Madam Wallace let out a most piercing shriek, her face displaying disbelief as she gazed at her son incredulously.
 
Christopher remained stubborn, his frustration slowly increasing with each second. "Yes, Mother. Amelia is too vain and selfish. She cares for no one but herself, and I don't want that kind of woman!"
 
Madam Wallace's eyes widened as she sighed tiredly. "Is this all you've come up with to justify your rejection by the most sought-after lady in the entire empire? Christopher!"
 
Christopher's brows furrowed in irritation. "She's not worth that title!"
 
Madam Wallace let out an exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to prevent a headache. "Even if you don't love her, Christopher, can't you see the clear advantages of being with her? You would become a Duke Consort!"
 
Christopher frowned, feeling indignant. "Mother, if you are so bent on me becoming a Duke, then you won't mind my relationship with Madeline."
 
Madam Wallace blinked, clearly taken aback. "Maddie who?"
 
"Madeline. The Duke's second daughter and Amelia's twin She is also a candidate for the head of the Hawthorne Duchy!" Christopher answered with a smug smile.
 
Madam Wallace's expression transformed from shock to smirking mockery as she absorbed Christopher's revelation. "No wonder Amelia ended the engagement," she chuckled, her laughter overflowing with disdain. "So, my foolish son had an affair with her sister."
 
Christopher, his face flushed with embarrassment, stammered, "Mother, it's not what you think. Amelia probably never saw me as someone worth her attention, but Madeline is different."
 
Madam Wallace raised an eyebrow, her unamused expression never leaving her face. "It is not what I think, you say?" She sighed, exasperated, and placed her hand on her forehead.
 
Madam Wallace couldn't hide her disappointment as she continued to regard her son with a stern expression. Christopher shifted uncomfortably under his mother's gaze.
 
"Christopher," Madam Wallace began, her voice low but firm, "what you've done is not just a personal betrayal. It's a matter of societal consequences—consequences that will only affect you. How does it make you feel to be compared to your brothers every day? You finally got the chance to prove them wrong; instead, you went around with that...that invisible sister of hers nobody even cares about!"
 
"Mother, I will not tolerate if you make nasty comments about Madeline. Madeline is even more qualified for the role of Duchess than Amelia. No matter what you say, I still choose Madeline!" Christopher frowned at his mother.
 
Madam Wallace could only sigh at her son's foolishness. "What you are not seeing is that Amelia is the most prominent noble lady in society, with a lot of connections and backing from other major noble houses. Amelia already has a foothold in the majority. Although she doesn't look like it, she is the most powerful noble lady as of now. The situation would be so jarring if she wasn't the next Hawthorne Duchess."
 
Madam Wallace walked over to the study desk where Christopher sat and pulled out the letter he attempted to hide. Christopher looked down, his face flushed with embarrassment, when his mother discovered his letter.
 
"I just hope Amelia is as forgiving as she is graceful." Madam Wallace held out the paper with her fingertips while wearing a disgusted expression.
 
"But...!" Christopher tried to object before being met with his mother's piercing gaze.
 
Madam Wallace leaned forward, towering over her son. "You will rectify this situation, Christopher. You will go to Amelia, apologize sincerely, and ask for her forgiveness. Then tell her, You would be a better man."
 
"But what about Madeline?" Christopher hesitated.
 
Madam Wallace glared at her son. "Are you retarded? Has the wh*re bewitched you? You better don't let this turn into a scandal. Get Amelia back and forget about that b*tch!"
 
Christopher sighed sadly; he couldn't oppose his mother further. "Very well, Mother. I will do as you say, no matter how difficult it may be."
 
Madam Wallace nodded triumphantly as she tore the letter in her hands. "Remember, Christopher, our family's standing in society is at stake. You will make amends with Amelia and win her back. You did it once; you can do it again. I believe in you." Madam Wallace walked towards the door as soon as she finished talking.
 
Christopher clenched his fist in anger as he watched his mother exit the room. He felt frustrated at his mother's distaste for his and Madeline's relationship. He couldn't bear to be separated from Madeline.
 
"Madeline and I love each other. I would never abandon her, and it is always because of that b*tch, Amelia." He banged the desk with his fist in anger before burying his head in his arms, trying to keep his frustration in check. He gets another paper and decides to write another letter to Madeline.
____________________________________________
 
As Amelia sorted through her stack of incoming letters, her eyes caught a familiar envelope that she had nearly forgotten to give to Emma. Curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to read its contents.

'DEAR LADY AMELIA,
 
YOU APPEAR TO HAVE BECOME THE CENTER OF ATTENTION RECENTLY. MAYBE YOU ARE TOO BUSY NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHANGE IN YOUR ENGAGEMENT STATUS.
 
I DON'T INTEND TO BE IMPERTINENT OR DISRUPTIVE, BUT I DO SEND YOU MY SINCEREST GREETINGS AND WISHES FOR YOUR HAPPINESS. PLEASE DON'T FEEL OBLIGATED TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY, BUT KNOW THAT I EAGERLY AWAIT YOUR REPLY IN DUE COURSE.
 
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
LUCAS'
 

Amelia couldn't help but smile at Lucas' kind words. She carefully placed the letter in her vanity drawer, relieved that it hadn't been mistakenly discarded along with the rest of the mail.
 
She then reached under her bed to retrieve a small, purple box she had been planning to share during her lunch meeting with Victoria and Eliza.
 
As she examined the box's intriguing design, her thoughts drifted back to the day she had found it outside her bedroom door. A small note had been securely fastened to it, and the warning on the note was etched in her memory.
 
The note had read, "For Lady Amelia's eyes only. Please open in the company of Eliza and Victoria and no one else." The cryptic message made her wonder about the contents of the box and the reason behind the strict instructions.
 
The day of the long-awaited lunch with Eliza and Victoria had arrived. Amelia carefully carried the box in her hands as she went downstairs to board the carriage waiting for her, followed by Emma behind her.
 
The footman held the carriage door open for her, and Amelia gracefully stepped inside, taking a moment to arrange her skirts. She wore a lovely gown in a shade of pale lavender decorated with lace.
 
As the carriage began to move, Amelia's thoughts circled around the box in her hands, wondering why such a box was left at her doorstep mysteriously. All she knew was that whatever was inside that box had something to do with her, Eliza, and Victoria. So that meant someone else probably knew about their situation.
 
Emma noticed the box Amelia held in her hands and wondered how she got such a box, but she didn't want to probe Amelia. If it had anything to do with her, Amelia would have told her.
 
Amelia held the box in her hands securely. The box could be a potential answer to their enigmatic situation.
 
The carriage rolled through the picturesque streets of the city, the constant clatter of hooves on paved ground moving along the city's busy streets. Amelia hoped everything would finally make sense after she met with Victoria and Eliza.
____________________________________________
 
Amelia had carefully set the small purple box on the table in the elegant tearoom they had chosen for their meeting. She had booked the whole room to ensure their privacy.
 
Amelia watched as Eliza and Victoria entered the tearoom; she felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She wondered about their reaction after she revealed the box's origin.
 
Eliza's expression of astonishment didn't go unnoticed by Amelia, but she maintained a warm and welcoming smile. Victoria, on the other hand, exuded an air of confidence, the same as the first time she met her.
 
"Welcome, both of you." Amelia greeted them with a warm smile, gesturing to the small, purple box resting on the table. "I'm so glad you could make it. Please, have a seat."
 
As they settled around the table, the atmosphere became lighthearted as the two women reciprocated Amelia's warmness. The almost empty tearoom and the smell of aromatic teas seemed like the perfect setting for a gathering filled with potential revelations.
 
"I have something to share with you guys," Amelia began, her gaze shifting between Eliza and Victoria. "I received this mysterious box left at my doorstep with a note attached to it. The note mentioned that both of you"
 
They both looked at Amelia concerned. Amelia held the box and continued talking, "The person who probably left this knows about us." The atmosphere became charged with curiosity and slight apprehension.
 
Victoria spoke, her tone laced with curiosity. "Well, let's not wait any longer. We are all here, so open it, Amelia."
 
With that, she carefully opened the box, revealing its contents to her companions. Three pendant necklaces were secured to red velvet cushions. The necklace pendant had a very unique and all-too-familiar design. It was the same as the marks they had on their palms. Instead of getting their supposed answers, they were even left with more questions. They stared at the necklaces in silent contemplation.
 
"These necklaces..." Victoria started after a moment of stunned silence.
 
"Seems familiar? Yes, yes, it does!" Eliza completed.
 
Amelia nodded, her eyes fixed on the necklaces. "I hope it will be something less confusing, but nothing is more confusing than this."
 
Eliza, still trying to mask her initial surprise, leaned forward to examine the necklaces more closely. "But who would leave something like this for you?"
 
"That's the question," Amelia replied. "I don't know who did."
 
"There's a letter inside." Victoria stated, taking the newly found, red, sealless envelope inside the box and opening it. "It's addressed to us."
 
Amelia and Eliza looked at the scarlet envelope in Victoria's hands. Victoria took out the letter from the envelope and read it to them.
 
"In the light, secrets are uncovered and revelations are made; wear these necklaces, and may they guide you on a journey yet to unfold. For the answers you seek lie in the past, and they must come to light."
 
"What does that mean?" Eliza inquired, her gaze focused on Victoria after she was done reading the contents of the letter.
 
"I have no idea!" Victoria shrugged as she placed the letter back in the envelope.
 
"But Aren't you the smart one?" Amelia spoke. Victoria gave her an incredulous look before sighing.
 
"Sorry, I just hope the contents of this box shed more light on our past. Now it seems like I wasted your time." Amelia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
 
"Well, we will figure it out; no one's time was wasted here," Eliza assured her. "At least they make good friendship necklaces." Eliza picked one and wore it around her neck.
 
"Friendship?" Victoria raised an inquisitive brow at Eliza's statement. She was genuinely surprised that Eliza considered them friends.
 
"Yes, after all we have been through together, that is a pretty fair term. Friends!" Eliza answered with a smile. Amelia grinned at them as she took her necklace from the box.
 
"I kind of agree with Eliza." Amelia said it warmly, as she was also interested in the idea of becoming friends. Victoria was a bit skeptical about how the two quickly accepted the idea of being friends, but she couldn't deny being a little bit nervous since she had never had friends before. All she had was competition, and they were all males.
 
Nevertheless, she was excited to finally have friends. She took her necklace, wore it around her neck, and touched the pendant with a fond expression on her face.
 
Amelia clapped like a happy child, her eyes sparkling with joy as she gazed warmly at her new friends.
 
"Could you probably tell us how you discovered the box? Maybe that could give us a clue," Eliza said as Amelia nodded and began to recount the story of how she had found the box and the note with its peculiar instructions. As she finished her tale, the table focused on another topic.
 
"You ended your engagement?" Victoria shifted the conversation to Amelia's recent break-up. "Wait, is he that guy that you said was with your sister?"
 
"Yeah, I think she mentioned she was her twin sister." Eliza added, and Amelia nodded.
 
"Well, how does it feel?" Eliza asked her, and Amelia smiled before answering instantly.
 
"So relieving. It was like a burden was lifted for me."
 
Their conversation flowed seamlessly, the bond between the three women growing stronger with each passing moment. Amidst the mystery of the box and their shared experiences, a genuine friendship was blossoming.
 

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A/n
For clarification purposes, Amelia, Eliza and Victoria had no idea that they were sent back in time by the goddess Aurora. They got their past life memories but the memories with the goddess weren't recovered. The reasons will be explained in further chapters.

Thanks for reading and if you like that chapter please don't forget to press the little star button to encourage me(◕ᴗ◕✿)