6

Remaining silent, I sat there, gazing at the food. My hunger had completely disappeared.

After a few hours, I rose from my seat. Some onlookers seemed surprised, while Lucille and Renzo observed me closely, attentively following my actions.

"Ma'am—"

"I'm going to rest. I'm not hungry," I stated, emphasizing my lack of appetite.

Without waiting for them to say more, I promptly departed, making my way up to the second floor and entering our bedroom. Leaning against the closed door, I closed my eyes, wondering if the feeling of solitude persisted, even in this space. Perhaps I had erred in believing that this house held a difference from my father’s. Maybe, wherever I found myself, the affliction of loneliness would always linger.

Desiring rest, I readied myself for sleep, tending to personal hygiene and changing into fresh attire. Settling into bed, I enveloped myself in the warmth of the duvet. Although I had no intentions of actually sleeping, I shut my eyes, seeking solace in the darkness.

Unaware of the passage of time, I lay motionless with my eyes shut, unable to find sleep. The sound of the door opening abruptly brought my senses back to life. Intuitively, I knew it was Marco; otherwise, a knock would have preceded his entrance.

To maintain the illusion of slumber, I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter, ensuring he couldn't discern that I was pretending. 

His cellphone disturbed the silence, prompting him to answer it promptly. 

"Hello," he whispered softly. "I've returned."

Straining to grasp any information from their conversation, I found it difficult due to Marco's concise replies.

"Tomorrow. Make it happen, Gi." Their dialogue came to an end.

I noticed some sounds that I believed were Marco's movements. The doors to the bathroom and walk-in closet were being opened and closed. As Marco left, I caught a scent of food.

I woke up and immediately felt hunger, realizing that I hadn't had dinner earlier.

"Maddie..."

I tried to feign sleep again, but it was futile as Marco was already standing before me. I looked up at him, and the soft glow from my lampshade illuminated his face.

"Why haven't you had dinner?" he asked.

I sat up and directed my attention to the table beside the bed, where a tray of food was placed. Consuming a heavy gulp, I deliberately shifted my eyes away.

‘I'd rather not dine alone,’ I confessed inwardly, ‘my appetite dwindling upon learning that you wouldn't be joining me.’ I refrained from sharing this sentiment with him, keeping it to myself.

Gathering my courage, I locked my gaze with Marco's, yet I struggled to decipher the emotions resonating in his eyes. They remained composed but distant, concealing his true thoughts.

"Then, let's eat the meal together. I had the food brought here, so you won't retire on an empty stomach." He turned away from me and began arranging the dishes on the table.

"I lost the appetite--"

"What have I told you about defying me?"

Right, I must obey him.

"Let's eat, Maddie."

I raised my gaze once more and observed Marco, who was now settled in a chair. It was then that I noticed two plates resting on the table.

Getting to my feet, I walked towards him, and my eyes soaked in the tantalizing array of food, causing my mouth to salivate.

"Aren't you hungry yet?" I inquired, wondering about the time. "I thought you were planning to eat with me."

"I've already eaten," he replied. "But if you'd like company while you eat, I can have another meal. Now, take a seat."

I felt like an obedient puppy, settling where he gestured. My head hung in a mingling sense of bashfulness and gratitude, particularly as he began serving food onto my plate.

"Don't skip your meals again."

Suppressing a smile, I couldn't help but bite my lip. Maybe he isn't so terrible after all... Maybe?

My cellphone rang, and my heart filled with excitement when I saw that it was my sister Violet calling.

"Violet!" I exclaimed happily as I answered the call.

"Wow! This is a pleasant surprise. It's not often that I hear such cheerfulness from you, Maddie," Violet chuckled on the other end, mirroring my smile. "I love the positive energy."

Typically, the atmosphere at home was gloomy. After all, how could it be anything else when you're mistreated by your own father?

I joined Violet in laughter.

"Did you call for a specific reason? Is something wrong?" My smile faded as a thought struck me - perhaps my absence from home meant that my abusive father was now directing his hostility towards my beloved sister.

"I just wanted to check up on you, Maddie," She said with a sigh. "I was curious if your husband is treating you well. I really hope he is."

"Don't worry, I'm doing fine. He treats me well here." I reassured her, I couldn't help but recall Marco's actions towards me. He may not express his feelings verbally, but I could sense his care through his gestures. However, I must admit, he still intimidates me at times. I try not to dwell on thoughts of him hurting me.

Violet responded, "That's good to know. By the way, Sophia came by. She didn't have your current address. I provided her with your address and phone number. She mentioned that she couldn't reach you, and I informed her that you had changed your number. By any chance, was she absent from your wedding?"

Sophia and I have been best friends since we were young, but unfortunately, she couldn't attend my wedding due to her work abroad. Another friend of ours, Alec, is currently living in a different country, so he couldn't make it either. However, Alec mentioned that he plans to visit us here soon.

Realizing this, I exclaimed, "Oh, I completely forgot to speak to Sophia. I had no idea she was planning to come here. Honestly, I haven't even checked my social media. It's possible that she has been trying to get in touch with me, but I haven't noticed. Thank you, Violet. I'll make sure to give her a call later."

My sister and I continued chatting about various topics until she had to leave.

Eager to catch up, I swiftly opened all my social media accounts after my dinner with Marco, and my intuition was correct - my friends had indeed been trying to reach out to me.

I dialed Sophia's number, especially after noticing she was online. To my delight, she picked up promptly.

"Sophia!" I greeted cheerfully.

We hadn't caught up much since her vacation in Hawaii. She had mentioned the patchy network there and her quest for self-discovery, resulting in her deliberate detachment from social media.

"How are you? Have you found yourself yet?" I chuckled gently, lightly teasing my friend. With my friends, I could always be candid. Being around them meant being my authentic self, without any inhibitions. Therefore, when they were absent, leaving me alone, I felt truly lonely. It's a relief to have Sophia back.

"Silly! By the way, how's married life? Is your husband treating you well? I always thought Alec and I would be the first to tie the knot, and you beat us to it! Life has a way of surprising us, doesn't it?" Sophia playfully quipped.

I greeted her with a smile and provided all the necessary information. She mentioned her intention to visit me, but not in the near future.

"What matters most is that you've finally escaped your father's control! I've been encouraging you to leave that house for a while, and I can't even bear to imagine your father's terrible reaction when you did try to leave."

I didn't want to dwell on that either. "I'm doing fine here. Nothing like that is happening," I reassured her, though the only issue was that Marco was often busy and not home.

"Can you picture your husband for me? I searched for him online, but there's barely any information! I came across a few articles about their business success, but I couldn't find any photos of Marco Moretti. He seems exceptionally private."

Her words left me speechless. How could I accurately convey Marco's essence without exaggeration? Attempting to articulate Marco's life felt like trying to grasp fleeting air. I had mentioned before that there simply were no words sufficient to describe that man.

"Well, he embodies the quintessential bachelor archetype. Just like that," I replied.

"Wow, your depiction of him was so vivid, I can perfectly envision him!" she sarcastically interjected, to which I chuckled.

Expressing Marco's existence adequately eluded me. In my mind, I held a vivid image of him, yet articulating it proved challenging. It was as if I perpetually stumbled over my words when it concerned him. As I had previously stated, no words were adequate to capture the essence of that man.

Marco possesses an undeniable allure and captivating presence. His deep, intense eyes possess an enchanting power that can effortlessly captivate your attention. Standing tall with a well-built and strong physique, Marco exudes an aura of strength. He possesses an air of mystery that only adds to his magnetic appeal. Oh, and have I mentioned his armband tattoo? It caught my attention when he casually rolled up his sleeves, but unfortunately, I've never had the opportunity to closely examine it. Being in Marco's presence always left me feeling unfocused, making it difficult for me to properly observe his tattoo. 

"Is he currently present?"

"No, he's at the office. As a CEO, he is always occupied and rarely finds time for his personal life." My response may have carried a tinge of disappointment, almost as if I were a disillusioned spouse. However, I can't deny that I've grown accustomed to Marco's company, even if it's tinged with a hint of apprehension.

"Oh, now spill the details about your honeymoon! I want to hear every little thing!" She squealed with excitement on the other end of the line.

"Stop it!" The memory came rushing back, evoking thoughts of our unforgettable first night together with Marco. It was an experience filled with passion—an exquisite blend of tenderness and a subtle touch of intensity. Perhaps Marco's caution stemmed from knowing it was my first time. However, the issue remained: he left me the morning after.

He assured me it was for my safety, but it lingers, a persistent source of unrest.

"What?!" Sophia's emotions teetered, torn between laughter and anger upon hearing the account. "Should I find this amusing?"

"Just laugh," I urged my friend.

"After your first night? What kind of husband would do that?" Sophia's question hung heavily in the air.

I couldn't provide an answer, not even to Sophia. Even now, I grapple with doubts. Despite Marco's alibi, the lingering absence of crucial details continues to haunt my thoughts.

"Although he may not cause you physical harm, it's important to recognize that he could still inflict emotional pain. Emotional and mental abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse, my dear."

Her comment hit a sensitive spot, like an invisible slap that stung as her words penetrated my thoughts.

"But perhaps I shouldn't rush to judgement without meeting him in person," she sighed, her concern evident. "Let's plan to meet soon, alright? Always keep in mind that if you ever need anything, Alec and I are here for you. I'm just a phone call away, Maddie. You'd never be a bother to us. Take care for now. See you soon. Love you!"

I expressed my gratitude and bid her farewell. After hanging up, I sat on the edge of the bed, deep in thought.