Chapter 58 Love cannot survive monsters.
CHAPTER 58
Love cannot survive monsters.
SCARLETT – POINT OF VIEW
“Love can survive monsters, Rosalina,” Mama says as she combs my hair.
I frown at her, confused, “Love can’t survive monsters.”
She chuckles and tsks. We are on her balcony. I’m seated on the ground between her spread legs while she combs my hair.
“Let me tell you a story about your father and me,” she muses, tone thick with emotion.
Even as a thirteen-year-old, I understand a lot, but I couldn’t understand why she sounds so emotional.
“I was twenty-one when I met Rafael. I knew who he was immediately when I saw him. Everyone knew Rafael Diaz. He was strong and stubborn. He fought the police often. He raged against the thugs from America. He watched over the market woman. Boys like him born into power left Mexico; they went to the foreigners' land, and some of them never returned.”
“Why did they never return, Mama? Did they die there?” I ask, trying to look at her, but she keeps my head in place as she runs the comb down my thick curls.
“Some died, but some forgot their home. You see, Rosa, I left home, too. I turned seventeen, and my parents sent me to England. I fought my Papa. I wanted to stay here, to own a restaurant, I wanted to cook as he does, and sell clothes on the side like Mama, but they said no. They wanted me to have a better life. They had saved all their pennies and finally had enough to send me to England, to live with Mom’s estranged sister.” Her tone is soft but sad.
My little heart aches for her, and I whisper, “At Seventeen?”
“Yes, carino,” she continues, “I didn’t want to go, but I had to. I was their only child. They wanted me to escape the country, but they never could, so I travelled to England and studied at Oxford. I wanted to study Art History, but knew that wouldn’t work, so I chose Medicine. I spent five years in Uni. I loved my time there, Corazon. I had fun, I worked hard, I cooked, I made friends, and life was wonderful, but my heart always drew back home, so immediately I graduated, I got on the first flight home.”
“Immediately?” I don’t bother turning around as she braids my hair into cornrows.
“Immediately, mijo. I believe in destiny, and I knew that England had nothing for me. My parents cried when they saw my certificate. They had grown older, and I was sad. I decided to stay, and I did. I ended up handling Dad’s restaurant while I looked for a job. Mom’s textile shop had died out, but I brought it back to life. In the first year, I revived their businesses, and everyone knew us.” She chuckles, brushing my hair.
“So, when did you meet Papa?” I ask.
“A year later. He came to the shop with the girl his mother wanted him to marry. We connected immediately. Sparks flew, mijo, and I knew there, and then, he was my destiny. Thankfully, there was no drama because the girl loved someone else. He let her go and started courting me. It was a dance, Rosa! He was so charming, and I knew I would die for him.”
I nudge her knee, gasping, “Don’t say that, Mama.”
“Your father is Diaz. His grandfather was a known terror who set all of Mexico on fire. People were cautious about your father. They couldn’t trust him. My papa warned me about him, said the people called him a monster, and he had blood on his hands, but I didn't care. I cleaned away the blood and held his hands. Love can survive monsters, mijo. Here we are, fifteen years later, happily married, with our greatest treasure.” She kisses my hair.
“Oh, it seems your father is back.” She smiles, and we watch the motorcade drive in.
I jump up immediately and scream, “Papa! Papa!”
Slowly, I wake up, still calling for my father.
My eyelids are heavy. The sunlight is shining bright on my face. My heart sinks as I realise it was all a dream.
There’s a knot in my throat, and my heart grows painfully heavy.
I gasp softly and sit up. I lean against the wall, eyes burning with tears.
I never wanted to leave Mexico, but I did. There’s nothing back there for me. Everything is gone. My mama is gone. They took my Papa from me. Then, they burned down my childhood.
The tears spill softly at first. My shoulders shake as I cry. Then, I remember everything. I’m here, faraway from home, and stuck with a man who wants nothing to do with me, a man I opened myself to, a man I lo –
I shake my head, get down from the bed and open the curtains wider.
I wipe my tears away. I will not be depressed today. I will not shed any more tears for Roman. I admitted what I did. I apologised for it. I explained as best as I could, but he wouldn’t listen. I’m done apologising. We have the next twenty-three months to spend together. I’ll do my job perfectly. I’ll smile at his clients and only look at him. I don’t even want my phone back.
I do my best to push away all my nerves, shove them in a deep, black hole. I shelve all my feelings and step into the shower.
There, I try my best not to cry again, but I just can’t help it.
My mom was wrong. Love could not survive monsters. Some men, some monsters have no space in their hearts for the smallest semblance of love. It is best to give that love to myself. He called me a victim last night, which is a very big insult. I am not a victim. I am a fighter. I am strong. I am stronger than him. He would never have survived what I did.
I stay under the shower and let it wash away my sadness.
Then, I get dressed and make my way downstairs. It’s Monday, so he should be gone.
However, my heart pounds hard as I walk to the living room because everyone is there, including him.
“Scarlett! You’re awake. Change of plans. You’re having brunch with Marjorie and the agents in two hours. We have to get you ready.” Elena announces.
“What? That wasn’t the plan.” I whisper, shocked, already thinking of how to make this work.
“This is the plan, and you will get ready. You’re paid to be here, paid for your services, so do as you’re told without question.” Roman snaps at me, condescending.