I let out a small burp, my stomach heavy from over-eating. I stared up at Luca with droopy eyes. He had a mean smirk on his face. I couldn't believe he had just done that.
"Next time you make me do that, it'll be in a far worse way than that," he threatened, straightening his shirt and running a hand through his hair.
I couldn't even open my mouth to speak. It hurt from how he had forced large spoonfuls of food into it.
He began to head out but paused at the door, turning around to face me. "Don't worry about who poisoned you. Leave that to me. All you should worry yourself about is preparing yourself for me tonight." He stated, and with that, he disappeared out the door, leaving me still shaken.
I sighed, releasing an even larger burp.
*
After taking my bath and getting dressed, I got dressed to head out. I practised what I would say to Hugo to get him to allow me to go out.
It had been a couple of days since I was freed from the terrible cell, but I had not yet seen my dress, and my anxiety was eating deep into me. I had almost bitten off all my fingers worriedly. I had to get that dress.
My laundry should have been done and sent back by now, but I hadn't even seen anyone come around for such purpose. I had to find out where my dress was.
I thought of leaving my hair down, but on the contrary, I decided to force it into a neat bun. Luca preferred it down.
The dinner replayed in my head again. I wondered what had happened to his family. I didn't see them when I got released from the cell. Obviously, he had probably gotten tired of the pretence and sent them away.
Limping towards my room door, I knocked in it a couple of times without response. My brows furrowed. I tried to open it, but it was locked as usual.
I knocked even harder for a couple more minutes before it flew open, and Hugo had a deep scowl on his face.
He tucked his phone in his pocket. "What is it?" He asked sharply, giving me a suspicious once-over.
I offered him the most realistic fake smile ever. "Hi, Hugo." I waved, smiling.
He didn't take too well to my approach, though. He made to close the door, but I quickly stopped him.
"Wait.. Wait.. I'm sorry. I just wanted to know if I could take a stroll around the gardens." His eyes narrowed in suspicion, but I quickly added. "You know, I've been bedridden for a while now, and the numbing effect on my leg has been brutal. The doctor advised that I take a walk around to help my leg."
"The room is wide enough," he stated, about to close the door again, but I stopped him again.
"But it's not enough, Hugo. It's not just about the space. It's also about the scenery, the atmosphere, the air, and everything. It's all therapeutic and would help me heal faster."
He looked frustrated at this point. His eyes narrowed as he stared at me for a moment. He looked conflicted, so I added sweetly, "Your don doesn't have to know. At least, I won't tell him."
His eyes darkened. "My loyalty is to my boss."
I groaned mentally. What would I do to get him to agree? I was about to spill the next excuse that came to my mind when he spoke up.
"Fine. But only if I go with you," he deadpanned.
The colour on my face drained for a moment. What? I struggled to keep my sweet mask on. "Uh... sure."
He took me through a shortcut to the gardens, making me miss the opportunity to talk to Sofia or any other maid in the mansion. I still had to apologise to Sofia.
I limped slightly as I walked, but I doubted Hugo even noticed. He just walked behind me like a bodyguard.
I let out a sigh as we approached the gardens. It was so beautiful. I wondered how someone with an ugly heart could own such a beautiful place. In other circumstances, this would be my go-to place.
The various species of flowers gave the garden a splurge of colours, and the birds barricaded by a large silver cage were almost exotic. They flew around the large, chirping so loudly that it made me laugh. This place looked like heaven in this mad hell.
"Ma'am, you said you wanted to go for a walk, not take a seat." Hugo sounded frustrated as he spoke. I saw him sneak a subtle, uneasy look towards his phone.
"You can sit as well, Hugo. Is there someone you'd like to speak with on the phone? You can do that as well. Just pretend I'm not here."
He scowled, tucking his phone in his pocket when a loud shrill voice floated through the speakers. "Daddy, talk to me!"
I let out a small gasp. It was the chirpy voice of a young child. "You have a family?" I found myself asking.
He avoided my eyes and gave a curt nod. "Well, we all do."
A laughter escaped my lips as the voice screamed again, even louder. I guessed he must have put his phone on speaker by mistake.
No wonder he was so mad. He was probably on the phone when I forced him to take me on a walk.
"That's beautiful," I mumbled. A faint tint of crimson appeared on the tip of his ears but disappeared soon.
A small smile spread across my cheeks as I watched him converse with his family in Spanish. A warmth filled me. It was a beautiful sight.
His child, who I later realised was a girl, insisted on seeing me, so I eventually had to get in the phone at some point after Hugo's resistance wore off.
Needless to say, I got my fill of lightness again in the darkness of living in Luca's mansion.
As he took me back to my room, I turned to him with a genuine smile on my face. "Thank you, Hugo."
His face was straight, but he nodded sharply in response. I walked in and heard the door click behind me. It didn't bother me as much.
Sinking into my bed, I sighed. What would it be like to have my own family as well? I guessed I probably would never know. At least, not when I was living with Luca.
When the door unlocked later that night, I took a deep breath. He bed dipped behind me, and I felt a deep breath close to my ears.
I trembled, but Trevor's words replayed in my head. 'Do what you must.'
The time I dreaded was here, and there was no putting it off anymore...