Erica’s POV
I left the office holding back tears in my eyes.
I couldn’t tell which broke me more: Dante lying to me or witnessing Hazan’s brutality.
I dreaded to shut my eyes. Each time I did, I would see the picture of the rotting head and bloody
note in my mind’s eye. It sent chills down my spine. Seeing it in person horrified me and if I
sniffed the air, I could still perceive the stench of rotting flesh.
I had listened as Dante read the note aloud. How could one man be so cruel and make a joke out
of it? How could he make a joke out of killing a grown man and hiding a letter inside his severed
head?
I shook my head slowly and the tears fell from my eyes. I was fully convinced; Hazan was an
animal and he needed to die.
I got to the road and flagged down a taxi.
“Where to madam?”
“Elite Avenue?”
I got in and I was thankful that the cab driver didn’t attempt to make small talk with me.
I was left to float around in my own world. My mind was jumbled in a mess, my thighs were still
throbbing and now my mind was plagued with such a gruesome image.
I thought about how I flared up at Dante, how I accused him of lying to me.
I turned my head away and sighed. Was that really the truth? Was it still a lie when I knew that he
was lying and I still took the initiative to see him despite that?
I looked down at my skirt and it was then I realized that my zipper was bad.
Seeing it reminded me of Dante and the way he ripped off my skirt so that he could fuck me.
Did I really mean what I said? I had told him that I wanted more.
Deep down, I felt I was being sincere. But part of me insisted that it was just out of the heat of
the moment.
My heart shattered. I knew I still felt the mate pull for Dante and it was obvious that he felt it too.
He knew that somewhere, deep down in my heart, I still loved him and he was using it to his
advantage.
He was playing with my feelings just as he had always done.
He said he had changed but he was still the same Dante. He was still the same cut-throat trying to
get his way all the time.
I gripped my skirt angrily and a tear fell on my palm.
Engagement with Lorenzo had given me the feeling that I could finally break away from him, that
I could finally be with someone who loved me for me and not what I had to offer. Lorenzo had
been with me in my worst times. And though the love for him didn’t burn strongly, I was satisfied
that over time it would grow. He had treated me kindly and it was only right that I did the same
for him.
That was what I thought of him, but each time, I always felt short, I always played right back into
the hands of the same person who played me those years ago. I still couldn’t understand why
toxicity was still so attractive, why it drew me in like a moth to a flame.
Deep down, I knew the consequences of being with Dante. My father could probably die from
heartbreak, my children would be ashamed of me and I would look like a fool.
All these things would happen if I finally gave in to him again but I was still drawn to him despite
the dire consequences.
“We are here ma’am.”
I got out and paid the cab driver and walked to my home. I wiped the tears from my eyes with
the back of my hand and tried my best to put up a smile and look as put together as I could. I
couldn’t let Clarissa or the kids see me like this.
I opened the door and my children pounced on me like prey.
“Mom! You’re home!’
They clung to my waist and legs and I was forced to laugh out of amusement.
“Mommy, why are your eyes red?” Elsa inquired seriously.
My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t think that they would notice.
“Oh, it’s nothing. An insect flew into my eye and I’ve been trying desperately to get it out.”
For effect, I pulled out my handkerchief and pretended to wipe my eyes.
“Have you kids had dinner?”
They all shook their heads.
“We told Miss Clarissa that we wanted to wait for you.”
I looked at Clarissa and gave her a soft smile.
“Thank you so much. I appreciate everything that you do for them. Where is Lorenzo?”
Clarissa shook her head slowly.
“He hasn’t come back since he left in the morning.”
I couldn’t help but sigh sadly. He was still mad at me? When was this going to end?
I soon caught sight of the luggage in the living room.
“I guess you’ve made up your mind.”
She gave a shy nod.
“Yes. He called me and he sounded earnest. He wanted me back home with him.”
A light blush spread over her cheeks and I smiled even more. I was truly happy that Clarissa had
found someone that she loved.
“Well, in that case, you better get going. It would be criminal for me to keep you here later than
he expected.”
She gave a slight nod and hurriedly picked up her bags, gave me a polite wave, and left.
The kids and I were alone.
“How about we get dinner started? I think I have some chicken in the fridge.”
They all cheered with excitement and we went to the kitchen.
They all sat at the dining table and watched me prepare the ingredients.
I was silent but I listened to their chatter with half attention.
Despite being with them, my pride and joy, I still felt broken inside.
My heart was beating slowly in my chest and I slowly began to zone out on them. My thoughts
drifted back to Dante and the severed head.
Why was all this happening? Why did it have to be now?
I still hadn’t told anyone that my triplets were Dante’s children. I felt on edge; I felt that all hell
would break loose and it was just a matter of time.
I needed to…
“Mommy, you’re crying.”
I looked up and saw my kids staring at me in concern.
It was then I realized that my eyes were moist and some tears had already fallen on the back of
my hand.
I smiled and wiped my eyes again with the sleeve of my shirt.
“It’s nothing. It’s probably just the onions.”
“But you didn’t cut any onions,” said Elma quietly.
I looked at the table and saw that I hadn’t taken any onions out to cut. I had only sliced the
tomatoes and was just slicing the peppers.
I was lost for words and watched my kids leave their seats and crowd around me, their tiny arms
wrapping me with heartfelt hugs.
“You know, you don’t need to lie to us, Mom.”
My heart shattered and I pulled them all into a big hug.
“I’m so sorry for lying. I…I just had a tough day at my meeting. It didn’t go so well.”
They hugged me tighter and I could feel their fingers gently digging into my skin.
“You don’t have to cry, mum. Everything is going to be fine. You might have a better meeting
tomorrow…”