Chapter 6: Stolen Wine

It’s been almost a minute since I waited for his another set of slaps while still on my menacing face. His stares have sent shivers down to my spine, making me almost heave a breath but still managed to compose myself without letting him think I am weak at the moment. We were just staring at each other like we were a mystery we both should solve. 

The grim light due to the chandelier in front of Leira’s room represents what I really feel. My emotions were mixed with bitterness, hatred, fear, and regrets, but upon watching him staring intently at me, all those feelings had vanished and all I could feel right now is nothing but emptiness.

My breath almost stopped when he only walked past through me without dropping a word and breaking our stares until his eyes landed on his way out of the hallway. I then held my chest, trying to control it from throbbing. 

What the fuck just happened? He just left me like that... Like nothing happened.

—

I lay on my bed staring at the white ceiling. My mind is empty as a pauper’s purse, yet feels like it was being tangled, for I couldn’t think straight. I want to scream my heart out, but I can’t. I want to escape, but I don’t have a place to hide. I want to build a boundary for myself, but I always end up breaking it for I am born so fragile. All I want is to have back my freedom to express what my heart wants, but I am stuck in this situation where I was caged by my husband’s misery.

Due to what happened, I started to think about my family. I miss them. I missed them so damn much. I used to endure the pain with them, but now, I will endure it alone. 

How did I even end up in this situation? Am I the one to blame? Do I deserve this kind of life? What will happen if I didn’t accept the agreement? Will it make my life a lot easier? Am I still living my best life? Is this the right decision? I am so freaking confused. I have lots of questions that I can’t even voice out.

My dress was scattered all over my room and I am lying here naked with no plans of moving my body to find a more comfortable place to rest. I felt my body aching even though my wounds and bruises are now in a healing state. 

I smiled upon realizing that I am still human, and could still feel emotions, even pain. I pinched the bruise on my shoulder and a chuckle escaped on my lips when I felt it throbbing. Damn, pain is now on my side, and I am now finding it interesting to feel.

I gestured my hands-on air, trying to reach the luminescence from the ceiling, and a beam appeared on my lips upon witnessing the light being controlled by my hands. I took a deep breath and decided to maneuver my body to take a quick shower. I need to freshen up to forget those bad memories that keep taunting me. I am so sick of those.

But before entering my bathroom, an idea popped into my empty mind, making me sigh, and walked towards my door naked without thinking straight. I gestured my hands-on the air, trying to control my balance even though I’m ain’t drunk. I don’t mind being caught by anyone since I am certain, Steffano is not in his room right now. 

“Maybe, he’s in the club, flirting with his mistress,” I whispered with bitterness out of nowhere.

I almost slapped my mind with that sudden thought. All I want right now is to forget my horrible current situation and steal one of  Steffano’s expensive wine collections, because why not? He’s not here anyway.

I want to get wasted right fucking now.

It is funny how I tiptoed my feet while I am completely naked in the dimmed living room. I look like a thief who can’t steal even a single thing. 

All I could hear is my breath mixed with my steps all around this huge almost-empty mansion. I hugged myself when the cold breeze from nowhere touched my skin even though the house was tightly closed. 

When I reached the wine closet, I instantly closed it and immediately chose the most expensive wine he has. I then walked towards my room while still tiptoeing. I even played one of my favorite songs on my phone and drank the wine without using a wine glass. 

What’s the point? I am drinking with myself, and am doing this to forget everything.

My plans on soaking myself with water had been forgotten, and here I am, drinking like there’s no hereafter.

I’ve been drinking for seconds? Minutes? or Hours? I don’t know and that’s the least of my care now. All I could distinguish is I felt sudden happiness with what I am doing right now. I don’t care if Steffano will beat me after for stealing his beloved collections, I am used to it anyway.

It is not like I can escape being beaten by him though.

“I am no longer afraid, you fool! You want to thrash me?! G-Go ahead!” I shouted out of a sudden and moved my body, trying to stand up, but my vision started to get blurry.

Maybe I am drunk? Or whatever! Despite that, I still managed to stand straight while pretending I am talking to Steffano even if he is nowhere to be found.

“My gorgeous body’s always welcome to be beaten by the r-ruthless billionaire in t-town!” I added with full might while unconsciously gesturing my hands-on air, putting an act like I have been pointing at Steffano’s irritating handsome, and intimidating face. “I-I’m so fucking tired of being hurt. I b-believe, I don’t deserve this kind of l-life, yet I am living with it,” I added.

I started sobbing while holding the second bottle. I already don’t know what I am doing, and just followed what my heart and mind want me to do for this night. I just want to forget everything, just for once.

I was about to step forward when I suddenly fell off the floor which made me chuckle even though my butt is dead hurt. I only groaned and touched my butt to lessen the pain and stood up again to grab the bottle beside me, hoping that it is still not empty. But I ended up being so disappointed. Even my surrounding is now shaking, and my urge to get a new bottle of wine is stronger, so I still tried to stand up to fulfill my thirst. 

“Why’re y-you there?” I unconsciously asked the door when it is now on the left even if it was supposed to be on the right side. 

Is it even possible?

All I could think right now is the new bottle of Steffano’s expensive wine. Nothing more, nothing less.

I held my temple when I felt it aching but still managed to open my eyes to continue walking, heading to my desired place even though my steps are now not on good terms.

I was about to take another step when my body stopped due to a boundary that keeps my body moving back my way.

“Aist! Where is the w-way?—Hey you!” I shouted when I noticed someone blocking my way. “S-Step aside! You’re wasting my time!” I added and gestured my hands, trying to get off him. I couldn’t recognize my voice but I could still talk clearly even though my eyes are now half-closed.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I widened my sight to gaze at him clearly but I could barely see his face due to the shaking atmosphere. It feels like I was being played by the dancing mansion.

“Oh? The mansion is dancing?” I asked myself and diverted my gaze to the man in front of me. “W-Wait. Your voice is f-familiar...” I went closer to him and was about to poke his nose when he held my hands, making me shrug, and tried to take it off him.

 “Y-You look like my heartless husband... Yes! H-He is heartless, but I... I... I need a new bottle of wine, right!” I yelled out of nowhere. I didn’t mind him holding my hands and just keeps on stepping on my foot, but I couldn’t move. Dang.

“Please step aside, Mister. I need a win—”

“Tss, stupid.” I was about to move my body away from him when he held my hands again, and to my surprise, I found myself hanging and I am now facing the floor, making me yell even in my lowest voice.

“H-Hey! H-Hey, stop! Don’t take me! My husband w-will beat me again, for sure!” I stopped shouting when I felt the surrounding also stopped from moving. “...He will not give you the ransom, for I a-am just trash in his l-life. S-So please, Mister, spare me.” I uttered in a scared and sleepy tone. 

“I swear, he is so bad. He wants me to live will h-hell. Is my misery not enough? All I want i-is for him to respect me as a p-person.” I started sobbing. My sight is still on the floor, and I can even see my hair invading my face. “I am no longer expecting him to l-love me again. A-All I want is respec—” I stopped when I felt like the acid in my stomach went through my mouth, making me spew it.

“Fuck, fuck!” I heard someone cursing and the last thing I knew, I am already sitting on the floor while busty vomiting everything in my stomach. My head is now in an aching stage, and all I could distinguish right now is the fact that I can collapse anytime now.

“T-Taste like roasted chicken, hihi...” I grinned and opened my mouth to breathe some air since my nose is now not working when I finished vomiting, I don’t know why... I was about to stand up when a hand intersected my waist.

“Hmm...” I mumbled when I can no longer contain my eyes being closed, now feels like a little jellyfish who cannot move even my toe, and with that, darkness claims my everything. But before my senses got closed, I could clearly hear what the person in front of me have said.

“You’re still stupid. I really don’t know what to do to you anymore.”