CHAPTER 32: SCANDAL“You did not hurt yourself, didn’t you?” Zamiel asked.Italia laughs softly.“Geez, stop worrying, it wasn’t as if you didn’t saw that not even a shard graze my palms, Zam.” She rolled her eyes playfully, regardless of the heaviness she was carrying on her chest.“Did I say I was referring to a wound?” With that said, the latter lifted his head.He was frowning.Italia’s smile faltered.“W—what...”“I know what you feel.” Zamiel sighs. He reached out, and softly touched her head in a comforting manner. “I know my cousin could be a bastard sometimes.” He added, and chuckled as if to lighten up the mood.“Zam...” Italia trailed off, before she turned her head sideways. “How long had you known?”“Way back in college,” Zamiel stood up. “I know that the two of you had a thing—”“That’s why you were never surprise to see me here one day living with him, right?” Italia confronted him.“Yes.” Before his forehead ceased. “But what I couldn’t understand was why there is Sama
CHAPTER 33: GRUDGES TO BE KEPTDid she fainted?A grunt escape from her lips, when she woke up. Lost, because the last time she could recall isn’t this place, but she boarded a car of a woman named Mitch...? Minchi...? But the throbbing on her temples only made her unable to remember her name.The light seeping from the cracks blinded her for a second. The room is painted white, and the smell of disinfectant suggested where she is.Italia was brought in a hospital, but what for?The door of her room was pushed open.“You’re awake.” It is the woman.“You are...?” Italia smile is uncertain. “Sorry, I am a little groggy.”“That’s alright, and it’s Minchin.” The latter placed some bags to the table next to her bed. “I brought you some food.”“Thanks, but what happened?” Italia is still seemingly confuse.“You fainted.” Minchin stated the obvious. “Out of worry, I brought you here and the doctors say that you just needed a little rest, because you seems to be under so much stress lately.”
CHAPTER 34: AGAINTS HER WILLSore. Italia could feel her body throbbing entirely. Her throat is dry. Her lips are chapped, and for how long had she been there she lost count of. Days felt like ages, and night was much colder than she thought it should have been. She didn’t know where she was nor where did those men had brought her with.Tears stream on her eyes.“P—please.”She never felt so terrified, and this is the first time that Italia felt fear creeping on her arms.THUD.Footsteps echoed. A cold sweat run down on her spine. Italia felt her lips trembled. She was familiar of whom those belongs to. It is own by that man, whom she first seen, when she woke up on that unfamiliar place.The door was soon pushed open.“My my, it’s so dark in here, isn’t it?” His voice is cruel, his presence drove her to the corner.Italia swallowed, when he began to advance.“Don’t you feel alone here?” He chuckled.When she responded with silence, the air shift. His mood seems to change.“And you ar
CHAPTER 35: SOLDHer throat was parched dry. Her limbs are numb, and everything hurts. Italia whimpered, when she woke up again with the splash of cold water.“A—ah!” She let out a low shriek as she hugged her body.Blinking past towards the blinding light, Italia could see Fredo in front of her.“Did I wake you up?” He chuckled.He always laugh, and Italia....she was beginning to hate how much he was gaining amusement from her suffrage.“N—not at all, Sir.” Her jaw clenched as she lied between her teethThe cold made her tremble, her lips are already quivering, and she could have sworn that she was already pale from what he pulled. But Fredo Montreal doesn’t seems he care. Only if Italia began to talk back, and earned back her strength. In that case, he would something to put up the fire and the feisty Italia would just succumbed, submit and pleaded for her life.She hated it.Fredo Montreal. Italia began hating that name.“Good.” The man then soon pulled her arms harshly. “Then you’
CHAPTER 36: PUNISHMENT The sound of a gun, so loud echoed inside her head and Italia came awake. Drenched in sweat, wide eyes and panting, catching her own breathe as if she run a miles. She was on edge, searching each corners of the same room she had gotten familiar with. She was ready to leapt until her body slowly relaxed as she took off her sorroundings.She is on her room. There are no bloods, no screams and cries. Nothing that her mind was trying to deceived her for.Italia let out a loud breathe, “That dream again.”But even if it was a dream, she still find herself shaking.It just started, when Fredo abducted her. The rescue didn’t run smoothly. His men fought Black’s, and it was a bloody fight as her brain recall the events that took place that night.“We were paid to save you, Italia. That is an order from him.” Black helped her up on her feet. His left hand still holding the gun, while Fredo was loosing too much blood on the floor. Only that, Black ordered one of his men
CHAPTER 37: INDENIAL It was silent. It was too silent for her liking.She isn’t used to this atmosphere. Sitting on the same dining table, while facing Gustav, her ex-husband as if nothing happened. As of those tears she shed, and the confrontation was merely nothing, but a dream.What more was her chest that seems bottled by so many butterflies that keep swarming even on her stomach. It made the air awkward.That Italia couldn’t help, but cleared her throat.“So, how are you?” She unknowingly winced.How are you really? She thought, but isn’t that what most start their conversation?Gustav stopped slicing the steak on his plate, and lifted his head.THUMP.Italia gulps. Her throat is parched dry, and she was not liking a bit how much he could affect her.“Still the same, when you left.” He said dryly.That made her hangs her head low. Guilt tripped her core. She knew that it is him, who save him, but her pride wouldn’t even accept it. Gustav rescued her, when no one had ever done th
CHAPTER 38: MOTHER-IN-LAW“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,
CHAPTER 39: DRUNK KISSESWhen they arrived home, Zamiel bid his farewell.“Are you not going to sleep here?” She asked, while unbuckling her seatbelt.She looked at him. It just that Italia had gotten used to the fact that Zamiel is always around. He was always there the moment she woke up.“Not really, I still have some papers left to do in the office, but don’t worry, I’ll visit again tomorrow.” He reassured her.It was Zamiel, who first went out to open the door on her side. Italia mouthed a low thanks before facing the latter.“So, I guess this is where we part ways.” She chuckled. “Take care, Zam—”But she was stopped, when Zamiel closes the gap between them, and planted a soft lingering kiss on her forehead.“Goodbye, Italia.” He smiled, turning his back, while she stood frozen.It wasn’t new, but Italia was still taken aback by his action.“G—goodbye.” She cleared her throat.She stood there, watching Zamiel’s care disappear. When it does, she turn her back to get inside of the
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