Helena
The next day I woke up with my face and body sore, I groaned and walked to the bathroom.
After a shower, I wore my crop top with a jacket and a pair of trouser pants.
I remembered yesterday, after Nathan left…
"What does he mean, Vincenzo?" I said, staring at Nathan's back.
"None of your business. Pick your bag and let's go home." he said calmly.
"Why would you say it's not my business? He was talking about me." I told him harshly.
"I said none of your business. Don't let me repeat myself again." he said darkly, his jaw clenched. I knew he was angry, but I had to know what they were saying about me.
"You can't keep telling me it's not my business because I heard my name mentioned." I yelled at him.
The next thing I knew, I received a terrible blow that knocked me to the ground.
Groaning in pain, I held my stinging cheek. I felt a metallic taste in my mouth as I tried to get up from the floor. Before I could stand, he grabbed my hair and pulled me up, making me cry in pain. I automatically held his hands to stop him from pulling my hair more.
"I see you still like to disobey me. What am I going to do with you, huh? When I tell you to do something, you should do it like the little slave you are, Helena."
"Let me fucking go, you bastard." I snapped at him.
"Hmm, I see my kitten has the courage to talk back to me. I think I was too soft with you. I will teach you what a bratty girl gets for disrespecting me, especially in public." he told me, huffing.
"I fucking hate you, asshole," I told him with tears in my eyes.
He pushed me to the ground again.
Gulping, I turned to see him taking his belt off.
"What are you doing?" I snapped from the ground.
"To teach you how to respect me. I want you to count, or we are starting from the beginning again," he said blankly, pulling the belt out of his trousers.
He struck me with the belt before I could reply, bringing tears to my eyes.
One!
Strike.
Two!
Three!
"Stop…"
Four!
"Stop, please…"
Five!
I was crying badly now.
Six.
"Please stop, it's too much," I said with tears in my eyes. He didn't even reply to me.
Seven!
Eight!
I accepted my fate. I'm never provoking him again.
Nine!
Ten!
He stopped, putting the belt down and bending to my level.
"I hate when you disobey me. You always bring the beast out of me," he said calmly, wrapping his arms around me as he carried me to the car and back to his mansion, and I blacked out.
Remembering it makes me feel sick, but I have to be strong to protect my father.
"What are you thinking about?" Damien asked.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I forgot I was in the kitchen washing dishes.
"Huh? Nothing," I told him nonchalantly.
"I know you're thinking about yesterday, but if you can give him a chance, you'll know he was once a good-hearted boy," he said calmly.
"What chance? It's not like I'm staying here forever. I just have to pay my dad's debt, then I'll leave," I replied, frowning angrily.
"Sir is not a devil, you know," he sighed.
"You shouldn't have provoked him," he added, and I could only glare at him.
"Of course he pays you, doesn't he? You will surely support him," I snapped angrily and continued washing the dishes.
"Sir was always happy when he was a small boy, and he loved to play. If not for sir, I would not be where I am today," he said, rendering me speechless.
"Don't judge a book by its cover. He has been lonely ever since what happened when his father did something to his mother. And his father turned him into what he has become today."
Saying that, he turned toward the door and walked away when I asked, "What happened to him?"
"That's not my story to tell. But know this sir is a good man," he said, his back toward me as if he didn't want me to see his face.
"When I was around 18 years old, I stole from a small gangster because I used to help him deliver drugs. But that week my sister fell sick. She had leukemia, and I needed to do the surgery immediately. My younger sister and I had no relatives, nor did we have money. Our parents had an accident when I turned 12 and she was 5.
I had to join the small gangster to survive with my sister.
I was desperate, but I had no choice but to steal the money. I was caught and almost killed that day. Sir had a meeting with my boss. When he saw them torturing me, maybe he asked what I did, I don't know but the boss told them to leave me.
He asked why I stole the money, and I told him about my little sister. Do you know what sir did? He gave me more than enough for her surgery and told me never to steal again. Then he asked if I could work for him.
I was happy when I saw you with him. You think it's because your father owes him that's why you are here. But you are not here because of your father's debt, it's all because he cares about you.
I don't know what relationship you two have, but with you around, he was peaceful and happy. Don't hate him without knowing him. And I saw regret in his eyes when he brought you home last night."
With that, Damien left me behind with unanswered questions.
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What do you think Helena will do now?
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