Cruel lie

As the dreaded words left Monet's mouth, he walked out of the room along with Marcus, like a dog he was.

And then Milton stood before me. Looking down right into my eyes, a sick smirk tugged at the edge of his lips. His clean shaved head shone under the bulb that hung right above him.

And when he took out a small shiny thing from his back pocket, a tremor ran down my spine. My heart pounded down my chest.

A shaky breath left me.

"Poor princess. About to get punished for someone else's deed. I thought your father and boyfriend loved you. That you were their weakness. But it seems like they care for their lives more than yours," he said, running his thumb on the edge of the dagger, as if checking its sharpness.

And the mocking hiss from his mouth along with the drop of blood that rolled down his thumb lit something ominous in his eyes. Those eyes that watched me closely.

Then he took a step back, cold features took the place of his smile. "But what can we do now? Boss' order, have to obey, don't I? Sorry, princess. It seems like I will have to punish you."

And after that, all I remembered was pain. And the screams of my agony.

Milton's fists over my jaw, the back of his hand on my face and the numerous small cuts and slashes he drew on my arms and legs.

I tried to hold my screams, my tears. But I failed. I showed him my weakness. The pain was unbearable.

He followed his boss' instructions duly while recording all of it. He spilled blood. Enough for darkness to consume me after a while of torture.

And the last thing that came to my mind before losing my consciousness was a face. The face of the man I loved so much. The face that was engraved in my heart for the rest of my life.

***

A conversation that sounded distant to my ears brought me back to consciousness. My eyes fluttered, but I couldn't bring myself to move even an inch or open my eyes.

"Is she alive?" a familiar voice asked. Dead, with a rough edge.

James Monet.

"Unfortunately, yes. Now I couldn't kill her without getting the sharks in our hands, could I? Maybe later," came Milton's reply.

A chuckle rang across the room. "Or you could just give her to me? I would love to take care of my nephew's queen after his unfortunate demise."

At Marcus' words, a vile rose up my throat.

Then the sound of the door being opened with a creak interrupted the conversation.

"Boss, there's a woman outside. She wants to meet you."

An unknown voice.

"Woman? Who is she?" asked Monet.

"Don't know, Boss. But she says she needs to see you. It's something about your family."

A long pause.

I could feel the silence echoing across the place.

"Bring her to me. But make sure she's clean," ordered Monet. The sudden curiosity in his tone didn't go unnoticed.

"Sure, Boss." And with that, the sound of the man's footsteps retreated along with the thud of the door being closed.

A woman?

What would someone want to talk to him about his family?

After another long pause and Milton ordering someone over the phone to keep a close eye on someone, Monet spoke again.

"Is he creating any trouble?"

"He was, but my man drugged him again. He is asleep now," replied his right hand.

"Hmm, good. Just make sure he doesn't get hurt. I don't want to create any more bad impressions in his mind for me. After all, he is my true successor. He will be taking my place after I retire."

Who was he talking about? Zion?

But why would he drug his own son?

"Anyways, is she awake yet?"

"She should be." With Milton's voice coming from beside me, a cold hand tapped my cheek.

The bruise that must have formed on my cheek from his strikes, caused a sharp pain to cut across my jaw. A whimper left my lips as I moved my head away from his touch.

As soon as I tried to open my eyes, the sudden light in my vision hit me hard, making me shut them tightly again.

"Ah, she's awake…"

The groaning of the door for the second time cut him off. The noise of someone's footsteps walking in reached my ears, followed by another one. The sound of heels clicking against the concrete floor, slow and soft.

And the pin dropping silence that spread across the ambience piqued curiosity in me.

Fluttering my eyes against the light, as soon as I looked ahead, a soft feminine gasp took my gaze towards the door.

"Sofia?"

With horror laced across her features, she stood there with her face as pale as a sheet and eyes wide that were brimming with tears. She covered her mouth with her hand as my heart skipped a beat.

Shock and surprise made me sit upright even with the unbearable pain that jolted throughout my whole body.

"M-mom?"

Her warm gaze took me in, tears rolled down her cheeks. Only then I noticed Zion standing right beside her, with a firm grip on her arm.

"What are you d-doing here?"

Not answering my question, she turned to Monet.

Several emotions swirled into her orbs; anger, hatred, helplessness and... fear. While on the other hand Monet only wore a mask of ice, displaying no emotions on his face. Though the tense shoulders and the rigid form of his said otherwise.

"What have you done to my daughter?" a firm whisper left her lips, her eyes were ablaze.

"Why are you here?" Monet asked, ignoring Mom's question.

She shook her head, holding his gaze with an audaciousness I didn't know she had. "You're still the same. Cruel and sadistic!"

"Mom! Why did you come here? Please g-go! You shouldn't be here!" The words slipped through my dried mouth, making me cough.

I let out a hiss at the agony that Milton's unforgivable dagger gave me. It hurt like a bitch.

"Mom, please go. Please, just leave… I don't want them to hurt you as well."

But for the second time, Mom didn't even turn to me. Her furious eyes were set on Monet.

A muscle of his jaw ticked as he repeated his question. "WHY ARE YOU HERE?"

"I'm here for my daughter."

At her reply, he tilted his head. His nostrils flared.

"Oh yes, I forgot, what a coward Leonardo McCommer is! He sent you to me instead of coming himself? Tsk! Tsk! What a brave man!" His lips pursed. "By the way, what gave him the idea that if he sent you here, I would release your daughter?" The evilness claimed back his facial muscles. "I don't want the same anymore I wanted years ago. My priorities have changed."

Doesn't want the same anymore he wanted years ago? What does that mean?

And I didn't understand what Mom was doing here in the first place. How could Dad allow her to come here?

"Nobody sent me here. I came here on my own. I'm here to stop you from doing another sin." She took a step forward, moving out of Zion's hold who withheld the same facial expression he got from his father in inheritance. "And trust me, hurting her would be the last thing you would want to do once you know the reason behind my arrival."

"No, you trust me, Julia," he uttered her name with a malicious distaste. "There will be nothing more satisfying for me than to finish the people he loves. His family. And you made it a lot easier for me now." A sick smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You see, till now I just had his son and daughter with me. And now, I have you too."

A tremor of fear ran down my spine.

"Leonardo McCommer's whole family is now under my generous mercy, including his precious daughter." A humorless chuckle vibrated deep in his chest, his eyes promising doom. "The precious thing I would like to break into pieces."

"You won't do such a thing!"

"And what told you so?"

"I'm saying that. Now you won't hurt your own daughter, will you?"

I could feel my heart stop beating in my chest. My breathing stopped.

W-what?

What did she just say?

Zion's eyes met mine, disbelief laced across his eyes before they turned to Mom. "What are you talking about, woman? Are you out of your mind? How can she be Dad's daughter?"

"I'm telling the truth," she replied, taking another step closer to Monet, who stood frozen in his spot. "Remember that night twenty-two years ago?" There was a quiver in her voice, her fists clenched at her sides. "Y-you were in a madness of taking me and Max back from Leo. And when you finally got a chance to get a hold on me a few years later, you took me with you."

Each word that slipped from her mouth struck me hard.

No, no, no! This can't be!

This couldn't be true!

A lump formed at my throat, my heart pounding in my chest as Monet's words rang in my mind.

'An eye for an eye, a family for a family.'

Mom and Max was the family Monet was talking about?

"Yes, I remember!" Monet let out a hiss, his eyes flashing. "I remember every fucking thing! Every betrayal, every pain you caused me for that leech!! I wanted you back even after you abandoned me, your own husband for him! But once again you left me for that man!"

His form shook with fury.

"But things are different now, my priorities have changed. I won't believe any lies you spit out of your mouth!"

"You know very well why I left! So don't you dare to accuse me of betraying!" she snapped with equal venom. "And I'm not lying. The- the night before Leo came for me, you remember that night?" Her dainty form visibly shuddered. "You were drunk when you came into my room. And then- you..."

Closing her eyes, she let out a shaky breath.

I was numb. I couldn't feel anything, even the pain, nothing. All I could think was Mom's words swirling in my head like a raging storm.

"Stop lying! We all know what's the truth! So there is no point in spitting lies!" Barking out, Zion took a threatening step towards her.

"Nothing happened that night! Do not lie, Julia! I don't remember anything that happened that night!" Monet warned, the veins of his temple stood out.

"You were too drunk to remember anything." Her watery gaze landed on me. Something flashed across her soft features that I couldn't decipher. "Look at her eyes. Do you see? They're green, just like yours."

"Mom! What are you saying? It's not possible!" My whole world was crashing down. I shook my head. "Please," I whispered. "Tell me it's a lie, please."

And in response, she just averted her eyes.

Monet's gaze snapped to me, narrowing indefinitely. "Do I look like a fool to you? Leonardo has also got the same eye color!"

She shook her head. "His isn't as green as yours. She is your daughter, James. The daughter Leo accepted as his own and loved more than his own son, just like he did to Max."

I blinked, a tear slipped down my cheek to my throat. The bitter words she spoke slowly gripped me in a vice-like grip.

"Mom? Please say it's a lie. Why are you doing this?"

Once again, she overlooked the pleading in my tone.

With a disturbing puzzled look, Monet's dead eyes swept back to me. "I- I don't believe it. You're lying!"

"Of course, she is! I'm telling you, Boss. This is all their plan! To make us a fool!" Milton hissed, his glare set on Mom. While Marcus just stood there, looking as troubled as James Monet.

"Dad, do you remember anything from that night?" asked Zion, listening to Mom and his father's conversation closely.

"No. I was drunk!"

"Then are you sure whatever she is saying is just a bluff? Nothing happened between the two of you?" His dark eyes held suspiciousness.

"I…I don't know." Throwing another glance at me, he turned to his son. "But I'm damn sure, she isn't my child!"

"How can you be so sure?" Mom queried.

And for the first time, I found James Monet staying silent. He didn't say a word.

And his not denying the fact, churned something in my stomach.

Please God, don't do this to me. Don't make my whole life a lie. My whole existence a lie.

Watching his father puzzled, Zion slowly nodded his head. "I think I have a solution for this. Let's just do a DNA test. It will clear everything out."

"There is no need for some damn tests! I'm not his freaking daughter! I'm not!" I snapped, tugging at my bindings, ignoring the piercing pain that shot through every inch of my body for the umpteenth time.

I didn't need any test. I was Leonardo McCommer's daughter, that was the truth. A psycho man like James Monet couldn't be my father. Never.

I shook my head furiously as Mom sent me a look of apology and agony.

Please no!

"Exactly, there is no need for that. I'm one and hundred percent sure that this bitch is lying!" Spit Milton.

Ignoring him, Zion turned to his father. "Dad, why not clear up the doubt rather than regretting it later? I'm not saying we should believe her. But still, if by any chance, that girl turns out to be your daughter, then... You know what I mean."

Still quiet, Monet's gaze slid back to me and lingered. His eyes were calculative.

After another pregnant silence, he said, "Alright, do the test. And bring me the results as soon as possible."

"But Boss..."

A sharp look from Monet, and Milton shut up, before he faced Mom again.

"You better be telling the truth, Julia. Because if it turns out to be another betrayal of yours… then you know better." And with that, he stormed out of the room.

Letting out a curse, Milton raised a brow at Zion. "The test will be done by our family doctor, you know that, right?"

Without answering Milton's question, throwing me a swift glance, he also followed his father's footsteps.

"M-mom?" My voice was hollow, my tone seeking answers. Suddenly all the exhaustion and suffering seemed to be crashing on me.

Please tell me this is a lie.

But before she could say anything, Milton grabbed her arm and took her out of the room, locking it behind him after Marcus followed him too. And I was again left alone, with my frustration and a silent sob that sneaked my lips.

Never have I ever felt this lost in my life. This alone, this confused. It felt like my whole life was a lie.

A cruel bloody lie!

Now my life depended on that test. And to be honest, I wanted nothing more than the test to turn out negative.

I would rather choose death than being James Monet's daughter.