Chapter 03~ I'm Just A Delivery Girl

CLARA

It didn’t take long for the whispers to start.

“Did you hear about Clara?” someone would say at the market. “She’s pregnant and not even married.”

“She used to be so involved with the church,” another would chime in. “What a shame.”

I tried to ignore it, but it was hard. The church had always been a place where I felt safe, but now, even the pastor’s wife gave me cold looks. It wasn’t long before I stopped going altogether.

Every Sunday morning, I would hear the church bells ringing, and my chest would ache. But I reminded myself that I didn’t need their approval. My focus was on my baby.

At my next antenatal check-up, Lucaa smiled as she looked at the screen.

“The baby’s growing well,” she said, pointing at the little shape on the monitor. “It’s ten weeks now and stable.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Seeing the baby made everything feel real.

But then Lucaa’s expression turned serious. “Clara, it’s still not too late to think about your options. You can choose to have an abortion before the 20th week.”

“I’ve made my choice,” I said firmly, looking away from the screen.

She sighed. “I know you’re determined, but think about it. You don’t have a stable income. Your aunt’s addiction is still a problem, and your uncle is… well, unreliable, to put it kindly. This isn’t the best environment to raise a child.”

“I’ll figure it out,” I said, letting her know my mind was already made up. “I’m working. I’ll save up enough to move out.”

Lucaa shook her head. “You can’t keep working like this, Clara. What happens when your belly gets bigger? Delivery work isn’t safe for someone in your condition.”

I didn’t answer. She wasn’t wrong, but I couldn’t give up.

The next day, I picked up an order from a pharmacy. It was a delivery to a location by the harbor.

When I arrived, I found myself standing in front of a yacht. It was huge, the kind of thing I’d only ever seen in movies.

“This can’t be right,” I muttered, checking the address again.

But it was correct. Hesitating for a moment, I climbed the narrow gangway onto the yacht.

As soon as I stepped on board, I felt the yacht lurch slightly. I turned around to see the dock drifting farther and farther away.

“What’s going on?” I asked aloud, my heart already pounding with fear.

A man in a sharp suit approached me, a drink in his hand. “Ah, you must be the delivery girl,” he said, smiling in a way that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Yes,” I said, trying to stay calm. “But I wasn’t told the yacht was leaving. I need to get back to work.”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Relax. It’s just a short cruise around the bay. You’ll be back in no time.”

I glanced around. The deck was filled with people in expensive clothes, laughing and drinking. It was clear this was some kind of party.

“Who’s the order for?” I asked, holding up the bag.

“Give it to me,” the man said, reaching for it.

I hesitated. Something about him didn’t feel right.

“I need to confirm the name first,” I said, pulling the bag back slightly.

He raised an eyebrow, his smile tightening. “No need for that. I ordered it.”

Before I could argue, another man appeared, taller and even more intimidating. He whispered something in the first man’s ear, and they both glanced at me.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

“You know what?” the first man said, his tone suddenly turned cheerful. “Why don’t you join us for a drink? It’s the least we can do to thank you for your service.”

“I really can’t,” I said, taking a step back. “I have other deliveries to make.”

He reached out, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. “Nonsense. You’ll stay for just one drink.”

My heart was pounding as I looked for a way out. The yacht was already too far from the dock, and the man’s grip on my shoulder made it clear I wasn’t going anywhere.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out, hoping it would deter him.

His eyes flicked to my stomach, and for a moment, I thought he might let me go. But then he smirked.

“All the more reason to sit down and rest,” he said.

I clenched my fists, feeling both angry and scared. This wasn’t just a party—it was something more. I didn’t know what, but I had a sinking feeling I was in over my head.

Before things could escalate, a loud voice cut through the noise.

“What’s going on here?”

I turned to see another man stepping onto the deck. He was older, with a commanding presence and eyes that seemed to take in everything at once.

The two men who had been bothering me straightened up immediately.

“Just entertaining our guests,” the first man said smoothly.

The newcomer’s gaze shifted to me, and his expression softened slightly. “You’re the delivery rider?”

“Yes,” I said quickly, holding up the bag.

“Let her go,” he said firmly.

“But—”

“I said, let her go!” He snarled.

The man released my shoulder, and I took a step back, clutching the bag tightly. The newcomer approached me. His cologne was so strong I could smell it before he even got closer.

“Medicine delivery,” I said, holding up the bag.

He looked me up and down, then smirked. “Ah, you’re the one for Mateo.”

“I don’t know who Mateo is,” I replied, frowning. “I’m just here to deliver this.”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Sure, sure. Follow me.”

Before I could protest, he led me through the yacht, past a group of people laughing and drinking, and down a long hallway.

“Look, I just need to drop this off—” I tried to say, but he opened the door and practically shoved me inside.

The room was a bit dark, with heavy curtains blocking out most of the light. Except for the dim lamp which illuminated the room. The air was filled with cigar smoke. At first, I couldn’t see much, but then I noticed a man sitting on the edge of the bed.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair that was tousled like he’d been running his hands through it. His suit jacket was off, and his white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar. In his hand was a gun.

My breath caught in my throat.

“Who sent you?” he demanded.

I froze, clutching the pharmacy bag like it was a shield. “I’m just the delivery girl,” I stammered. “There’s medicine in here. I’ll put it down and leave.”

The man’s cold, dark eyes narrowed. “Don’t act innocent.”

“I’m not acting,” I said with a trembling voice. “Look, I’ll just—”

“Sit,” he barked, cutting me off.

I glanced around, my mind racing for a way out. “You’ve got me all wrong,” I said quickly. “I’m not your… ‘gift.’”

His lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Do you think I’m stupid? No one gets in here without a reason.”

He stood up, and I instinctively stepped back, my heart pounding. My eyes darted around the room, landing on a heavy glass ashtray on a nearby table.

He took a step closer, the gun still in his hand.  “Do you know who you're messing with? You don't want to lie to the De Lucas.”

Wait, De Luca? The Maifa De Luca?

Is he one of the De Luca family, likely the father of my child's family?

“I told you, I’m just delivering medicine!” I shouted, as if that would even help.

As he moved closer, I seized the opportunity. Grabbing the ashtray, I swung it with all my strength. The ashtray connected with his head, and he stumbled backward, landing on the bed with a groan.

“Oh no, oh no,” I muttered, dropping the ashtray. Had I killed him?

I approached cautiously, my hands shaking. “Are you… alive?” I whispered, leaning in to check his breathing.

Suddenly, his hand shot out and grabbed mine. I yelped in surprise.

His eyes fluttered open, and he looked at me. But instead of anger, there was something else—something softer. He sniffed the air, then my hand, and his body relaxed.

“Stay,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

And then, before I could respond, he pulled me down onto the bed and wrapped an arm around me. His breathing slowed, and his eyes closed.

In my mind, he had passed out. But to him, it seemed like he had finally found some kind of peace.

I stayed frozen for what felt like hours but was probably just minutes. His grip on me loosened, and I carefully wriggled free.

My hands shook as I dropped the pharmacy bag and tiptoed out of the room. My heart was racing as I made my way back down the hallway and out onto the deck.

I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I kept expecting someone to stop me, but no one did. When I finally reached my delivery bike, I jumped on and sped away without looking back.

When I got home, I was still trembling. My hands were clammy, and my legs felt weak. I just wanted to collapse on my bed and pretend none of it had happened.

But as soon as I stepped through the door, I knew something was wrong.

“Clara, run!” my aunt screamed from the living room.

My uncle was standing nearby, a sick grin on his face. His eyes raked over me, and I felt a wave of nausea.

“You’re looking real nice these days,” he said, taking a step toward me.

I tried to back away, but before I could move, everything went dark.

The last thing I remembered was the sound of my aunt shouting and my uncle’s laughter. Then there was nothing.