Chapter 3 Sad Goodbye

As the day wore on, I finished my chores, feeling exhausted and still in pain. Heading to my room, I undressed, and the sting on my back intensified, a constant reminder of the torment. A light knock on my window interrupted the stillness. Walking over, I found Isaac, my lover, standing there. Seeing him, tears streamed down my face. He held my hands, concerned, and asked why I was crying and why I had a black eye. Turning around, I revealed the huge blister on my back. "Who did this to you?" he asked, anger flickering in his eyes. "Let's go somewhere private," I suggested.

Without hesitation, I jumped out of the window, and together we escaped into the dark night, seeking some peace and quietness away from the pain that had become an unwelcome companion in my life. We went to our usual meeting place, it was secluded away from the houses and surrounded by trees and near a little river, we sat down together. Isaac looked at my back, concern etched on his face. He asked what happened, and I explained everything, including Dante's proposal. He remained quiet for a while, processing the harsh reality of my life. Finally, he spoke, suggesting that I should delay Dante's proposal. With determination in his eyes, " in the next two days, I will be able to have enough money. We can run away together... far far away and begin a new life," he said looking me straight in the eye. "I promise you," he said, his words carrying a sense of hope and a plan for a future beyond the pain and suffering we had endured. In that moment, the place became our heaven, a small sanctuary where we would escape reality and dream of a life free from the chains that bound us. In the quietness of the night and reflection of the stars on the small river, Isaac and I shared a tender kiss. I rested my head on his chest, finding peace and comfort in his presence. Together, we began to talk about our dreams of the life we would lead once we escaped the shadows of our past. We talked about children, imagining their laughter filling our home. We discussed how many times we would make love, the intimacy becoming a promise of shared warmth and affection. Our fantasies extended to various activities and places we would explore together. As time slipped away, Isaac escorted me back home. I entered through the window, and we shared on last passionate kiss, saying goodbye with a silent promise that in two days, we would break free from the hell we lived in , embarking on a journey to create a life where pain and suffering were replaced by love and freedom. The morning after our secret meeting with Isaac, I woke up very late, exhausted from the sleepless night filled with pain. I took a quick shower, dressed in a large dress meant for a plus-size woman to avoid touching my wound, and tied an apron around me. I looked more like a maid than ever before. The purple hue around my swollen eye was a painful reminder of the previous day's brutality. I immersed myself in chores juggling them all for me to finish on time before everyone could wake up. Cleaning the entire house while preparing breakfast wasn't easy in a short space of time. Lost in my tasks, I didn't hear the knock on the door, followed by Uncle Julio's angry outbursts. Suddenly, the cursing ceased, replaced by a nervous laughter that caught my attention. Balancing a tray, I headed toward the dining room, only to freeze at the sight that made Uncle Julio pause – Dante standing with his guards. He was dressed in a sleek black suit, his black hair neatly slicked back, and a newly trimmed beard enhancing his attractiveness. Uncle Julio called for Antonia and aunt Silvia, both seemingly roused from a deep sleep by Dante's unexpected arrival. The atmosphere shifted, and I felt a mix of anxiety and dread as I wondered what Dante came to do , could he have finally come to his senses and decided to marry Antonia? Aunt Silvia and Antonia entered the living room, elegantly dressed and coated themselves in luxurious perfumes and both had big smiles on their faces . The speed at which they had dressed up confused me, but my confusion turned to fear when Aunt Silvia's smile faded upon noticing that I hadn't yet cleaned the living room. Rushing to the dining room with the tray, I intended to return to the kitchen, but Aunt Silvia stopped me. "Elena, why isn't the living room cleaned?" she asked in a calm, cold voice. I stared at the ground, stammering as I explained that I woke up late and was almost done with the house, having already prepared breakfast. Before I could finish, Aunt Silvia interrupted, instructing me to get the broom and finish cleaning. I hurried to the kitchen, bringing a broom, mop, and other cleaning equipment. I felt the weight of Dante's presence as Aunt Silvia directed him to go upstairs and sit in the living room. However, Dante didn't respond as expected. Instead, he walked towards me, grabbed the mop, and split it in half with his bare hands. The display frightened me, and I trembled under his gaze. He looked at me and asked " my princess, what happened to your eye." Did he just call me princess ? Stammering, I attempted to explain, but Aunt Silvia cut in, claiming that I fell and hit myself on the edge of the dresser. Dante didn't take his gaze off of me and declared, "I'm here to pick up my bride, Elena," causing Aunt Silvia to fake a smile, expressing annoyance. She attempted to redirect Dante's attention, insisting there must be a mistake and that Antonia was the intended bride. Aunt Silvia continued, "Elena, my niece," she paused, giving me a disgusted look, "isn't fit for you. She's a mess, can't even do her chores on time. But Antonia... Antonia is exceptional." Praises for Antonia filled the room. Dante, however, continued to look at me and announced, "I hope you've packed your clothes because we are leaving now, and our wedding is tomorrow." My eyes widened, and I stammered, "Mr. Dante, I'm sorry, but I can't marry you. Ms. Antonia is the one for you, and I already have a lover. We'll soon get engaged." Dante held my chin and raised my head to make me look into his eyes "I'm giving you five minutes to pack all your belongings." He snapped his fingers at one of the guards gesturing him to escort me.the guard escorted me upstairs, and I packed a small bag. Returning downstairs, Dante noticed my minimal belongings and questioned, "Didn't I ask you to pack your clothes?" I raised the bag, explaining that I had packed them. Confused, he asked about the rest of my things. I replied telling him everything was in the bag. He more baffled than before and he insisted I leave them, promising to get me new ones. Opening the bag, I pulled out a necklace and a scarf. Dante exploded, demanding I leave them behind. I insisted , " I can't leave these things, they belonged to my late mother." He signaled a guard, who brought a briefcase containing a staggering sum of 10 million dollars. Uncle and Aunt Silvia, jaws dropped, stared in shock at the unexpected wealth before them. Dante looked at them and calmly said l, "Here's the bridal price. You asked for thousands, and I have given you millions." He opened the briefcase, revealing a substantial sum of money, and continued, "At the bottom are wedding invitations for tomorrow." Suddenly, Aunt Silvia's tone and attitude underwent a startling change. She smiled, a smile I had never seen before, and said, "Of course, we will be happy to attend the wedding." Antonia's eyes widened in shock, and she exclaimed, "Mother, you can't let this happen!" However, Silvia calmly responded, "Don't worry. If it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be. Be happy for your sister." Antonia and I were both left in disbelief, processing the unexpected turn of events that had just unfolded before us. Aunt Silvia, with fake crocodile tears, approached me, expressing pride and happiness. "I knew you would make me proud one day. I'm so happy for you. Bless both of you, and I wish you a happy marriage." She hugged me tightly, pressing on the wounds on my back. In a whisper, she uttered a chilling warning, "You will regret this." Aunt Silvia released me, wiping away her crocodile tears, and bid me a tearful farewell. As we headed to the two black Porsche cars waiting outside, I caught sight of Isaac watching from a distance. Holding back tears, I knew the moment marked the painful separation from my lover. The promises we vowed and hopes and dreams we had echoed through my head. Was this the end of our love story and a beginning of a forced marriage?