Camila

"Please call Sam and tell him to bring a cup of hot coffee for me because I need to settle down and process all this shit!" Rina hissed out as we stepped inside my office. You might wonder how Rina and I ended up coming to my office together. After my heated conversation with Antonio, he asked me to leave his car. In the middle of the road. I wasted no time in storming out. Initially, I didn't even want to go with him in the first place.

The way he drove at such a high speed indicated how angry he was. But I couldn't care less. I had told him my mind. He'd never see the same Camila again. He might as well try to control a dead person. I will make sure I give him that satisfaction. Since there was no way to escape from his torture, let him control a corpse.

I dialed Sam's number. "Sam, please bring two cups of coffee to my office. Make one very hot," I said with a tease in my voice.

"I didn't mean it very hot. I'm not ready to burn my tongue," Rina spoke up. We had taken our seats on my office couch. Well... I had already ended the call.

"Now, back to the matter. What in hell is Antonio trying to do? What's Derek's fault in all this?" Rina exclaimed, her tone dripping with annoyance.

"I was shocked too. I don't know how to face Derek. He hasn't responded to my text yet." I had texted Derek earlier asking him if we could meet. I don't know why he hasn't replied. Maybe Antonio's assault had shaken him, or he was too busy to check my messages, which is rare.

Derek works at the marine with his father in the countryside. Usually, whenever he visits the city, we'd catch up. Rina, Derek, and I have been friends since kindergarten. The bond is strong. I wouldn't want to lose my friend because of Antonio's silliness. He can't separate me from my friends.

"Derek wouldn't ignore you because of that. I'm sure he was caught up with work. Just chill." The door was suddenly pushed open, and Sam walked in with our coffee.

"Your very hot coffee is here," he announced, earning a glare from Rina in return.

"Don't allow me to pour that very hot coffee on your face," she hissed. Sam immediately composed himself, knowing Rina and her wrath.

"Cut this young man some slack. I'm not ready to die young," he answered, placing the tray in front of us.

"Thank you. Please push my schedule for later; I want to relax first," I said.

"Alright, Ma'am. Enjoy your coffee, Ma'am Rina." I bet Sam was trying to get himself in trouble. Rina glared at him in return. As Sam closed the door behind him, I heaved a sharp breath. I was still worried about the lack of response from Derek. I know it's unlike him not to reply to my texts. Even if he is busy, I either get an emoji or a short text back.

I quickly sat upright when a thought popped into my head. "What's with the expression?" Rina asked, raising her brows.

"What if Antonio threatened Derek?" I asked. Rina blinked.

"I don't think he'd-"

"He made it clear to me this morning that he doesn't like me with Derek. Rina, I'm worried." I wouldn't be surprised if Antonio really threatened Derek. He was capable of doing anything. He killed someone for touching me. He can do more.

"Stop overthinking. Derek is fine. What I want to understand here is why Antonio is doing this to you. What will your parents say when they see the scars on your neck? How can someone be so evil? What's his motive exactly?"

"Whatever his motives are, it won't change my impression of him. That man..." I leaned forward, my heart heavy with pain. The memories of how he had tortured me in Italy was still fresh in my mind. The way he made me feel so dirty about myself. The way he made me weak before him. The way his touches somehow made me feel good...

"Is worse than a serial killer, Rina. If I were to be given a gun, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot him. I can't forget the pain." I didn't realize I was in tears until I felt them drip onto my hand.

A frustrated laugh escaped me, and I ran my hands through my hair. "God! I can't believe I'm in tears because of this."

"You needed to let them out to make yourself feel better," Rina spoke. She looked at me with sympathy.

"I don't think I'd ever feel better, Rina. I don't even know what to do anymore. I'm just going to allow him to do whatever he wants. But it has to be with a dead Camila. Because he won't get to see a smile on my face, which he took away." I charged.

Rina took a sip of her now-cooled coffee. "I'm sorry you had to go through all this, Camila. If there is a way I could save you from Antonio, I'd definitely do it," she said, resting her hand on mine.

"No one can save me from Antonio. Not my parents or anyone. Except me." I didn't know how I'd be able to do that, but I knew it would happen. I wouldn't allow him to destroy me completely. He had managed to take away a part of me, but he wouldn't be able to do it completely. I will make sure of that.

"I'm here for you. Always," she squeezed my hand reassuringly. I flashed a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

"Thank you, Rina."

Rina had left for work after we chatted for a while, and I got back to my desk to start the day's tasks. At some point, immersing myself in the work had taken my mind off the looming problem. I hadn't gone to my parents' house since my return. Honestly, I wasn't ready to face them yet. I knew I'd be reminded of everything. I was glad they hadn't called me either. Raiden never called back.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my trance. Sam's face appeared. "Sorry for disrupting your work, Ma'am. You have a package," Sam said, pushing his way inside. My eyes shifted for the two bags in his hands.

"What's that?" I asked, dropping my pen. Sam walked up to my desk and set the bags down.

"It was sent by a guy. He said his name is Rain." I reached for the bags to have a look at their contents. A set of dresses, heels, and a bag greeted me.

"Be there by 7 pm sharp!" I read the note that had an address underneath it. I gripped the piece of paper tightly, anger building up inside me. What the hell was he planning this time?

"Ma'am?" Sam called.

"You can go," I dismissed him. The expression on his face showed curiosity, but Sam wouldn't understand. As soon as Sam closed the door behind him, I tossed the bags away from the desk. "I hate you, Antonio," I screamed out.

**
My heart was still seething with anger from the time Antonio had sent me the dress up to the time Rain picked me up from the office. I didn't know what he was thinking. Ordering me around and controlling me as he wished. The fact that I couldn't do anything about it made the situation even worse. I had thrown the bags on the floor in frustration, but I was still the one who picked them up and put on the dress.

The way the sea-green dress covered my body, not leaving anything exposed, indicated that Antonio had chosen it himself. He had forgotten that I could decide not to wear it if I wanted.

"But you didn't, knowing you'd put yourself in trouble," my inner voice charged.

A hiss escaped me. At least the dress wasn't that bad. And the heels were comfortable to walk in. The car came to a halt in front of an unfamiliar building that resembled a wedding reception hall. Curiosity welled up inside me as I stepped out. "Mr. Antonio is waiting inside. I will be on my way," Rain broke through my exploration of the place.

"Thank you," I watched as he hopped back into the car and drove away before shifting my gaze back to the entrance. It better be something worth coming to.

I glided my way towards the entrance, and a man clad in all black clothes stopped me. "Your pass, please," he said.

Great. Now I'm getting embarrassed. I glanced at the people waiting behind me, eager to enter. "Sorry, I don't-"

"Ask her again, and I will make sure you don't leave here alive." I didn't have to be told who it was. Antonio appeared from nowhere, looking all shades of danger and, well, not handsome. Antonio could never be handsome in my eyes.

The man's eyes went wide when Antonio approached him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Antonio, I didn't know you two are—"

"Shut your filthy mouth and get out of here," Antonio hissed. The fear in the man's eyes intensified. "I will make sure you are fired from whatever job brings you here. I don't care who you are working for, but you won't stay a minute here. So, before you lose one of your ribs, fuck off!" Antonio's voice was laced with anger, his jaw clenched.

Why did he always have to exert his control wherever he goes to? Embarrassment flooded through me as I noticed the looks the rest of the people waiting in line were giving us. What baffled me even more was that none of them dared to utter a word. I didn't miss the fear that had clouded some of their eyes.

"Antonio—" I began, only for him to grab my wrist and lead us inside. I had to walk faster to keep up with his pace. His grip on my hand was tight, and I couldn't tell if it was intentional or a result of his anger.

"Can you let go of my hand?" I asked, attempting to free myself with my other hand. Antonio turned to me, his familiar dangerous eyes locking onto mine, the same eyes that always made my legs weak, the eyes that could provoke a strange reaction in my body. Damn it, I hated it.

"Are you stupid?" It took a moment for his words to register in my brain. Thank God we were in a somewhat secluded corner of the room, where only a few people would notice us standing.

"Stupid for what?" I asked, my brows furrowing. His grip tightened even more, and I winced. "You don't have the mouth to tell that guy you're my wife?"

I couldn't control the chuckle that escaped me, a genuine sound. "Your wife? When was I ever your wife? I thought I was your whore, or should I say, a toy you play with and control however you want." The words spilled out before I could rein in my mouth. I always managed to get myself into trouble

Before I could grasp what was happening, Antonio yanked me towards a nearby door with such haste that I feared the impending consequences. I was certain that today, I'd either lose a limb or endure far worse. Antonio forcefully kicked open a door and pulled me inside, swiftly shutting it behind him. "What are you doing?" I found myself uttering, even though I was acutely aware of the trouble I was in. My legs trembled with anxiety.

Antonio approached me with determined strides, seizing my arm forcefully, and causing my palms to land on his chest. "You are my fucking wife. And I'm going to fuck you right in this room. I will make you scream so loud that it would be the only sound beating through the walls of this room. With you moaning my name like your last breathe." Next thing I felt was my zipper going down my back and Antonio's fingers sharp on my throbbing core.