Chapter 7

• JASMINE
• "I've got you now, little wife. Are you ready to face my punishment?" I watched as Romano's face drew closer to mine, his hand holding the familiar whip and gag. A suffocating feeling overwhelmed me. "No... please, don't!"
• I jolt awake, my sheets drenched in cold sweat, my heart racing like a jackhammer in my chest.
• My frantic eyes survey my surroundings and it takes some extra seconds for my shoulders to relax and my breathing to gradually become normal.
• It's only a dream, but the image of Romano's menacing face still lingers in my mind like a branding iron, and even now, I can almost hear his deadly voice threatening to kill me and the child.
• "I'm safe," I whisper, my voice trembling with fear.
• He won't find me here.
• "I'm free, I'm free, I'm free," but even as I chant these words, a part of me is still submerged in terror; I blink back the tears that are starting to burn through my eyes.
• It's been six months since I left him, when will this nightmare end?
• Will it ever?
• I may have escaped the mansion, but Romano's dark shadows continue to follow me; he haunts my dreams every night, and I live within this abyss of fear that he has created for me.
• I feel trapped and I simply cannot forget him.
• A sound kick snaps my attention to my enlarged abdomen, and I instinctively place my palm around it.
• My baby.
• There are only a few weeks left, just a little longer, and I will be able to hold my child in my arms; my fear slowly relieves and a small smile cracks on my face.
• "I wonder if your father is still searching for us, I hope he is not... I won't let him hurt you; momma is always going to protect you," I vow solemnly and giggle when I feel a solid kick on the left side of my abdomen.
• "Ouch, such a strong kick, you're quite energetic this morning, aren't you?"
• I got up from the bed to perform my morning routine of bathing and brushing my teeth, my protruding stomach slowing down my movements.
• "Good morning, ma'am; how are both mother and baby doing?" The familiar cheerful voice of Yvonne greets me as I step out of the bathroom, on her hands is a steaming tray of food that instantly makes my mouth water.
• "We're doing good," I return her smile and start to put on a fresh pair of clothes when she announces,
• "Mr. Bruno is coming back from his trip this evening or latest tomorrow morning,"
• Yvonne is the assistant of the man who had saved me on that cold rainy day.
• Mr. Bruno.
• I only know him as that.
• It would have been impossible to escape the city six months ago with Romano's men swarming everywhere and blocking all the exits.
• Bruno had found me drenched and terrified in that abandoned alley.
• I was lucky that his car had broken down around that area, and he had not hesitated to help me from the men chasing after me.
• Bruno has always been away on business trips, so I have only seen him a few times. He had generously allowed me to stay in this serene isolated house outside of the vibrant city and even got his assistant to specially look after me.
• He's my guardian angel; there is no other way I can describe him or repay the kindness he has shown me; even when my belly became pronounced, he never asked me any questions about the child's father or the circumstances around it and just continued to provide his supportive care.
• As kind as Bruno is, I cannot continue to be a burden on him forever, especially now that the baby is almost due.
• Giving birth to a child is quite expensive; I will need money for a lot of things, "Do you know a pawn shop nearby?"
• I turn to Yvonne to see the confusion that flickers in her gaze,
• "I need money for some baby shopping, so I'm hoping to trade some of my jewellery"
• Her eyes instantly light up with understanding,
• "You don't need to sell your precious items; Mr Bruno will provide you with everything you need; I think he's quite fond of you..."
• "No, he has done enough and I already feel guilty. I've been relying solely on him for the past few months. I cannot stay here forever, as soon as the baby is born, I'm going to leave."
• Yvonne sighs, I think she already accepts that she will not be able to convince me once my mind is made up.
• "A jewellery shop? I think there's a popular one close by,"
• I visited the hospital for my routine antenatal check-up, the baby is perfectly healthy, but I'm anaemic, so the doctor prescribed me some pills.
• After that, Yvonne and I ended up doing a lot of baby shopping.
• I'd already bought a lot of clothes for the baby, but I still wanted more; the jewellery shop had offered more money than I could have ever expected.
• I feel so relieved that I won't have to worry about how to take care of the birth expenses and if I manage the money I got from selling my necklace well, both I and the child can afford to live comfortably for a while.
• I still don't know whether I'm having a boy and a girl but a part of me secretly craves for a boy, and it's simply because I don't want to give birth to a daughter that will end up as miserable as me or become prey to misfortune.
• It is nearly evening by the time we are returning home and the first thing I notice as we enter into our serene neighborhood is the several cars parked outside.
• My intuition told me that something was off. I feel a gradual chill trickling down my spine even as my step slows down.
• "I think Mr. Bruno is back," Yvonne says excitedly; perhaps I'm being paranoid, but I'm unable to tear my gaze away from the particular sleek, black, expensive-looking car with tinted glasses; my legs have also involuntarily stopped moving altogether.
• Anxiety washes through me and forms a harsh knot in my throat, since when did Bruno get a car that looks so similar to. . . His?
• I shudder at the thought, and my heart starts to thump wildly in my ribcage even as Yvonne tugs my arm, forcing me to move.
• "What are you spacing out for, let's go and welcome Mr. Bruno,"
• As she speaks, the door of the car suddenly opens and the breath whooshes from my lungs. Goosebumps crawl against my skin like tiny evil ants.
• No!
• The scream lodges in my throat, my legs staggering backwards and the blood draining from my face when it isn't Bruno who steps out of the black car.
• I looked at his tall figure, the familiar brows and eyes, and the oppressive gaze. Then, the demon from my dreams walked toward me, getting closer and closer, until his toes were nearly touching mine. Once again, I was surrounded by the familiar scent of mint and tobacco. Instinctively, I took a step back, but he kept advancing, step by step.
• "My dear wife," His deep voice greets me with a sinister smile that feels like a cold claw gripping my heart and forcing it to stop beating.
• "Ecco, ti ho trovato, I searched everywhere for you,"
• And now, he has found me.