Chapter 4

• JASMINE
• "..." I open my mouth, but no words come out; next thing I know, the papers are flying to my face when he flings them at me.
• Shit!
• How did I forget to get rid of the test results after leaving the hospital?
• "What the fuck is the meaning of this! Have you really gotten yourself pregnant?" Romano hisses lowly, the air between us crackles with tension and the sound of my heavy breathing.
• You should expect this since you are such a crazy, sex-obsessed beast. I want to haul these words at him, but I bite my lips to suppress the thoughts, not wanting to provoke him further.
• "I want this child; it is mine," I say fiercely, tears but flinches back when Romano approaches and stands before me, his expression is dark and terrifying as he glowers down at me.
• I return his glare with a determined look; since Romano has forbidden me from keeping any contact with friends or relatives, living in this huge mansion is extremely lonely; this baby is the only thing that will truly belong to me.
• "You honestly think you have the right to give birth to my child? Abort it!" Romano spits out the word, eyeing me without any show of remorse.
• Abort?
• This is his own child!
• Tears prickle in my eyes at his grave expression, "I'm sorry. It was an accident, but since it already happened, why can't I keep it?" Desperation claws in my voice, and without realizing it, I grasp Romano's arm, my fingers clenching tightly.
• "Please, don't get rid of the baby!"
• Romano stiffens at my touch, an unfathomable emotion flashes in his eyes, and before I can hope for more, it is gone.
• "It's your own flesh and blood, you may hate me all you want, but don't direct your anger to the innocent child, please, I beg of you!" I cry and his face twists into a disgusted snarl as he yanks free from my grip as though the mere touch of my hand burns.
• "You are just a conniving bitch like your mother, do you think that getting pregnant with this baby will change the way I feel? You are so shameless using this baby to look for an easy way out!" He breathes, staring at me as though I am a leech beneath his feet.
• "That's not true! Please don't kill my child," At this point, I am sobbing brokenly, my shoulders trembling.
• I would never use my child as a weapon, his accusation cuts deep.
• The corners of his lips twitch into an icy smile; I moan in pain when he forms a fist around my hair; my scalp is protesting from the tension.
• He leans closer so that his nose nearly touches my tear-streaked cheek, his hot breath tickling my face.
• "This pregnancy changes nothing, don't think you will become important to me," His soulless eyes locks with mine just another tear rolls down from my eyes.
• I jolt when he catches the drop of tears with a hot swipe of his tongue, my body is trembling uncontrollably; Romano is standing too close; I can feel the heat of his body enveloping me, submerging me like a dark abyss.
• The sound of a phone ringing shatters the tension between us; I watch as irritation flashes in Romano's features as he answers, "Yes?"
• "Boss, we've caught the mole, should we go ahead and kill him?" Romano's second in command says gruffly, I recognize his familiar voice from the other side of the line.
• "Wait, I'll do it myself," Romano mutters coldly, his eyes shooting daggers at me. "Stay here; I will deal with you when I return!"
• A cold feeling settles in my chest when Romano bangs the door close. How is he going to deal with me?
• How can I convince him against getting an abortion? I pace my room restlessly, halting only when the door opens, it's Lisa.
• She is the housekeeper's daughter, about the same age as I am; she often comes to help her mother with the cleanup sometimes.
• "Your husband ordered to give you this before he left,"
• My heart sinks to the floor as my eyes zero on the pill and glass of water in Lisa's hand. I feel as though the air is crushed from my lungs, and I cannot breathe.
• "There are abortion pills," Lisa confirms my suspicion and goosebumps trickle down my skin.
• Romano is too cruel!
• He won't even spare an innocent child, even if the child is his; despair envelops me, and I feel cold, the chill emanating from deep within me.
• Is this what he had meant by dealing with me?
• "N-No, I don't want it!" My frantic gaze lingers on the scary-looking drugs, but Lisa suddenly grasps my shoulders, "Ma'am, It's your husband's order; he doesn't want your child; if you don't want him to punish you when he returns, then drink this!" Lisa sneers.
• What's wrong with her?
• She has no right to force me like this!
• The enjoyment in her gaze as she watches my torment sickens me to my stomach, it isn't that I've not noticed the love-sick expression and seductive glances with which she always gazes at Romano, she only visits whenever he is around, I just didn't pay any mind to it because she can have that devil to herself for all I cared, but right now, she is forgetting who the mistress is.
• I detangle Lisa's hand from my shoulder, pushing her away and causing the medicines and glass of water to clatter to the floor; the hard look in Lisa's gaze frightens me to the core; I have never seen such deep hatred before.
• All because of a bastard like Romano?
• "Get out," I exhale raggedly, giving out the order, "However I deal with my husband when he returns is none of your business!"
• "Oh please, we all know that you are just Romano's breathing sex toy, don't act so arrogant!" She is staring at me with a determined expression as though she suddenly has an idea. “If you’re set on keeping the baby, I can help you escape, but you must promise that after you run, you will never show yourself in front of Master again.”
• My ears perch attentively at her statement, I would be a fool not to know the intent behind such a proposal from her, but now, with the life of my child at stake, I cannot afford to think too much.
• I nod quickly, earning a satisfied smirk from her, “I promise you, as long as you help me escape, I will leave here forever.”
• “I’ll distract them for you. You need to leave quickly.” She says.
• I rush to the window, watching as Romano enters his car, accompanied by several men in black sedans. My hand reaches to clutch against my chest as I finally settle on the decision.
• I'm going to leave him. Forever.
• For the sake of my baby's life, I have to find a way to escape the shackles of this tyrant who commands and controls the lives of everyone around him.
• But where could I go?
• I hurry back to search the drawers in my room, and I gather all the jewellery Romano has ever gifted me, he is quite generous in this aspect.
• I leave behind a particular one for him: a sharply cut diamond.
• My wedding ring.
• Tiptoeing downstairs, I see Lisa saying something to the guards at the door, and shortly after, they all follow her out. The opportunity has come.
• I allow my gaze to survey the mansion one last time, all the torture I've received from Romano in this particular place flashes through my mind in a second; my resolve is strengthened when I recall all the pain he has caused me
• "Goodbye, Romano,"