept of sadness due to familial problems might be an entirely foreign concept to him. But instead of actually scolding me and telling me that I should be grateful, he gave me a warm hug.

“I love you so much, Francine. Thank you for trusting me with what you feel. This is the first time that you have opened up to me. You have no idea how it feels. I may not be able to relate with what you feel but my heart bleeds every time that you feel sadness,” this handsome man said as he gently stroked my back, as if he was trying to console me.

“I’m fine, I assure you. I know that dating someone who is stone cold is hard but I do trust you well enough with my feelings. I’m just having a hard time communicating. You know that I never really wanted this kind of family in the first place,” I assured him.

He seems to believe me before giving me a gentle kiss on the forehead and letting go from the embrace.

“Look what I made!” an all too familiar voice sliced through the air.

“Matty, my man! That looks absolutely c’est magnifique (beautiful), can’t wait to try it out!” Theo said as Matt handed him a salmon and cream cheese sandwich. Matt also handed me one which I reluctantly accepted. Mathias Stoltenberg is my boyfriend’s best friend. He’s also on his last year taking up Culinary which is why we always have free food.

“It does look pretty,” I muttered as I examined the ingredients. I took a small bite and then an explosion of different flavors actually exploded in my mouth. “That is good!” I praised Matt. Matt seemed

I looked at Theo as he spoke to Matt.

He was perfect in every inch of his fiber. But compared to me, I’m someone who is lost. I don’t even know a single thing about my life, who or where my real mother was, am I really an American like that woman or a Scot, or if I even was supposed to be born as Francine Stuart?

I froze.

How can Theo be with someone like me who doesn’t even know who they are. Am I really someone that currently exists in this world? Would the world be a better place if I hadn’t existed?

How can someone so broken and fragile deserve this man? He was way too perfect for me. I will be his downfall, I will only hold him back from his glory and greatness. I never deserved this man in the first place.

I definitely bit more than what I could chew.

“Francine, you’re spacing out again. Are you alright?” Theo said as he grabbed my shoulders and gently shook me.

His voice was being drowned out by…water?

I couldn’t hear him, I knew he was saying something but I couldn’t hear it.

Without any thought, I uttered words that I knew would make his life come crashing down.

“Let’s break up,” I said, feeling like I was speaking underwater.