Stella Romilly's pov,Past “That's maltreatment!” Hannah exclaimed.“What's that?” That was a very big word.“Mama told me it's something bad someone does to you.”I nodded. “Oh, I forgot,” I gasped slightly. I lifted my weight off the ground and stood up straight. I tried to reach my zip at my back. Thankfully I did. And it slid faster than I expected. Maybe because I had nothing underneath to interrupt its slide. The scar.“Look,” I pointed to the place with a long mark on it. There was no need to see it to confirm it. I could feel its embedment into my pale skin. It was imprinted into my skin like a tattoo. “What is that?” Hannah gasped, running her hands silently over my scar. “My dad used a cane on me and struck my back so hard. It was painful.”“It looks very painful Stella," Hannah agreed sympathetically. And then she was angry..“Why did he do this to you?”“He told me it was my punishment for disobeying him,” I told her again. “How can someone do something this bad?”
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,Antonio Dante's pov, It had been a week since I was told that my father was in the Mafia. I had remained in my room all week even after my mother convinced me to accept my life and my fate. I refused to accept it. But deep down I knew it wasn't a choice. It was an update to the pieces of information delivered to me all my life and all I had to do was to suck it up like I did with the others. I had acquired a better understanding on my own in my room. Why my father had insisted on training lessons. Why we had to exercise… Why there were guards everywhere? It finally made sense. Mafia people do stuff like that. I couldn't believe there were multiples of them. The world was a dangerous place to live. Lisa hadn't come to visit since and I was starting to worry about her. I had texted her and she had barely replied. There was a knock on my door and I opened it to a guard who bowed in front of me. “Your father wants to meet you,” he delivered. “Tell him I'm coming.”
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,Antonio Dante's pov,"We have adoption," I repeated my statement like I had won a jackpot. “We can adopt an already grown kid. We can-”“Stop Antonio!” My father suddenly yelled and I flinched at his voice. “If we had the opportunity to adopt, immediately you said you didn't want to be a part of this, we would have had adoption papers running!”My heart sank. Not because my light was dulled and my hope crushed but because he had made me feel like an option. Someone who could be tossed away if I was not of any importance to him. He was breathing hard. But my heart was beating in my ears. My mother had gone to comfort him. Instead of me.It was a business deal. Right from the start. “You are the one and only legitimate heir to this business. If you don't inherit. Our business is gone just like that,” he snapped. My head was bowed in thoughts, oblivious of my surroundings. “We need you. All our ancestors' hard work and money was put into this. We can't let it go t
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,Antonio Dante's pov,“Guards!”“Come and take him,” I heard. A uniform match of boots flashed before my eyes instantly. I was fading in and out of consciousness. “No honey, what are you doing?”“He wants me to act like one of the bad guys. Fine, I will be the bad guy.”“You can't possibly-”“He has to learn how to show some respect.”“I wasn't wrong,” I muttered, trying to focus on their faces. “My baby,” my mother whispered but making exactly no attempt to help me in my situation. I was wrong. So fucking wrong. Tears pierced my eyes. I was so betrayed. “None of you are good,” I whispered, smiling bitterly. “Not any one of you.”The thumping had stopped and now all I felt were hands on my upper arms. “Please Don, I beg of you.” Through my hazed vision, I could see the shape my mother had formed with her hands. She was begging. To my dad. For him to let me go.“How pathetic,” I commented. I didn't care if she was trying to do a favour for me. She was still one
Stella Romilly's pov,I was in my car and I was driving my car to my house to be. Bella had called me to inform me that my house was ready and that I had to collect documents regarding the house and sign them. Also, to collect the keys to my house. I hoped that this would be a fresh start for me. I had closed my heart. Opened it only to freedom. As things were going, I wanted to forget him. But I couldn't. I didn't want to. So I tried to push back the memories we had. I wished I was like him. To move on that quickly. But then I thought I was too emotional. It had been a month and some days and it still felt like yesterday. Oh, how I hated this feeling.This house would be a new welcomed home. I will stay here and treat it like my home. I will sleep in every room and fill the void in my heart.. Hopefully with material things. I killed my engine and stepped out of the car. I was immediately met with the thriving vibrance of the room. What a beautiful sight. I was awed again and aga
Stella Romilly's pov,“Foolish foolish me,” I muttered as I scrambled out of my seat and moved to arrange my mess. I picked a few pens, papers… I saved the cards for the last but as I was picking the cards, my eyes caught a business identity card. It was at one far end. A little bit far away from me. Almost under the side table. I went to pick it up and bring it closer for a proper look.Bella GoodyTherapist.ID no. :12395670Email: bellagoody@gmail.comShe was a therapist, I thought. There was a shadow under my breath. Under my tone. And it was screaming inaudible words in my ears but I couldn't decipher what words they were let alone the meaning. “Hey, I'm sorry. I'm back,” Her joyful voice brought me down to reality and I hurried to put the rest of the things in the bag before facing her.“I hope you are done Miss,” Her distant steps became sharper and louder. “Oh yeah,” I unintentionally shouted and scrambled the rest of the things into the bag, trying my best to rearrange it
Stella Romilly's pov,I was back in my hotel and humming different tunes while I packed my stuff. A fresh start. A fresh start. For me. I kept repeating these words in my head. I called Ken to come and pick me up. I closed my luggage and left it at the doorstep to check if I had taken everything. There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” I said. Ken stuck his head out before deciding to come in fully. He spotted the cases and picked them up. “I will be right downstairs,” I said, brushing my hair to make sure it stood in place. “Yes madam,”He was out the door. I picked up my keys and looked in the mirror for the last time. A fresh start. “You are doing well Stella,” I told myself in the mirror and patted my back. I egressed the room. I walked my way downstairs and left the hotel key with the receptionist. She smiled at me, putting my key in place. “Bye, madam. Have a great day.”“Thank you.”The driver was waiting for me when. I came out. He opened the door for me and l
Stella Romilly's pov,Michael was the first to catch my eyes when I entered the place. Dark hair. Green eyes. Beautiful. His eyes lit up and I beamed at him. “Hey Stella!”“Michael!”I thrived the thrusting bodies towards his side. The familiar loud music blared in my ears. “Good to see you!”I yelled over the music. “You too!” he yelled. he was wearing his uniform. A suit coat and a tie. A white shirt underneath barely covering the lean muscles he had. He had an empty tray in his hand as he led me towards the bar. I sat on the high chair. He whispered something into a fellow's ear. The fellow looked at me. Smiled and nodded repeatedly.He whispered back with a pat and then Michael gave the tray to him. He shot me a wink and I threw him a confused gaze. “You are so attractive!” He made a big love sign with his hand before vanishing in the crowd. I looked at my dress for the third time today and raised an eyebrow.“What?” I laughed, confused. “Don't mind him,” Michael laughed