6 | Secrets
1763 Words
“Arabella.”
“Did you know?” I said, breaking the tension already. I sat on the porch swing of the garden; Ace stood behind me because I could sense him. I knew I asked him a question that would break my heart in a million more pieces, but something inside of me wished he said no. But I knew the reality.
“I did.” He whispers.
“You knew I had a family, and you did not say anything.” I stand up from the swing, turning around to face him. He glimpses at me for a second, I take one step towards him. “My name is Maria De’Luca; my mother is Amara and my father is Matteo. I have an older brother named Dante and another named Mark. Adrian and Natasha took me, didn’t they?”
“They did.”
“I was never their daughter; I had an actual family and you never told me! You lied to me about something that affected my life so much!” Another step forward, anger slithering throughout my veins. The moment I reach him, I pushed him so hard but he did not move.
“Arabella-”
“I hate you! I hate you so much! You took me, they took me, what am I? A doll? A doll to be played, dressed and told what to do? Why can no one treat me like a proper human?” I said, every question I asked received a punch on the chest, I was trying to let out all my anger, but instead, he grabs my hands and pushes me against the tree.
“I never told you,” I breathe, my chest touching his own. “Because this is how you would act, it was not my place to tell you. It was Mia and Lorenzo’s.”
“They knew?”
“They did, and they promised me not to tell you before they did. I kept that promise, because then I was trying to be good to you. Do you not understand? Arabella, I am in f*****g love with you, and to see you despise me so much…it gives me a feeling I have never received. I do not care if I am hated by anyone but if that someone is you, I would rather die.”
The words gave me some sort of inspiration, a feeling he returned back. He loves me? And do I? Of course, I do but I would never admit that to him. I do not want to weaken myself in front of him, because I am still hurt. “You did this all to yourself, you said you would choose the Mafia over me. And I was nothing but a pawn in your game.”
I push him away from me, “Since when did the Bella I know lose her kindness,”
“I didn’t, I just lost it to people who do not deserve it.”
“And I do not deserve it now?”
“No, because-”
“Because? Because what Bella? Because I kept a promise?”
“I was abused! Everyday, in that house, I was abused not only mentally but physically. You saw me running from them, thinking my ‘parents’ were going to find me…only to find out, I had no reason to be afraid because they were never my actual parents. Maybe you telling me would have given me some hope, hope is all I needed.” I whisper whilst the tears fell from my eyes, Ace gulps, his eyebrows shrugging together. I sat back onto the porch swing, watching Ace stand before me as he crouches down, he takes a hold of my hand, bringing it into his warm ones as he gazes at me.
“I am so sorry, I had no idea it would make you feel like that, I thought I was doing a good thing for once in my life. Keeping a promise.”
“I know Ace, I just, sometimes promises affect people…and I would rather have found it out by you than your father, who by the way scares me shitless.” Ace chuckles, and it was that chuckle that made my heart glow, for the first time since I came down, it glowed with love. Ace grazes my cheeks, “and I’m also sorry, I know you’re trying to protect us, and you are my family Ace, and I would do anything to protect you like you would to me. I just, I never thought I had a caring family before... but it turns out I did, I had Mia and Lorenzo and Lauren and Malissa and Rose and you had no one. But now you have me, Rose, and the little one inside me.”
His eyes sparked with emotions, something I haven’t seen since he found out I knew, and with that, petals fell above us, Ace stood up, pulling me with him. “You, Rose and this one is all I need.” I rested my head onto his shoulder.
“I want to meet them, Ace, my parents..”
“I know, I will talk to Dante.”
“You know him?”
“Of course, I do, you would be surprised.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you princess.”
.
.
.
“I-I’m scared…”
“Melissa tried to help me, and God, God it was bloody painful, and hurtful and fearful and I-I was scared.”
"Do you want the child?" I shook my head, she picked up the coat hanger and closed her eyes. She stands up to make sure she locked the bathroom door. She then grabbed the hanger; I shake my head feeling streams of tears fall from my eyes.
"We have to do it this way,"
“We had to; my father made sure to pay every abortion centre to not give me one. All the herbal teas were no longer allowed, if any staff member was to give me, they would be shot.”
"What if he finds out?"
"I promise to protect you."
"What if Jayson finds out?"
"He won't." I nodded my head; she spreads my legs open as I hold onto the tub. She breathes in and I feel her breathe.
I screamed out in pain, that entire moment, of regret, discomfort, agony and hurt. Blood, so much blood. I felt as if I was about to die. Malissa held onto my hands, whispering that it's over. But, it wasn’t…. because then my mother opened that door, and saw.
“ADRIAN! ADRIAN!"
My eyes burst open, I feel a pool of liquid between my thighs, and I took the chance removing the covers of my body. I breathe in seeing a pool of blood between me, the retched colour of crimson that stained my white night lingerie. Along with the white sheets of the bed, I slide of the bed, in pain as it strikes through my stomach. Tears fall from my eyes as I take careful steps towards the door, I watch the liquid drizzle down my legs.
I hear Aces voice along with some others from his office, I hold onto the door taking deep breaths as fear controls my inner thoughts. I push the door open, “Ace…” I whisper his name, looking up slowly I see his eyes attach to my own before they see the blood all over my dress. His eyes widen, Rodrigues and Marcel raise their guns thinking someone did this to me.
“Arabella!”
“Ace…”
“Arabella, what happened?” He holds onto my arms.
“I think I’m having a miscarriage.” I whispered, my lips trembling. He lifts me up bridal style form the ground as he rushes out of the office.
“Call the doctor.” He shouts, “Arabella, you are not having a miscarriage okay.”
“Ace, I am…I am I can’t feel her..”
“You are just fine, alright.” Was I not fit enough to hold a child? Did I ruin that after trying to abort Rose? I scream in pain suddenly a sit jolts like electricity, for the first time, I needed Aces touch more than anything. I trusted his reassurance. “Breathe,” we enter another room, filled with lights and nurses, he rests me onto one of the beds, stroking my hair away from my face whilst grasping my hand in his.
“What is going on?” I hear a nurse ask, I was sweating, fully on sweating.
“She is sweating,” Ace said, pushing past everyone as he grabs a wet white towel, he damps it under cold water and squeezes out the rest of the water before rushing back to me. He dabs my forehead, “when is Nathen coming?”
“Now sir,”
“Tell him to hurry the f**k up.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ace, you have to forgive me if I lose your child.” I whisper, he shook his head, taking a seat besides me as he presses his lips against my forehead.
“Arabella, stop thinking of such a thing, and it is our child. Do you understand? Have hope.” He swipes a thumb underneath my eyes, removing any leakage of tears. He stood up lifting my dress as he wipes the blood of my leg. “Now, let us distract you, your father wants to meet you, we set up a date on Friday, your mother and brother will be there. Along with your other brother Marco.”
“Are you serious? They want to meet me?”
“Yes, they do. Your mother sounded excited, and was crying to see you.”
“What if they don’t like me?”
“They will love you. Everyone loves you,”
“I don’t want to lose him.” I whisper.
“Him? I thought it was a girl.”
“Change of mind, I think Elias would suit him well.”
“Well, if It is a girl, I shall name her. Deal?” I glance up at him, he smiles, wiping away the tears from my eyes. He picks up the cold compressed towel and damps my face.
"Deal."
- Writer
