Alone
1241 Words
It was almost midnight when Dante walked into his mansion. The house was quiet. He loosened his tie and tossed his car keys on the console, and then made his way upstairs to the bedroom. His mind was still on the conversation he had with Naya earlier. He knew divorcing Elena won't be easy, because both families and Andriano were going to kill him.
The room was pitch black when he got in. He didn't notice the faint sound of someone breathing until he flicked on the light.
Elena was sitting on the edge of the bed.
Her face was pale, her eyes red and swollen. She's been crying.
“Jesus Christ,” Dante was startled. “What the hell are you doing sitting in the dark like a ghost?”
She turned to look at him. Her eyes were empty. “I was waiting for you.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “You just scared the s**t out of me. If you've lost your mind, go lose it somewhere else. I'm too tired for all your attention seeking schemes.” He dropped his briefcase on the side table and started taking off his shirt.
“You're calling me an attention seeker?” Her voice cracked. “You're still with Naya?”
The surprise on his face was unmistaken. “What are you talking about?”
She stood up, holding something in her hand, a piece of neatly folded paper. “When were you going to tell me? I've endured abuse, lies, but deceit is something I won't take lightly.”
“Do I look like I give a horse s**t about the things you tolerate and the things you don't? What on earth are you even talking about?”
She raised the birth certificate to his face. Dante froze. For a long moment, he just stood there staring at her.
“Where did you get that?”His voice was low, and dangerous.
“From your office,” she said, her voice trembling but steady. She knew Dante does not tolerate it when someone touches his personal belongings. “I saw the pictures, Dante. You, her and the baby.”
“What?”
She broke down, crying. “You have children with Naya.”
“You dumb b***h. Why did you go through my things?” The rage in his eyes sent chills down her spine. There was no remorse in his voice.
“You lying piece of s**t,” she flared up. This was the first time in ten whole years she stood up to her husband. “You and your family used me.”
He clenched his jaw. “Nobody forced you to do anything. Last time I checked, you enjoy being used.”
Something inside of her snapped. “You disgust me, your family will burn in hell.”
“Watch your mouth.”
“Why? It's not like you feel guilty for everything you and your disgusting father did to me.” She spat. “For years you both r***d me, hit me and even reduced me to nothing.”
“Enough!” He slapped her hard across the face. She landed hard on the floor.
“You know you could do better than that. You hit like a woman. It's no wonder your father controls you like a puppet. Sisi.”
That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Dante launched at her. Throwing one punch after another. She didn't try to stop him, she just laid down there, waiting to die.
And then she saw the light. White and bright. She smiled. It was all over.
Then everything went black.
………..
The Romano villa glowed like a palace that night. Laughter, music and the clinking of wine glasses filled the air. Guests moved through the grand hall in elegant gowns and tuxedos.
Ina Romano was in her element. She loved to host parties, her rehearsed smile charms the guests. Her jewels catch every light in the room. She moved from guest to guest, exchanging pleasantries and thanking them for coming.
“Oh Signora Romano, your daughter must be so lucky to have married into the Casagrande family,” a woman gushed.
Ina laughed softly. “Ah, Dante and Elena… such a beautiful couple. They are a perfect match, I mean power recognizes power.”
She didn't notice the man in a dark suit coming behind her. It was her husband’s chief security. Marco.
“Signora,” he said softly. “Forgive me for interrupting. There's been an incident, the hospital just called. It's Elena…”
Ina raised a dismissive hand. “Not now Marco, I’m hosting. Just send someone there to make sure she's okay…I'm sure she is.”
“Are you sure about that?”
She stared into his soul, “since when did you start questioning me? If it was that serious her husband would have called me himself. Now excuse me. The Casagrandes will be here soon.”
Marco hesitated, but he did as he was told. Ina turned her attention back to her son Carlos and her guests. She was already making the night all about herself, while her husband sat down with some business associates, discussing partnership.
………
The hospital room was cold, white and painfully quiet.
Elena opened her eyes to the sound of the monitor beeping beside her. The scent of antiseptic filled the room. She turned her head slowly, expecting to see someone. Maybe her mum, or even Dante.
No one was there. Just her. Alone.
When the door opened, it was only the doctor and a nurse. A middle aged man with gentle eyes and a clipboard in his hand.
“Mrs. Casagrande, I'm happy to see that you're awake.” He said softly.
“How did I get here?” She clearly doesn't remember.
“Your husband.”
She nodded. Her head was aching. “How long do I have to stay here?”
“Just overnight, for observation.” He flashed her a friendly smile. “We want to make sure you're good, and I'm sure you'll feel better before tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” She said weakly.
“I'll have the nurse check up on you every few minutes, if you need anything you can talk to her. Just rest.” He walked out of the room, the nurse followed quietly behind him.
After the doctor left, Elena couldn't stop thinking about the incident that led to her lying down in the hospital, alone with no family. That was because she had no family.
Coming to the hospital was a miracle. She looked back at the last ten years and concluded that she was better dead, than going back there.
That night, Elena Casagrande died.
………
“What do you mean you can't find her?” He raised his voice, he was visibly shaking.
“Mr. Casagrande, I thought she left with you. None of the nurses were notified when she left.”
“Are you guys joking with me? I brought my wife to this hospital myself, and you're telling me that she left the hospital without being detected? I'm going to bring this hospital down if I don't find my wife in the next twenty four hours.” He stormed out of the hospital.
He got to his car and called his father.
“Papa, I think Elena has been kidnapped.”
“What?”
- Writer
