Noelle watched as Valentino blinked slowly while the information sank in. Then, just like that, his expression morphed into something lethal. He looked like he would murder someone at this point.
"He abused you... for how long?" He asked.
"Two years" she rasped, her heart hurting as she recalled most of the things Lucas had done to her. Val looked heartbroken and completely torn. "After I'd told my parents about it, they didn't believe me. Lucas' father had an alliance with my dad and they wanted me to get married to Lucas to make their alliance stronger.
At first, he was a good person. But then, he changed drastically. I couldn't cope with it anymore. I had to leave" she sighed.
"How did you escape?" He asked, placing a hand over hers.
"That night, I pretended to be in a very good mood. I had planned it all, the night before. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Lucas visited that night. As usual, he came to my room. He wanted to have his way with me, I wouldn't have it.
I used my pepper spray on him and scrambled towards the back door with my bag. He wasn't deterred. He chased after me and eventually caught up with me. I was terrified, so I grabbed a bottle and smashed his head. I ran as fast as I could. The next morning, I traveled to New York City" she said.
Valentino embraced her and she closed her eyes, inhaling his cologne. "I'm sorry, you went through all of that. I'm glad you left before he could kill you" he said. She nodded, his arms still around her
"You're really strong, you know that, right? I'm proud of you. Remind me never to piss you off" he said, trying to lighten up the mood.
It worked though, because she was literally giggling at his statement.
"I knew Lucas was a horrible person. I mean, we had a bad history" Val said, his gaze not leaving the floor.
He exhaled slowly, running a hand over his face.
"While I lived with my foster parents, Lucas used to come over for dinner most times. He was two years older than me and he was a horrible bully. At school, he would trip me or set me up and I would end up getting detentions or suspensions. One day, after we had dinner together, my foster mum went to bed, but Baron insisted that the rest of us had to stay downstairs.
The next thing that happened was something I never expected. Lucas hit me on the head with a bat and that was how I found myself in the basement chained to the wall. Baron started ranting about how Lucas was his favorite son and how no one apart from Lucas' mom knew that he was Lucas' biological father" Val said and Noelle gasped.
She'd never expected that.
But then, this was Lucas and Baron, they were talking about here. They were monsters and psychopaths.
"Baron ordered Lucas to use horse whips on me. I was in agony but at that moment, I had this burning hatred fueling up inside me. Hatred for myself, hatred for them, hatred for being alive, hatred for the whole world. I hated everything. That moment, even as a twelve year old boy, I wanted to murder Lucas and Baron right there. That day marked the beginning of more excruciating pain. Before I was taken to live with them, I used to live on the streets. Life was hard on me, but this was worse. I began to fall sick more frequently than normal and Baron would use it as an excuse to hit me. Even after he killed my foster mum, he began to hit me until I would pass out. I couldn't tell anyone either. Lucas knew that his dad used to hit me. He and his friends would give me another round of beating whenever no one was in sight. No one else knew what was going on. I was getting thinner, paler and weaker. The teachers were starting to ask questions that I would avoid. One night, he grabbed me and took me to the basement, this time he didn't hit me"
Tears filled Noelle's eyes as she listened to him. There was so much pain in his eyes. Her heart was breaking all over again.
"He put me in a bath tub and poured ice into it. I don't know how long he held me in it. But, it was long enough for me to stop struggling and breathing. I don't know how I survived it because the next morning, I found myself lying on the floor of my room, shivering my ass off. Despite my condition, I went to school. Everything worsened when I collapsed in class, that morning.
When I gained consciousness three weeks later, I was told that I had gone through a seizure and had fallen into a coma. Baron was arrested and I was taken to the foster home. There they treated me like trash still, so I left. I got mixed up with bad company.
I did a lot of crazy things as a teenager. I got myself into juvie and I still didn't care. At that point, my life was bitter. My mum found me during that period. I was drunk and the only thing I was thinking is that everything was her fault. I humiliated her right there. I emptied a bottle of vodka on her head" he said, chuckling bitterly to himself.
"I was bat shit crazy and maybe, I would've ended up in a mad house" he said, sighing.
"It was at that point that Baron found me again. That sick man threatened me and forced me to work for him. I just wish I didn't have to go through all that. I just see a broken man each time I stare into the mirror"
"Everyone has scars, Val. I know mine is nowhere as horrible as yours. I can tell. The evidence is in your eyes, on your skin and even in your mind. Those scars shows how strong you are. It shows the battles you have fought and won. I mean, you went through all of that for most part of your teens. You are stronger and braver than you think. Even though you were suicidal, I'm glad someone was able to save you or I wouldn't have met such an amazing man like you" Noelle said, gazing into his bright green orbs.
"You don't say" he muttered.
She smiled, holding his hands.
"Remember that night when you got shot and you were actually telling me to get into the car? You didn't even care about the fact that you were badly hurt, you just wanted my safety. See, that's how amazing you are" Noelle said.
He smiled and embraced her, resting his chin atop her head.
"We'll figure everything out, I promise" he whispered and she nodded, closing her eyes.
....
Alexandre was sitting in his study, staring at the ceiling, when his phone rang.
It was Nadine calling
"I know I don't have to remind you of the deal, right?" She said and Dre groaned inwardly.
"Of course not" he replied, stiffly.
"Good, now Ellise is in the sitting room with Dominic. I want you to come to the sitting room right now" she said and he clenched his fist.
What was she up to now?
"Why?" He asked.
"Don't ask me. You're gonna drag your ass over here and you're gonna do what I ask you to do, do you understand?"
His grip on the phone tightened.
"Don't tell me you already want to back out? I hope you're considering the consequences"
"Fine I'll do it" he said, through gritted teeth.
The line went dead and he slowly rose to his feet.
Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair.
When he got to the sitting room, Ellise walked up to him with a smile on her face.
"You okay?" She asked, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
He nodded, kissing the top of her head.
Nadine was sitting on a couch, glaring daggers at him. She suddenly yelped and began to squirm on the couch, catching their attention.
"Alex, my back hurts and I can't walk. Your son is kicking too hard" she whined.
Ellise and Dominic nearly flinched visibly.
Dre didn't want to believe that the child she was carrying was really his. But, he couldn't help but think of the possibility that she was telling the truth. What would he do then?
"I need to get to my room. This chair isn't comfy. I need you to carry me to my room" she drawled.
Dre clenched his jaw as he made eye contact with her.
A smirk curved her lips and she looked like she was daring him to refuse her.
Ellise blinked and stormed off. Dominic glared at Nadine before leaving.
"Come on, Alex!" Nadine said still smirking.
Torn, he scooped her into his arms.
She grinned, resting her head against his chest. He made his way up the stairs and walked into the guest room.
"If you keep tagging along like this, perhaps.... you'll be able to avert any tragedy that might befall your family. Remember, the ball is in your court" she said as he placed her on the bed and walked towards the door, tensed.
Ellise was lying on her matrimonial bed facing the wall when Dre came into the bedroom. He laid down beside her, placing an arm around her waist.
"I'm sorry" he whispered.
She nodded, turning to face him. She placed her hand on the side of his face.
"I know you won't hurt me intentionally. I'm not mad at you. I'm just trying to restrain myself from killing her. I know she's just trying to frustrate us" she said. Dre sighed with relief.
How on Earth did he get so lucky?
"You never cease to amaze me, my heart" he said, kissing her. She beamed, gazing at him lovingly as she tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.