71

[REBECCA]
Lynda and I were walking back to my room after dinner when she suddenly stopped on the top stair. Stopping in my tracks, I looked at her sideways. “What’s wrong?”
Instead of answering, she called out, “Artemy.”
My head snapped in the opposite direction, and I saw Artemy’s back to us. He was walking toward his office. At the sound of Lynda’s voice, he turned around, his eyebrows furrowed in question.
“What is it?” he mumbled, approaching us.
Lynda dragged me up the last step and stopped in front of Artemy. “I was thinking of taking Rebecca out shopping tomorrow. She’s been living with us for some time now and doesn’t have any clothes except for her maid dresses and the one outfit Mum got her on the first day.”
Shopping? Shocked, I stared at Lynda. She didn’t tell me anything about this.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Artemy looking at me. I glanced up, and our eyes met. Licking my lips nervously, I played with the hem of my dress as his penetrating gaze sent a shiver down my body.
“Of course. You can take her,” Artemy said, keeping his blue eyes on me. “But why are you asking me?” he questioned, now looking at Lynda suspiciously.
Lynda rolled her eyes. Letting out a huff of annoyance, she crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. There’s a difference. I’m just letting you know so you don’t go batshit crazy and start panicking when you don’t see Rebecca.”
I didn’t pay attention to Lynda’s words because my mind was still trying to register what Artemy said.
I was allowed to go out. Artemy was letting me go out. I stared at Artemy, speechless, my body trembling slightly.
I was never allowed to leave my father’s estate, not even a step outside of the gates. The furthest I had ever gone was to our back garden. I wasn’t allowed to roam free. Ever. All my days and nights were spent locked in my room or the piano room. I didn’t know much about the outside world.
But now, I could go see the world.
I could go shopping…something I never had a chance to do. Raffaele was the one who chose all my clothing. I just had to wear what he gave me, a doll he liked to dress and own.
Artemy and Lynda were talking, but their voices sounded like they were coming from under water. I could only focus on Artemy’s face. He was slowly giving me things I had lost. Artemy was giving me back my life.
Freedom. I was finally truly free.
The one thing I had always wanted, hoped, and prayed for every night as I cried myself to sleep, my soul breaking. After every torturous night, that was what I dreamed of.
Artemy eyes were on me again. I saw his forehead crease in worry. “Rebecca?”
I snapped out of my daze and then nodded my head. “Yeah?”
“Are you okay with going shopping tomorrow?” he asked softly.
I nodded again, but this time my lips stretched in a smile. “Yup.”
“Good.” He gave me a small smile, then turned around and walked away. Swiveling around, I grabbed Lynda’s hands, excitement coursing through my body until I vibrated with it.
“I can go shopping?” I asked, staring into her eyes, my heart feeling hopeful.
“Of course, babe. Why not? You desperately need clothes.” She laughed.
We resumed our walk to my bedroom. I was giddy, like a child getting a new toy for the first time. “When are we going?”
“Maybe after lunch? Tomorrow?” she suggested.
“That sounds good. I can’t wait,” I muttered, closing the door behind us.
Lynda jumped on the bed and took the remote in her hand. “So? What movie?”
I shrugged and joined her on the bed. Propping myself on the pillow, I looked at the TV as she searched for some movies. “I don’t know. Maybe something funny.” I paused and then looked at Lynda from the corner on my eyes. “And romantic?” I finished.
She laughed. “Gotcha, babe. The Notebook it is.”
“The Notebook?” I questioned as she started the movie.
“Get your tissues ready, Rebecca. You’re going to love this.”
***
I woke up from a kiss behind my ear. The ticklish feeling brought me back from my deep slumber, and I let out a yawn. I moaned, stretching out as the sunlight shone brightly behind my closed eyes. I could feel its warmth bathing my face, and I smiled.
My eyes opened, only to see Artemy sitting next to me. He was already dressed in his suit, his hair a little wet with a few strands sticking to his forehead.
“Good morning,” he murmured, gently moving my hair from my face.
“Good morning,” I whispered back sleepily.
“I’ll see you at breakfast,” Artemy said as he got up. Nodding, I watched him smile before he left the room. When the door closed behind him, I turned around and burrowed further into my pillow.
Today was the day. I was going shopping.
Letting out a small, excited laugh, I got up and went to the bathroom. After freshening up, I changed into my black maid dress. Instead of braiding my hair like I usually did, I left it down. It fell in small waves behind my back, just the way Artemy loved it.
My smile dropped when I caught sight of my scars in the mirror. Swallowing hard, I looked down at my arms and traced the pink lines with my fingers. I thought of Raffaele.
Slowly, I lost the little hope that was blooming in my chest. My heart clenched.
I couldn’t go shopping.
That wasn’t possible. Not when Raffaele was still looking for me. If I went out, his men would find me and I would be taken back to the hell I had been in. I would have to live my nightmare again.
I didn’t think I was strong enough to go through it again. After finding such happiness, if I had to go back, this time…I wouldn’t make it out alive.
I had just found my heart; I wasn’t ready to lose it.
Taking several deep breaths, I tried to calm the panic rising inside of me. I placed a hand over my chest and controlled my breathing like Wyatt taught me.
The world eventually stopped twirling, and my vision wasn’t blurry anymore. With a shake of my head, I walked out of the bathroom and Artemy’s room, closing the door behind me.
How was I going to explain this to Lynda? She was really excited to go shopping with me.
She had everything planned: the shopping and even going as far as making plans to watch a movie afterward and then having dinner before returning home.
I felt guilty, knowing I had to ruin her little happy moment.
After serving lunch, I quickly made an excuse about not feeling okay, hoping it would come across as natural.
“I think I’m going to lay down. I don’t feel so good,” I said quietly beside Lynda.
She glanced at me, and her lips twisted sadly. “Okay. Go take a break,” she replied before turning back to the table.
I felt Artemy’s eyes on my back as I headed upstairs, but I didn’t look back. In my room, I fell on my bed with my face buried in my pillow, feeling completely emotionally and physically drained.
Both of my lives kept intersecting. My past and my present. There was no leaving the past behind.
When I heard Lynda’s voice, I quickly sat up. “Rebecca, it’s me. Can I come in?”
Pressing a trembling hand over my forehead, I shook with tension. I swallowed hard against the ball of nervousness and stood up, taking careful steps toward the door.
Think. Think, Rebecca. Think of something.
“I’m coming,” I called out in a trembling voice.
I rested a hand on the doorknob and held my stomach with the other, biting on my lips as my shoulders strained with the tension. Opening the door, I gave Lynda a forced smile.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked worriedly, pushing the door wider to step inside.
“No. I don’t feel so good. I have a headache, and my stomach hurts a little,” I mumbled, holding my stomach as I leaned against the wall.
Lynda gave me a pitied look before nodding sadly. “It’s that time of the month, isn’t it? I know it’s a pain in the ass. Or vagina, I should say.”
I nodded back. At least that was true, so it worked with my fabricated lie.
“We can go shopping another time. No worries. We can shop online today, if you want,” she suggested.
“Okay,” I replied with a smile. That sounded better, even though I didn’t know we could shop online. How much did I actually miss while living with my father and Raffaele?
“I’ll be right back. Let me get my laptop.” Lynda left the room quickly.