Chapter 51 51. Never Yours!
Saintilia’s POV
Their intimate encounter, which I had observed through the window, now took on a new and disturbing meaning. The way Tina had degraded herself for him, the way she had pleaded for his attention; it was not just an affair. It was a transaction. She had been securing her place, ensuring her reward for delivering me to him.
It was as if their actions had been part of a larger, more sinister plan, one that now entangled me in its web of deceit and betrayal. I had been the prize all along. The realization hit me with the force of a physical blow. Perhaps Tina and I weren’t at all related; I was currency. And I had been exchanged.
The silence of the room was shattered by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching from outside the door. I tensed, pulling against the ropes that bound me, my heart hammering violently against my ribs.
A cold determination settled over me, steeling my nerves for what was to come. The defiance in my heart hardened into something sharp and solid, a weapon I would wield with every breath.
If they thought I would break easily, they were wrong. I would fight with everything I had. I would survive this nightmare. And one day, I would make them pay for every indignity they had forced upon me.
I struggled to keep the tears from crawling out of my eyes. Though helpless, I refused to show my vulnerability to this man. The reality of my terrifying predicament became clear. He had captured my body, but he would never occupy my spirit.
The situation left me heartbroken. It was difficult to come to terms with the fact that none of these unfortunate circumstances would have materialized without Tina's involvement. This added another layer of complexity to the emotions I was experiencing, and a mix of betrayal, anger, and profound sadness.
The door creaked open, and Emilio stepped inside, closing it firmly behind him. He moved with a casual confidence that made my skin crawl. I didn’t know much about this man and couldn’t tell whether I was still in the village. This was his place, his domain, and I was merely an object he had placed within it. His eyes swept over me, lingering on my exposed body with a possession that made me feel filthy.
"You are awake," he said, his voice flat. "Good. We have much to discuss."
"Discuss?" I let out a bitter laugh. "There is nothing to discuss. You have made your intentions clear."
Emilio approached the bed, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. He sat on the edge of the mattress, the weight of his body causing it to dip. I flinched instinctively, pulling against the ropes that bound me.
"Don't flinch," he said, reaching out to brush his fingers through my pubic hair. His touch was possessive, degrading. "You belong to me now. There is no need for fear."
"No matter what you do to me, I will never be yours," I spat, my voice trembling with a mix of rage and despair. "This body you claim is nothing. Someone else already had it. You are nothing to me, just another savage taking what he cannot earn."
A flicker of anger crossed Emilio's face, and he leaned in closer, his breath hot on my skin. "That dirty mouth of yours will get you a beating," he growled, his voice low and threatening.
"Go ahead. Beat me. It will not change what you are," I retorted, my words laced with venom. "You are a filthy man. Don't think I don't know about you and Tina. Both of you make me sick."
Emilio paused, his expression shifting. A smug smirk played on his lips. "Oh, you know about me and Tina. So what?"
He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled, attempting to cause me as much pain as possible. I winced but refused to give him the satisfaction of a cry. I would not bite.
"What did you offer her to betray me like this?" I demanded, my voice rising with each word. "I am her niece. Her family. How could she do this?"
Emilio chuckled, a sound that sent shivers through me. "You are too naïve, Saintilia. She is not your aunt. She never was."
His words struck me like a physical blow. "What do you mean?"
"She simply wanted your house, your land, everything Jonas left behind. I just made it easier for her to get rid of you." His tone was mocking, condescending. "You were in the way. A burden she no longer wished to carry."
The revelation settled in my chest like a stone. All those years, all those moments I thought were genuine, so they were lies. Tina had never cared for me. I had been a convenience, an obstacle to be removed when I became inconvenient.
"Well, I hope she is happy," I shot back, my voice hollow. "Tell her I wish her lots of luck, because Jonas worked hard for it. I hope it brings her everything she deserves."
I mentioned Jonas with deliberate intent, and I saw a subtle change in Emilio's expression; a flicker of something unreadable. But it was there for only a moment before his mask of indifference returned.
"What did I ever do to you to deserve such treatment?" I asked, my voice breaking despite my best efforts to maintain composure. "Why me? Why this?"
Emilio ignored me, his silence a cruel and effective weapon. He stood from the bed and walked toward the window, his back to me.
"You are a coward," I shouted, desperation and rage rising. "Why am I here? What do you want from me?"
Emilio turned, his eyes cold. In two swift strides, he was back at the bed. His grip found my jaw, his fingers digging into my flesh as he forced my face toward his. I felt the taste of blood in my mouth, a bitter reminder of my powerlessness.
"You are here," he said slowly, each word deliberate, "because I wanted you. And what I want, I take. You would do well to learn that lesson quickly."
He released my jaw with a shove, and my head fell back against the rough pillow. But I refused to be silenced. I refused to let him see the fear and pain that raged within me. I would not give him that satisfaction.
"Take what you want," I whispered, my eyes meeting his with a defiance I did not know I possessed. "But know this, you will never have my spirit. You will never have my soul. And one day, you will pay for every evil you have done."
Emilio stared at me, and I saw something shift in his gaze. Anger, yes. But also something else. Something that looked almost like grudging respect.
"We shall see," he said quietly. Then he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone once more with my thoughts and so I thought.
The heavy door creaked open again, and Emilio returned, this time carrying a small clay cup in one hand and a bundle of fabric in the other.
Continue..........