Chapter 9 The Silver Tongue
THE INTENSE desire she has for Lucian was consuming her. It was hard to ignore, but harder to recognize because the prize would be her daughter's future and disappointment from the person who saved her from the fiery pit.
Scattering delicately across the room, the light was warm inside the bedroom. Lena was on the bed, lying on her stomach as she watched her daughter drawing. The way her little hands hold the crayons shows how much she likes what she's doing. She has a future, Lena just has to secure it.
"What do you think, Mama?" Angel showed her the drawing.
Lena smiled upon seeing the flower she drew. The color was precise. The strokes of the crayons were controlled. Her hands worked like magic.
"You're so good at this."
Angel giggled. "Do you think Papa will like it?"
Lena paused, feeling the sudden pain in her heart before she forced a smile and caressed her daughter's hair. "Of course. Papa loved all your drawings, right?"
"Mama, can we visit Papa's tomb? I want to give this to him."
The tightness in Lena's chest intensified. She felt suffocated as she didn't know how to answer her daughter. She has no idea where her husband was buried. She hasn't received any news from Aunt Beth, and Dan's family wouldn't tell her a thing.
"Soon..." she can only reply that way.
The crayon in Angel's hand stilled. The little girl looked at Lena with tears in her eyes. Her lips quivering. "Mama, I m-miss Papa..."
Lena inhaled sharply as she felt tears in the corners of her eyes. She hugged her daughter, so gently. "I miss him too..."
The miserable feeling lingered in Lena's heart. She knows she's not the only one hurting. Dan broke two hearts; hers and their daughters. She wanted to shout and question the Heaven for all the misfortune and ill fate. But there's no use for that. No matter how hard and loud she screams and cries, her loving husband will never come back. And the fact that she's now trapped with the controlling and ruthless Viktor Moretti is already irreversible. Plus the baggage of her lustful night with Viktor's son that haunts her every night. The situation was even more miserable now.
"Is he in Heaven, Mama?"
Lena nodded as she smiled at her daughter. "Yes."
"Good people go to Heaven, right? Does that mean grandma won't go there? She hurt you."
It was as if a heavy stone was dropped in Lena's chest. Her daughter witnessed everything. At a young age, she already saw how cruel people can be. She already witnessed evilness in the form of her grandmother.
Lena hugged her daughter again, unable to utter a single word. She doesn't even know what to do now. All she knows is she needs to stand by her decision and give Angel a good life.
Three consecutive knocks interrupted her little bonding with her daughter. Lena got off the bed and opened the door. A maid, with an unpleasant expression, was standing behind the door. It is very obvious that she doesn't like her.
"Mr. Moretti wants you in the study."
Lena nodded. "Thank you. I'll be there in a minute."
The maid looked at her from head to toe. There was a visible judgment, but Lena chose to ignore it.
"Making him wait is a grave sin in this household. Do you think you're an exception?"
Lena hid her balled fists, and looked at Angel on the bed. "Sweetie, stay here. I'll be back."
Angel just nodded, so Lena closed the door behind her and looked at the maid. "I didn't say I'm an exception. You just assumed because you know I weigh in this household."
The maid looked shocked, but Lena deliberately ignored her reaction. She turned to the hallway and made her way towards the study room. She knocked twice before entering. Viktor was sitting behind his study table, wearing reading glasses and facing his computer.
"You asked for me?"
Viktor nodded slowly. "Yes. Come here, Lena."
Lena stood beside his swivel chair. Viktor showed his computer's screen. On it was a picture of a garden wedding.
"What do you think about a garden wedding?"
Lena's heart skipped a beat as she looked at him. He was looking up at him with a charming smile, but a hint of manipulation in his eyes.
"Uhm..." Lena swallowed hard. "Isn't it too early to plan the wedding?"
He smiled once more. "The earlier, the better. Besides, I want to give you a grand wedding. Look at this dress, I think the same style would suit you. And what about roses as bouquets? It would be romantic."
Lena knows she doesn't have a say in this anymore. She lost her right to decide for herself when she agreed to marry Viktor Moretti. "Whatever you prefer."
A slight frown was pictured in Viktor's lips. "Why just me? It should be us. It's our wedding, Lena. Besides, weddings are important to women."
She doesn't like roses. She doesn't care about a beautiful dress, or a grand garden wedding. She wants to tell Viktor that all those things don't matter. Especially since she's only forcing herself to do this.
"I want to invite all my friends and some media people."
Lena trembled. She felt like she was already traumatized with multiple cameras capturing her. She held Viktor's shoulder, earning the man's attention.
"Something wrong?"
She met his eyes. "Can we...keep it simple and private?"
His forehead creased. "Why? I want to tell the world that I'm marrying a wonderful woman. A simple wedding won't do. I want it grand like you deserve."
Lena squeezed her eyes. There's nothing she could do anymore.
Slowly, she nodded. That was forced. It was never what she wanted. But who cares about what she wants? She's just a prostitute gripping on a double edge knife to survive.
Lena's skirt was crumpled in her fingers as she pressed her lips together. Surrendering.
"And oh!" Viktor happily grabbed a folder.
"What is this?" Lena was scared every time he gave her something. It would mean a deeper debt and connection.
"See for yourself." With a hand gesture, he answered.
Lena opened the folder. It was Angel's kindergarten application in an elite school. With a tuition fee over a hundred thousand.
"Viktor-"
"Saint Martin. An elite school. It's a school for all levels, and a famous school, Lena. It was also Lucian's school. It would be easy for them to get along as siblings if they share the same school."
Lena shook her head. "Viktor, this is too much. Angel can just enroll in a public school."
"And you know I won't allow that." Viktor's tone was sharp and authoritative. "I tell you this, every person I treasure will taste the feeling of being in good hands. I will lead you to a better life, and all you have to do is to follow me."
Lena was lost for words.
"And..." Viktor trailed as he smiled. "After our wedding, I'll make sure to change Angel's last name from Mendoza to Moretti. She will legally be my daughter. Isn't it great?"
Great? It's suffocating. It's like Viktor is erasing every track of her past. It's like he's changing her into a perfect woman he wants her to be.
Lena forced a smile. It's hopeless. "Thank you, Viktor."
Viktor gave her a sweet smile and pulled her by the waist, hugging her. "Of course. We'll get married soon, so we're now a family.
Family.
That word should've given her comfort, but no. It didn't. It made her feel more miserable.