Chapter Two
1317 Words
Solana’s pov
My eyes fluttered open and the first thing I felt was pain, a dull pounding headache that had me pausing to regain my balance.
The second thing… I wasn't home, nor at Raymond's house.
I sat up slowly, guiding myself as my vision adjusted to the dim lights that came from the chandelier, forcing my gaze to roam around marble floors. Antique vases. Velvet drapes. Gothic designs and figurines. The air also smelled of something rich.
Smoke? Leather? Power?
This wasn't Raymond's home. This wasn't anywhere I had ever been to.
Suddenly my breath slowed down, “Raymond.”
Memories came crashing in like a brutal tide. My Grand wedding, the gun shots, his blood on my hands. Then realization hit me.
No. No. No. No
I clutched my gown, stumbling towards the door as my heart raced like I had been running for two hours straight, the room felt choking as I took deep breaths, making my way towards the door and as I clawed at the surface.
“Help! Somebody, help me!”
Silence.
“Please,” I choked out, my voice gradually breaking into a faint whisper “Anyone…”
"Save your breath."
The deep, husky voice sent a chill down my spine and without hesitation, I turned sharply and squinted my eyes.
There, at the far end of the room was the same man with the same pair of eyes sitting comfortably on a leather chair with a small smoking pipe in-between his fingers. It was no wonder the room felt suffocating but the same went for his presence.
My tired eyes trailed down on him.
His dark hair and cold eyes, his straight nose and perfect jawline that he stroked only once as he glared back at me but then those eyes, I could feel a wave of nostalgia hit me each time I glanced at them.
I staggered back, gripping the door handle. “Why am I here?” I asked in a whisper.
He let out an air of smoke, watching me like a predator.
“You don't remember, do you?"
The question made my stomach twist, even as I felt too weak in my knees to keep myself on my feet, he simply leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.
“Your husband-to-be-”
He tried to say but then I cut in.
“He was shot, because of you… You killed him.” I could feel the pain welling up my throat, choking me as I curled my fist into a ball.
"I assumed you would be grateful since I spared you the agony of marrying someone that would use you."
His tone was calm but there was something cocky about it.
"I loved him… We were to be married..." I said but he only clicked his tongue, his lips twitching as they attempted to form a smile.
“Of course…”
He muttered in a low growl before rising from where he stood. The calm demeanor he had, how could one be so cruel?
“You monster.” I tried to take a step towards him but he didn't let me finish, instead he lifted the paper that had been lying unnoticed on the table and slid it unto the bed until it was visible enough for me to see.
“Sign this.” he said firmly.
I swallowed hard as my gaze skimmed through the paper, air escaped from my lips as I gulped hard. A contract.
My gaze flickered to the names at the top.
Horace De Marco.
Solana Castillo.
Marriage.
The air drained from my lungs as I struggled to breathe. I lifted my head slowly, the hate I had for him burning right through my eyes.
“I will never sign that," I let out.
He chuckled darkly. "Choose your words carefully."
"Choose?" I clenched my fists. "You destroyed my life. You killed the man I love. I would rather die than marry you.”
"You assume that I’m giving you a choice." I heard him click his tongue as he placed the pipe on the table and took long strides to where I stood, closing the gap between the both of us.
My heart raced and I could not tell if it was his presence or because I was standing an inch away from my husband's murderer but then he reached for my cheeks, skimming along them.
Fear and disgust coiled in my gut like a living thing, trying to rebel again.
He sighed, shaking his head.
“Tsk, tsk. Before you decide to be difficult, let’s see what your in-laws have to say about it.”
He gestured to the man I never knew was at the door. The guard came in and tapped on a tablet, turning the screen towards me and at that moment
My heart stopped.
The image before me… Raymond’s parents.
They stood on the porch, his mother clutching a small frame I realised had Raymond's picture in it while she sobbed uncontrollably. His father, a hand on her shoulder, his face painted with grief.
Then that's when I noticed it.
The red dots.
Laser sights.
The snipers were aiming at their heads, one move could kill them all.
My knees buckled and I staggered back, hands flying to my mouth to stifle a scream.
“Please,” I whispered, turning desperate eyes towards Horace. “Don’t hurt them.”
His expression remained unreadable. “That depends on you.”
I swallowed hard, my eyes shifting towards the papers.
Marriage contract, just right after I watched my husband get shot in front of me.
“No,” I said, shaking my head frantically. “I can’t.”
Horace’s eyes darkened.
He turned to the guard, “Shoot.”
A muffled command came through the earpiece worn on the guard's ear and immediately, a single gunshot rang out.
My bones weakened as I turned to the screen, Raymond’s mother collapsed to the ground, blood pooling from her shoulder.
“Mother!”
My knees gave in and I crumbled to the ground, sobbing.
Suddenly I could feel his breath fanning against my ear as he knelt beside me.
“She took you in and married you off to her son,” he murmured, voice as smooth as silk. “How ironic that she’s the one suffering now.”
My teary eyes didn't meet his.
“Please… don’t hurt them.” I whispered.
“Then sign,” he urged.
I squeezed my eyes shut, I could feel my chest burning with rage, grief, and helplessness.
I knew he was watching me, having fun seeing me slowly lose my grip.
“One.”
“Two.”
I sobbed silently.
Meanwhile he adjusted his tie and nodded towards the screen. “Shoot the-”
“I’ll sign them,” I choked out, my fingers already trembling as one of the guards handed me a fountain pen which I held on his guidance and signed.
I watched a single tear hit the floor.
He smiled, reaching out for my chin as he tilted it up. His touch awkwardly gentle.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He asked, brushing a loose strand of hair that had stuck to my face but I lifted my eyes and stared directly into his cold eyes.
“Go to hell."
On impulse I spat on his face and for a split second, I saw the shift in his expression, how quickly it turned dark and how quickly he tamed it. He pulled back.
“The maids shall be here if you need them, make sure to feel at home Mrs. de Marco."
The only last name I wanted to have was Raymond's, having him call me that made me flinch in disgust.
As he left through the door, it dawned on me, my life from now on was never going to be the same.
- Writer
