CHAPTER 43: TEMPORARY AMNESIA‘Am I dead?’ That was the first thing that registered on her head, when she regain her consciousness.Her half lidded eyes open only to meet the white ceiling. Her nostrils are instantly filled with the smell of medicine and disinfectant. On the room, there is this sound of beating coming from a machine that she couldn’t tell.Her sight is blurry—temporarily blinded by the light, Italia blinks.“Where am I?” At the end of her sentence, there is this soft groan that came afterwards.She felt like her head was throbbing painfully. As if it has been hit by something hard that cause for her to faint or did she actually fainted? With that thought in mind, a sudden memory flashed before her eyes.A scream followed suit by wheels of a car and the sight of blood, and then...nothing.A sudden ringing as she tried her hardest to remember stops her for a moment.“Shit.” The pain on her head was much painful that she imagined.She was at that state, when the door of
CHAPTER 44: DIVORCE Raquel manage to picked up her restraints. When she did, she carefully move, so careful, while her heart was hammering against her chest. She was taking a risk here. If she did not escape so soon, her chances to be free won’t come anymore.“I needed to do this.” She told herself, pushing the door opened.Raquel winced slightly, when it let out a low screech, when it scrap the floor, and then silence first greeted her. The walls are painted in a grey color, it looks old, withering as if it had been long abandoned. When she finally reach the stairs, she slowly climbed down, but Raquel was stopped on her tracks, when she heard voices.Right, voices.“Shit!” She cursed.They are getting closer. Left with no choice, Raquel quickly opened the nearest room she could find and hide there.“You know that I can’t let her run free unless she sued us.” It was Jasper speaking to somebody she isn’t familiar with.It is a woman, but she was certain that it is not Erika at all.“
CHAPTER 45: ESCAPE ARTISTRaquel manage to picked up her restraints. When she did, she carefully move, so careful, while her heart was hammering against her chest. She was taking a risk here. If she did not escape so soon, her chances to be free won’t come anymore.“I needed to do this.” She told herself, pushing the door opened.Raquel winced slightly, when it let out a low screech, when it scrap the floor, and then silence first greeted her. The walls are painted in a grey color, it looks old, withering as if it had been long abandoned. When she finally reach the stairs, she slowly climbed down, but Raquel was stopped on her tracks, when she heard voices.Right, voices.“Shit!” She cursed.They are getting closer. Left with no choice, Raquel quickly opened the nearest room she could find and hide there.“You know that I can’t let her run free unless she sued us.” It was Jasper speaking to somebody she isn’t familiar with.It is a woman, but she was certain that it is not Erika at a
CHAPTER 46: HER PAWN, HIS GAME“Henry it seems like you are taking a wrong turn.” Eliot speak his mind.He is no fool, and he’s no blind. He wouldn’t pretend as if he did not notice his strange behavior ever since. His eyes glancing back on the mirror to him, and the uncertain flick of his finger as he clutch the wheel. His shoulder is tense. A guilty outlook that he was keeping something from Eliot.“You should have not called me, Sir.” Henry whispered, but it reached Eliot. His voice was shaking as if he was trying to get in control, but he couldn’t. “You should just stay there and never come back, Sir Eliot.”It was easy for Eliot to finally grasp the situation.His hooded eyes darkened, “Who paid you?”He certainly didn’t need to ask. It was obviously Lauren, who cut those closer to Eliot, wrapping her arms around their neck just like what she did to her. He knew her—Lauren was like a venomous snake that would take everything she wanted, coiled on her palms perfectly. Helpless, an
CHAPTER 47: RAGING HUSBAND David stood outside of Evangeline Medical Hospital.It was raining, the clouds are gray and dark. It was pouring hard, he was soaked in the rain, but he doesn’t seems to care that much. His eyes remain cold, icy to the building as if it could destroy the bolting, crumbles beneath him as it fumbles.His phone vibrated inside his pocket.He knew who was calling.“Did you find her?” Mrs. Smith was quick to ask, she was sipping a glass of wine. She noticed that David is not responding.There’s only two possible reasons she could tell. One, he did not find her. Two, he was actually thinking how he could punished her. Oh, the thought made her chuckled.Now, Raquel would really wished that she never left and elope with another man. Mrs. Smith knew her son. He may appeared an obedient boy, but his temper was terrible. He actually killed his own pet, because it bites him.“I can tell what you were thinking, David.” Mrs. Smith voice out her thoughts. “But let me reas
CHAPTER 48: TRIGGERS, LIFE BEFORE DEATHThe sound of the gun isn’t that far, but it 2as enough to make Raquel feared for her life, but what more the name that Agnes uttered D gave her chills to the bone.David Smith, the husband she left just so she could find the truth.Questions floored inside her head. How did he find hers? But the, knowing David—he might have pay somebody to tracked where Raquel may have gone. He wasn’t on the list of her worries before, because she really thought he hated her guts, but now—it was a little different, her trauma making her struggles now that he did not come unharmed, but he is armed with a gun.“W—what are we going to do?” Her teeth chattered.She was scared, terrified as horrible things flashed before her eyes. Things that David is capable of.The gunshot was enough to threatened Raquel.Jerome was flustered, his cheeks hot as he panicked, “We needed to leave this room now.”But how? They are on the 4th floor and there’s no way in hell that they
CHAPTER 49: FATEFUL MEETINGWARNING FOR 18+ This may have included a scene, which is not suitable for a younger audience. If you are 16, and below, you should skip this part. You had been earned. Thank you. Yna buried her face in her palms. Her shoulder shook, the cries she couldn’t suppress brimmed and tore, shaded orbs, the honeyed colored eyes, which belonged to her appeared puff and red. She was a mess. Yna knew she was. “Uhm, are you alright, Madam?” The bartender, who take note of how Yna behaved curiously asked out of concern. The young man’s gaze trained across the several glasses that she had ordered earlier. They were Martini vermouth. [FUN FACT: If you’re not familiar with vermouth, it’s a wine that’s been fortified (usually with a bit of brandy) and aromatized with herbs or spices—and though it has a longer shelf life than non-fortified wine, it needs some TLC. But it’s worth it: Bartenders know that vermouth is a secret weapon to add body and nuance to martinis and o
CHAPTER 50: TRAPPEDHas she been too conformed with the world she weaved across her head that Yna hasn’t realized that she has been guided to a room itself? It was just a kiss, and now she can see herself inside a dimly-lighted room, and on her back, she was lying on something soft. She tried to squint her eyes, but Yna was too drunk. But that doesn’t mean she couldn’t make out the silhouetted, a large frame that was towering on top of her.In her mind, she was still thinking that it was Santi.He was there, looking at her. Panic seized her chest. Had he been thinking how bad is she, when their lips met? This made Yna anxious. To fear the worst as different scenarios began filling her head. Him—running back to Alicia, and doing the same thing.No! Her insides fumed. Of course, she won’t let that to happen again.She was determined to keep Santi, no matter how badly had he hurt her or no matter how long had he been cheating on her. The bitterness relished to which she quickly shook up.
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