After Romanov left, Anna was informed by one of his men to get dressed. Of course, she refused to do so, however her refusal is futile. Two to three women grabbed her by the hands and pinned her down. What was much worst was when they stripped her naked and bath her, before she was wrapped up into a beautiful black dress.But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t traumatising.“Beautiful.” The woman, who seems to be the leader of the girls murmured. She seems awed beyond relief oppose to what Anna was feeling that moment. “It wasn’t that hard, isn’t it?” She added.The reflection on the mirror stared back at her.Anna couldn’t fathom.Is it really her?She looks...different. She’s much more different towards the old Anna. The Anna Mason she saw on the mirror isn’t helpless. Her jawline was highlighted. Her cheeks are high, and her eyes were both glamorous. It’s way more different to the old her. The Anna she knew is simple, on rags, although her family own riches. But Anna Mason on this mansion
“W—we failed to get her, boss.” SLAM. When David heard those sorry excuse, he became livid. His eyes darkened and his veins pop from his hand and from his neck. He was mad, but more on frustrated. “You stupid fools!” He snarled. “It is just a simple task, yet you cannot even do it?! What I am paying for?!”His voice boomed as his men lowered their head as they should be. Blinded by his anger, he pulled his gun. BANG. A man fell on the floor. He was lifeless. Mathew Mason, who witnessed what happened fell pale. He felt his breathe hitched as he watched David killed a man with ease as if their life does not matter. He gulps the lump that was forming in his throat just by imagining that it could be him, his wife and Natasha, his daughter. Their blood, which would swept the floor as they died. It made him shuddered. Terrified at what this man could be capable of. Remorse flooded his insides. If only he wasn’t greedy enough, but the other part of his head was telling him that he wa
“I—” Raquel gulps. The awkward air made the atmosphere between them thickens. Even with David, she had never been this nervous, only with Eliot. Only with this man, whom she always wonder—“Why?”“Why?” Eliot looked at her.“Why do you wanted to help me?” She was straightforward. “…so bad?”Raquel didn’t know, but Eliot was like a breathe of fresh air, away from the abuse. He was the same stranger. Always carefree. Always the risk-taker. He was full of freedom, while she’s not. And she will not drag someone to the same hell just because she was chained there.Elliot is just…too precious to be contaminated by her toxic family.“And I wasn’t blind, I don’t want to assume, but your action speaks of a pursuant man.” She bit her lips. “And you know…I am married, I am no longer free, Eliot.”“Raquel…” Eliot took a deep breathe, before looking at her. “Would your doubt be compensated, if I told you that I like you?”“Don’t give me that crap, Eliot.” With him around, Raquel felt free expressin
“Are you following me?” When the two of them had gotten alone, Raquel couldn’t help herself, but be frank.“What made you think I am?” Eliot raised his eyebrows.“Because you are exactly on the same place, where I am supposed to be.” She squinted her eyes.“Then it wasn’t my fault, Mrs. Smith.” Eliot countered back, emphasizing the last word. “A coincidence can happen.”“Coincidence, my ass.” But Raquel isn’t backing down. “I know what you are doing. How many times do I have to tell you that I am not going to accept your help—”Only to get stopped, when the door to the kitchen was pushed open.Sister Eliza looked to the pair, “Is everything okay here?”“Well, yes, sister.” Her expression changes. She smiled softly at the nun. “We’re just uh…uh, right. We are trying to discuss what meal to prepare for the children.”“Oh, really?” Sister Eliza exclaimed with utter delight. “The children would be happy knowing that you two made it! Don’t worry, I’ll leave you two. Enjoy!”And then the d
“I’m sorry, Ma’am.” The receptionist shook her head. “I can’t let you in without a meeting with Mr. Duke.” She added.Mrs. Roswell is easily provoke.“What?” She may appears calm, but she was already boiling with anger. “ Didn’t you have any idea who we are?”Mrs. Roswell didn’t came her just so her visit could be rejected. She wanted to see Eliot, and talk to him about his marriage to her daughter. Lauren promised, and in spite of his disapproval, she knew that it was Mrs. Lauren Duke who have the last word for decision.One and for all. But she’s getting fed up. After waiting for hours, she was now being told that Eliot wouldn’t meet her.How dare he?! Mrs. Roswell was furious. How dare he act so high, treating her like a dirt?!“I’m sorry, but that was our protocol.” The woman apologized.“Protocol, huh?” She sounded mad. “Perhaps, you wouldn’t mind if I walk right there in his office—”“Ma’am, don’t make me call the security.”“You won’t, because I will.” With that said, Mrs. Rosw
Raquel was risking her life, while she was here. The lush green maze that was standing 5 feet in height seemed mesmerizing. There are flowers, and beads of roses that were coiling perfectly around each branch. Italia Mercedes could have admired them some other time, because as of the moment, she couldn’t do so such a thing.Her eyes are sparkling with distraught, while her chest was filled with both hate and anger. It was of contempt, thus far, upon seeing her reflection, a 20 year old half Parisian clad in a white traje de boda (a wedding dress) flared off the loathsome emotion that was spreading like a wildfire across her entire body.“If you are going to cry there, I’ll fucking swear that I’ll drag you back here, Italia.” A man cut off her thoughts.A tear fell from her eyes.“W—why can’t I fucking cry?” Her back was turned, but he knew she was shaking.Her clenched fist suggested the overwhelming emotion that seems to have gotten through her.The male did not speak.“I—it wasn’t
Raquel did not lost them. As she run to save herself from whatever trouble awaits for her, she never noticed the dead end in front. But it’s too late.She was cornered, and the fear that blossoms inside her chest doubled.“What an I going to do?” She whispered helplessly.Hopeless, when the men catch up with her, and they have a smug look on their faces mocking Raquel.“There’s nowhere to run now.” The one who shoots then after they crash in the river chuckled darker. “Your only option was get hurt or surrender. “She clenched her jaw.“Who are you?” Raquel gulps. She have no idea, where this courage may have come from. “If it is about money, I can pay you.” She can’t, unless she uses whatever money she can retrieved from David.But that was least of her worries. What matters now is the reason why they have been chasing them all the way up here. She could tell that they had been hired but by who?“Don’t worry about that, we won’t touch you or lay a single hand on you, if you come with
“Sir?” A knock coming from his office door made Gustav to lifted his head from his papers.“Yes?”“You have a visitor.” Amber peered down, and have him an anxious smile. “And I believe it doesn’t matter whether you are expecting her or not, that’s what she said—”“Of course, my son knows that I don’t need any appointment, Miss.” Behind Amber, a woman pushed open the door.It shows a middle age aristocrat clad in a fancy dress. She looks to be about on her 50’w, but her face doesn’t look that old. She have a pale skin, a reddish lips and a soft features that match Gustav’s eyes and his nose. They look alike, but how can they not be, when it is no other than his own mother?Juliet Rexene Salvador.“Mom.” Gustav instantly frowns, while signalling Amber to leave the room. “What are you doing here?”“Aren’t you at least happy to see me here, my dear boy?” Juliet pursed her lips. “You know, I’ve travelled almost 6000 kilometres from State just so I could see you, and here you are, already s
The next morning was a bliss. For Raquel, it was, but for Eliot, it isn’t.When she noticed the grim look plastered on his face, Raquel did not hesitate to ask, “Is everything’s alright?”Unlike her, Eliot was already fully clothed compared to the bareness they share last night, and the thirst they both patched up with flames. But his face seems to be I grave, grievance worries that she was oblivious about.Is it about last night? She don’t think so. When they did it, he doesn’t seems regretful, no remorse and lament that she could perceive as they make love to each other.If it is love making, and not just some sex he had been pursuit, because of his anger.“It’s my father.” Eliot brushed his hair, already messing the tangle knots that lay sprouted on top of his head. “Maids called, he had been diagnosed last night, and they said he is in the ER.”“Oh my god.” Worries flashed before her eyes. “Do you wanted to go to him? I can packed some things up, and let’s just grab some breakfast
“How long had I been out?” Eliot asked.So far, his conditions are getting better. He is already recovering from the worst scenario that Raquel feared he’ll fall once he lay there on that hospital bed.“Just a couple of days, but everything’s good.” She was busy peeling an apple as she glanced on her shoulder to look at him. “Jerome said that you can be discharge tomorrow, since you’re okay now, but they are still going to run some test, Eliot.”“Who’s Jerome?” A tiny bit of jealousy made his chest twitched.Raquel noticed it.“It’s the doctor, Eliot.” Raquel rolled her eyes.“I’m just making sure that no one’s trying to pursue you yet, Raq.” He joke, chuckling“Oh, don’t be absurd.” Raquel placed down the apple and the knife in the table and dried her hands. She grab the plate and walked near to his bed. “Are you still not going to believe me after I confessed?”“Of course, I do.” Eliot hold her hand. “Because I love you.”Their eyes meet.Raquel softly smiled at him, “And I love you
“I—” Raquel gulps. The awkward air made the atmosphere between them thickens. Even with David, she had never been this nervous, only with Eliot. Only with this man, whom she always wonder—“Why?”“Why?” Eliot looked at her.“Why do you wanted to help me?” She was straightforward. “…so bad?”Raquel didn’t know, but Eliot was like a breathe of fresh air, away from the abuse. He was the same stranger. Always carefree. Always the risk-taker. He was full of freedom, while she’s not. And she will not drag someone to the same hell just because she was chained there.Elliot is just…too precious to be contaminated by her toxic family.“And I wasn’t blind, I don’t want to assume, but your action speaks of a pursuant man.” She bit her lips. “And you know…I am married, I am no longer free, Eliot.”“Raquel…” Eliot took a deep breathe, before looking at her. “Would your doubt be compensated, if I told you that I like you?”“Don’t give me that crap, Eliot.” With him around, Raquel felt free expressin
Raquel knew for a fact that Eliot is somebody, a sin from that island she must forget, but her heart couldn’t. The memories of the night they shared would came back, on how much she moaned with pleasure, forgetting the marriage she was forced to, while they were together.Eliot Duke made her forget every pain, and the torment meant to made her suffer. When she rejected him, Raquel knew it ended, that the fate that was playing between them was already cut in loose. Not until seeing the great Eliot Duke in the flesh to the charity ball she had accompanied her mother.“Tired of forcing yourself to smile, Mrs. Smith?” Eliot’s voice filled her ears, and unconsciously, Raquel stepped away from him. “Am I really that scary, huh?”She hardened her resolve.Don’t do anything silly. Raquel was begging herself. Don’t do something that would only hurt you badly at the end. She reminded herself about what happened to David that night before the whole world knew that they had spend the night togeth
“David! Open the door! David!” Grace was in a hurry.Beads of sweat was trickling on her forehead. A look of worry past across her face. Her hair was loose behind her back, and she isn’t properly dress like she was used to be.“What is it?” A groggy voice came.It didn’t take her another minute. When the door was pushed open, she quickly get inside as if being chase.David looked at her as if she had grown two heads.“What have gotten into you?” He was frowning. “And you look scared. Is there a problem, honey—”“Don’t you dare call me that stupid endearment!” When she faced the man she used to get wooed, there are no blinded affection. Her face was boiling with anger. “Father told me what you did. How can you do this, David?! After all?! You betrayed us!”“Betray you?” David raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t betray you. Didn’t the authority find the drugs on his trunk?” He chuckled.“You know what will happen—!” Grace was frustrated. “But do you know that I have been stop by thugs, while
Raquel knew for a fact that Eliot is somebody, a sin from that island she must forget, but her heart couldn’t. The memories of the night they shared would came back, on how much she moaned with pleasure, forgetting the marriage she was forced to, while they were together.Eliot Duke made her forget every pain, and the torment meant to made her suffer. When she rejected him, Raquel knew it ended, that the fate that was playing between them was already cut in loose. Not until seeing the great Eliot Duke in the flesh to the charity ball she had accompanied her mother.“Tired of forcing yourself to smile, Mrs. Smith?” Eliot’s voice filled her ears, and unconsciously, Raquel stepped away from him. “Am I really that scary, huh?”She hardened her resolve.Don’t do anything silly. Raquel was begging herself. Don’t do something that would only hurt you badly at the end. She reminded herself about what happened to David that night before the whole world knew that they had spend the night togeth
Anita is kind just like how Doctor Gonzales described her. It was later that day Raquel meet Anita when she paid a visit for the pair. “I was worried when I saw the two of you in the riverbanks. Oh god! I felt like I am going to have a heart attack by the sight of you, Raquel, and Oh! Your wounds!” Anita exclaimed. Her voice is loud, it echoed to the wall, but it was her expression that put ease Raquel’s worry, and fear. She may be old, white hair may lay sprouting on top of her head, but Anita moves as if she were much younger than her age. And Raquel…actually likes here. “I owe you, our life.”It was true. If it isn’t for Anita, Raquel and Eliot may have died, and she couldn’t let that happen, not when she hasn’t found out the truth yet, and the identity of those men. Raquel knew who have may sent those men after them, but she was still unsure, not when it is still not yet confirmed. It could be David, who may have any idea what has been going on
Had fate been playing their lives?Last night, Eliot promised that if Raquel wouldn’t ask for his help, then he wouldn’t forced her to, but seeing her inside the company he owns gave him another reason to approach her. This was their 3rd coincidental meeting.Raquel.But his trance didn’t last long. Eliot could feel his blood boiling with anger upon seeing whom she is with.“Oh, I wanted this one! Doesn’t this look great, Raq?” It was the woman, who hurt Raquel before. “Buy this for me!”She looks happy, while Raquel seems like she was forcing herself to smile again. Her face dim, her smile faltering.“Do you have a set of this diamond ring?” The woman asked again.Seeing the panic embracing her eyes, Eliot found himself intervening.“Justin.” Eliot looked at his manager. “I’ll take it from here.”“Yes, Sir.” His manager excuse himself.Eliot faced the two.The woman who was with Raquel faced him curiously.“I’m Eliot Duke, the owner of this store, how may I help you?” He flashed a s
David did not ask what happened. After the confrontation, nobody speak. Nobody dare to bring it even. He just left, and everything was back to normal, except that he isn’t as harsh as before.He cooked, before he left, and Raquel couldn’t be feeling grateful for once. But that doesn’t mean she was already at ease.Staring at the paper on her hand, she let out a loud sigh, “Am I doing it, right?” She asked herself.The document she have gotten her hands onto contain the truth. It is her birthplace. Doctor Vergara gave it to her, before he left. He told Raquel that if she wanted the truth, then this place may be the key to every question she seeks.“But this is what I wanted.” She whispered to herself.Or more likely she was trying to convince herself to do so.Her phone rings.When she saw the name registered on the screen, her face hardened.It is her mother. The mother she grew up with, who had been feeding lies to Raquel.The call died down, but when she dialed her number again, Raq