ALESSIA
Over the course of a month, Claude visited us every week, bringing various items each time. Our room slowly filled up with toys and belongings. Adrian was delighted. He probably thought we were just on a vacation in Hawaii, hence his father’s frequent visits.
Claude was smart because he didn’t let our son feel that our marriage was on the brink of separation. This was a disadvantage for me because it would be difficult for me to steer my son’s feelings away from his father once we finally parted ways.
But that wasn’t the biggest problem I would have to face. There was a much larger problem looming ahead that I hadn’t anticipated.
We were at the supermarket with Miss Lucille and Adrian when a man approached me.
“Please come with us peacefully if you don’t want to be harmed,” he said softly, pointing a gun directly at my abdomen.
My eyes widened. I couldn’t move immediately. From my peripheral vision, I noticed Adrian approaching me followed by Miss Lucille. I feared for both of them.
“What do you want from me?” I asked boldly in almost a whisper.
“Not me. But my boss, Miss Cali,” he replied.
My lips parted in shock. Cali again! I wqs being mistaken again! Did I really look so much like that woman?
“Mom!”
I almost closed my eyes upon hearing my son’s voice. He might be in danger if I didn’t do anything.
“Let me just talk to my son, then I’ll go with you. Please don’t do anything to him,” I pleaded with the man.
The man didn’t respond. But he glanced at Adrian, who was running towards me.
I knelt down and hugged my son tightly.
“Mom, I saw ripe mangoes over there. Can we buy some?” Adrian asked as he broke free from my embrace.
“Oh, let Grandma Lucille go with you,” I replied, giving Miss Lucille a meaningful look.
Miss Lucille furrowed her brow. But her eyes welled up when she noticed the gun held by the man.
She glanced back and forth between me and the man, tears welling in her eyes, before finally nodding to my son.
“Alright. Go with Miss Lucille and get the mangoes. Mom needs to attend to something for a moment,” I instructed.
Miss Lucille immediately took Adrian’s hand. “Come on, Adrian. Let’s get those mangoes,” she said, giving him a sad glance.
Once the two were out of earshot, the man grabbed my arm.
“Don’t make a scene or I’ll kill them both,” he threatened, glancing at me and Miss Lucille again.
I covered my mouth to hold back my tears. I found myself in the same problem that almost got me into trouble before. Who is this Cali? Why was I always being mistaken to be her?
I could never get over the fact that I was being held captive again for the same reason. It was really frustrating me. Aside from the worries that were building up inside my heart, I could not easily veer away from the bubbling curiosity in finding out more about that certain Cali.
I was worried about my son too and so as with this little life inside my womb. I could not help but question my fate. I wish it was only me, but my son was being dragged along, and my unborn child as well.
I just held onto my stomach as we walked. I led the way, with the man behind me. I felt the barrel of the gun against my back. If I weren’t pregnant, I might have run. I would have taken the risk to escape from this man. But in my current situation, I couldn’t do that.
As we exited the supermarket, the man dragged me along. I almost stumbled because of his forceful actions. When we reached a red car, he immediately opened the door.
“Get in!” he ordered, and I complied.
Once I was inside, he closed the door. Then, he turned around and opened the driver’s side door. He took something from the glove compartment. I almost cried when he pulled out the handcuffs and put them on my hands.
“Who is your boss? What does he want from me?” I asked with a trembling voice.
“Oh! You have forgotten your husband, Miss Cali? How long has it been since you last saw him?” the man said, his voice shaking.
I was shocked. Cali’s husband was the one who had me abducted?
I thought Cali had a guy named Luther. Everything was just starting to seem unclear. I could not imagine being in this situation caused by the people whom I had not even seen even for once in my life.
I looked at the man in horror. “I don’t know what you are talking about. But I’m not Cali. My name is Sia,” I desperately said.
The man sighed heavily and started the car. “So, you think you can fool me? That’s a lame tactic. But you know what? Don’t try to use your charm on me like the way you did to my comrades. I needed the money badly. My wife is in a coma right now. Her life support will be removed if I didn’t pay her bills. Boss will surely pay the bill if I take you to him.”
I wish I had my wealthy husband around, he could probably offer a hefty amount of money to this guy in return for my freedom.
I felt weak. This man had taken me forcibly to save his wife’s life. I am putting myself in danger for the sake of someone else’s safety. Why was I always the one sacrificing? Why couldn’t I be happy? What sin had I committed to always end up in harm’s way?
Am I being punished by the heavens?
I just cried quietly. I couldn’t bear to endanger someone else’s life by prioritizing my own. At least, I wouldn’t be killed by this man’s boss if I complied. Maybe I could even persuade him to let me go since I am not Cali. I just hoped he would agree. Just like Ramiro did.
I closed my eyes to hold back the tears. I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep. I woke up when someone tapped my shoulder.
“Miss Cali, wake up. You need to get down.”
“Huh? Where are we?” I asked, looking around.
“Airport. We need to ride a plane to reach Honolulu.”
Shit! I never thought I would be taken so far away from my son. If I couldn’t return immediately, I hoped Claude or Ramiro would look for me.
I was brought to an exclusive hangar, we were heading towards a private jet. As soon as we got in, there were no other people who borded with us, except for some crew.
One of them even asked me what I wanted to drink or eat, but I refused. How could I eat or drink when I am overwhelmed with worry for myself and Adrian?
I knew we wouldn’t stay in the air for long, so I didn’t sleep anymore. When the plane landed, one of the crew removed my handcuffs and helped me exit.
I thanked her for what she did. I was trying to talk to her, hoping that she would have pitty on me, but I was forced by one of my abductors to move faster.
We were quickly ushered through, with the man handing something to the officer at the counter. We didn’t stay long there. Perhaps the man bribed the officer, or maybe he knew her.
When we arrived at the arrival area, two men greeted us. They were dressed in business suits and sunglasses. The men led us to a van. Once inside, I noticed two more men there. One was in the driver’s seat, and the other was beside him.
I was being sandwiched between two men wearing sunglasses. They kept a close eye on me, as if I would escape. How could I escape when I was already far from Kauai Island where I came from? Besides, I didn’t have any money, not even a dollar. I wouldn’t survive in this place because I didn’t know anyone.
They must pbe going far because the car didn’t stop even after half an hour of traveling. I started to feel sleepy again. I was also getting hungry. It was already noon, but we were still on the road.
Perhaps another hour passed before the car finally stopped. My companions got out, and the man who had taken me helped me out of the vehicle.
Looking at the house, I felt dizzy. It was huge and tall. If it had turrets on its roof, I would think it was a castle. It was even taller than the Robinson mansion.
I noticed four uniformed maids in front of the house.
“Don’t add any more insults. You have done so much damage this time. Whose child is this?” he asked dangerously, squeezing my stomach slightly.
The man with a strong accent approached me. He looked very angry, but I could also see a spark of joy in his eyes. I was sure this guy was so in love with Cali, whoever she may be.
He was not that old, I was guessing he was just a few years older than Claude. He got a thick golden chain hanging on his neck. He was wearing a loose button-down shirt paired with a loose trouser. His scent was strong, but it was not irritating to think that I was pregnant.
I winced. “It’s not yours because it’s my husband’s. I told you. I’m not Cali. I am Alessia Harris-Robinson,” I said truthfully, hoping to avoid a bigger problem like what happened to me before with Ramiro.
The man tightened his grip on my chin. “Liar! You’re just making up a story to spare yourself from my wrath,” his eyes flashed.
He suddenly let me go, almost causing me to fall.
“Lock her up in my room!” he ordered angrily.
I burst into tears.
“Don’t you cry, my love. Even if that child is not mine, I will still accept him. I know that you wanted so much to have a child. I’m so sorry if I can’t give you one.”
I was staring at him blankly, how could he not notice that I wasn’t the one he thought I was? Even identical twins had something in their physical attributes that would differentiate them from one another.