Chapter 2: Eavesdrop

My face’s now turning paperwhite as my hands are trembling with fear and disappointment with myself. Why on earth would I forget to turn off the stove?!

I am now cursing myself in my mind while trying to revive the scorched bacon together with the egg which now looks like charcoal. 

“You want me to eat that shit?” Steffano asked with a mock as he gave me a sarcastic stare.

I lowered my gaze, trying to divert my eyes from him to lessen the guilt, and decided to play with my fingers on my back.

“You want me to eat that fucking shit?!” he yelled again, making me almost jump due to being so frightened. His voice is no joke, it is like thunder, ready to wreck my who system.

“I-I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to scorch that. I can cook again if you li—”

“Bullshit!”

“Dada, don’t cuss! That’s bad! And don’t be so mean to momma!” Leira’s small voice echoed between us, making me almost heave a breath. 

I tried to make her shut her mouth by gesturing my trembling hands for her to cease, but she just rolled her eyes and gave her dada a bitchy look. 

Can someone remind me that the kid beside us is just five years old?

Steffano furrowed his brows while watching Leira yelling back at him.

“Go to your room, Leira. You should not meddle with this matter—”

“I’m so done of you hurting momma! I hate you, Dada! You are so bad!” she pouted and began to move her body down to her chair.

I just sighed upon watching her panting due to anger towards her dada. She should not feel this way, nor watch us in this kind of situation. 

“Leira baby? Please listen to your dada. Remember what I told you last time?” I asked, pertaining bout the goodness of Steffano. I gave her a beam to reassure her that I am okay. Her sweet concern is more than okay for me.

The last thing I want right now is for her to be mad at him forever for I know Steffano too well, even before. He is a good man, not until that tragedy happened, making him treat me like this—trash. I know, he also didn’t choose to be like this. I always try to understand him as much as possible.

I know, I don’t deserve this kind of life, but I am already used to it. I can endure this kind of life, maybe for once.

“Okay, momma...” My trembling hands vanished, replaced with a genuine calmness when Leira walked next to me and gave me a peck of a kiss on my cheeks before giving me an eye full of concern. She is the sweetest. 

I didn’t mind Steffano who was just watching the scene of us having drama, and just focused on Leira who gave me a reassuring smile. 

“Don’t skip your class right now, okay? We’ll go everywhere you like afterward.” She giggled, nodded her little head, and bid her goodbye with a smile, revealing her dimples after I said that to her.

I sighed upon watching her vanish and diverted my gaze to Steffano who's now unemotionally staring at me. Gone the nervousness and uneasiness due to Leira’s sweet concern.

“You think you can replace her mother, huh?” His sarcastic smirk revealed from nowhere, making me bite my lips while nodding my head. 

Here we go again... I know, I can’t replace Selina, I am fully aware of that. Why can’t he just drop that one? tsk.

“I’m ain’t trying to replace HER. My love for Leira is incomparable and I have no intention to steal her from her mom—”

“Tsk. Watch your mouth, and know your place. You’re just a pest in my house so better shut up,” he uttered upon giving me a disgusting look from head to toe. He is downgrading me, I know. 

He hissed and walked closer to the refrigerator to look for food since mine was no longer edible. I felt like I’m a failure just because of this shit. I pressed my lips together and gulped, trying to control my tears from falling. 

I promised myself not to cry, for I don’t want him to witness me being so weak. That would be his victory if ever. I am fully aware he wants me to live with misery.

I just stared at him with menace, nodded, and tried to control myself not to burst out, while following his every move. Watching him act like this makes my heart to be in so much pain.

‘What happened to you, Steffano? You’re not supposed to be like this...’ said my mind as I was trying to control myself from falling off to the ground. My everything was already numb, good thing I still manage to stand up despite my situation.

I felt so weak and helpless, like a little kitten longing for his owner to notice and love her again.

He messed his hair before eating an apple while pouring juice into his wine glass. His every move is precise and you could witness how handsome he is, even with his intersecting thick brows and lashes. He licked his lips, making me gulp.

“Why are you still here?” I went back to my senses when he uttered that in an instant. 

“I-I’ll just clean my mess—”

“No need. You’re useless anyway. Just get out from my sight before I kick you out,” he said without even giving me an eye. 

A sigh escaped from my mouth and bit my lips before colliding my fingers for me to control myself. I didn’t let him speak again and just motioned my body, walking away from him. 

I want his attention, but I don’t want to get beaten again. That’s too much for me to handle.

My feet brought me to my room, and took a quick change, for I will be accompanying Leira in her painting class later. I just wore a long sleeve fitted dirty white dress and a pair of white sandals, partnered with a minimal bag. I then put some makeup on my face to cover those mild bruises and wounds due to what happened three days ago.

I don’t want to stay in this huge empty house every day. It feels like this house chokes me every time I’ll be watching every corner of it. 

After an hour of fixing myself, I went downstairs to check on Leira. A wide smile appeared on her lips while giggling when she saw me coming toward her. She then stood up from sitting on the couch.

“My gorgeous momma!” she exclaimed.

I chuckled as a response and grabbed her hands for her to come near me.

“You’re silly, sweetie...” I uttered and kissed her on her cheeks.

My eyes landed on the kitchen where I left him lately and sighed when I found it clean like there is nothing happened in there lately. I am sure he’s now in his office, working like there is no tomorrow. I just hope, he’s working.

“Fasten your seatbelt, sweetie,” I said when we entered the car and were ready to maneuver it to her class.

“Wait, momma. I forgot Erina. I’ll just go get it—” about the yellow stuff toy her mom gave to her.

“No, just wait here. I’ll get it for you...” I insisted and went out of the car before she could react. 

I walked sternly to the stair while humming my favorite song. I was about to enter Leira’s room when a voice from nowhere echoed in the hallway. I am certain it is Steffano’s voice. 

‘I thought he’s already in his office?’ asked my mind.

I don’t have any intentions to eavesdrop but my senses betrayed me. I walked towards his room whose just shockingly ajar and carefully placed my ear near the wall.

“Yes, Hon. I will do that later—yes. I’ll go now. Wait for me...” My heart started to pound upon hearing him having a call with someone. He’s too calm like he is talking to a fragile person, and it feels like my heart had been ripped into pieces, making my system tremble in pain. “I love you too...” he added, which made me gulp due to the sudden emotion my system had felt.

Tears were starting to pool from my eyes so as my heart whose now throbbing in so much pain, it is incomparable like I have been stabbed by a shaft. And with that, I immediately left without initiating any words for him to explain his side. 

What’s the point? He doesn’t even acknowledge me as his wife, or even a person who needs to be treated in a good way. 

I hurriedly entered Leira’s room, took her doll, and immediately walked away from the mansion wearing my throbbing heart.