Chapter 3: Accused

Ava's eyes locked with Lorenzo for a few seconds as the both of them had in their head memories from that night.

  "Him…" her eyes widened, she could remember his facial features clearly.

 

    "She's the one.. the bitch that drugged me" Lorenzo's mind whispered, still staring at her

 

  With a glare and cold look, He roughly pushed Ava out of the way and she gasped again as her arm bruised.

 

     "I'm going to strangle you with my own hands.." Charlotte attempted to rush after Ava but instantly stopped on her tracks when her eyes met with his.

 

  "Baby.." he called upon sighting her. His gaze remained on Charlotte as he approached her with guilt clearly written in his expression. 

 

"What are you doing here..?" Charlotte questioned with no form of emotions while Ava remained by the door, wanting to hear more of the dialogue. Lorenzo sighed, there was nothing to hide anymore. It was obvious that Charlotte is aware of what happened.

 

  "I'm here to see you Charlotte. We need to talk, please give me a chance to" Lorenzo said, trying to take her palms in his but she immediately slapped his hands away.

 

 "Don't touch me!" She glared. He sighed, catching a glimpse of the red marks on her left cheek due to the impact of the slap.

  "Baby, I'm sorry for breaking you. Honestly it wasn't my fault. I …." He tried explaining but she raised her white palm to the air, stopping him.

 

  He swallowed nothing and sighed again, touching his forehead with two of his fingers.

   "I swear baby I can explain. This bitch.." he pointed towards the direction where Ava was standing.

 

   "I don't want to hear your fucking explanation and quit calling me baby!" Charlotte yelled to his face.

 

     "Baby please hear me out.."

Lorenzo immediately went on his knees, holding Charlotte's wrists firmly and stubbornly, she forcefully removed her hands from his grip.

 

 "I said don't touch me!.. Go meet your fuck mate" she shouted, pointing at Ava who gulped down nothing.

  "You can't do this, baby. I love you and our engagement is in a few days.." Lorenzo managed to say and Charlotte held her head tight, pretending to be so angry.

 

  Her heart leapt for joy as she realized that her plans really worked. The relationship between her and him was on the verge of being destroyed.

 

 "Keep your damn love to yourself Lorenzo. You betrayed me by sleeping with my own stepsister and now you claimed to be in love with me. How dare you!!" She continued her acting up and he sighed..

 

  "I swear, I don't know what came over me" he said sincerely, still on his knees. Ava watched the scene in surprise. It was really surprising to see Charlotte now acting up despite being the master planner.

 

  "She intentionally planned this…"

 

"Now listen, Mr. Lorenzo, I want you to walk out of my life at this instant because I'm cutting all ties with you right now. To hell with our damn relationship!" She said and his eyes widened.

 

  "Please don't do this char…."

 

"And for the engagement, I'm not interested in it. It's being called off!" She added and he fell on his face, holding her leg tight.

 

  "Baby please.." he pleaded, feeling a wave of guilt rush over him.

 

"Get out of my house!!" She shouted, stressing her nerves as she kicked him off.

 

  "Charlotte you can't do this.." Lorenzo tried begging, slowly rising to his feet. Charlotte immediately grabbed the flower vase on the table and threw it at him but he dodged it quickly.

  "Leave with your bride!!" She yelled and immediately, he turned to leave.

 

 Ava quickly turned her eyes to the door on sensing Lorenzo's presence behind her, shooting her a murderous glare and before she could blink, he grabbed her hand roughly, pulling her out with him as his long nails pierced deeply into her skin.

 

"Stop dragging me!!" Ava said, trying to release herself from his grip as they walked out of the house but it was impossible, he tossed her roughly into his car like a piece of trash before getting behind the wheels.

 

  "It wasn't my fault okay, I was…" Ava tried explaining but it didn't work out. He cut her short immediately.

 "Shut the fuck up, you disgusting whore!" He fired and she flinched fearfully while he roughly drove out of the compound.

 

  "You were so envious of your sister that you went extra miles in ruining us!" He added, driving madly fast.

 

 "I'm not a whore. Try to listen to me too!", Ava cried in frustration but he roughly swerved into a corner, making her hit her head hard in the window frame. 

 

  "Oh heavens…" she exclaimed as her eyes began rolling on their own for a few seconds.

 "Where the hell are you taking me to!" She yelled and he made her hit her head again by making a sharp turn, giving no reply.

 

His phone suddenly beeped and she peeped to check the caller's ID.

  'Secretary Finn' was boldly written and immediately, he swiped green.

 

  "Make preparations for the wedding" he said simply and the call ended instantly.

 

 "Since you don't want your sister to get engaged with me, then you'll do it in her place" he said to Ava without looking away from the road. Ava's eyes widened broadly as she stared at his side view.

  He was so perfect at being handsome!

 

"What.. what the hell are you talking about?" She stuttered as her heart skipped many beats at once.

 

  Is he trying to force her into a loveless and violent marriage?

 

His car screeched to a stop right in front of a large mansion which she assumed to be his and in a blink, he highlighted before she could.

 

  "Hey, you need to tell me the meaning of all this nonsense" she said, rushing after him. She was still cladded in her damp clothes since she hadn't changed yet.

 

  Lorenzo didn't mutter a word in response till they got to his sitting room. Ava took a few seconds to admire the exquisite state of the house before turning back to him, watching him grab a bottle of whiskey from the cellar and gulp it down at once.

 

 "Welcome sir.." the maid bowed in greetings as she walked out of the sitting room. Ava sighed, it was obvious. Even the maid's clothing was ten times better than hers.

 

 "Talk to me!" She shouted again and Lorenzo finally turned to her. He covered the remaining distance between them and grabbed her neck, choking her with a dangerous smirk on his face.

  "I'll make sure you crave for death" he threatened and a tear clung to her eyelashes as she struggled in his grip breathlessly.

 

 He finally released his grip on her, pushing her away and she groaned as her back hit the wall hard.

 Just with a snap of his fingers, two of his guys appeared from nowhere with a respectful courtesy.

 

 "Lock her in the prison" he instructed and before Ava could realize, the two strong arms bundled her and dragged her away. She tried kicking them off and struggling from their grip but they were too strong for her that she had to surrender.

 

"Mother…" she whispered in tears as they dragged her into the so-called prison. It was more or less than a dog house to be precise and they roughly pushed her in, locking the gates immediately.

 

   "You can't do this.. No!!" She screamed helplessly, hearing their receding steps from the prison.

 Living under her stepmother isn't so bad after all, being trapped in the hands of a monster is totally worse.

 

   Two days later….

 

The prison gates suddenly swung open, allowing the rays of sunlight to stream in and hit her face. Ava's eyes flew open immediately, protecting her eyesight from the rays.

  "What do you want this time?" Her pale lips moved on its own and the guard smirked.

 

 "Boss asked me to get you. Stand up and move on your own before I do it the hard way" he said and she slowly did, wondering what Lorenzo is up to this time.

 

 "I haven't eaten today. Don't you care about others wellbeing?" She said as he pushed her out of his way.

  "How's that supposed to be my business?. Prisoners are limited to certain rights" he said and she breathed hard, dragging her legs behind him to the mansion.

 

  Just as expected, Lorenzo was right in the cellar, gulping down the liquid content right from its bottle.

  "I'll take my leave.." the guard said and left after bowing.

 

 Ava felt her threatening tears cling to her eye lashes as she stared at him with glassy eyes.

 "How are you feeling, Wifey?" He began, turning to her with a sly smirk displayed on his face.

 

  "Take me back to my father's house..!" She said with frustration obvious in her slightly cracked voice. She lost more weight within two days and looked more like a slave.

   "Don't you know the definition of marriage?.." Lorenzo said, walking closer to her and she took a step backwards in fear.

 

"You're stuck with me for the rest of your damn life!" He yelled to her face and with that, she slowly raise her palm to her face wiping off the saliva.

  "Our wedding is taking place tomorrow. Your skin requires care" he said, staring at her from head to toe.

 

 "I'm not your wife and I'm not interested in the wedding!" She retorted and he only had to yell back in response.

  "You should have known that when you chose to be in your sister's stead!"

 

 "I never wa…" she was interrupted by the feeling of a syringe shoved into her neck and with that, she passed out.

 

  Waking up to behold an unfamiliar ceiling, Ava immediately sprang up from where she was laid.

  "Where am i?" She thought, looking around the well furnished make over room.

 

 "Sir, she's awake" she heard a female voice say behind her and she immediately turned to see a fair lady, cladded in uniform with a makeup kit in her hands.

 

  "It's nice watching you unconscious for twelve hours" Lorenzo's voice made her heart race as she turned to see him behind her, with the usual devilish grin.

  He was just so cute and strangely she found herself drooling.

 

 "I've been unconscious for twelve hours?" She asked with widened eyes remembering when he injected her.

 

 "Right. Today is our wedding day. Get prepared, I'll be waiting" he said and walked away. Ava's eyes widened again as realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

  

WEDDING!!

 

That word was more scary than it sounded but she couldn't refuse else she was ready to face his wrath.

 

 Soon, she had a quick bath and changed into a blue ball gown and instantly the artist began her work on her face, dolling her face up in minutes and she smiled, admiring herself in the mirror.

 

  "Smile into your shameless and disgraceful marriage dear" that statement made her froze as she instantly recognised the owner of that voice. Her eyes caught them from the mirror and she swiftly turned.

 

  "What…how did you get here?" She stammered and Charlotte smirked, folding her hands alongside her mother.

 "Never mind. Just here to wish you a marriage full of lovelessness, sadness, violence and sorrows" Vivian said and the makeup artist took her lower lip in in surprise, not daring to interfere.

 

 The trio conversed for a while until they suddenly head Lorenzo's approaching footsteps in the lobby.

 

 "She should be done by now!" His voice thundered and immediately Charlotte grabbed her mum's hand and they left through the other door, not wanting to meet Lorenzo.

 

  "I'm almost done, just a little more dolling up.." Ava stuttered as the door burst open revealing him. A slap landed on her cheek immediately.

"You don't deserve to enjoy the luxury of my wealth. Get your ass out of here and let's start the wedding!" He yelled and the artist stopped working immediately, moving backwards a bit.

 

 "How's it my fault, you clearly asked me to get prepared! I never begged for it" she yelled back in tears and he hit her again, he grabbed her roughly and threw her to the couch behind them.

 

  "Sir.." the artist tried cautioning but Lorenzo spared her no glance. 

 

 "I'll teach you how to respect me!" He raised the gown off her legs and yanked off her pant.

  "Stop!!" Ava cried, gathering all her strength to push him off but he was too strong for her.

 

 The artist ran out of the room immediately and Lorenzo trapped Ava's two hands in his palm above her head, bringing out his member from his trouser while her pleas fell on deaf ears.

 He forced his way into her, hurting her more like crazy and she cried as he roughly thrust in and out.

 

  About thirty minutes later, he was seen bolting his belt while Ava kept crying sorrowfully, her make up was ruined already and part of her dress was torn. She was devastated and despondent, feeling like the whole world was against her.

 

 "The wedding starts now!!" He shouted, roughly pushing her out of the room and he dragged her to the wedding hall were his colleagues and few friends were present.

 

  She already wiped her tears not wanting to look maltreated and she forced a smile, trying to balance her steps as she walked in with Lorenzo.

 "Here comes my bride.." he said with a smirk, raising her hands to the air while the audience clapped.

 

  The wedding begun immediately and Ava could swear that It was sorrowful than even a burial.

  "For better and for worst, dear shameless bitch" he laughed, raising a bottle of wine over her head and with that, he poured it's content on her, causing her tears to roll out freely. The audience laughed mockingly, making funny videos of her and without being able to control it anymore, Ava ran out of the hall in tears.

 

  "Let me just die!!" She struggled with the gatekeeper who intended not to allow her go and with that, she ran to the road, not minding if vehicles or bikes were moving. 

 

 She ran faster than her legs could carry and almost got hit by an oncoming Lamborghini.

    "I want to die!" She cried, hitting her knuckles on the tarred floor that it began to bleed. A man cladded in black came out of the car immediately, appearing to be Lorenzo's guard. He bundled her roughly and threw her into the car booth, driving to a destination unknown to her.

 

 

******

 

 "Charlotte.. it was supposed to be… us. It should be us walking down the aisle" Lorenzo stammered drunkenly in sadness as he staggered into the villa. It was late already an only a light bulb was on.

  

  "Charlotte.. I love you" he continued, missing several steps of his. Ava came out of the room where she had been since the guard dropped her and walked to him. Surprisingly, she found herself pitying him in his drunk state.

 

  "Charlotte baby.." he called again, falling heavily on the couch. Ava sighed and left him there since she couldn't carry him. She went to the room to bring a blanket and reappeared a few seconds later, covering him with it.

  

 "My love.." Lorenzo suddenly grabbed the hem of her cloth and she froze, thinking he was about to rape her again.

 

 "Charlotte… kiss me" he said, pouting his lips. Ava sighed and released herself from his grip.

  "It's Ava and not Charlotte" she said and he hissed loudly, kicking her with his shoes.

  

 "Get away from me… Slut" he cussed.

 

 

   Next day…

 

LORENZ COMPANIES AND CO.

 

   Ava heaved a deep breath in relief as Lorenzo concluded the meeting. She has been sitting right on her seat for about three hours, daring not go contribute or mutter a word.

 

   "Are you okay?, I thought you are a new worker. You sat there without saying anything" One of the workers approached her while the others scurried out of the hall. Ava sighed, looking to see if Lorenzo wasn't looking in her direction.

 

  "I'm not a worker. Just accompanied my … my husband to the conference room" she hiccoughed and the man's eyes widened.

  "Boss is your–"

 

"Follow me now.." Lorenzo suddenly said behind them and she immediately stood up while the man stared in shock.

"I have to go now" she forced a smile and left immediately.

  "What the hell…"

 

"Get me a cup of coffee" Lorenzo said as they entered the office, pointing towards a black door by his left.

  "Okay.." she said, entering the kitchen and came out some minutes later with the coffee.

 

  She had to make the coffee several times due to his constant rejection until the coffee powder finally exhausted.

   "Get the fuck out of here and get a new brand" he yelled and she immediately scurried out of the office, leaving the building to get a new brand as he had instructed.

 

 "We'll confirm once we see the result of the pregnancy test!" She saw a woman pull a lady's ears as she walked past a pharmacy.

 

  "Pregnancy test.." Ava repeated widening her eyes as memories from the nightstand flooded her head.

  "I need a test too.." she said and hurriedly entered the pharmacy to purchase the test kit.

 

  "Where's the toilet ma?" She asked the receptionist after the purchase.

 "Right there.." the lady replied, pointing towards a particular corner and she hurriedly ran to the toilet.

 

  She grabbed a bowl and released her urine inside it before putting the kit inside it, staring at it in anticipation…

 

  Her palms became sweaty on its own as she anxiously awaited the result…