Chapter 8
MONALISA
I was outraged at his sudden outburst as his luminous blue eyes glared at me.
My jaws slacked as if I were dumbfounded for a while. I pull away from the hug and crouched down to his height, caressing his hair. “I never made your mom cry. She’s just a good actress.” I ruffled his hair, making him chuckle softly, and he walked past me to meet his mother.
“Momma, is that true?” His luminous blue eyes deflected from me and veered to glance at his mother. who was trying so hard to make her tears go unnoticed in front of her child.
“You are a good dancer, not an actress.” Momma, please don’t cry anymore because it hurts in here.” He muttered, with his finger pointing at his chest.
“Your tears are gems, Momma. I love you!” He gently wrapped his little hands around her legs.
His words sank into my ears and made my eyes teary as I gazed at this 4-year-old boy, hugging his mother’s legs passionately. The love they both shared made me crave having my own child.
Candy bent over, unwrapped his hands, crouched to his height, and cupped his face with a smile on her face as she leaned over and planted a kiss on his forehead. “Why did I deserve you?” She muttered amid tears.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
“Momma, when I grow up, I will take good care of you.” His cute voice echoed around the room.
Candy quickly pulled him for a hug.
“Momma, it’s work time. You should start leaving before you get fired.” He reminded her as his lips stretched into a wide smile. He quickly ran into his room.
Candy stood up and flashed me a smile. “Are you coming with me to the club?” She asked, striding over to her couch to reset her already messed-up makeup.
I shook my head, “No. I will stay back and look over Idris. We can’t just leave him all alone at home with all those thugs around your home.” I declined, wondering how a 4-year-old boy would be alone all through the night without his mother by his side.
Surprisedly, she began chuckling out loud. “Idris has been sleeping alone all through the night for the past four years while I go do my business, so don’t worry about him. Perhaps you are new here; permit me to show you around to see the beauty of Italy. Trust me, you will love it.” She said, giving a final touch to her face.
“4 years!!!” My eyes widen in shock as I drop my jaw. Four fucking years is too much for a mother to distance herself from her child. “How did he cope with all these?” I asked, sitting down opposite her.
“Can you stop all this questioning and get dressed? I’m running late already.” She napped at me playfully. “Come, let me show you the bathroom.” She stood up and dragged me into her inner room.
“Take your bath and get down in 3 minutes.” She faked a serious expression, warning me with her eyes before walking away.
I strode into her bathroom, had a quick shower just like she instructed, and stepped out wrapped in the towel she handed me.
She quickly ran to me with my phone vibrating in her hand. “This line has been calling non-stop. Here it is, yours.” She gave it to me and walked away, humming a song.
As expected, it was “Dom boss” calling again. I switched off the phone and set it aside as I quickly applied my body lotion.
Candy strode into my room with her hands crossed under her breast, gazing at me. “Joanne! You haven’t told me why you came to Italy.” She asked, with curiosity written all over her face.
I raised my gaze in her direction, with furrowed eyebrows.
“Are you here for a job? Or are you here for a vacation? Are you pregnant and you came here to look for the father of your child?” She asked in a hurry, as she wasn’t patient enough to let me speak.
Her last words got me chuckling so hard: _Are you pregnant? Is that the reason why I came to Italy? Like seriously. _
“Are you done guessing?” If not, then continue listing what’s going on in that silly brain of yours.” I said, amid laughter, while checking out some dresses for the night.
“I just wanted to know.” She defended herself, rolling her eyes. She strode toward me and sat beside me on her bed, her gaze fixed on me as I sighed loudly.
I gaze at her softly, observing her. She looked nice, and she had a big heart. She doesn’t even know who I am, yet she accepted me into her home and introduced me to her little angel. I can’t trust anyone right now with my real identity because I can’t tell if she’s just pretending or not.
I shook my head sideways, chuckling softly. “I’m here because I need a job.” I fabricated it smoothly. finally swinging the dress I have decided to wear to the club. Suddenly, she burst into laughter, pointing at my dress with her right hand draped over her mouth.
I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering why she was laughing so hard like I had displayed a funny comedy in front of her. After staring at her for a while, still wondering, I got the hint as to why she was laughing. And it happens to be my dress. I playfully hit her on her shoulder, pouting my lips.
“You are so unbelievable, Joanne. Don’t tell me you intend to wear this dress to the club with me.” She said, snatching the dress away from me as she swung it up in the air. Eyes glaring.
I glanced at the dress once again but couldn’t find anything wrong with it. It was just a plain red dress, which had an opening from the tip down, up to my knees. That was all. simple but elegant.
I had only worn it once, not after being forced by Dominic to accompany him on a dinner date with one of his girls, which was the worst day of my life because my eyes saw real porn being displayed in front of me by Dominic and Ariel.
“There is nothing wrong with this dress, you know. I had once worn it to a dinner—”
“With your boyfriend? Come on, tell me about him. Can he hit the jackpots very well?” She quickly interrupted me, her deep hazel eyes sparkling with curiosity. Damn! This lady is one hell of a naughty fellow.
My lips stretched into a little smile. “Can we hit the club and bury all our problems, guilt, and worries?” I screamed out, ignoring her naughty questions.
Somehow, I think I needed to cool my head after all I have done. I need to quell this guilt I’m feeling in my heart. I need to forget about Phil and Ariel, whom I murdered in cold blood for my own selfish interest. I need to stop feeling all these things and focus on the bright future.
Candy stood up and tweaked her round, curvy waist sexily as she clapped her hands and danced. “Wait… let me get a sexy dress that will suit the night.” She rushed towards her wardrobe and dug up a black tight short gown. “This will look stunning on you. Trust me.” She threw the gown over to me and urged me to try it on.
I shrugged my shoulder and tried to walk to her bathroom, “Can’t you change here?” Her voice stopped me midway. I veered to stare at her with a dropped jaw as she furrowed her eyebrows and stared back at me.
“Do you have a scar on your body that you don’t want anyone to see?” Her question sinks into my stomach. Of course, she was right. My scar made me feel disgusted with my body. My scar is ugly and nothing to be proud of. It’s also an imprint and evidence of the brutality I passed through at the age of 10.
People often say that scars are evidence of your bravery, courage, and resilience. But mine was my weakness; I might look stronger and more energetic on the outside, but deep down, my heart is dead and long gone, right from the age of 10.
I had grown up to loathe and despise 10. At the age of 10, I was taken away from my parents. Because of 10, my father died right in front of my eyes despite my pleading for mercy. Because of 10, my mother was raped to death. Because of 10, my little brother was thrown from a high skyscraper.
I fucking hate 10, and I fucking hate Dominic because he will soon pay for all the traumas, distress, and pains he had caused me.