My heart was breaking. Gio's words were cutting deep, making me question if he truly cared about me. Was I so easily replaceable to him? If I were to disappear, could he replace me that easily?
My tears flowed more freely, thinking about the moments when I thought Gio and I were getting closer.
'No, Millie. You're not special to him. He sees you as someone useful but replaceable. You're no different from a tool.' I thought to myself.
My mind went blank. I couldn't decide which pain to focus on: the throbbing in my wrists from being bound, the man's rough treatment, or Gio's words.
"Come on now, don't make me wait."
The gun was pressed against me relentlessly, causing me to close my eyes and tremble with fear. If I weren't in the grip of the man, I would have collapsed from weakness by now. What I heard from Gio shook me to the core.
Gio raised his gun and pointed it at the man. "If you're not going to do it, I will." Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger, shooting me–no…the man beside me.
Feeling the weakness take over, I fell to the ground as the man holding me did the same. If Gio hadn't caught me, we both would have been on the ground.
I glanced at the man Gio had shot and noticed the bullet had struck him in the center of his forehead.
"Sir..." I recognized Dario's familiar voice. "All clear, Sir. But the woman managed to escape."
"And with so many of you outside, you let her get away?! Make sure no one from their side escapes this place, or I will hold all of you responsible!"
"Yes, Sir." Gio's men quickly left, while Gio helped me stand. Dario remained outside, watching us.
"We're sorry, Sir. We diffused the bomb, but it slipped my mind that Ma'am Millie might be their target. Two of our men were involved. We have them in custody. We will interrogate them later."
"I don't need your excuses." Gio's words were sharp, but I was too dazed to notice. "Gather information, and if they're useless, kill them. As for the woman behind this, tell Taddeo-no, Arcel-to torture her until she talks. Tell him it's my order."
Dario nodded and began relaying Gio's orders.
"The ones who were behind this were testing the waters, Sir," Dario said. "And they're not from just any low-level organization. Possibly from a major one."
"I know that."
I couldn't comprehend their conversation. My mind was a whirlwind of events and Gio's words from earlier.
"Can you walk, Millie?"
I hadn't noticed that I was already untied. I felt numb, with no sensation in my body.
Gio removed his coat and draped it over my shoulders before helping me stand again. All of his words sank in, and it occurred to me that he was okay with me being killed because he could easily replace me.
A strange feeling gripped my heart, and instead of allowing him to assist me, I pushed him away.
I looked at Gio, my face expressing fear and pain. There was no change in his expression. He stared at me coldly, as if everything happening was normal for him.
I wanted to speak, but my body trembled, and it felt like something was blocking my throat. I could only gaze at Gio, shattered by his words, "M-Mariana..."
I immediately looked for Mariana. I felt that among everyone here, Mariana was the only one I could rely on. She had always been kind to me, even though Gio often found fault with her.
Gio closed his eyes. "Call Mariana."
Dario quickly followed his order. Mariana arrived a few moments later. I approached her, and she hugged me.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry," she whispered to me.
It wasn't her fault. It was mine. I couldn't have imagined that my simple act of kindness would lead to this.
"You are already on my bad radar, Mariana. Make it three, and you'll never see the sunset again." Gio's words alarmed me, but I couldn't protest, even though I wanted to protect Mariana. I knew she was in danger again because of what happened to me. But who would have thought that I'd be kidnapped inside our own office? "Bring her to the car," Gio ordered.
All I could hear were Gio's words from earlier, echoing in my mind, which is why it kept replaying in my heart. I had forgotten that I had been kidnapped earlier.
Mariana immediately followed the order and slowly led me out of the container. I wasn't crying, but I was hurting immensely. It's that feeling of having a heavy heart, and no tears come to help. My emotions were all mixed up, and I couldn't understand what I really wanted to feel.
I want to be numb. These are the moments I wish I could be numb. I hope to be immune to pain and not care anymore.
I really thought Gio and I were okay. I thought this was the beginning for both of us. But for him, I can easily be replaced. He can replace me if he decides to kill me. He doesn't care if something happens to me. I wish he hadn't come here if that's the case.
All his concerns and care were fake. I mean nothing to Gio. He can discard me whenever he wants, whenever he sees me as useless. He married me because he needed a so-called wife, but in reality, I mean nothing to him.
Sucks to be you, Millie. You're worthless to anyone.
~*~
I'm being treated by the household staff. They wanted to call a doctor, but I told them it wasn't necessary. What I need is Dr. Meghan. I need someone to talk to and release these overwhelming emotions I've been carrying. There's something in my wounds. Besides that, there's nothing else wrong with me, at least I think. Because if in the past I could handle gaining confidence, knowing that Gio was with me, now he's also the reason everything fell apart.
I heard the door to the room open. I knew who it was without even looking. Since this morning, I haven't spoken to Gio. I even remember wanting to separate from the car that was taking us home. If only I could have a separate house too. But now, I'm living with Gio.
"If you're done assisting here, you may leave," Gio ordered the caregiver who was treating me. The caregiver politely said goodbye and left the room without a word, leaving just Gio and me inside.
I kept my gaze fixed on my hand. There were a few scratches, but it wasn't something to worry about. Compared to the wounds on both my wrists and my ankle, I was physically fine. As for my emotional and mental state, I'm not sure about that.