Hey, everyone! 💐 I hope you guys enjoy today's chapter. Let me know what you think. Also, do you think Lilianna's demand is justified? Did she hit him right where it hurts? And what do we think of Marco's confession. Do comment and let me know what you think. I'll be waiting to read your thoughts. xoxo ✨
Marco »»»◈««« Prove to me how important I am to you by going against everything you stand for, by defying your code, by going against the entire Cosa Nostra. You will free him, and you will let him live with me for the rest of my life. Only then will I believe you... I downed another glass of bourbon, the burn of the alcohol doing little to quell the storm inside me. My hand raked through my hair in a desperate, frustrated gesture, as if trying to physically tear out the thoughts that plagued me. Without thinking, I hurled the crystal tumbler at the wall in front of me. The shattering glass echoed through the room. My breath came in harsh, ragged gasps, each inhale and exhale amplifying the pain coursing through my veins. Her words looped incessantly in my head, each syllable like a dagger twisting deeper into my chest. The look in her eyes, that blend of anger and sorrow, haunted me relentlessly. I could see her face every time I closed my eyes. Grabbing the bottle of bourbon,
Lilianna »»»◈««« "It's not real, it can't be, it just can't..." I muttered, my foot tapping incessantly against the hardwood floor of Dr. Lin's office. "How real did it feel to you, Lilianna?" Dr. Lin's voice was calm, yet probing. I shook my head vigorously. "Like a very real dream... but still just a dream. It can't be real. I was pregnant, not just in my mind, but the whole nine months. And look at me now, this is my first pregnancy. I'd remember if I gave birth to a child. My body would be different." Dr. Lin scribbled something in her notes before looking up at me with a steady gaze. "You know, women's bodies can recover remarkably well, especially young mothers. If we're following your timeline accurately, you would have been almost twenty years old at the time, right?" A cold dread settled in my chest. "But if it's true, then where is the child? It can't just vanish into thin air." "Lilianna, what you endured in those two or more years in that basement could make anyone f
Marco »»»◈««« We were at Niko's mansion, I had called a meeting, so, It was just us and the kids. Massimo and Aurora ran around the room, their laughter echoing off the walls as they played. Cristiano tried his best to keep up, his tiny legs moving as fast as they could, but he was still so young. Anastasia, on the other hand, was the epitome of shyness, almost a mirror image of Evangeline when I first laid eyes on her. She sat nestled in Niko's lap, her face buried deep in his chest, seeking the comfort and security only a father could provide. Niko's hand moved gently through her hair, a soothing motion that seemed to calm her. Every so often, she'd muster the courage to slip out of his arms, reaching for a slice of apple he held out for her, before quickly retreating into the safety of his arms. The sight of her brought a rare, genuine smile to my face. Watching them, I couldn't help but think. What kind of father would I be? I found myself wondering about the gender of our bab
Lilianna »»»◈««« I slowly forced open my eyes, my head swimming in a fog of confusion. The sharp, chemical scent still lingered, making me gag. My eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the dim, flickering light. As I tried to move, I realized with a jolt of horror that my hands and feet were tightly bound. A muffled whimper escaped me, there was a gag in my mouth that stopped me from making a noise as I tugged against the restraints, the ropes biting into my skin. Panic surged through my veins, and I thrashed harder, the bindings holding firm. My breath quickened, each inhale stifled by the gag in my mouth. The taste of the cloth was bitter and metallic, pressing against my tongue and teeth. I forced myself to slow down, to focus on my surroundings. The room was dimly lit, slivers of moonlight seeping through shattered windows, casting strange shadows on the decaying walls. My eyes darted around, taking in the peeling paint, the broken furniture, and the rusted medical
Lilianna »»»◈««« I cradled my baby close, feeling his warmth seep into my chest. His tiny body fit perfectly against mine. I pressed my lips to his forehead, lingering there because I wanted to imprint his delicate scent into my memory. His chubby cheeks, soft and plump, asked for countless kisses, and his beautiful blue eyes, so strikingly clear, stared up at me with a wonder that took my breath away. He was the spitting image of his father, a miniature version of him. Except for the eyes, I don't know where he got them from. I nuzzled my nose against his, the little gesture making him scrunch up his face in the most adorable way. "I'm going to name you Marcello," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, as if we were sharing a secret and maybe, we were, "After your father. You look so much like him, so handsome and perfect..." As if in response, he opened his little mouth and let out the tiniest yawn, a sound so small yet so profound it melted me into a puddle. His eyelid
Third-Person Narration »»◈««◈»»◈««◈»»◈«« The doctor checked Lilianna's eyes with a penlight, gently pulling down her eyelids. Lilianna's gaze drifted, unfocused, taking in her surroundings with an unfamiliar and vacant stare. "She has dissociative amnesia," the doctor said, turning to Santino and speaking in a low voice. "She remembers most of her life but seems to have forgotten about the time she spent down here." Santino's eyes gleamed with a mixture of relief and triumph. "That's good. That's fucking perfect." "But," the doctor interjected, "although her child is gone, she's still lactating. Her body retains the effects of childbirth and new motherhood. This could trigger memories eventually. Something down here might remind her—" "Make it go away," Santino snapped. The doctor hesitated, his brow furrowing. "How?" Santino placed a heavy hand on the doctor's shoulder, the doctor was on his payroll and did whatever his boss asked him to, even if it was his own daughter, "Kee
Lilianna »»»◈««« I remembered. I suddenly remembered everything. It came in flashes, painful and blinding, then settled into the back of my mind like a festering wound. Marcello. I had named him Marcello. He was real, as real as everything around me right now. I held him, fed him, and put him to sleep for two whole days before he was ripped from my arms forever. A gut-wrenching sob tore through me, muffled by the gag. Tears flowed down the sides of my face as I shook my head, trying to escape the agony. My body trembled with the force of my grief. I can't do this. I can't do this anymore. The memory of his tiny fingers grasping mine, his innocent eyes staring up at me, was like a knife twisting in my heart. I felt every moment, every heartbeat, every breath I shared with him. It was all so vivid, so painfully real. And then it was gone. He was gone. But right now, I shoved the pain to the back of my mind. I had to stay focused, stay in this moment because there was another life to
Lilianna »»»◈««« At that moment, a sharp pain shot through my lower belly, making me scream. Just then, I saw Marco’s face as he stepped inside the abandoned hall. His eyes locked on mine, then flicked to Anna and Kason, fury darkening his features. “Drop your weapons!” Kason shouted, his gun now aimed directly at my chest. Though I knew he wouldn’t actually hurt me, his eyes were wild, using me as a pawn to manipulate Marco. My silent plea was clear as I shook my head, desperately begging Marco not to listen to him, to just leave. Marco’s gaze flickered between Anna and Kason, probably calculating an escape, but there was no way out—at least not for me. When our eyes locked, a disturbing darkness clouded his features, making him seem almost unhinged. A fresh wave of pain rippled through my body, forcing a pain-filled groan from my lips. I strained against the straps of the stretcher, the leather biting into my wrists and ankles as I tried to escape the pain that seemed t