Two Months Later
Florence, Italy
A loud bang accompanies Leon entrance into the house where he had kept Skylar, these past few months away from any prying eyes. It was the safest place for him. No one would think to look there. Considering how much his mother had always hated Skylar, he knew she would never believe he was keeping Skylar right under her nose.
"Leon, please let me go. You can't keep me as hostage forever" Skylar groaned as he pleaded with him. This was their usual routine anytime he came to check on her and deliver her food.
"Of course, darling. I'm letting you go today. We are going to see the sunshine" Leon's face breaks into a smile as he squats down in front of her where she was tied to the floor.
He placed a tray of food in front of her, his eyes straying to her stomach. Skylar watched the smile disappear from his eyes as he clenched his fist in anger. She shivered in fear as she remembered the first time, he had found out that she was pregnant. He had beat her badly but stopped when he almost killed her. And now, Skylar didn't know what he was going to do with her.
Leon stood up from the floor where he had stared at the baby in the womb with contempt. If looks could kill, he would have liked it if that little urchin in her stomach was dead but nonetheless, he was going to take it out himself.
"Come in" Leon screamed to whoever was standing at the entrance as the door creaked open, ushering in a woman with a dress in her hands.
"Attend to her, and dress her up quietly. We are running late" Leon told her as he motioned her over to where Skylar was tied. He runs his hands affectionately through her cheeks "Just hang in there, everything will be over soon. I promise you" he told her before going out of the door to give her some privacy.
Skylar watched him leave with fear in her eyes. What was he up to this time? Isn't this enough? This was the thought running through Skylar's mind as she turned to stare at the woman who was looking at her with contempt. She couldn't recognize the lady but the way she was staring up at her like she had some grudge against her which prompted Skylar to ask" I'm sorry, I've we met before?"
The woman ignored her and opened the door to the adjoining room to reveal the bathroom. She ran the bath for her before coming back to untie and dragged her to the bathroom "I'll advise you to shut up and bathe quietly else I might not be blamed for my actions. Take! I don't even know what he sees in you. You are just some pregnant urchin" The woman mustered the last part to herself as she stepped out of the room banging the door behind her.
"Excuse me, do you have a problem with me?" Skylar screamed at the lady but she couldn't respond. She was so angry with everything around her. First it was Leon and now his subordinate has the gut to snap at her.
Finally, being left alone, Skylar stares at her reflection in the mirror. Her long hair was now dried and unkempt, scattered around her. Her eyes had more sleeping bags and dark shadows than she could count. And she had lean in the past few months. She couldn't even recognize the woman in front of her anymore.
Her hands went to her stomach to rub on it gently, she was now in her seventh month, and she hoped that Vino would find her. She didn't want to give birth here. Who knows what Leon might do to her baby? Is that what he's waiting for? Is he waiting for her to give birth, then he could kill her baby or give her up for adoption?
"Oh My God!" Skylar sobbed loudly as she squatted down on the bathroom floor. Why didn't she think of this before? She had always asked herself why he didn't suggest an abortion but instead he had bigger and more dangerous plans for her?
"Please Vino, please. Save us! Don't give up on us, we need you. Your baby needs you" Skylar chanted in her mind as she sobbed while hugging her baby. She was glad for the kind of baby he was; he never gave her trouble. He was calm and he was her only companion. She just hopes he stays safe for her.
"Are you done?" The lady who had obviously taken residence outside the door screamed on top of her voice as she banged on the door which jolted Skylar out of her thoughts as she struggled into the bathtub.
She washes herself while coming to a resolve within herself. She was going to enjoy her time outside and probably find out what's going on with Vino. Ever since coming here, Leon had taken everything from her, her phone, newspapers, anything she could use to access the internet and now she was blind. She didn't know what had happened to her family. Was Vino safe? Is he still searching for her? And Paula, how is she holding on? Oh! how she missed everyone at home.
"I don't care if you are through or not. I'm dragging you out" The lady shouted as she opened the door and paused as she saw Skylar drying herself with the towel in her hands.
"Great!" The lady exclaimed; her voice heavily laced with sarcasm as she threw a white short chiffon dress at her "Get into this. Leon will soon be here"
Skylar picked up the dress from the floor and put it on, judging from the smile on the lady's face, it was exactly where she wanted it '' Where are you taking me?" Skylar brought herself to ask as she was being dragged into the room.
"You should ask that to Leon when you see him, now keep quiet" The lady replied as she provided shoes and helped her with her hair.
But Skylar couldn't shut up, she was curious. She wanted to know more about the woman who was aiding Leon in her kidnapping. What kind of person was she? "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping Leon to destroy my life? He isn't the kind of person you think he is? He_____"
"Of course, he isn't. He has a temper issue. He beat up people and most of the time killed them. Of course, I know all these but guess what I'll stay with him" The woman replied as she let go of Skylar's hair when she was through.
"You knew all these but continued to stay with him? Why?" Skylar asked the lady in shock. She never believed how someone could put up with a person like that unless she's also deranged like he was.
"Because I loved him" The lady paused, scared that she had said something she shouldn't have. Her gaze rushed frantically to the door; she didn't want Leon to hear her outburst. Seeing no rushing in, she finally relaxed and turned to Skylar whose lips were moving.
"You are in love with him?" Skylar's voice rose with each statement. She was shocked. How could this happen? How could someone love that deranged man?
The lady sighed. She dropped the brush in her hands and came to stand in front of Skylar "Yes. I love Leon" She reconfirmed in a whisper, her eyes still darting to the door.
"And I guess you haven't told him then considering how scared you are?" Skylar commented with her hands folded across her chest when she noticed the lady's paranoid behaviour.
"Yes, and you are not going to either" She warned Skylar before she paced around the room.
She continued with a faraway look on her face as her face brightened into a smile as she recounted her story "I met him three years ago. I had a fight with my husband and we were quarrelling outside. He was about to beat me when Leon came to my rescue. You should have seen the way he scolded my husband that day. He even punched him in the face when he refused to let me go. He was there for me when I divorce my husband and____"
"But these are not enough to love him. He rescued you, yes but anyone could have done that?" Skylar protested as she cut her off from her rambling. She didn't see Leon as anyone kind enough to rescue someone. He might have been that kind of person in their first year but he is definitely not that kind of person now.
"He is more than enough for me. I owe him my existence, My life. If it wasn't him, my husband could have killed me that day. You see, it wasn't his first time. He always beats me up whenever he wants to have sex with me. It was one of his kinks. And when I refuse, he will cut me up with a knife before sending me to the hospital. This kept repeating until that day with Leon. Everyone saw it happen but were afraid of my husband, they couldn't rescue me. They just stood there and I watched him beat me, but Leon, he saved me. And I will spend the rest of my life dedicating it to him and loving him alone."
Skylar gasped with her mouth agape; she was shocked and felt pity for her. She suddenly felt so little in front of her. How can she say she has suffered when the lady in front of her has suffered so much? How could someone endure such "I'm so sorry; I didn't know. I____"
"Don't bother." The lady rushed to cut her off as she wiped the tears, which she didn't know were in her eyes, away before turning to move random things around the room.
"I've heard enough pities that could last me a lifetime. Unless you are sincere, which I'm sure you aren't, please don't tell me you are sorry."
Skylar nodded as she flicked the tears from her eyes. Clearing the tears from her eyes allowed her to look at the lady in front of her closely. Seeing her now, she looks younger than she thought. She was in her early thirties, and having suffered that, Skylar was moved. To think, she thought she had suffered more, but now she knew she was lucky to have Vino. A man who loved and cared for her. He was willing to sacrifice everything for her. And for that, she will be forever grateful. Even though she might not make it out of here alive, she will die knowing that she met and loved the best man. Her soulmate.
"What are you thinking? Don't tell me you pity me. I don't need your pity. I need Leon to love me, but how could he when his brain is full of you? All he ever thought about these past few years being together was you. I was curious. I wanted to meet the lady that got him obsessed and when I finally did___ Well, I was jealous." The lady said it with a shrug as her voice rose and fell with each sentence. She was scared that Skylar might have taken pity on her because she was unnecessarily quiet, but if only she knew what Skylar was thinking...
"Jealous?" Skylar asked her in shock. That was the only sentence she could grasp in all her rambling "You are beautiful. And a very___"
"But I would never be enough for him; can't you see it? He loves you. He wants you. He_____" The lady paused to wipe the tears from her eyes as she struggled to bring her voice down.
"And I don't blame him for loving you. I mean, who wouldn't, right?" She laughed hysterically, like she couldn't process what she was saying. Maybe being with Skylar for a long time was rubbing on her. She had never spoken a word of this to anyone. What is it with her that makes her want to spill her darkest secret? She never would have thought things like this would happen. She just wanted to glimpse at the woman who had grabbed Leon's heart, but now she's finding herself liking her.
"You are beautiful and smart. You are a successful artist and work for one of the best art companies in the world. Why won't anyone in their right senses like you?" She continued as she smiled at Skylar, who sat shocked. That was the best compliment she had ever had in a while. And it gave her motivation to fight this...
"Thank you. I needed to hear that. And for the record___" Skylar bent to whisper to her, letting her see the sincerity in her eyes and letting her know that she wasn't saying this out of pity but because she really adored the woman who had been through hell and conquered.
"You are beautiful with all your flaws. No one could have been through that and survived. I envy you. I've only been kidnapped once by someone who is supposed to be my stepsister, but guess what? I'm still traumatized by it. I'm seeing a therapist, but look at you-you've been strong after everything. You are a great woman! You motivated me today. I'm going to be stronger for my baby and my love. I hope you'll achieve your heart's desires too," Skylar told her as she reached out to hold her hands across the table before whispering again.
"What is your name?"
But the lady couldn't answer as the door clicked open with a bang and an angry Leon stood glaring at them, asking, "What's taking you so long to get ready? Is everything alright here?" He asked as he noticed the mood in the room. His eyes shuffle between both women before he finally rests on Skylar. A smile broke on his face before he rushed to her.
"Oh! My God! Sky. You look beautiful. If I had known you would look this beautiful, I could have gotten you a dress earlier."
Skylar bites her lips to keep her from snapping at him. Her eyes darted to the lady, who had become quiet and withdrawn. She pities her. Why couldn't Leon open his eyes to see the woman who would climb mountains and hills to be with him? Why couldn't he just love her? After knowing the truth, she felt like a fool for keeping the lady from her happiness.
Come, let's go, my love. We have a lot to do today. Lolita, get her into the car. I'll come behind you." Leon motioned to the lady, who snapped into motion and gently guided Skylar outside to the dark van that was waiting for them.