Chapter 29: CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

MIRABELLA.

If someone had told me four months ago that I’d somehow find common ground with my husband and make my marriage work, I’d have slapped them across the face but it’s the reality.

It’s fucking real and it’s amazing.

My marriage has been running smoothly and I’ve become so happy with my life as it is. Matteo makes me extremely happy and he doesn’t even realize it.

It’s not just the sex, it’s so much more. The gifts, the after care, the kind words, the soft gaze, the forehead kisses and the sex; it’s so fucking amazing. We might lie to each other and say that our relationship is nothing more than a husband and a wife consummating their marriage but we know deep down that it has become so much more.

“Mirabella,” My personal maid—Garcia’s voice snaps me out of my fantasy world and my eyes widen at how much food I’ve consumed so far without even knowing it.

“What Garcia,” I glare at her when I see the look in her eyes. The look that says she wants to say something but doesn’t know how to. “It’s okay Garcia, you can tell me whatever.” I smile even though I feel snappy.

She thins her lips, blinking a few times before speaking, “it’s nothing serious, only that you’ve changed a lot.”

My eyebrows raise in a questioning manner, “really? How so?” I ask.

“For one, you’ve become grumpy and you eat a whole lot and you’ve become so picky. You’ve also gained weight.”

Really?

“Oh, I see. I guess I should start working out more often and I’m sorry that I’ve been stressing you out a little too much with my many demands.” I reluctantly reply and Garcia chuckles, triggering an appearance of a scowl on my face.

“It’s not about that Mirabella. You and the Don have been very active lately, yes?” A wave of embarrassment washes through me but I offer her a tight nod. “Protection? Birth control pills?”

My eyebrows crease together and I scrunch my nose at her inquisitiveness. “I’ve been on birth control but I haven’t been taking them religiously lately. Why?”

“Maybe you might be expecting.” She rushes out as I stuff my mouth with more food.

“Expecting what Garcia?” Her mouth drops open and her face contorts in confusion as she stares at me like I just asked the most stupid, unrealistic question. I furrow my brows, my face immediately morphing into that of a confused person. Garcia and I continue staring at each other, silently communicating for long minutes before it finally clicks and my mouth drops open.

“Oh! Oh! Oh my God!” I jump down from the kitchen stool with a squeal. “I’ll go and check but make sure this stays between us until I’m certain. Hmm?” She nods at me with an ear to ear grin as I rush out of the kitchen and upstairs.

***

I’ve been in the bathroom since early this afternoon when I found out about my pregnancy and there hasn’t been any thoughts that haven’t crossed my mind but my biggest fear is how to tell Matteo, a man who hates the idea of commitment that he’s about to have a child with a woman he just fucks.

I’m certainly afraid that he’d not love my body anymore, I’m afraid the one thing I have on him is about to be stripped from me and I loathe it.

A part of me is ecstatic, a part of me fears that I’d be the shittiest mother and the other part fears that this pregnancy is a curse that’d separate me from Matteo.

My head is fucked up, more so in realization that I love Matteo. I’ve fallen in love with him and I’ve fallen so deep that I’m unable to climb back up. “How do I tell him about my feelings?” I ask myself as I sniffle.

Minutes later and I hear a shuffling sound in the room. I hurriedly wash my face, adjusting my tank top and leggings, immediately wearing a big smile on my face as I make my way out of the bathroom.

“Hello Don,” I tease as I roll my bottom lip between my teeth and Matteo hums, “hi princess. Come here.” His voice comes out strained as he interlocks our fingers, pulling me flush at top his laps, gaining a giggle from me.

“You look awfully tired,” I pout as I relax into his gentle touch.

“I am but I feel very energetic and better now that I’m here with you.” My lips form into an ‘o’ when he begins ravishing my skin with his lips. Biting and licking my neck.

“Matteo?”

“Yes princess?”

“Can we talk?”

He grumbles. “It can wait. I need you desperately.”

“I’d rather we talk now.” I retort and Matteo stops his actions. “Princess please,” he grumbles even more. “Whatever it is can wait an hour,” he playfully pecks my cheek, “or two,” another peck on my cheek, gaining a giggle from me. “Perhaps three, hmm?”

“Now. It has to be now.” I keep my voice calm and collected.

Matteo hums, muttering, “I’m all ears princess, What is it that you want to speak of so urgently?”

“Promise not to get mad,” Matteo hums at my request and quirks an eyebrow at me, nudging me to speak. I bite down on my bottom lip and fixate my gaze on my laps. “Well the thing is uhm. . .the thing is. . .I. . .I might–”

Matteo cuts me off with a chuckle, “what? Don’t tell me you’re about to confess your feelings for me.”

I laugh a little too loud in an attempt to ease the tension as I ask, “what if I am?”

Matteo’s brows furrow, “then you must be insane.” He seethes. “We talked about this before, no fucking feelings so tell me why you’re suddenly allowing your emotions get the best of you?”

Wow.

Asshole.

“Don’t get all mouthy with me tough guy, I wasn’t going to talk about that but even if I did, it wouldn’t be as bad as you’re making it seem.”

“But it is bad!” Matteo’s voice thunders and I flinch. “You have to be a fool to believe that something other than physical attraction could exist between us. You’re nothing but my thing for pleasure, a place to ease my stress, my fucking whore for the taking. Do you understand? Don’t get ahead of yourself Mirabella.”

Bile rises in my throat and I get off his laps with immediate effect. My eyes brim with tears—blame it on the pregnancy. “You’ll not speak to me in that manner Matteo!” I yell out as my tears drip down my face. “I’m your wife and not your whore. I am human, not a thing and definitely not a thing for any one’s pleasure!”

We both glare at each other as I cry quietly, “and I wasn’t going to talk about whatever feelings you think I have for you, but since you’ve ruined it all, I need you to leave my room! Now!”

“Mirabella!” He growls, “you will not speak to me in that tone just because I kiss your pussy and call you by pet names! I am still the same Matteo, the one you feared so much just a few months ago and believe me when I say that nothing has changed, do not push me.”

“Or what! Do you think there’s anything you could do to me now that’d surpass all that I’ve been through? Fucking leave my room!”

“This is my house and this is my room too, if anyone should leave then it should be you.” Matteo retorts in a voice so calm and cold.

“Fine,” I grit through my teeth and storm out.

***

I hadn’t realized how large the estate’s garden was until now. Well, after that intense argument with Matteo, I decided to take a walk around the garden for a few minutes and unwind with the help of nature but a few minutes will almost become an hour and I’m still in awe at the size of the extremely beautiful garden.

“Mirabella?” I startle on hearing my name and whip my head around, a smile and a calming breath immediately replacing my fear when I find my father in law seated in a corner.

“Papá, whatever are you doing out here?” I walk over to where he’s seated, taking a sit on the next available chair with a sigh of relief.

Father studies my face for a few minutes, “I’d ask you the same question but seeing the look on your face, I don’t need to be told that my son has been bothering you.”

I chuckle shyly, “bothering is an understatement father but I’d rather we talk about other things. We can start by hearing about your day.” I smile at him politely but almost tear up immediately because this reminds me so much of the monster my father is.

“I believe we should talk about you first, Mirabella. How are you? How’s Matteo treating you? Are you happy?”

His questions throw me off guard because I never would have guessed that anyone would show concern about my relationship with Matteo. “I’m absolutely happy father and Matteo, well he’s Matteo.” I laugh at my answer.

“That’s an interesting answer figlia. I’d like to officially apologize for Matteo’s previous behavior with you, he had no right putting his hands on you in the manner he did but Matteo is well. . . he’s a very disturbed man but I will be lying if I said that I’m not surprised by the recent changes. Thank you so much for being so patient with him. And I’d love to ask that you don’t give up on him. I know that he sometimes spirals out of control and I know it seems as though he has no feelings but my son has a lot on his shoulders and he sometimes forgets to be human; I hope you understand.”

Now I’m speechless and emotional seeing how Matteo’s father cares for him. “I understand you father but these things go both ways. I cannot be there for Matteo if he doesn’t want me to be there for him and you know best that I cannot force him. He has to choose me if he wants me to choose him.”

I hope I said the right thing.

Father offers me a somewhat apologetic smile and a tight nod. “I understand your point perfectly. So? Does he know that you’re pregnant?” I choke on my spit and subtly slam my fist against my chest.

This is embarrassing.

“How did you know?”

“You forget that I’m a doctor. I’ve been watching you lately. Congratulations Mirabella, you’ve made me so happy and for that reason, I want you to name whatever it is you want and it’ll be yours.”

I throw my head back in a low laughter. “For starters, I’d appreciate it if Matteo heard the news directly from me, so I’d ask you to keep this between us? Our own little secret?”

“Done!” Father declares and I chuckle amusingly.

“What else might our princess want?”

Princess? Matteo calls me that a lot. I guess like father, like son.

“This princess craves something sweet.” I pout and father jumps to his feet.

“You don’t have to say it twice, you wait here and I’ll go grab you some snacks.”

“Oh no father! I was kidding. Don’t bother about it.”

“Nonsense, I’m not about to starve my grandchild.” He affirms as he walks away from me. “And Mirabella?” Father turns around, looking at me with all seriousness. “Make sure not to go anywhere else, it’s very unsafe especially in this part of the estate; just make sure you stay where you are until I return.” I nod my answer.

***

Few minutes after father left and my ears pick up on hushed whispers by a far corner. “Hello?” I begin approaching the part where the voices came from but there’s no answer.

I ignore my head voice screaming at me not to go any further and continue taking calculated steps forward until I find about four men standing in a corner and making an exchange.

I’d run but one of the men seems familiar and that relaxes me. “Lex? What are you doing out here?” His eyes widen and he gulps down on nothing, causing my brows to furrow at his sudden discomfort on seeing me.

“What are you doing here ma’am? How do you recognize me?” His voice comes off nervous and I chuckle.

“I’ve seen you around the house many times, especially with Pablo. Pablo speaks highly of you a whole lot.”

The sudden silence that ensues sends cold shivers down my spine. I see fear in Lex’s eyes but in the other men’s eyes, I see danger. “You should not have come out here,” Lex’s voice comes out in a monotone and his demeanor immediately changes to something so dark and mysterious.

I gasp aloud when one of the men pulls his gun out of his waistband.

He begins motioning toward me and I’m immediately aware that I made a mistake by wandering into this part of the garden even after father had warned me to stay put. The look in their eyes spits fire and they’re four of them who look very ready to destroy me.

I gulp down the lump in my throat and spin around on my heels with hopes to make a run for it but little did I know that three more men had taken their stance behind me.

Seven men.

Jesus.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” One of the men roars in my face and I take backward steps. As though he senses that I’m about to scream, his fist immediately collides with my face and not even a second later, something comes around my mouth from behind muffling all my screams.

My eyes water uncontrollably and I know the men are aware that I’m pleading with them. Despite knowing that I have very slim chances of making it out of their midst, I still attempt making a run for it, which is a mistake because one of the men plunges his fist right into my eye and that blurs my vision.

My tears blur my eyes and I stumble backwards, and backwards as I try to hold my stance but I’m unable to hold my ground anymore and I give up, crashing ass first to the ground.

I shudder and whimper as I curl myself into a ball.

“So this is the Don’s wife?” The one I suppose is their leader directs his question to Lex and by the smirk that appears on the man’s face, I believe Lex affirmed it to be true.

I’m pulled up and held strong and steady by both arms, and before I can decipher what is about to happen, a fist rams into my face over and over again.

“Please. . .” I murmur as more tears spew from my eyes.

Then a fist rams into my stomach and I scream at top of my lungs even though my scream is muffled by the cloth covering my mouth. Like a mother, I become possessed by the urgent need to protect my child and kick one of the men holding me hard against his balls.

My action catches him off guard and his grip on my arm is released. I take advantage of the opportunity, pulling down the cloth covering my mouth. “Somebody help me! Help!” I scream as loud as I could never fathom.

“You think you can scream?” The man in front of me expands his palm and slaps me so hard across the face with a force that plunges me right into the ground. “Get her up! Let us see how high her voice can go!” He roars and the other men obey.

His fist rams into my stomach again. “No please. . .Help me!” The words slip out of my lips and the man clicks his tongue as though his patience has run out with me, immediately ramming his fist into my throat and I crash to the ground again as I choke and strain for air.

My eyes almost pop out of its sockets, the veins in my neck popping out painfully as I clutch and claw at my neck.

“Get her up! She wants to scream? Let her scream!” The man roars again and I shake my head ‘no’ as tears spew uncontrollably from my eyes.

They pull me up and this time instead of hitting me, the man’s hand connects the hem of my tank top. Just one tug and he rips it apart, leaving my breasts out in the open.

My arms instinctively go around me and the men burst out laughing. “So this is why that greedy bastard has kept you hidden, hmm? Enjoying all of this by himself? Wow,” the man blows out a breath as his fingers forcefully tug at the waist band of my leggings, ripping it to shreds.

“What are you doing? Please no! Matteo! Papá! Someone!” The sharp edge of a knife connects my throat immediately and not a second later, my blood begins seeping out. A strained whimper escapes my throat.

“You make another sound and I’ll truly slit your throat you fucking bitch.” The man seethes.

I gulp down and whisper, “please,” as tears brim my eyes. Another fist to my stomach and I crash to the ground with a certain feeling of pain settling in my core, causing me to grunt as I roll around the ground.

My vision blurs and I continue blinking rapidly but my body jerks awake when I feel a liquid dripping down my face. I manage to look up only to find one of the men peeing on me and a few more of them stroking their dicks as they stare down at my naked body.

My body involuntarily moves backwards, “what are you doing? Please don’t. Lex! Stop them please.” I plead and go on all fours in attempt to crawl my way out.

The men don’t move a muscle until I stand on my feet. One of them charges at me full force and before I can stumble, his dagger is plunged right into my stomach. He pulls it all the way out, plunging it right back in and my body gives out on me.

I stumble backwards a few times before the underside the man’s boot rams into my stomach, causing an immense pain to surge through me.

“Please,” I finally lose my voice and this time, I’m begging them in a whisper. Both my hands clutching my abdomen tightly. I’m so focused on the pain and the thought of my growing baby that I don’t realize when one of them goes between my thighs and rams his dick into me.

Pain.

Sorrow.

Heartbreak.

Disgust.

Every dreaded emotion surges through me. I’m a disappointment, I fought against this all my life only to be caught up in it.

“No. . .no. . .no. . .please.” My voice comes out cracked and I will my body to move but a knife comes at my throat again, forcing me to stay still and just take it; whatever they’re willing to give to me.

The men wanking above my head groan in unison and their semen begins oozing out of them, settling on my face and cleavage. I shut my eyes tightly and thin my lips as I sob from my heart.

“How strong is your will to live?” The man fucking me groans and plunges his dagger right into me without pulling it out. As if my scream of pain is a form of pleasure to him, he spills inside me and pulls out.

I will my weak arms to move and I begin clawing at the man’s face. “Please help me.” I murmur.

“It’s not happening,” a hysteria laugh wracks through me.

“I’m okay. . .”

“I’m okay. . .”

“It’ll pass. . .”

“I know I’m okay. . .I’ll wake up and see that this never happened.”

And just like that, the second man rams into me and begins fucking me like an animal while I bleed out from every cut and every stab they’ve dealt me. “Show us your will to live.” Comes his strained voice as he pulls out the dagger that was plunged into me, immediately plunging it right back in.

I scream but my voice comes out low pitched.

And like a ritual, the third man follows the same procedure.

And the fourth.

And the fifth.

And the sixth until all seven of them has their way with me, each time stabbing me. Right now, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been stabbed and the dampness between my legs goes beyond semen. I know it is blood and I can only wish that I’m not losing my child.

It cannot be my baby.

I just found out about it a few hours ago; there’s no way it’ll be ripped from me in this manner.

But I can only wish.

When they’ve all had their turns with me, I will myself and go on all fours as I groan and whimper in pain. I try to crawl but my body is unmoving.

One of the men whistles and declares, “I didn’t realize that ass looked this good.” I feel a strong hold on my hips by the time his statement is done. Finally, a loud scream escapes my throat when he rams into my anal from behind.

This time I’m ignoring the pain and screaming so loud, causing on of the men to plunge his dick right into my mouth as he screams, “shut the fuck up!”

All seven of them once again take turns fucking my ass and my mouth until they’re satisfied.

And that’s when arguments ensue amongst them. They only now realize how badly they’ve fucked up and they argue on whether to keep me alive or kill me. They finally settle for the latter and one of them begins stabbing me over and over again.

My body is unable to move and I’m unable to see a thing. I fight with my consciousness but from the look of things, it has abandoned me already.

My ears pick up on heavy footsteps and then what seems like gunshots. A body thuds to the ground beside me and another body follows suit.

I see nothing, I feel nothing but my sense of hearing is still functioning in the slightest bit. I hear dogs barking and people screaming.

I try to scream for Matteo but my mouth doesn’t move. My view blurs even more and my hands go limp and so do my legs.

But I hear him screaming, “don’t fucking look at her! Turn around all of you! Nobody will look at her!” And my soul finally leaves me with the darkness.