ONE YEAR LATER.... BELLATRIX.... I stood in the bathroom, my body shivering, and drops of tears rolling down my cheeks... No, I'm not hurt; I'm emotional, and this feeling... It's beyond any joy and fear I could ever feel. I stared at the two pink lines on the pregnancy kit. Yes, I'm pregnant again. I sobbed loudly, and suddenly the door of the bathroom swung open, revealing my anxious husband, who was waiting outside. He rushed inside. "Wh-what is it?" He was worried and nervous too. I felt so weak and sat on the toilet seat, showing him the kit. One glance at it, and he froze. Slowly, he bent down beside me, watching the kit. He looked up at me, his eyes teary... "Is it a yes?" I nodded. "Y-es." I choked on my tears, smiling and crying at the same time. As soon as I confirmed my pregnancy to him, he dropped his head on my thigh and started crying. It was the same emotion for him. "We are... pregnant," he spoke between his tears, and I nodded. I hugged his head as we shed t
BELLATRIX... Most people forget that Valdez Villa had a little garage in the backyard, now mostly used as a storage for trash. However, I never forget. My most precious memories revolve around that garage—building my first birdhouse with Grandpa, learning to plant rare plants with Grandma. Then there was the day when twelve-year-old Neil, with a red rose in hand, first kissed my cheeks, melting my eight-year-old heart. “Bella, I’m going to marry you when we grow up,” he’d said, making my cheeks turn crimson. Years passed. We became adults, and as promised back then, Neil and I ended up together. However, after two years together, his feelings for me had weakened while mine had remained the same. He had become distant, and it seemed I no longer dwelled in his heart as I used to. Still, I believed we could be a happy couple and hoped my feelings would be reciprocated eventually. Submerged in those thoughts, I lost track of time until my phone buzzed with Mom's call. “Heard you're n
BELLATRIX... Distress would be an understatement for my feelings at that moment. My fists clenched, despite the throbbing ache in my arm. “It's not true, Neil,” I said in defense.“So she fell all by herself?” he asked, the disbelief evident in his voice.“I never said I didn’t push her. I said it was an accident!”He looked me up and down, his lips pursed. “Pfft. Yeah, an accident where you willfully hurt her. Stop with your lies, Bellatrix!” His words struck me deeply. That he didn’t believe me hurt my soul. Then helped Florence to her feet with such care and tenderness— the complete opposite of how he treated me.Florence's eyes caught mine, and she shot me an evil smirk only I could see. Ugh. Why can’t he see through her? How can he treat me this way?Worse, his next words nearly broke me. “Bellatrix, it can be forgiven if you apologize,” he said, his voice stern. Who am I kidding? He already trusted her words over mine. Anger rose within me. “I won't,” I said firmly. “And if
BELLATRIX... Shock rippled through the room after I suggested canceling my engagement to Neil. It even silenced Florence. It seemed she hadn’t expected me to give up so easily.“What?” Mom reacted first, breaking the grave silence. “Did you get screwed before your engagement? Just how much have you had to drink to spit this nonsense?”Her words stung, but I was nothing but a huge disappointment to them. I tightened my fists, nearly breaking the skin in my hand with my nails. But that pain didn’t compare to the anguish in my heart. “I mean it, Mom,” I said firmly.“That’s enough!” Dad stepped forward, standing beside Mom. “We’ve heard enough of this, Bellatrix. Stop it at once, and behave. You’re going to ruin our family’s reputation with this nonsense. Now,” he said, pointing at my arm without a hint of compassion, “take care of that bleeding and get to the event. Most of the guests have already arrived.”“Take care of that bleeding?” I repeated, barely able to believe his blasé atti
BELLATRIX... “Bloody fuck!” the man attached to the strong arm said in a deep growl, holding me against his firm chest. An intoxicating scent of fresh mint mixed with the faint aroma of tobacco and filled my nostrils. I looked up and then looked up some more—he was nearly two heads taller than me. Finally, I met a pair of cold forest-green eyes that stared at me with displeasure. I gulped. Dressed in a custom-made tailored suit, with neatly styled midnight hair, the mysterious man exuded strength and individuality. I probably shouldn’t have stared at his insanely alluring features, but my greedy eyes were unstoppable. Neil was a handsome hunk, but this man exceeded worldly limits.“What are you doing?” He frowned, obviously not impressed.“I—I didn’t mean to,” I slowly murmured, giving him a pleading gaze.I found being in his arms distracting, and his scent blurred my head. It was as if I was being pulled toward him. Yet, it had to stop. He pulled away, initiating the break. A col
BELLATRIX...I raced away from the villa, but soon felt lost. I didn’t know where to run. I didn’t want to go back to the countryside; life there was horrible. But living with my family meant willingly throwing myself into a pool of boiling lava. Either way, I would be sacrificed.Tears burned at the thought of the monster I nearly got engaged to. I was nothing but property to him. No, I wouldn’t go back to that hell. I wouldn’t let them take me. So I just kept running.A pink flash of lightening lit up the night sky, tearing the heart out of it. Droplets of water touched my bare skin, a warning of heavy rain. I still had no idea where to go. Only moments later, rain poured and soon drenched me. My tears dissolved in the water, and I prayed for a little help along the way.As I took a turn, a black car appeared out of the rain-drenched darkness. It stopped in front of me, so close that I stumbled backward, my heart hammering.The window slid down, revealing chauffeur Smith’s face, on
BELLATRIX... As my abductors dragged me, I felt weak and insignificant, as though my strength were non-existent to them. Fate had once again played a cruel joke on me, letting me escape an earthly fire only to throw me into hell.Tears of panic and pain streamed from my eyes as I tried to jerk free. Not that they’d let me leave. Still, I fought. I used all my force, too, and that only angered them more. One grabbed me by the neck and threw me into the car.A gasp of air left my chest as my face hit something sharp, and keen anguish crept over my brow bone. A hand fisted my hair tightly before hauling me backward. “This bitch is a pain in the ass,” he said before he tossed me down and kicked my back.I hissed in pain, my lungs struggling for air. With my breath shallow, I felt something warm and sticky over my eyes that made me shiver.“She should be taught a lesson!” he snarled.Terror consumed me as I craned my head to see my attackers. Though I could find nothing identifiable. The
VICTOR... I gazed at the woman who had been laying on the white bed of hospital. "How's her condition?" I asked the doctor coldly as he checked her heart monitor once again. "She is weak due to her physical injuries, although she is healing pretty quickly, we must keep her under observation." "Hmm..." I watched her giving a statement to the police; she's touching her nose frequently, possibly a habit when she's thinking. She was pleasing to the eye, now with her face wiped clean... From the curves of her body to her eyes full of innocence that could be deceptive for one and must come with a warning, but there was more to her that set her apart from the others I had met before. She is feral, as a tigress should be, but this tigress is wounded beneath her bones, she is tormented, and unfortunately her tormentors live around her... (FLASHBACK OF EARLIER...) I turned to the trembling girl, "Bellatrix Valdez?" I muttered with amusement laced in my voice, "so, you are the woman o
ONE YEAR LATER.... BELLATRIX.... I stood in the bathroom, my body shivering, and drops of tears rolling down my cheeks... No, I'm not hurt; I'm emotional, and this feeling... It's beyond any joy and fear I could ever feel. I stared at the two pink lines on the pregnancy kit. Yes, I'm pregnant again. I sobbed loudly, and suddenly the door of the bathroom swung open, revealing my anxious husband, who was waiting outside. He rushed inside. "Wh-what is it?" He was worried and nervous too. I felt so weak and sat on the toilet seat, showing him the kit. One glance at it, and he froze. Slowly, he bent down beside me, watching the kit. He looked up at me, his eyes teary... "Is it a yes?" I nodded. "Y-es." I choked on my tears, smiling and crying at the same time. As soon as I confirmed my pregnancy to him, he dropped his head on my thigh and started crying. It was the same emotion for him. "We are... pregnant," he spoke between his tears, and I nodded. I hugged his head as we shed t
BELLATRIX.... I inhaled a deep breath before stepping inside the funeral home. I had avoided this topic after Victor informed me about her death two days ago. However, I came today for her funeral.Why? Well, I don't even know myself.I felt nothing for her anymore. The tie I had with her was brutally severed. Still, I wanted to see her, which was pretty surprising for me too.As usual, Victor accompanied me.Stepping inside, I walked toward her coffin. I saw her daughter, Florence, was there too, with police officers guarding her.The mother and daughter had both been sentenced to fourteen years of imprisonment.Seeing me, she tried hard to rush to me, but the officers did not let her. She glared at me hatefully. I knew that if she got a chance now, she would kill me. Well, unfortunate for her, I am not available for that.She was dragged away by the officers as I ignored her and looked at Rebecca's coffin. Her face was pale and slightly bluish. There was no charm on her face anymor
VICTOR.... Life wasn't the same after the truth was revealed. My always-smiling little bird isn't the same anymore... She smiles, but the pure charm she had is no longer in her.It's been a couple of months since all the miseries, cruel truths, and heartbreaks, and Bella was the one hurt the most during that time, which changed her a lot.After returning home and seeing her mother that day, she only asked me two things: 1. To give Lucia's mother a standard life.She did not want that lady to suffer because of what her daughter did. Her mother did not know about Lucia's crime, and when she learned, she cried and asked for forgiveness again and again. She did not ask to free her daughter, though. Perhaps she too realized the severity of her daughter's actions.And 2. Bella demanded to keep Florence and Rebecca separate and never let them know about each other. She wanted Rebecca to suffer, which I obliged gladly. After that day, she did not speak about them, nor about her biological m
BELLATRIX.... The revelation was hard, yet nothing is harder than losing a child. Perhaps because I have digested the shock of losing my child, I did not react harshly toward the unsaid truth.This taught me one truth, though. Now I know why my father used to be the one caring for me. Now I know why he wanted to see me on his deathbed and not Florence, because I was his biological daughter. I do not justify his actions, though; I never will..."Baby, we are here," Victor said to me, breaking my thoughts.I turned to him in a daze. "Huh?""We have reached here," he said again.I looked out of the car window. We are at the same investigation center. Our chauffeur opened the door, and we stepped out of the car."They are here?" I asked as my husband held my hand."Hmm. They have been brought for investigation..." He turned to me. "Are you sure you want to see them?" I squeezed his hand, locking our gazes. "Don't worry, I am fine... My mother taught me to face the hardest phases of life
BELLATRIX.... Is he joking? That's the first line that came into my head. I sharply looked at his face; there was no trace of humor there; instead, worry and fear lingered on his features.My heart twisted strangely... That means he did not lie.When I said nothing, he touched my face. "Baby, calm down. What I am about to tell you won't be easy."I swallowed hard. At this point, I am numb, but I want to know. "O-kay..." I replied breathlessly."Bella, Mrs. Valdez is not your biological mother. She did not give birth to you. But... Mr. Valdez is your biological father," he said, dropping another bomb over my head.My mouth agape, my gaze blankly watched him.He sighed, caressing my neck. "It does not end here, Bella. There are many more. Do you want me to continue? Or do you want to see for yourself?" He gestured at the file. I once glanced at it and gulped hard again. The idea of my life being imprinted in that file did not please me; in fact, it was scarier. I shook my head, "No, y
BELLATRIX.... "The person who wanted to kill you is your mother."As soon as those words left her tongue, I fell backward. The door of the room swung open at the same time as I heard hasty footsteps getting closer to me, and before I realized it, I was caught back in a pair of strong and familiar arms.I stared at her, dumbfounded. When she said that, I would never have imagined 'the person' she referred to; she did not lie. I would have never envisioned this, even in my nightmares!"What?" I asked, breathless."I did not lie," she muttered, hugging her knees. "She and her daughter threatened me that if I failed to kill you, they would hurt my mother... And now, I have failed," she sobbed.I don't know whether I should be happy about the fact that she told me or go into shock again; I have no fucking idea.I was in a daze when I was pulled back by my husband. He had already picked me up in his arms and started walking out, muttering, "I shouldn't have let you in here alone. Fuck!"Wa
BELLATRIX.... I look up at my husband, to whom I could not look since yesterday. How can I even look at him after breaking his dream like that? I have failed him, failed myself, and most importantly, I have failed as a mother.I could not protect my child. I trusted the wrong person, and now... my heart clenches at the reminder of that moment. Exactly right here, it happened.Victor stared at me; his beautiful green eyes held many emotions."Will you take me?" I ask again, hoping that he'll take me to her. Though I am not sure if she is alive or not.He raised his hand and touched my cheeks, slowly caressing them with his thumb. "Of course, whatever you wish."He took me out, and we sat in our car. Lucia was kept in an interrogation cell with high security. Of course, Victor used his power here, and none can blame him for that. She's the killer of our unborn baby. However, surprisingly, she is still alive but beaten very badly. She was arrested and sent to the interrogation room, wi
VICTOR.... "Open your mouth." Stella held a slice of apple in front of Bella's mouth. Slowly, without a word, she took the slice and chewed on it.I was watching her, standing on the other side of the hospital room. I was on a call, yet my focus was on my wife.Twenty-four hours had passed since she came out of that nightmare, still in a daze but much better than before. However, after she woke up and cried, she did not speak in the last twenty-four hours, as if she had lost her voice.Doctors said that it's due to the aftershock, but soon she would be fine. The main danger is gone; it's now upon her adaptability. We must be patient and give her enough time to adjust.Feeling frustrated, I turned around and left the room. It's hard to see her this way; I just can't.I walked out into the huge garden of the hospital, where the patients were walking, some maybe talking with their family members. I chose a quiet place and sat on a bench.I rubbed my face. I am not quite sure how to hand
BELLATRIX.... "Mommy." I heard a baby voice ringing in my ear. I looked around; where is she? I don't see anyone. "Mommy, don't you see me?" Her voice was soft. "No, where are you?" I shouted. "Mommy, please, come to me." She said again as I started running nowhere. "Where are you?" I screamed. Suddenly, I found myself on the stairs. In front of me was... "Lucia!" Her eyes were evil. She stepped toward me. "I'm sorry," she said, and then pushed me. "No!" My voice echoed in the hollow. My eyes flew open, and a heavy breath escaped me as I was greeted by a pure white ceiling. Wh-where am I? Am I stuck in nowhere? Am I dead? I was confused. I looked around. Everything around me was either white or off-white. There was a monitor beside the bed, beeping continuously, and a wire attached to the back of my hand. It took me a while to realize my surroundings. I am in the hospital. I look around again; I am alone in the room. How did I end up here? I tried to recall, and some vag