Diego's arms enveloped Candy as they prepared for sleep, cherishing their heavenly moments together.
"Hubby?" Candy's voice was soft as she trailed her fingers across his smooth chest, nestled in his embrace.
"Hmm?"
"Could you tell me a story?" she asked, her head resting against his arm.
Diego looked down at her, pondering for a moment before responding in his deep voice, "Would you like me to read you a book?"
"That's not it... I just want to hear one from you," Candy replied, hoping he understood her. She reached up, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear as she waited for his response.
"Alright," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone, eliciting a smile from Candy.
"Once, there was a six-year-old boy who lived happily with his parents. He came from a rich home so his life was perfect with no flaws. This boy had a musical talent, he played piano, mostly during his leisure time. Unfortunately for him, his father was in disapproval of it"
Candy's face dropped a little. "But why?"
"His father wanted his son to be the next leader of his famous company, but that wasn't the boy's dream. His desire for music grew even stronger after his father disapproved. He practiced in secret and joined a musical team in school. Seeing his passion, his mother decided to help her son in secret as both plan to convince the father somehow."
"Is the mother musically talented too?" Candy asked, engrossed by the story.
"The father was the talented one but gave up on his dream because of his position. The boy got the talent from him. He didn't only have a problem with his father but also the school too. A group of seniors said to be his rivals in music. They wanted to be recognized but a little boy stole that spotlight.."
"After a year, the young boy won a competition, his heart jumped with so much joy. But...when the father saw this....
____
Snatching the crafted trophy from the young boy's hand, the handsome man threw it against the wall spitting it into two.
"Father?!" The boy exclaimed but got hit in the face in return. The boy's eyes widened, this would be the first time his father would treat him coldly and he hated it.
"Why are you so disobedient!!" The man roared, causing the boy to shudder.
"You are the upcoming president and you should act like one. You should be studying hard every single minute that passes by. Associating with those lower than you shouldn't be too nice. You are my son! Let me down and you'll face the consequences!" With this, the man left the seven-year-old boy gritted his teeth with anger.
Wiping his tears with the back of his arm, he heard the voice of his mother behind him.
"Sweetheart, are you okay?" She asked to walk close but the boy ran out heading straight to his room. He dropped to the floor and began crying.
Soon, he heard a loud crash sound which jolted him from his slumber. He thought he was hallucinating but the crash came again, this time a scream..
"Mother?" The boy stood up immediately and ran to the biggest room in the mansion. As he tried to get in, the butler of the house stopped him.
"Let go of me, I want to check what's going on" The boy tried storming in but the butler held him tight.
"Don't go in young master. It's for your own good" The old man spoke calmly, the boy could see the hint of pity in his eyes.
The sound of whips and cries caught the boy's attention again. This time, the boy yelled.
"What are you doing?!!" He managed to free himself and hit the door hard. The whips and cries didn't stop; instead, he noticed the person crying trying to suppress it...
That wasn't his mother right?! It better be someone else.
Fear etched on every part of the boy's face as he began to freak out. The sounds stopped and the door suddenly creaked open.
The boy's father stepped out staring down at his little son. His gaze somewhat scared the boy. Shifting his gaze back to the room, the boy's face contorted into terror catching a glimpse of a familiar figure inside.
She was sitting on the floor with her back facing him. The door closed before he could take a closer look.
"Son?" His father bought back his attention.
"What are you doing?" He whispered, his voice trembling. Never had he thought he would see this.
"I was just having a little discussion with your mother"
His mother? His last thread of hope broke instantly...
"S.. she was crying. You were hurting her" His voice trembled. His father smirked darkly. Crouching down before him, he placed his hand on his shoulder.
"That's how I discussed it with her..."
Another shocking realization, this wasn't the first time..
"She worked me up and I was just scolding her son. You don't want to see things like this right? then.." His father's face dropped cold. "Touch a piano again and your mother would suffer"
The shattered boy couldn't sleep a wink, he didn't know who to run to or what to do. Everything felt like a fucking dream.
The next morning, he saw his mother making breakfast. Those bruises she had last night were covered with make-up. The boy noticed how much discomfort she was in, especially when his father appeared.
"Have your breakfast son. I'll be the one to take you to school today" The man said.
As they both head to the school, The boy remains quiet. The only thing he could do was to bottle up his feelings so his mother won't suffer.
"Son... A real man should never act weak before people around him. Life evolved and he should control how he wants it to be with him..."
"I don't want to hear anything from you" The boy cuts in. He took a deep breath knowing his father must be looking at him.
"When you grow a little more son, you'll understand life"
'Whatever,' The boy thought.
Immediately they got to the school, the boy got down from the car head straight to his class..
He couldn't focus, everything around him irritated him.. meanwhile, his rivals had a plan to strike him that day.
Getting out of school, he didn't see his driver as usual unknown to him, his rivals had already gone to lie to the driver that he had left already.
The boy didn't mind this, he could just make a call but he decided not to and took a walk. Turning into an empty street his head was hit, taking his consciousness.
When he woke up, she found himself in an abandoned small shop.
"I actually thought judging from your influence.. it won't be easy to get you but instead you made it easy" One of them spoke. A senior of seventeen years, rebellious in every way, behind him were his friends.
"Who are you?" The boy asked, trying to endure the pain in his head. He recognized the guy as one of the competitors in the talent show.
"Who do you think you are stealing my spot? To think that I had trained hard to get that trophy but instead you took that away from me. Because of you, my father beat me up all night promising to make my life miserable. I fucking hate you kid.. now.. where's the trophy?" The guy asked.
The boy sighed, remembering how his father had destroyed it.
"It's destroyed.. my father destroyed it.. let me go.. please don't hurt me"
The guy scoffed. "Grab the diesel"
What?!!
The boy's eyes widened.
"Dude, are you really going to do this? This boy is just seven" His friend whispered beside him.
"Do I look like I fucking care? That trophy was my life, bro. He is a kid, so definitely the adult will think this as an accident"
"Noo!!" The boy screamed but was hit again making him lose consciousness. By the time he woke up, fire surrounded him.