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79: madness

Author: Abigail Dee
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
A few months ago.

Snow fell slowly, like ice flakes crumbling from the gray sky, decorating the yard of her grandfather's house. The cold creeps in, freezing, but it's nothing compared to what I feel inside.

Isabella stood in the doorway, her stomach distended, her eyes looking at me with disappointment. At first glance, she looked strong, but behind her hard gaze, there was something fragile. Something that was breaking because of me.

I stood still, suffocated by the weight of the feelings I had harbored for too long. Her image during this time never left my mind. Her trembling lips and her pale cheeks made my heart squeeze. I knew I had hurt her more than words could fix.

"You flew from Madrid to Milan just to stay silent?" Her voice came out sharp yet shaky, like a wall beginning to crack but still holding. There was anger tucked away, and underneath, a sadness I'd made too deep. I could hear her unspoken cries, crackling between each word.

I sighed softly, the snow in my hair star
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  • A Touch of Madness   80: Isabella

    I swallowed a sleeping pill as I finished cleaning myself, and lay down on the bed. Ace was already there, my mom also sleeping by his side. Not wanting to wake them up, I moved up the bed slowly. Sighing heavily, I looked up at the faces of the two of them. My father, my mother, Belle-even though we were in a tense period-and Ace... I loved them so much. I love them so much that I don't want anything bad to happen to them.Sebastian's arrival was torture enough, coupled with his behavior that almost bankrupted my father's company, it put us on the edge.Sebastian was already freely toying with us at his fingertips because he wanted his son with him, for the weapon that would allow him to gain power, starting with the terrible doctrines he would give Ace. Ace...He was just an innocent, pure boy who was enthusiastic and curious about the world at the age of four.Obviously, children can be indoctrinated or influenced by the things around them without knowing whether it is good or ba

  • A Touch of Madness   81

    Sebastian looked at me for a moment before nodding slowly. "We're going to make him happy today, Isa. There's nothing wrong with that."I swallowed and tried to smile for Ace. "Alright, let's go then."I tugged Ace's hand and walked towards the door, while Sebastian followed behind me. There was an ever-present tension between us, a tension that couldn't go away despite our best efforts to appear normal in front of Ace.The drive to Sebastian's house felt longer than usual. I felt like I was walking on thin glass, afraid that a small wrong step could make everything crumble. Ace sat in the backseat, telling me stories about his school with excitement, while I tried to stay focused on the road ahead. Sebastian sat quietly next to me, his gaze straight ahead, yet I could tell his mind was hard at work.When we got to his house, Ace immediately ran towards the pool with a giggle. Sebastian and I followed him, and at that moment I felt strange. We were like a whole family, but only on the

  • A Touch of Madness   82: Despair

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  • A Touch of Madness   83: despair II

    The sheets were soft. I rolled over and buried my face in the pillow. But something wasn't right. My pillow smelled different than usual. Instead of the scent of my shampoo, it smells of wood, leather, and something like coffee.A scent that felt so familiar.I opened my eyes and sat up. His scent.The pillow smelled like Sebastian. The blanket slipped off my body, and I realized my skin was bare. Panic hit me like a blow to the chest. I pulled the blanket back into place and peered into the darkness. My collected wits made me remember what happened to me last time.Sebastian...He dragged me here."You're awake." His deep voice rang out around me, but I couldn't see him.I didn't answer anything.The darkness scares me a little now. I couldn't remember why I ended up sleeping so well because I cried so hard after he closed the door and left me here alone."Did you take off my clothes?""Yes."I grimaced and walked towards the edge of the bed opposite him. Panic rang in my ears, and e

  • A Touch of Madness   84

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  • A Touch of Madness   85: turning point

    The room was frozen for a moment, the silence eerie. Sebastian looked at me wide-eyed while his assistant stood stiffly, not knowing what to do. I felt the whole world come crashing down around me.Pregnant? How is that possible?"Isabella..." Sebastian's voice was low, almost a whisper. But I couldn't hear him clearly. My thoughts and feelings were raging, colliding with each other."Is it true, Sebastian?" I forced myself to ask despite the trembling in my voice. "Am I pregnant?"Sebastian didn't answer, but his nod brought down everything in me.My head was getting dizzy. I felt my body wobble, and I almost fell if I didn't hold on to the table next to me. The tears that had been dry for the past two days came back unbidden."Are you out of your mind?!!!" I yelled. "You're engaged to Reina, and you're having your way with me while she's also pregnant?!!!" I snapped. The tightness in my chest was unstoppable."You misunderstand, Isa! I'm not engaged to her!" he said."You planned al

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  • A Touch of Madness   87

    "He loves you, bambolina." In front of me, grandmother smiled, her hand revealing faint wrinkles despite her great age, stroking my stomach lightly. "I can see it. I really do. Have faith in me. Regardless of your arranged marriage, I'm sure he accepted it for other reasons as well. Sebastian wouldn't have bothered to come here and take care of you if he was forced to. You know... he already has everything. He has nothing to lose." My heart took a slight leap."But now, apparently, he does." Grandma chuckled. "It's you." "Grandma..""Try it once. Give him a chance. You've always had a kind and pure heart. Try it for your son. He needs a full set of parents." He said. "I want to see him fight for both of us." I bit my lip, my tears almost coming out again. "Because I'm tired of fighting alone all this time.""Then let him fight. He will do it." She said. "More than this."I stroked my belly that was already bulging from having my baby there. Mine and Sebastian's. "What if he hurts m

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  • A Touch of Madness   Epilog

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  • A Touch of Madness   113 : War is Over

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  • A Touch of Madness   111

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  • A Touch of Madness   110

    My head throbbed violently as the harsh sunlight pierced my eyelids. Heavily, I sat up, trying to understand where I was. Rough wooden walls and small windows with dull curtains emitted light all around me, making this room feel even more alien and rough. My heartbeat quickened, panic creeping up from my toes to my head. This was not a room on our private island, not a place I recognized. The walls were weathered, and the overpowering scent of sea salt pierced my nose, mixed with the damp, unfamiliar smell of wood.The memories swirl, fragment by fragment, starting to return, like pieces of a nightmare creeping in slowly.The silent night on the island, Killian's sudden grip, the thin, cold smile on his face, then the hallways of the house echoing with unfamiliar steps. My memory stops at the moment he pulls me towards the boat, waiting at the dock, as I struggle, trying to escape. But all my efforts were in vain. Killian's grip was like an iron shackle I couldn't break.I stood uns

  • A Touch of Madness   109

    "I'll be back tomorrow morning before you wake up." Sebastian's voice sounded lazy from our connected call. "I have so many things to take care of. I promise we'll have a good time once I'm done with all this. But I feel bad leaving you alone there."I chuckled softly. "Yeah, that's okay. There's Janet here. I don't feel alone."He chuckled on the other end of the line, his low laugh almost drowned out by the slightly crackling signal. "Yeah, my cousin with her... unique personality," he continued, his voice trying to sound serious but instead sounding full of warmth. "She'll probably set your whole life in pink if you let her. Just make sure she doesn't end up redecorating our house or... suggesting weird names for our baby."I smiled, imagining Janet, who could vigorously transform the house into a sea of pink, complete with flashy accessories. It was like relentless energy ready to fill every corner of the room, chasing away any loneliness I might feel while Sebastian was away. "T

  • A Touch of Madness   108

    "It looks like your Abuelo has other ambitions."Apparently, he seemed to welcome me not because I was his grandson's wife but because we had a son, and two more twins were about to come out to greet the world. It was like he welcomed a treasure and an asset rather than a great-grandchild. It made me wonder how Sebastian's father had grown up under pressure from his father and how Sebastian had grown up under pressure from his grandfather.I nestled comfortably on his chest. He sat on a lounge chair, his hands cradling my growing belly. In front of us is a beach and a vast ocean.It was a beautiful sight. Sebastian tightens his arms around me, his warmth contrasting with the sea breeze gently brushing against my skin. In front of the calm blue sea, I can feel everything, as well as the freedom that has been almost foreign since meeting his grandfather.Sebastian bowed his head, his lips touching my head gently. "I want our kids to have a choice," he whispers, his voice almost drowne

  • A Touch of Madness   107

    Silence hung in the air as Sebastian's grandfather folded his arms, his eyes never leaving my face. With a small gesture, he nodded as if encouraging himself to continue the conversation that, perhaps, he had planned for so long."And... what about your son? Ace? Your father told me that he is a cheerful and smart boy." His voice was low, but his tone was unmistakable. Demanding an answer, he turned to Sebastian and to me.I let out a small sigh, trying to keep my smile genuine as I replied, "Ace is a wonderful boy. Smart, full of energy, and very curious." Talking about my son in front of someone who looked so critical felt strange, but I didn't want to show any doubt.Sebastian, who had been standing quietly beside me, shifted slightly. His arm slowly wrapped around my waist, signaling he wouldn't let me face this alone."Oh, really?" he looked at us, alternating between me and Sebastian. A faint light in his eyes showed interest, albeit with skepticism. "He must meet me one day. I

  • A Touch of Madness   106

    The phone in my hand vibrated softly, displaying a name that instantly warmed my chest. Ace's face appeared on the screen with one touch, and his wide smile greeted me. His hair was a little messy, as usual, and his school uniform was already rumpled here and there. "Momma!" he exclaimed cheerfully. "I just got home from school!" Seeing his face is always like a breath of fresh air in the thick Mexico City air. I smiled softly, adjusting the position of my phone so I could see him better. "How was your day at school, baby?" Ace shrugged his little shoulders, his face glistening with childlike satisfaction. "Good! I learned about dinosaurs today. They're cool, Mom. I like T-Rex, but my friends say I look like a velociraptor." He chuckles, his cheeks slightly flushed with excitement. I chuckled softly my feelings had drifted to a lighter place with his laughter. "Oh? Velociraptor, huh? You're fast like them." "I'm smart too!" he added quickly, his face full of confidence. "

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