The Loveless Romance

4. His Cruelty

                                                                   Antonio's POV:

I dialed her number but it was off. My hands were shaking and the vision was getting blurry due to the tears pricking in my eyes. The pain piercing through my heart is unbearable. It seems like a nightmare and I want to run away from it. I want to wake up. I want to see her smiling face. I want her to caress my cheek and say that it was a lie and she is still mine.

She is my Adriana.

"Antonio." My mom gave me a sad look but I shook my head, declining what she said. She must have misunderstood something. How Adriana can do this with me.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and walked out. I hopped in my car and decided to see Adriana. I will bring her home with me. We will marry today. She is mine and will always be mine. Nobody has right over her. She loves me and I love her.

We are made for each other.

                                                     Adriana's POV:

Broke- fell down- stood up but again he broke me and now I can never stand up back because this time the curse is intense.

Cursed by Love, hurt by Love- Can only be healed by Love but there is no love in my life available. I pity myself for my condition.

I thought I was strong but he has broken me as if I was never intact. Liam's hatred is a painful feeling that is clenching my heart. I'm going to the depth of depression & insecurity.

I'm now a maid, a nanny, and nothing. He can expel me out of his life, Oliver's life, and I won't be able to do anything because I have no right. My life is just a business, a deal for my own father.

"Nanna!" Oliver's giggly voice reached my ear, snapping me out of my thoughts. I would have smiled looking at his innocent face but what he called is making me said. It hurts.

Oliver was habitual of looking at my smiling face whenever he calls and now he is looking at me intently as I didn't smile at him for the first time.

"Nanna." He said again and when I didn't smile he hung his head low and protrude his lip out.

"Mommy." He said and a smile appeared on my lips unintentionally. He clapped his hands when he found me content.

"Mommy!" He said again and I giggled, rubbing my nose against his. He grabbed my face and bite my nose. I cradled him in my arms and tickled the sides of his little tummy. Soon, his rich giggles filled the surroundings.

"Mommy loves you, Oley!" I said, kissing his chubby cheek.

Today is Sunday. Last night, I slept while crying over my fate once again but in the morning, I felt a little better when I looked at this little human being. At least he loves me. I don't know what future holds for me but I can hope he would always love me like this.

I have raised him as if he was my son and I really feel that motherly bond with him.

"Dada?" Oliver gestured with his hands, asking about his father. I have dressed him up after feeding him and now he wants to see his father, to play with him for some time.

His father is still in his room; maybe sleeping. At least he should have wake up early for his son. But what can you expect from a man who deals with everything like a business? Now, as Oliver can earn him no money or profit, he is not his priority.

"Your Dear Daddy is sleeping," I told him and he pouted. I laughed at his pout.

"Oliver loves Daddy?" I asked him, throwing a ball at him gently which landed in his lap.

We were in the lounge, sitting on the floor playing with each other and Oliver's toys are scattered across the room.

"Dada," Oliver replied, nodding his head.

"You know you look like your father," I said, carrying him in my arms and giving him one of his toys.

He crawled to other of his toys and I leaned back on the sofa, sighing.

He was busy playing with his toys and wasn't even listening to me but I was blabbering as I have only him to talk with.

"But please, don't be like your father ever. He is rude and conceited. Even I don't like him." I told him as if he was listening to me but in actual he was looking at the puzzle, thinking about connecting the right pieces in the right place.

"And if Mommy doesn't like someone, the baby should stay away from that person," I instructed him though he wasn't even looking at me.

"And if some random person brainwashes your baby then the daddy should throw that person out of the baby's life."

I froze on my spot when I heard a deep, authoritative voice behind me. I jumped and carried Oliver in my arms. I closed my eyes and hugged my baby Oliver tightly. I didn't dare to look behind myself. I know very well who is behind me.

A half-human and a half working machine. He is anything but gentle with me as I witnessed yesterday. I swear he is going unleash his anger on me again. I swear I didn't mean to brainwash him. I was just talking to myself. Oliver wasn't even listening to me.

"Mommy! Dada!" Oliver grabbed my face and told me about his daddy's presence as if I didn't know.

I know, baby. Your daddy is behind us but your mommy is now in trouble. I shouldn't have said those things to you here. I could have told you when we're alone in the room.

Away from this beast.

"Do you want to sleep, baby?" I asked Oliver standing up from the floor with him in my arms.

"Mommy! No!" Poor baby shook his head, jumping in my arms. He thought I was really going to make him sleep.

I just want an escape, baby. Please help me out.

Liam was standing tall behind me, wearing a casual t-shirt and black cargo pants. His both hands were in his pockets and his head titled a little towards his right. He was gritting his teeth and his eyebrow was clenching and relaxing.

As he was standing in my way, I choose to change my route and slip beside him but his strong arms blocked my way. My eyes roamed on his wrist where I saw a tattoo.

Serena Liam; it was inked on his wrist.

It aroused a sharp pain in my chest. My eyes looked away unable to look at that sight. I stopped there and he came a little closer than he already was.

"Is this what you fill in my innocent baby's mind?" He questioned, taking Oliver from my hands.

I stood there, lowering myself. I know what I said was wrong but I really didn't intend to corrupt the innocent mind of my son. I was just pouring my heart out, pretending he was listening to me.

"Shame on you." He sneered, eyeing me bitterly, scissoring my heart. "I knew how low your standards and thoughts are but I never knew you would raise my baby up by filling his innocent mind with hatred for his father."

The tears pooled up in my eyes, trying to cross the thin margins of eyes and bite the inside flesh of my cheeks to keep them in. My throat was aching as I was holding back the sobs and my eyes were turning red and I was trying hard to resist the breakout of my emotions.

"Nancy!" He shouted all of sudden, making me flinch.

Nancy didn't reply so he shouted again and I heard her hasty footsteps, coming in our direction.

She came running out of the kitchen and stood there, casting his gaze down.

"From now you will take care of Oliver." He said, giving my Oliver to Nancy. My heart pounded in my chest when he said that.

He turned to me and- "It's time for Adriana to leave." He said, looking between Oliver and me.

"Mommy!" Oliver was crying, calling me and I felt my heart would explode at any moment. He was standing there wearing a straight look on his face. He didn't even care about his little son's cries.

Is he even a human?

"Oliver, baby." I tried to walk past him to carry my Oliver but Liam's hand clutched my wrist and retrieved me back.

"Nancy! Take Oliver to his room." He growled, holding me tightly.

"Mo- moma!" Oliver hiccuped, holding his hands out for me to carry him. His sobs were scissoring my heart but Liam was standing there unmoving.

He doesn't deserve to be the father of this innocent baby. How can he not feel anything piercing his heart when his baby is crying like this? Does he even have a heart or a stone?

"He is crying! Leave me. You can't do this!" I cried, digging my nails in his fingers to free my wrist but his grip was tight enough to give me bruises.

He pulled me towards him and gripped my jaw. He leaned in so our noses were almost touching. I could see his red furious eyes and his nostrils were flaring like an angry beast.

"That's where you are wrong. He is my son and I can make the decision for his betterment. And who you care for him?" He asked, clutching my arms more tightly. His grasp was painful but I didn't care at all. My eyes were only watching Oliver now who was crying uncontrollably.

"A nanny? But you don't even deserve to be his nanny!" He spat, boiling my blood.

I have never learned to stand for my own self but now it is for the future of my Oliver. I can't leave him like this.

"I'm his mother!" I fumed, pushing him with all power that I could gather up in my limbs.

He stumbled back and shock was plastered on his face. It was totally unexpected for him. And for me too. I never felt so strong ever. And Oliver is my strength. I have only him and I can't lose that only hope; the only light in my life.

He composed himself and fisted my hairs, pulling them back. A sharp scream left my mouth but it didn't stop him. He was not in his senses. All the feelings I have had for him were fading now. The hatred was replacing love.

"His mother? Huh? You are nothing but a useless piece that fits nowhere. I can't believe I gave away my millions of dollars for a pathetic thing like you!" He gripped my jaw and then gripped my forearm, dragging me out of the lounge.

"Your place is out of my house, out of Oliver's life!" He announced, opening the door and throwing me out like a piece of trash.

"This is where you belong!" He shouted, pointing his finger at me. I stood up from the floor and looked in his eyes.

My eyes must also have turned red. My arms were bruised and my scalps were hurting. I hissed as the pain erupted my knees. I limped towards the entrance but he shut the door with a bang.

I saw the only door to the light was closing and I was helpless. My screams went unheard by him as he closed doors on my face. I felt as if I was pushed to the never-ending darkness. I was thrown away from my happiness.

I banged the door, pleading someone to open the door. The only silence stayed by my side like always. Only loneliness embraced me like a loyal friend. I never knew I would feel so broken ever again after my mother's death but today it was more painful because today a mother was kept away from the sun.

I know I didn't give him birth but it doesn't mean I don't admire him like my own. I just didn't give him birth otherwise he was my son. My life, my smile, my Oliver.

"Open the door! Please!" I pleaded but none came.

The sky became all smoky as the dark clouds of rain blocked the view. It was blood-freezing cold and I was only wearing a shirt and a sweater with jeans. No socks, no scarf, no gloves, nothing as it was warmer inside.

My limbs were turning grey due to cold and I could see my lips in the glass of the nearby window that they were looking almost black. My teeth were clattering but I didn't care. I just want to see my Oliver. I want to hold him in my arms.

My hands had no more strength to knock on the door and my voice got buried in my throat.

There was no one around. Everyone was in their shelter, preventing themselves from the rain. The heavy drops of rain began to fall down and my hands and feet almost went numb but I didn't move from my place.

My ears heard the cries of my baby and I followed the voice. It was coming from the nearby window. It was coming from the kitchen. I stood up on my feet with much difficulty and reached the window while stumbling.

I saw Oliver crying while Nancy was trying to feed him. He wasn't eating but he was crying out for me.

"Mommy!" His sob hit my heart and I punched the glass but it only hurt me. I tried anyway and Nancy saw me. She gave me a sad look and averted her eyes.

Same time, Oliver's eyes looked in my direction and he jumped in his chair, holding out his arms, calling me to carry him. I nodded my head and smiled at him so he would stop crying but he was a crying mess. His nose was running and he was getting irritated. He was pulling his hair and gritting his teeth.

The tears left my eyes and I leaned my head on the glass window crying over my helplessness.

I whimpered looking at him like this. He was an innocent baby! He doesn't deserve to go through this pain.

I saw Liam entering the kitchen. He didn't look at his son and strode towards the window and shielded it, preventing me from looking inside.

My heart drowned and now Oliver's crying face was torturing me. I slipped down on the cold floor. The rain-drenched me and my trembling body couldn't absorb more. I felt the blood-freezing inside my body. The black dots appeared in front of my eyes and I fell down, calling out for my son Oliver!