10. Dragged Away!

Marona's POV

How can this happen to me? How? 

I stood in front of the mirror like a soul-less body as I stared into the hollowness of my life. The black color is mocking me, telling me that no matter how much I run behind love, it's not in my destiny to find it. Not in any form. 

I have just come back from the funeral of Laurence. His face wasn't even recognisable after whatever happened to him. 

I wish, he could have listened to me and just give up on his dark life. We would have lived in our happy home together, would have cooked dinner together, would have enjoyed the coffee on autumn day in our beautiful lawn. 

Was it a bad life? 

Tears escaped my eyes when I remembered the first night when he left his mark on me. How he caressed and worshipped me in the darkness. How his strong and possessive arms held me in his hold as I sweated his devotion.

It was a fun night arranged by our seniors. We were playing games and I was really curious to explore the freedom I had given to myself. 

It was too stupid and risky but everyone was doing it and I did too. 

We drank too much, to the extent where I couldn't recognise myself. 

That night I stumbled on my way towards the dorms. It was dark and I collided with someone who was as drunk as me. We both laughed and giggled in our intoxication. 

I couldn't see his face in the darkness but he was tall and muscular. We both got into the random dorm and I couldn't understand when everything happened. 

But that touch was heaven, I felt euphoric. It was my first time and he made it memorable. I am sure that we were in a random dorm but when I woke up I was in my dorm. 

At that time I wasn't in a relationship with Laurence, it actually started that night. The next day when I woke up, I was in my dorm and the man was gone. That morning I found his note on my mirror and that's it, I knew that he is the one. 

I couldn't forget that touch, I tried to find out the man and finally got to know that it was Laurence. He accepted that it was him when I approached him and I was settled that I wanted to marry this man because he has everything which I wanted. 

I still remember the day when I saw him after that night, he was such a peaceful person. Doing charity and helping people in the campaign. I liked his nature and I finally approached him. I always wanted a calm and peaceful man like him.

He didn't show much interest in me in the beginning but after a few days, he turned completely different. He was in awe with me.

But after marriage, I felt something lost in his touch. He didn't feel like our first time. My mind blurred everything except his touch. I was yearning for that touch which I felt that day near the moonlit window but to my horror, it was Mikhail and not Laurence. 

But I wanted my Laurence not Mikhail. He was there that night with me then how can Mikhail make me feel those things. How can his touch feel familiar. 

I shook my head, he is playing a game with me. He always does. I know he did it on purpose because he loves to scare me. 

Laurence was the one and no one will take his place.

I sat on the bed while holding Laurence's picture close to my chest. What do I do now? He was the only one. It feels like my life is in a downfall, nothing is going right. 

I tried to stop the tears but couldn't. I should have been used to it by now because life always takes away the people I love. 

I heard a knock on the door and Lovina entered. I just stared at her blankly as she sat beside me. 

"I don't know what to say... I know you are not but I should ask. Are you okay?"

She mumbled awkwardly like she doesn't know how to comfort a person. 

"I am not!"

I placed Laurence's picture away. 

"Someone killed my husband and I just came back from his funeral..." 

Silent tears fell from my eyes. 

"Who killed him and why?"

Lovina sighed while rubbing her face.

"I don't know, no one knows what happened in the club... But Mad King is trying to find out the murderer... He will find him."

"Mad King?"

I scoffed. 

"He was fond of Laurence and he is going crazy now. Someone killed his heir."

She smiled bitterly. 

"He has an uncountable heir, I had only one husband."

I snapped at her. 

"No!"

Lovina shook her head.

"Laurence was his only hope because he knew that he would take care of him... Rafael and other brothers hate Leonardo and he is aware of that. He won't dare to give power in Rafael's hand because Rafael will kill him. He is looking for a chance."

"Did Rafael kill Laurence?"

I asked suspiciously. Only he has a reason to do that. He wants the throne. 

"Possible but I am not sure... No one knows who killed Laurence."

She shrugged. 

"Your family is sick"

I looked away disgusted. Rafael is capable of doing it, he can kill anyone without remorse and I am sure of it. 

"I know!"

She agreed like I was saying the truth. 

"Now what?.. What are you going to do?"

"What am I going to do? I am going to leave. I can't stay here... All are murderers here."

Especially Mikhail.

"How do you stay between these people? Rafael is a psycho, Mikhail is a rapist and murderer. And I don't even want to talk about other people"

"Mikhail is not what you are saying."

She sounded like she was scolding me. 

"Really?"

I scoffed.

"Remember Jenna?"

"Mikhail didn't kill Jenna, someone else did... Mikhail was just closing the murder when you saw him."

She declared. 

My head snapped towards her. 

"This can't be true!"

I mumbled in shock. 

"Mikhail was out of town that night, he came in the morning and Leonardo asked him to take care of Jenna's body... Mikhail was trying to close it but you saw and made an issue... He asked you so many times to keep quiet but you didn't listen. The people who killed Jenna would have killed you too, Mikhail protected you."

She scolded me. 

"And I agree that Rafael is a psycho so call him whatever you want, I don't care."

I tried to understand the things she declared just now. 

"Wait! He didn't kill Jenna then why was he threatening me... He confessed in front of me that he killed Jenna."

"Because then you might have started searching for the real culprit and it would have risked your life... Maybe that's why Mikhail took the blame so you would stop."

She shrugged like she was not sure herself. 

"Mikhail does things sometimes which no one understands. He plays tricks."

Maybe that's the reason why I didn't end up like Jenna because when he took me to the warehouse, I was sure that he was going to kill me but he didn't. He didn't touch me with bad intentions, just scared me to death.

"I don't understand why you are so scared of him. He is not that bad, in fact he always has time to hear people out... He has saved me from Leonardo many times."

She got up.

"Maybe because he hasn't made you kiss Lizard and made it parade on your body... I was burnt to my stomach when he waterboarded me. He still haunts my dreams... I was more aware of that man's presence than my husband.."

I snapped at her madly. Mikhail was always brutal with me and I can't forget it. 

"The way you should"

I heard her mumble and frowned at her confused. 

"Marona, what Mikhail did to you in the warehouse is nothing... He is worse than you could imagine when he tortures people, his own guards faint sometimes after watching him in the basement... What he did to you was child play, just to scare you and keep your mouth shut... He did it to keep you alive!"

"Then it's a strong reason to stay away from him."

I replied back.

"And why would he save my life..."

He did that day too. Why? How did he know that I was there?

"Why don't you go and ask him by yourself?"

She smirked and walked out. 

I sighed and looked down when she was walking out. Was she here to clear Mikhail's image in front of me. Till now he was the culprit for me and suddenly he is my protector in black shadows. 

"Yeah, I forgot to tell you."

She halted and turned towards me. 

"In the Delgado family, when a man dies. His property gets transferred to the next in line."

I looked at her with a frown. I don't want to know their fucked up rules.

"I don't want Laurence's property... I am capable enough to make my own fortune."

She bit her lips nervously. 

"Property includes you also!"

She declared and my heart dropped to my stomach. 

"Now Rafael has the right to everything which Laurence had, including you!" 

I got up with the jolt from my place and looked at her in horror.

Are you fucking out of your mind? I am not a fucking property!"

I yelled at her. 

"I am a human, you can't trade me like some random thing..."

I shook my head furiously. 

Rafael? He is a bloody psycho. 

No! Think about it. It's just a rule. I tried to calm down my breathing. Rafael was never interested in me, he doesn't even look at me that way. 

And he listens to me, he talks to me normally so I might be able to convince him. I am sure he doesn't want me. 

"It's a rule... I am sorry."

She apologized genuinely. 

"But don't worry. I am sure that you will fall into the right hands."

Is she fucking crazy. How dare she say that and walk away from here. 

No! I am not staying here to witness this craziness. I am leaving now. I quickly stuffed my important things in my handbag and stormed out of the room. 

I always had a bad feeling about this family. I told Laurence so many times to not bring me here but he didn't listen. 

How can he risk my life like this? 

I was hopeful that he would protect me but he left too early now I have to think about myself. 

I'll go far from this madness and will never look back. I descended the stairs hurriedly and Tyson blocked my path. 

The young stupid man who hasn't even grown his beard but he has a body like a Delgado. He is strong for his age. 

"Where are you going, Babe?"

He looked at me up and down while licking his lips and I cringed in disgust. Why are all men in this house perverted? Of course because Leonardo is. 

I tried to walk past him but he again stood in front of me. 

Stupid, leave my way. I need to run.

"Are you trying to run away?"

He mocked. 

"Don't you know that you are a Delgado property now and anyone can use you until you find a new owner."

I looked at him in disbelief and stepped back when he stepped towards me. 

"Leave my way, Tyson."

I tried to run away but he grabbed my hair in a tight fist and I screamed in pain. He is literally ripping my scalp out. 

"Leave me, Bastard!"

I cursed. 

"Let me show you what's going to happen to you."

He laughed maniacally while dragging me by hair and I tried to hit and scratch his hold while crying tears of humiliation. 

I tried to grab the pillar but he dragged me mercilessly by hair while I screamed in pain. 

The huge door of the assembly hall opened and I gasped when he pushed me forward, making me fall on the ground with a loud cry. 

My hands and knees scratched as I hit the floor. 

The assembly hall was filled with people. Sitting in the round and I was thrown between the half circle. I looked up with bloodshot red eyes and found all dirty eyes smiling at my helplessness.