Chapter 101 Decision
ARYA’S POV
"She wasn't feeling well, sir," Claire said quickly, her voice high with fear. "We just thought some fresh air, and a proper bath would help.”
But I couldn't hear the rest of her excuse or focus on anything except Giovanni standing there, silhouetted against the light.
My body remembered before my mind caught up and suddenly all I could hear was his voice as he forced his way into me.
‘You deserve this, bitch.’
He took a step forward, reaching for me, and I cowered back, my arms flying up to protect my face, eyes squeezed shut.
A whimper escaped my throat before I could stop it.
"I wasn't going to hurt you." He whispered. "I was just-“
But he stopped. The words died in his throat and footsteps rushed down the hallway.
I opened my eyes to see Enzo first, then Maria, both of them taking in the scene.
"What's going on here?" Enzo demanded.
"It was my fault," Maria said immediately. "I suggested she needed proper care. A bath, clean clothes. She's been in that dungeon for days."
"I helped her," Claire added. "We were just trying to-“
"Enough." Giovanni's hand dropped to his side. "Both of you, stop making excuses."
I forced myself to look at him even though everything in me screamed to look away.
He was staring at me with an expression I couldn't read.
"She can have her bath," he said finally. "And stay in this room for now."
Everyone froze.
"Giovanni?" Enzo's voice was careful. "Are you sure about that?"
"I said she can stay." Giovanni turned away, his shoulders rigid. "But if she tries to leave, or if either of you help her do anything without my permission again, there will be consequences. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Maria and Claire said in unison.
Giovanni left without another word, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. Enzo followed after giving us all a warning look.
Maria and Claire immediately turned to me, their faces lighting up.
"This is good news," Maria said, squeezing my shoulder. "Maybe he's starting to forgive you."
But I couldn't respond, unable to process what had just happened.
"Let's get you cleaned up properly," Claire said gently, guiding me toward the bathroom. "You'll feel better after a bath."
I didn't argue this time.
And when she was done running the bath, I stepped towards the tub. The water was warm, almost too warm, but I sank into it gratefully.
Claire knelt beside the tub, carefully washing my hair.
"See? He's coming around," she said, working shampoo through my tangled hair. "He let you stay up here. That's progress, right? Maybe he's starting to see that you're innocent.”
I stared at the water, watching soap bubbles swirl around my body.
Should I tell him? But how? And what would his reaction be? Maybe tell me to terminate it.
"Arya?" Claire called. "Are you listening?"
"Sorry." I forced myself to focus. "Just tired."
"Of course you are. You've been through so much." She rinsed my hair gently. "But things are going to get better now. I can feel it.”
My entire body went rigid and I bit back a scream.
"Claire." My voice came out flat. "Can we not talk about Giovanni right now? Please?"
She paused, then nodded. "Of course. I'm sorry. I just want you to have hope."
The word felt foreign, like something from another language I forgot how to speak.
After the bath, Claire helped me into clean clothes. She brushed my hair until it shone, talking the whole time about mundane things.
I tried to keep up with the conversation, but my mind was elsewhere.
"Arya?" Claire touched my arm. "Talk to me. Please. I'm worried about you."
"I just need time," I said quietly. "To process everything. Can you give me that?"
She looked like she wanted to argue, but finally nodded. "Okay. But I'm right down the hall if you need anything. Promise you'll call for me?"
"I promise."
She left reluctantly, and I moved to the bed, sitting on the edge, my hands resting on my stomach.
I already pulled out the pregnancy strip from the table and stared at it with mixed feelings.
This was actually real. I was having a baby.
Jasmine's words came back to me, from what felt like a lifetime ago.
“What makes you feel alive? What would you do even if no one paid you?”
I remembered the children at the excursion and their pure joy at discovering the world.
I felt happy that day. Truly happy, for the first time in my life.
And now I had the chance to have that. Not just with other people's children, but with my own.
“Okay, Arya.” I whispered, nodding to myself.
I pulled open the dresser and placed the strip underneath the pile of books I got from Italy.
The sight of the novels made my heart clench but I pushed it away and slipped the strip inside, then closed the dresser.
“I'm going to do this.” I said. “I'm going to keep this baby.
My decision was made already and I curled my fingers into a tight fist.
But I couldn't stay here. Not in this house, with these people who hated me.
I had to find a way to escape and build a life somewhere safe. I stood, and moving quietly, I tried the door handle.
It turned.
My heart leaped. Had Claire forgotten to lock it? Or was this some kind of test?
I closed it quickly, my mind racing. This was my chance. Maybe my only chance.
But I needed to be smart about it.
I returned to the bed, lying down, forcing myself to think clearly despite the exhaustion pulling at me.
Footsteps in the hallway made me freeze. They stopped outside my door. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to sleep.
The door opened then closed softly. I kept my breathing steady, even as my heart pounded with fear.
Footsteps approached the bed, then a hand took mine. Giovanni’s familiar scent hit me and I fought against opening my eyes.
I felt him sit on the edge of the bed, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. The touch was so different from that night in the dungeon.
He sat there for a long moment, just holding my hand in the darkness.
Then he sighed, released my hand and stood. His footsteps retreated then the door opened and closed.
I waited until I was sure he was gone before opening my eyes, staring at the ceiling in the darkness.
My hand still tingled where he touched it but none of it mattered anymore.
I was taking our baby and disappearing to somewhere he would never find us.
It was the only way to survive.