3. Lady Mina

Days had passed, I am still trapped inside Corro's mansion. Cold breeze enveloped my face I smiled and look at the people from where I was standing. They are busy with Corro's winter ball as the maid called it, every year Corro hosts a party wherein all mafia leaders may be rivals or allied will joined to celebrate peace and unity. 

I hold the scarf tighter as I gasp for fresh cold air. I can hear footsteps walking near to where I was standing. 

"I wonder why you never jump off to run away from here," he asks then smirk and leans on the balcony railing, one step away from me.

"Even if I run away I'll be taken back here anyway so what's the point?" I said, in a matter-of-fact tone. 

"Who are you, Corro Galvez?" I said as I stare at his face. He then looks at me with his serious face, his eyes scan my face, and stop at my eyes, piercing my soul then seconds later his eyes gaze at my lips I saw how he swallowed like there was a lump in his throat, he then averted his gaze at in front of the balcony and murmuring few curses to himself. 

"I already told you who I am and you had your version of who I am, so what's the point of explaining and introducing myself," he said after a couple of minutes of silence. I slowly nodded, I then remember what he said about his ex-wife.

"What is she like?" I decided to ask him, I was hesitant but there's nothing else to lose if I was about to die I might make the most out of it. 

I saw how he smiled, a genuine one. I can see how his eyes dilated with happiness, I can say he loves her judging what his face looks like right now.

"She looks like you, but her eyes were black while your eyes are gray," He said with so much admiration, he then stared back at me and smiled, I feel like I swallowed my tongue, I watched how his hands slowly raised and caress my face, he cupped my face and traced the lines of my eyebrows down to my lips taking his time he then brings some strands of my hair at the back at my ears I can see his vulnerability, his sadness and I can tell how much he misses her I slowly closed my eyes and feel his touch, something inside me suddenly feel him like something feels familiar yet strange and weird but in a good way. 

"Mina was the most genuine person I know, she has been a part of every fiber of my being and I love how she sees things, from every good down to every bad, I love how she smiles every time she saw something adorable and how she frowns when she doesn't want things," he said, I slowly opened my eyes and saw his tears rolled down his face. I slowly bring my hands to his face wiping his tears away as I wipe the tears he held my hand into place and closed his eyes.

"I wish I could say, don't go and leave me and apologize for everything, sorry if I didn't listen to your request, I'm sorry for being an irresponsible husband and father if I could only turn back the time," He said as he sobs, I don't know but it seemed like my hands have its mind and I hugged him, he wraps his hand around my face as he pulled me closer to him, his sobs continues as he allows his self to be vulnerable in front of me.

"I had no idea what you're dealing with, but I'm sure your wife doesn't want you to blame yourself," I said as I was trying to comfort him, waiting for him to calm down as I slowly push him and cup his face. "Your wife will never be happy if you'll blame yourself," I said, I smile and held his hand as I guided him to the sofa. 

"Seeing you brings back everything," He said as he leaned at the sofa and close his eyes. "I thought it was you all along but then I saw you're different from her, I had you investigated but there's no proof of anything that will tell that she was you," He added then massaged the bridge of his nose, he looks tired. 

"I want to see her pictures if it's, okay with you," I said as I look at him. There's no point in hating him now, though I want to serve my mother the justice she deserves his men were already dead.

He slowly nods and stands up he walks to the door, following his lead we are silent walking towards the room that was located at the end of the hallway, few steps after my room, he then opens the door and steps aside so that I can enter the room, I slowly enter the room as my eyes look at the painting and portrait inside the room my eyes widened in surprise, I gasp for air as I cover my mouth with my hand, a shock expression plastered on my face.

"What is this," I ask him and slowly walk at the portraits at the table. I then hold one of the frames and look at them closely. "I thought you were just joking around," I added, I ran my finger at the glass of the frame and looked at him, he smiled sadly at me and lower his gaze.

"Why would I joke of something this serious kind of matter to me, Roana," He said, I sighed and put down the picture back at the table and turn around to see the other paintings of her. 

I saw one painting of them, her arms were linked to Corro's arms, and they were smiling, they looked so lovely together and I can see that he's happy they both are. She was wearing a white silk dress while her hair was tied up with some loose curls at the side. I then look at the painting beside theirs, I saw her picture she was sitting on the balcony chair only wearing his white polo shirt, her hair tied in a messy bun looking like a model, she was smiling at the picture and I saw a pen written words below it says 'mi casa mi serenidad' 

"Mi casa, mi serenidad," I read the words out loud. "My home, My serenity," he translates the words before I ask him of the meaning. I smiled, I'm sure they are each other's home and serenity. 

"You do love her," I said, stating the obvious. "Yes, I do love her, so much." He answers. I turn to face him and smile. I may look like her but I'm sure I am not her, I will never be her.

"I know this is hard for you and I'm sorry," I apologize to him, he just shakes his head as a form of disapproval of my apology. "It's alright, it's been years and I feel lighter now since I opened up to you, something is telling me that it was okay to cry in front of you," He said, he puts his hands inside his pocket and smiled at me a comforting one, I then smiled back at him and holds the end of my scarf tighter, the air seemed a little warmer and can feel something on my stomach it was light and feathery. 

"Let's go, the dinner must be ready," He said, he opened the door wider as he guided me, placed his hands at my waist, and walked with me heading to the kitchen.

I don't know what happened but all of my doubts suddenly gone and I suddenly felt safe with him, it must be weird because he was once the reason why I was put in this position, though my Dad did all the mistakes he was partly the reason why we ended here. I remember how things got messed up and how things changed, how he said I looked like her, how he opened up and cried his pain out like a lost boy seeking forgiveness.

The table was already set when we arrive at the kitchen, he's guiding me to my seat and slowly move the chair so I could sit down then bow down after I sat down I chuckled at his gesture and shake my head then he walks to his chair and sit down, he leaned on his chair as his playful aura is showing he was playing with his lips with his hands as he stares at me, I then raise my brows and leaned on my chair.

It may seem so fast but I suddenly feel lighter and unguarded with him, he is like a breath of fresh air everyone says he's dangerous, cruel, and merciless but that is from their point of view and I can see what he is, it may not be the whole him but he's slowly opening with me same goes with me to him.  

"You do realize that you're sexy when you're doing that, yeah?" He said, I chuckled as I bit my lips and stare at his eyes, I took the knife and played it with my fingers, making it spin around my fingers. He shakes his head and cleared his throat.

"What? I don't know Mister. Galvez, you tell me what's sexy," I said, trying to sound innocent, I can see why he is acting like that so he likes to see me playing with a knife huh?

"Then stop playing with the knife, I'll tell you why," he answered, challenging me but being stubborn that I am I just laugh at him and shake my head, I saw how he is ready to get up from his seat when suddenly I stop playing with the knife and hurriedly place it back at the table and raises my hands as a sign of surrender.

"You, tease. Tsk!" He said as he leans back again on his seat, I just grin at him and waited for our food. One minute later the servers place our meal and dessert after making sure that we are satisfied they bow down their head and leave the table quickly as soon as Corro nodded his head.

"This is good," I commented as I took the sliced meat to my mouth, I look at him and he nodded in response. We finished eating and then we take a walk in the garden with a glass of wine in our hands. I look at the stars as I sat on the grass not minding if my dress will get messy, he then sits beside me.

"I miss my mother," I sadly said as I stared at the stars, I heard him sigh. "I still want to blame you but there is no point blaming you now, you may be part of the reason why I ended up this way, losing everything but my father started all of this trouble and now my mother did pay the price of his actions," I said and look at him. "I just wished that my mother was still alive, though," I added and look back at the stars, they are shining, looks free and happy. 

"I am truly sorry for what happened, it was not my intention but my stupid men didn't listen to my orders, being newbies excites them," he apologized. "Where did you put my mother's body? I want to see her," I asked him.

"I have their body cremated, they are now on our private cemetery," he answered, "I'll take you there, tomorrow," he added, I just nodded my head and sighed.

I'll never forget what happened, sometimes it hunts me when I'm sleeping and I ended up crying for what happened the nightmares feel so real it was like it's taking me back to the day where it all happened that I have no control over and I can't make it stop, I want to scream but it seems like my mouth was stitched together and I can't open them.

Everything has a price that I'm sure of, you're happy a second or two then something will slap you back to reality. I want to find my peace, I want to take my revenge. To hell with the consequences.