ARIANA
I was about to open the door of the car to hop in and leave. But Enzo grabbed my hand from behind. I gasped as I collided with his chest. For a second, my heart went all wobbly. “What was that just now? What did you just say?” He asked me, cupping my face with both of his hands.
“Why do you care? You are the reason why I am suffering.” I growled at him angrily. He pulled my face even closer. I could taste his minty breaths mixed with coffee, in my mouth.
“I asked you something. What is going on? Tell me.” The intensity in his words, it was more of an order. He always had this power over me that made me submit to him.
“What else do you want to know? I have cancer. Not one, but two. Due to everything that I went through, my brain formed a tumor. And the second one is in my uterus. Because apparently, you so called expensive and best gynecologist failed to perform the abortion in the correct way. She didn't just take my motherhood from me. She forgot to clean up my womb thoroughly and now, I'm suffering.” I growled angrily at him.
For a moment, I could swear I saw guilt in his eyes. Along with pain and longing. “Ariana, I swear I had no idea that your mother was playing me as well. If I did, I would never have come to disturb your life again. But I think it was meant to be. I was meant to find you because you are suffering.” Enzo tried his best to make me believe that he wasn't part of that game my family played with me. But after everything he did to me, there was nothing he could do to make me believe him again.
“I don't want your help. I want to go back to where I was. And I want none of you to ever contact me.” I just wanted to get away from him, from everyone I had left behind for a reason.
The hurt look on his face made me pause. “Ariana! Please, let me help you. I know I have hurt you so much that you can never trust anyone in your life. But I just want to end your suffering. I just want you to get better. I promise, after the treatments, I will take you back myself.” He tried to use his old tricks, knowing well how easily I always fell for it.
Not anymore. I wasn't the same Ariana who used to fall for his tricks. His false promises were piled upon my baby's body. “Do you really think I would trust you? You have broken every single promise you made. What made you think I'd fall for it again?” I tried to fight him, to break free. Though, he let me go as soon as he heard me.
“Just this once. Don't believe anything I'm saying. Don't trust me again. Don't fall for my tricks. Just let me heal you. Let me cure your cancer. Then I'll take you back and never look for you again.” He was no longer pulling me closer. He was standing a foot away from me.
“I don't believe you, Enzo. I can't believe you.” I replied to him firmly.
I was about to turn around to sit into the car when he suddenly knelt in front of me. The great Enzo De Luca, the man who was the living nightmare for many, was kneeling before me. “I beg you, Ariana. My soul is already burdened with every year and heartbreak I gave you. Don't burden my soul with your pain, suffering and death as well. Let me do it for you. Let me have all your pains.” He had tears in his eyes. I had never seen him cry in the years I had spent with him. It was unusual. And for some reason, beautiful in its own twisted way.