Chapter 77

GIULIA

After a series of screaming from Edith, everything went quiet, and the phone went off. Mark seemed to have disconnected.

"She's gone," I whispered, peering up at Mary, who nodded.

"Yes, she's no more. That bitch is gone," she agreed, reaching out to hug me.

I couldn't tell what I felt at that time. It was a mixture of emotions, each swirling around until I felt nothing more but a numb sensation. I knew if this was under normal circumstances, Edith's screams of agony would have haunted me in my dreams. But I felt nothing. Not even pity.

"She won't hurt me ever again?" I asked again, this time, my gaze went to June, who was silently staring at the screen. She had said no words since it went blank, but I recognized she had so many things going through her mind.

Her eyes were red from unshed tears. I could see how much she was keeping in, the emotions she kept bottled away from everyone.

"Yes, she won't." She looked up with a smile as if she could feel my stare. "Though we didn't get to kick her in the stomach for our lost babies, I'm glad she won't hurt anyone else."

"Yes, she won't."

June was right. Even though we didn't get to hit her, Mark had done it for us. He made her feel half of the pain we went through. Losing her life was just cutting it slim for her. She wouldn't know the pain of losing a baby.

"That damned Mark!" Kristen gritted his teeth, pacing the floor. "Why have the fun alone?! He could have at least invited me to join him. Damn it!"

And right there is Kristen, who had been cursing Mark for not letting him in on the plan. It turned out he had long wanted to get his revenge on Edith. Letting her serve her time in jail was June and Mark's plan, not Kristen's. Left to him, Edith would have long been dead.

"You still got to experience it." Sighing, June closed her eyes. "I feel at peace now, knowing that bitch is no more."

"Same."

****

I was discharged a week later. During the week, Mark didn't visit. I heard from June that he was hiding in her house, too embarrassed to show his face to me. He felt I would shy away from him after seeing him in a different light. He sounded cute. Knowing he was afraid of my reactions to his dark side made me happy. It was refreshing to see a side of Mark, I haven't experienced before.

After they discharged me, he made it a life duty to avoid me. Even though he made my meals - June snitched - he avoided me like a plague. More like he was the plague, avoiding contact with me. Which was why I plotted with Mary and June, to get him alone. I needed to tell him I didn't mind seeing him that way, and to let him know I had forgiven him.

Even if there wasn't any hope of us being together, he needed to know I held no grudges for what happened.

It was noon on a Wednesday when he sneaked into the house to make lunch for me. June, who was standing watch, called Mary on the phone, alerting me of his presence, while she went into the kitchen, to assist him. Well, she was keeping an eye on him.

"I can't believe I'm on board such a plan," Mary groaned. "Mark is such a pain in the arse."

"Come on." Wriggling my eyebrows, I got up from the bed. "You don't have to pretend to despise him."

"I'm not pretending," she grumbled under her breath. "I still hate him."

"But not as much as you did before." I went over to her, grinning when she shot me a dark look, almost like she was thinking of how to dispose of my body without leaving a trace.

"I still hate him!" She hissed. "It will take more than seeing him bashing that bitch for me to forgive him. He still has a lot to do."

"I know." Laughing, I leaned forward, to place a kiss on her right cheek. "You will have all the time in the world to be pissed at him. I will even let you spank him if that will make you happy."

"Really?" She perked up at that. "I get to use my belt, right?"

"Of course. Anything for you, babe." Smirking, I linked our arms, imagining how fun it would be should she make good on her threats. It would be fun to see Mark get an old-fashioned smacking from Mary.

"That's why I love you."

Giggling like high school kids, we left my room and raced downstairs. Luckily, Mark was busy conversing with June, else he would have heard us.

Mary made a motion for me to stay back while she went into the kitchen. Because his back was to them, Mark didn't notice her giving June signs. June stepped out with Mary, and motioned for me to walk in, while keeping their steps as light as they could, to avoid alerting Mark of our presence.

With a nod at them, I walked into the kitchen. My heart thumped in my chest, the rhythm off. I gulped, wiping the invincible sweat off my forehead as I approached him.

"Help me with the dry chillies' container. It's in the third drawer. Lia loves her food spicy," he said, not realizing I was the one in the kitchen and not June.

Grinning at that, I went over to the drawer and got the container. Without saying a word, I passed it over to him.

"Thanks. Help me grab the sauce. It's in the second drawer," he requested once more.

Like the first, I got it for him, barely keeping the smile off my face. June and Mary, who were leaning by the door, seemed to be holding their laughter as they watched us.

"Thanks," he said when I dropped the sauce next to him, with his focus on the stew he was stirring. "It's funny how familiar I have become with your kitchen. I bet I know my way around it more than anyone else in this house. Don't you think?"

I didn't respond, knowing he would recognize my voice should I do so.

"June? Are you alright?" He whirled around, only to freeze when he realized who was standing behind him. "Gui… Guilia??"