PHOENIX
The ground felt unbearably cold beneath my feet as I paced the cell, each step a reminder of the agony coursing through my body. The echoes of my screams from childbirth seemed to reverberate endlessly, driving me to the brink of insanity.
I had been interrogated multiple times, yet my answers remained steadfast. I couldn’t fathom the thought of kidnapping any child, let alone the one I had carried for nine months and come to love as my own.
Exhausted, I let out a heavy sigh and leaned my head against the cold, unforgiving wall of the cell. My thoughts drifted to Rome, whose belief in his manipulative mother’s accusations cut me to the core. Despite my own grief, it seemed as though he harbored no sympathy for me.
I longed for my baby, despite not being his biological mother. Nine months of carrying him had forged an undeniable bond, and the thought of him being out of my reach tore at my heart.
Tears streamed down my face as I wondered about his well-being. Was he safe? Was he being cared for? The uncertainty gnawed at me, exacerbating the pain already coursing through my body.
As I sat there, the lingering pains between my legs served as a constant reminder of the recent birth I had just endured, yet the proper care and treatment seemed elusive. The need for medical attention was undeniable, but it remained out of reach.
~~
“I don’t want to meet her,” Rome’s voice bristled with frustration as he swirled the contents of his glass, the ice cubes clinking softly.
Zara entered the living room, her footsteps echoing against the hardwood floor as she dropped her bag before him. “Rome, Rome,” she called out, her tone a mix of urgency and concern.
“Aunt Zara, I’m not in the mood for all this,” Rome replied wearily, his eyes closing briefly in exhaustion.
“Mood for what? You’ve locked up Phoenix… for goodness sake, she just gave birth and she needs proper treatment,” Zara’s words spilled out, her frustration evident.
Rome let out a heavy sigh, weariness etched into every line of his face. “Maybe you should tell her to tell you where my son is, then I would drop all charges against her, simple,” he retorted, his tone clipped.
“Do you really believe Phoenix would kidnap your son… for what? I know my child wouldn’t do that,” Zara’s voice softened, pleading for him to see reason.
“Funny, isn’t it?” Rome’s sudden stand caused Zara to startle, her eyes widening in surprise.
“What?” she asked, confusion evident in her voice.
“Funny how both mother and daughter are gold diggers,” Rome’s bitterness seeped into his words, his gaze hardening with accusation.
Zara recoiled, her expression one of disbelief. “I know Phoenix would steal to provide for the family, but she would never take a child. Don’t you see she’s being framed here?” she implored, her voice tinged with desperation.
“Just tell Phoenix I want my son back, and we don’t have to go to court for all this,” Rome’s finality hung in the air, his resolve unyielding as he drained his glass and walked away, leaving Zara to grapple with the weight of his words.
~~
Neo stood at the door, his knuckles tapping softly against the wood before it swung open to reveal Beatrix. Her usual liveliness seemed drained, replaced by traces of dried tears on her face.
Without a word, Beatrix enveloped him in a tight hug, her sobs muffled against his chest as he gently patted her back, offering what little comfort he could.
“Phoenix would never do that,” Beatrix choked out between sobs, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I know,” Neo murmured, his heart heavy with the weight of the situation.
“Do you believe her?” Beatrix’s tear-filled eyes searched his face for reassurance, and Neo nodded solemnly.
“Thanks,” she whispered gratefully, her grip on him tightening briefly before she released him.
As they stepped into the house together, Neo’s hand remained intertwined with Beatrix’s, a silent gesture of solidarity.
“He’s not being considerate. What if something happens to her? What if she gets infected? She just gave birth, for goodness sake,” Beatrix’s voice wavered with a mixture of frustration and concern.
“Rome isn’t in his right senses right now. All he can think about is how his son was kidnapped and how Phoenix was the one who did it,” Neo explained, sharing her worries.
“Why can’t I see her?” Beatrix asked in frustration, her brows furrowing in concern.
“Rome doesn’t want anybody to meet her except himself,” Neo explained, his voice tinged with frustration.
“Mrs. Dante despises my sister so much that she goes to extra lengths to do all this… How cruel is she?” Beatrix’s words were filled with a mix of anger and disbelief.
“Mrs. Dante?” Neo’s brow furrowed in confusion as he looked at Beatrix.
“Yeah, she hates my sister so much. Ever since Phoenix stole her necklace, even after giving it back, Mrs. Dante still despises her,” Beatrix explained, her voice tinged with bitterness.
“I think you’ll have to explain all this to me in detail,” Neo said, his curiosity piqued.
Beatrix nodded, taking a deep breath before launching into the intricate details of the events that had unfolded, painting a vivid picture of the animosity between Phoenix and Mrs. Dante.
~~
“And so that is the reason why Phoenix wanted that necklace,” Neo explained everything to Rome, who listened intently, his expression contemplative.
“Do you understand now why your mother would want to frame Phoenix?” Neo asked, hoping to sway Rome’s perspective.
“My mother would not go to that extent of kidnapping her own grandchild,” Rome insisted, trying to dismiss the idea.
“But Phoenix would never kidnap her own son,” Neo countered firmly.
“He’s not her son,” Rome retorted.
“But she loved him. She spent nine months carrying that baby. Do you really think she would forsake that love and trust, selling him for just 5 million dollars? Bro, you were paying her 10 million for carrying him. And do you think she wouldn’t get more than that money for being in a relationship with you?” Neo reasoned.
Rome fell silent, his hand reaching up to touch his forehead in frustration.
“Have you ever thought about that? Did you even love her at all?” Neo pressed, his voice tinged with concern.
“I loved her,” Rome exclaimed, his frustration evident as he slammed his hand against the chair.
“But she stabbed me in the back,” he added bitterly. Neo sighed, turning to gaze out the window.
“I hope you understand what I’m going through,” Rome said, but Neo remained silent, the weight of the situation heavy on both of them.
~~
Rome’s measured strides echoed in the dimly lit room as he made his way toward Phoenix, his eyes fixated on her every move. She raised her head, a mixture of apprehension and anticipation flickering in her gaze as she watched him approach. The tension between them was palpable, each moment pregnant with unspoken words.
“Are you ready to talk?” His voice, firm and unwavering, sliced through the heavy silence.
“Rome…” she began, but he interjected, his impatience seeping into his words.
“Are you ready to talk or not?” There was a sharpness to his tone, a hint of frustration simmering beneath the surface.
“Fine, I am,” she replied, drawing his full attention with her admission.
“Okay, cool, now talk,” he instructed, his tone clipped and direct.
“I would never kidnap anybody, I swear…” Her voice wavered slightly as she started, but Rome’s frustration boiled over, his hand slamming against the table with a resounding thud.
“That’s not what you’re supposed to say,” he snapped, his frustration evident in the sharpness of his tone.
“Do you expect me to confess to a crime I didn’t commit, Rome? Yes, I took our son,” she said defiantly, her gaze meeting his with unwavering determination.
“My son,” he corrected, a flash of possessiveness in his eyes.
“I love him like my own son. I would do anything for him. I would give my life for him to come into this world, Rome. That’s how much I love our son,” she insisted, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within her.
Rome’s heavy sigh filled the tense air as he turned towards the exit, his resolve evident in his firm strides. Before he could take another step, he pivoted back to face Phoenix, his expression a mix of determination and frustration.
“Tell me where he is for the last time, and I’ll drop any charges against you,” he demanded, his voice unwavering.
Phoenix’s response caught him off guard, her words dripping with venom as she spoke.
“Oh, yes, I do know who you can ask,” she retorted, her tone sharp and cutting.
“Maybe you should ask your bitch of a mother and stop being a Mommy’s boy,” she spat, her words hitting their mark with precision.
“You’re funny,” Rome shot back, his retort laced with sarcasm.
“Funny, huh? Have you ever interrogated anyone else besides me? Have you asked your mother or even checked her phone calls? Or the doctors… have…” Her words trailed off abruptly, a soft wince escaping her lips.
“My mother wouldn’t do that,” Rome insisted, his confidence faltering slightly in the face of Phoenix’s accusations.
“And you think I would…” Phoenix’s voice trailed off, her features contorting in sudden pain. Rome’s confusion deepened as he observed her discomfort.
“What’s wrong with you?” he inquired, concern seeping into his tone. But before Phoenix could respond, Neo’s frantic gestures drew Rome’s attention.
Unable to comprehend Neo’s words, Rome followed the direction of his hand, his eyes widening in shock as he noticed the blood stain spreading across Phoenix’s clothes.
“Get the ambulance!” he screamed, realization crashing over him like a wave.
~~
Jess walked as fast as she could, her heart racing with each step. She had only come to get some groceries, alone, when she noticed the creepy man following her. Panic surged through her veins as she quickened her pace, desperate to reach her car parked nearby.
Finally reaching her destination, she fumbled for her keys, her hands trembling with fear. But before she could unlock the car door, the creepy man suddenly appeared in front of her, causing her to let out a piercing scream.
“Shh!” he hissed, clamping a hand over her mouth and pressing a gun against her temple, silencing her instantly.
Terror gripped Jess as she stared into the cold, menacing eyes of her assailant, the weight of the gun a chilling reminder of the danger she was in.
“I’ll give you anything, anything you want. My phone, money…” she whispered, her voice quivering with fear as she tried to negotiate with him. But he only chuckled darkly in response.
“I didn’t come here for your possessions,” he said, his tone sending shivers down her spine. “I came to deliver a message.”
Jess’s eyes widened in disbelief as she listened, her heart pounding in her chest. The man’s words hung heavy in the air, each syllable a stark warning that sent a chill down her spine.
“If you value your life, tell Rome the truth about your bastard child, and disappear. Because our next encounter won’t be so friendly,” he threatened, his voice dripping with malice as he turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Jess stood frozen in shock, the gravity of the man’s warning sinking in. Trembling, she realized she was in far deeper trouble than she had ever imagined.
To be continued…