Chapter 4 – Lie on the bed

Molly's POV

I woke up in a strange luxurious room with a painful headache. As if that was not enough, a man was in the bed with me.

Remembering the events of last night was a complete disaster, increasing the pain in my head so I sneaked out of bed, my heart heavy with fear making me wonder why my life always turned out like this.

Why was there so much pain in my life? This reminded me so much of what happened four years ago, I did not want it to happen again.

His face was buried in the pillow, but my heart rate was already uncontrollable. What if he was somebody’s husband like my former producer? How could I have allowed this to happen again?

I cursed myself internally, hating the fact that I had been foolish twice because of a strong drink. Checking myself, I find that there hadn’t been anything happened between us though, except that this time, my clothes had been changed.

Where do I begin searching for them, including my diamond necklace? That was a gift from my mother. Those two men, I wondered what happened to them and if they had taken my diamond necklace.

Still, what mattered was for me to get out of here before another scandal happened, but I could not help wondering where Nora was. I remembered her from last night, but most of the events after that were blurry, and I hadn’t taken her number either.

I almost thought I had escaped this one smoothly when my back was harshly pinned against the wall.

The swift movement scared me out of my wits, a familiar and yet fearful voice heated my ears, forcing me to focus my gaze on the man before me, his arms caging me, pinning my back against the door.

Strangely, his morning breath was rather minty, unlike the bad breath Wesley always woke up with. “Is this how you repay me after I saved your life?”

His voice was a little familiar but also mixed with power and dominion. I was trying to avoid eye contact, due to the shame I felt in my heart for allowing this to happen.

It seemed that I was indeed unhurt, and I could vaguely recall the shadow figure appearing before the two men before I lost consciousness. Determined to show my apology, I looked him in the eye but the realization suddenly hit me.

“Gianni?”

Memories from six years ago tentatively flooded my mind, the last part being the most painful.

It was during my high school days. I went to eat in a restaurant when I saw him. So handsome and so wild. His food was served, and he stood up to answer a call. It was brief, but one of his friends was pouring a whitish substance into his food.

I videoed it in time and stopped him from eating. When he returned, I showed the video to him, making him force his friend to eat the food. The rest was resolved at the hospital. He found me a few days later to thank me with a bouquet of roses.

His gesture touched my heart, and we fell in love. He told me how his friend confessed to wanting to get rid of him because of jealousy. He didn’t say more, especially when I asked about his family, but since then, he was always there for me, even during prom.

That was how he became my high school sweetheart, even when he was already in college.

I enrolled in college too, and during my second year, he came to visit, and that was when he took my virginity. It was an unforgettable night, but when I woke up, he was gone. There was no note or trace, and his phone was out of coverage area.

Ugly thoughts came to me when I realized I could be tricked. But who would spend years to do this, and make it so real, just to take a girl’s cherry? Especially for a charming man like him? 

When my rage faded, I began to get worried. Hope failed me when I didn’t hear from him for months, eventually accepting that perhaps, he died in an accident or something worse because if not, then why would he leave me like that? Without a trace.

“I’m so sorry, Molly, I never meant to hurt you,” I heard him say, but all I felt was the anger boiling inside of me. His betrayal was the worst I ever faced, only living with it after accepting or should I rather say that I convinced myself that he was dead.

I don’t know what came over me but my hand lifted before I could stop it, and I stood on my toes releasing the hardest slap of my life, but the tall man before me was unhinged. Only my palm burned from the slap I gave him, it made me furious, and I began hitting him in the chest.

“So, you are alive.” Tears burned in the corner of my eyes, warmly flowing down my cheeks, as my punches began to weaken. He has grown stronger than I ever saw him as if he was made of steel. 

My aching fingers forced me to stop, as I hugged myself in the end like the temperature in the room just dropped. Gio, or Gianni. He loved whichever way I called him back then, but my legs felt like jelly when I looked closely at him.

He had changed so much and I could not tell what it was. His hair color was still a dark shade like before, just like his eyes but there was a strange aura around him, that made me wonder what he had been up to.

“Did I do something wrong?” My voice came out as a whisper. I hated him so much after what he did to me that I tried to forget about him.

I succeeded, except that our paths crossed again in the most unexpected way.

Remorse shone in his eyes but I could not feel any form of pity for him, only hatred.

“It wasn’t your fault. There was something I needed to take care of urgently, but getting home was worse than I thought.”

That should be a tale for babies, not a woman of the 21st century. “Not even a phone call.” Sarcasm laced my voice. I could not believe a word he said to me because I was the kind who trusted only once.

“I’m sorry Molly, but I had reasons.” Gianni said, his expression toughened. 

Right, after all these years all I deserve to hear is till “I had reasons.” Like I would still care anymore. “Thank you for saving me last night. We are even now.”

Adrenaline surged through me, and I garnered the strength to open the door, but it was locked.

“You have nothing, Molly, you can’t leave.”

His words intensified my headache, and I could not hold it in. “My head,” I groaned. He hastened to the drawers and took out some pills before pouring me a glass of water.

“This will make you feel better.”

I feared a little, remembering how I was knocked out last night and could not remember much of it, but if he saved me from those men… “What’s in this for you?” I asked suspiciously. His expression grew tighter than before.

Giovanni had changed so much, that I could not detect if his expression meant anger or confusion, but there was something so scary about him anytime our gazes met.

“You think it was me last night?”

The understanding was clear that he was upset. I swallowed the pill and drank the water. “I know it wasn’t you. But why are you here?”

“Lie on the bed for a while,” he instructed, ignoring my question. “No. I have to go.” The headache was reducing anyway, but that was when he reminded me.

“Molly. I know you need help. Let me help you, just to make up for old times.”

I averted my eyes from his intense gaze. I indeed had nowhere to go, and those divorce documents were still in my email, so how could I forget Wesley and Kiara’s warning?

I needed a lawyer, but I did not know if it was right to take advantage of Giovanni. He hurt me before, so I don’t have to feel guilty using him to get back at Wesley and Kiara, right?

“How do you plan to help me?” I asked seriously, wanting to know if we were on the same page.

“I will help you regain all that you lost. I have the best lawyer to work for you, and while you have no place to go, you can stay in one of the spare rooms at my place. My house is spacious." Giovanni said in a way like it was the most natural thing to say.