Laura's POV
"Where do you think you are coming back from by this time of the night?" Santos said as he stared at me with bulging, anger-filled eyes. Fear consumed me. This wasn't the first time he had erupted in rage without any valid reason. These outbursts had become increasingly frequent over the past few weeks.
"I went for a photoshoot... I... I didn't realize it would take this long," I stammered nervously.
"What do you mean you didn't know it would take this long?" he shouted, his voice laced with fury.
"How many times have I told you not to come back to this house after 8 pm?" He advanced towards me, and I instinctively moved back, recalling the painful slap I had received the last time I stood my ground.
"Santos, please let's not do this tonight," I cried, my voice pleading. "I'm sorry, it won't happen again." My body trembled visibly; I had endured an exhausting and terrible day. Standing for hours had left my legs numb, and all I wanted was to come home and rest. I never expected to return to such a hostile environment.
"What did you just say?" he growled, taking longer strides toward me. I continued retreating, desperately attempting to put some distance between us. He grabbed my arm, forcefully shoving me into the nearby cushion. Anger burned fiercely in his eyes; he resembled a predator ready to pounce on its prey.
"Please, babe, I'm sorry," I whispered, trying to soften his demeanor with gentle words. However, my efforts were in vain, as I received a scorching slap across my face.
"Shut your mouth! One more word and I'll beat you to a pulp, and nobody will do a thing about it," he threatened. I remained silent, clutching my stinging cheek.
"Get in that kitchen and sort out my bloody meal this instant!" he commanded, his voice laced with dominance. I rose from the cushion, making my way to the kitchen. Tears I had held back cascaded down my face. I had grown tired of this toxic relationship; I was utterly fed up. It was hard to believe that there was a time when I genuinely cared for Santos.
Our paths had crossed three years ago when I was struggling, with nothing to my name. My mother fell ill, and I had nowhere to turn. Desperate for money to pay the hospital bills, Santos, who was merely a friend at the time, had offered his assistance. He covered the bills and even sponsored my enrollment in a modeling academy. He had seemed like a savior then, someone impossible not to love.
As time passed, our relationship blossomed. Months after agreeing to be his girlfriend, Santos's attitude changed drastically. He began drinking excessively, smoking, and pursuing other women relentlessly. I had tried to end things multiple times, but he always resorted to threats and violence. However, this time, I had reached my breaking point. Enough was enough! As I prepared his meal, I pondered my next course of action.
After finishing the meal, I went and called him.
"Your food is served", I said with an indifferent voice.
He went to the dining, acting as if nothing had happened.
"Come and join me, you don't expect me to eat alone, do you?", he said with raised eyebrows. I was disgusted but I tried not to let it show on my face. I didn't want us to have another episode of banter tonight, one was enough.
"I am not hungry", I said, trying to sound as calm as I could.
"Well suit yourself", he focused on his food and ate with delight. I went into the bathroom, I needed to take a warm bath, and I needed to think of what my next line of action would be. I called my best friend, Sonia, on my phone.
"Sonia, I'm exhausted," I said, my voice trembling, tears welling in my eyes.
"What's wrong, honey?" Sonia inquired, sensing my distress.
"Talk to me!" She said as my sobs intensified.
"Laura, I'm coming over right now if you don't tell me what's happening," she declared, her words jolting me back to reality.
"No, please don't come," I pleaded, desperately trying to dissuade Sonia from intervening. "It will only make things worse."
"Tell me what's going on," she persisted, her voice filled with concern and determination.
"Santos hit me," I choked out, my tears stifled but my voice heavy with pain. "I came home just five minutes late, and we fought. He hit me again, Sonia."
Anger laced her response as she exclaimed, "I've told you time and again to leave that man. He doesn't own you, Laura. You need to leave him!"
I felt trapped, conflict between the knowledge that Sonia was right and the overwhelming fear of what awaited me beyond this abusive relationship.
"Where would I go? I have nowhere to go. I can't burden my mom again," I confessed, my confusion evident.
"Come to my place," Sonia offered without hesitation, her voice filled with unwavering support. "Come and stay with me for a few days until you figure things out."
Sonia had been my best friend since childhood, our lives intertwined since the early days. We were inseparable, always looking out for each other. From the beginning, she sensed the danger in my relationship with Santos and warned me against it. Now, all her concerns had come to fruition.
"What do you say?" she inquired, interrupting my racing thoughts.
"Let's do it, I am coming over tonight," I declared, determination replacing the fear that had held me captive for so long.
"Good. I'll be waiting," she reassured me, her voice filled with compassion and resolve. With that, she ended the call, leaving me with a newfound sense of strength.
Now, I have work to do. I needed to gather my belongings and leave tonight. I couldn't spend one more night in the clutches of this monster. Wrapping a towel around my body, I left the bathroom and found Santos standing in the doorway, wearing a disturbingly contented smile.
My heart raced as questions flooded my mind. What did he want? Why was he smiling at me? Refusing to reciprocate his smile, I looked away and attempted to pass by him, but he grabbed my hand and whispered seductively into my ear, "I want you."
Panic surged within me. This couldn't be happening. I had plans, and a determination to escape this torment. Desperate to find an excuse, anything to make him leave me alone for just one night, I uttered, "I'm so tired, babe. I can't give you what you want. I need to rest."
He didn't listen. Instead, he tightened his grip on my hand, his gaze piercing into mine.
"You will give me what I want whenever I want it!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with possessiveness.
With a forceful tug, he pulled me onto the bed, causing my towel to loosen, leaving my body exposed. He quickly undressed himself, positioning himself on top of me. He began his attempts to pleasure me, but I was indifferent, detached from the moment. He was no longer the man I had once loved.
When it was finally over, a wave of relief washed over me. Santos quickly drifted into sleep beside me, completely unaware of the fire ignited within me. I seized the opportunity, quietly rising from the bed and dressing myself. Gathering a few essential belongings, I crept out of the room without glancing back.
I was finally leaving him. A profound sense of liberation flooded my being as I reached the front door. But as I opened it, my excitement turned to dread.
Someone stood in front of me, and the mere sight sent chills down my spine.
Laura's POVMy voice remained trapped in my throat as I stood in the dimly lit room, unable to discern the stranger's face. Confusion and fear coursed through me, torn between fleeing from Santos and this unknown figure who had suddenly appeared.In a gentle, reassuring tone, the stranger broke the silence, reaching out his hands to calm my racing heart. "Don't panic, Laura," he said, his words carrying a semblance of safety. "It's me, Mark. Sonia sent me."Relief washed over me like a soothing wave as I whispered, "Oh, thank God." Mark took my small briefcase and guided me to his car, the weight of uncertainty slowly lifting from my shoulders. We drove in silence, eventually arriving at Sonia's apartment.The door swung open, revealing Sonia's warm embrace as she enveloped me in her arms. Her voice overflowed with genuine concern as she assured me, "It's fine now, love, it's fine." Gratefulness welled up within me as I thanked her for sheltering me, but she quickly interrupted, dismi
Laura's POVI observed the source of the blood, it was from Nicholas. He had been injured by a bullet grazing his shoulder while bravely trying to save me. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks—Nicholas Brandson had been shot because of me! But was I truly responsible? Nicholas, being a deadly Mafia Lord, surely had a long list of enemies seeking to harm him. I was just an innocent victim caught in the crossfire.However, doubts began to creep into my mind. What if I wasn't mistaken about the lurking shadow in the darkness? Could the hairs on the back of my neck, standing on end since I left Sonia's house, have been warning me of imminent danger? My thoughts raced like wildfire, consumed by uncertainty.Bodyguards flooded into the room from every corner, some giving chase to the serial killer. I held tightly onto Nicholas' hand, panic filling my voice as I screamed,"Someone please call an ambulance," I screamed"."I won't be needing an ambulance Laura", Nicholas said, trying to
Laura's POVNicholas took the lead, with his bodyguards spreading out around us, their torch lights illuminating the area, prepared for any potential threats. We followed closely behind, our footsteps muted in the darkness as we heightened our senses.Upon entering the house, a chilling atmosphere filled the air, enveloping us in an eerie silence. The absence of any signs of life sent shivers down my spine, and the tension in the air was palpable as if the very walls held secrets.We cleared the downstairs area and now needed to check the three rooms upstairs. Ascending the stairs, we diligently searched the first two rooms, only to find them empty. Finally, we reached the last room at the end of the hallway. The door was slightly ajar, allowing a sliver of light to filter through.Holding our breath, we pushed the door open, revealing a scene that left us utterly stunned.The room appeared as though it had been ransacked, with furniture overturned and belongings scattered haphazardly
Nicholas' POV My phone rang, and I immediately recognized Carlos's voice on the other end, informing me that Santos had been captured. The urgency of the situation compelled me to leave the company of the ladies without hesitation. As I turned to go, I couldn't ignore the pleading look in Laura's eyes. She begged me not to harm Santos, and it tore at my heart. Despite everything he had done, she still cared about that despicable man, someone who had quite possibly attempted to assassinate her the previous night. I held on to a glimmer of hope, desperately wishing that he was innocent. But if he turned out to be guilty, I vowed to deliver swift justice and bring back his head as a grim testament to his crimes. Within minutes, I arrived at the basement where Santos was being held captive. Two of my trusted men stood guard outside, ensuring no escape or interference. "Where is that wretched man?" I demanded to know. "He is inside, securely bound with ropes on his hands and legs," Nae
Laura's POVAfter pondering for a while, I responded, "I can't think of anyone, honestly."He looked at me intently and urged, "Think harder, Laura. Anyone who may have felt offended by your actions, no matter how insignificant you believe it to be. Just give me a name to work with."As I ransacked my memory, I replied, "I really can't recall anyone. Maybe it's Charles, my manager? But I highly doubt it. He doesn't have the audacity," I said, trying to reassure myself, but confusion flickered in my eyes."No, it can't be him," I continued, attempting to dismiss the thought. "There's no motive. It must be a misunderstanding. We had a disagreement at the studio when I questioned him about my late monthly payment.""Why do you think your manager would want you dead?" he asked, his expression serious."I have no substantial reason to think that way," I replied. "It's just my own misinterpretation. Charles isn't capable of something like that. It's not in his nature.""You never know," he
Laura's POVMy face burned with humiliation as I delivered a resounding slap across his cheek, my anger fueling. How dare he? How dare he reduce me to a mere object, a plaything to be discarded at his whim? "Wow, Laura, you were warned," my thoughts raged like a wildfire. "Why did you have to wear this provocative dress tonight? Why did you give him the impression that you desired him? You got what you deserved, acting like a cheap girl and being treated as one."In a fury, I stormed back to our room and found Sonia sitting on the bed, awaiting my return."What happened? Why are you back so early?" she inquired, concern etched on her face."Nothing," I muttered, avoiding her gaze. "Were you expecting something to happen?" I asked, my words laced with anger as I headed straight for the bathroom. I desperately scrubbed away any remnants of his scent that clung to me, hoping to rid myself of the lingering disgust. What was I thinking? That a romantic relationship could blossom between a
Laura's POVThe following day started with me waking up unusually late, and Nicholas was still nowhere to be found. Thoughts of him consumed my mind throughout the previous day, and I had even stayed up late, eagerly anticipating his arrival. Every knock on the door kept me on edge, hoping it would be him walking through, but disappointment prevailed. I couldn't believe I missed him so much. How did I fall in love with him so quickly? What had he done to me?As I got up from bed, I realized for the first time that Sonia wasn't lying beside me. My thoughts had absorbed me so completely that I hadn't noticed her absence. The sound of running water from the bathroom indicated that she was taking a bath. With a sigh, I was about to head towards the wardrobe when a knock on the door interrupted my movements.My heart sank, as I thought, "Finally, he's decided to show up after tormenting me all day yesterday." I tried to suppress my excitement as I responded, "Come in," not wanting him to k
Laura's POVSonia and I strolled towards the car, with Nicholas trailing behind. His presence made me incredibly uneasy, and I couldn't stand it. I was certain he had enjoyed teasing me at the table during breakfast. Bloody bastard! I muttered under my breath as the bodyguard opened the car door for me."What was that?" Nicholas questioned from behind."I wasn't speaking to anyone," I retorted.Sonia glanced at me and chuckled before taking the front seat, leaving Nicholas and me in the back. Can things get any worse? Nicholas appeared puzzled. However, as soon as I glared at him, he wiped the smirk off his face and maintained a serious expression.It was abundantly clear how I felt about him, and his response indicated that he was well aware. I wished I could control my body's reactions better. We departed from the secret hideout in a two-car convoy. Throughout the journey, Nicholas was engaged in business calls. He was undoubtedly a powerful man. The way he issued commands to his su