Cassandra

When I woke up I was in a nice room. I thought I would wake up in a smelly and cramped prison but here I am surrounded by expensive things. I roamed my eyes and was surprised when I saw a portrait attached to the wall in front of the sofa.

It was a portrait of me. I got out of the bed then walk slowly near to the portrait. It was me during my first day at the University. Daniel visited me at that time.

Why does he have this?

Below the portrait are photos of Daniel and me together. We photographed every memories when he visited me, on our first anniversary, and various holidays we had together.

Oh my gosh!

I grabbed a photo where he proposed to me and I refused because I found out something unpleasant about him. The day I started to feared him. I broke up with him that time and left him for good and I burned our memories together but he kept them. Why would he do that? It's been so long.

I thought we would never meet again, for a long time I did not expect this.

I was scared of him, until now I'm still scared of him. I saw him killed a man and I didn’t know what I was going to do then.

I'm scared because he's here again. I have no one else to turn to for help. I don't have a phone with me and I don't even have one of my things.

My friends. They don't know where I am even Nicolas.

'Why am I still thinking about him now? He doesn't care about me. I'm scared of him too.'

Now I patched everything up. I understand now. That's why they are so rich because they don't only get the money from their company. But also because of their illegal activities.

But why is that? Now that I know who really he is, I still love him. I had never been like this to Daniel before. I feel different for Nicolas. Much more than I thought.

"Do you know why I kept them?"

I turned around. Daniel directly looked at my eyes. His two hands were in his pocket and there was no emotion in his eyes.

"Why are you doing this Daniel?" I ask. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"You know how much I love you, Sì? I only want you Apple. When you left me and rejected me I was always asking myself where I was lacking. I'm doing this because you are mine. I'm just taking what's mine and that is you."

"This is not you Daniel. I'm married and-"

"I know that. You're married to that fucking De Luca. You don't know who he is, I'm better than him Apple."

"I love him, Daniel. I love Nicolas." There it is. I fucking said it.

I saw how his fist clenched. His jaw tightened and he closed his eyes tightly as if his restraining himself. "I know." He nodded. "That is why I brought this." He went to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to me.

I reached for it and then opened it. My forehead furrowed when I saw what's inside.

"Sign the paper. I know that's what you want so I just made it easier for you."

Yes. I despirately wanted a divorce paper but with this whole situation all that matter was just vanished.

"No. I won't." His eyebrows met then he took big steps and then grabbed my arm. I winced because of his gripped. It becomes tighter and tighter.

"You will sign or I'll kill your friends. Choose wisely Apple." He whispered in my ear.

"What?"

"They are already here Apple and they love here. Now, sign or they'll die."

He handed me a pen then pulled me onto his desk. He sat on the chair then pulled me again to make me sit on his lap. He placed the divorce paper in front of me.

"Sign." My hand did not move. I do not want it. I don't want to sign it.

My hair stood on end when I felt his lips against my nape. "Sign Apple." Soon I felt something cold pierce my side. I looked at it and I was surprised at the gun he was holding that is pointed at me. With my eyes closed and the nervousness, I signed the paper and quickly left on his lap. My tears flowed.

"At last. Get rest. Our wedding is tomorrow."

My eyes widened at what I heard. "What do you mean?"

But I got no answer from him. He just smiled then left the room. What the fuck was that? Our wedding?

I went to the closed door and tried to open it but it was locked outside. I banged the door. "Let me out! Daniel!"

I slid against the door until I could sit on the floor. I hugged my knee then burst into tears. Please someone help me. I want to go home.

______

In the morning, Daniel dragged me to his office. I thought we were in America but we're actually in Sicily.

I knew Daniel and he could hurt me or kill me when I disobeyed him. This is the most I feared habit of him. But I didn't saw this side of him back then.

For all this years, he knew where I was. He was the one who sent notes to Dad and I still don't know what he wants. Why did he sent those notes? For what?

"Just behave Apple. Don't make me angry." I nodded slowly then he opened the door of his office. There were two men sitting on the sofa. One is old maybe in his 50s while the other seems to be in his 30s.

The two stood then bowed in front of us. I looked at Daniel but he just smiled at me then touched my lower back and guided me to the sofa in front of the two men.

"Good morning Don and Ms. Evans."

I did not greet him back. I don't want to talk. I felt Daniel's hand tighten his grip on my waist.

"G-good morning." I was still hesitant to look ahead.

"Let's start Attorney Marzano." Daniel quickly said.

The old man took out some papers and laid them in front of us. Daniel immediately took it and without saying a word he signed the paper.

What should I do?

Daniel is forcing me to marry him and I am afraid to do something that will make him angry. The lives of my friends depend on whatever decision I make.

Daniel looked at me without me moving. I got nervous. He stared at me. "What are you waiting for Apple?"

I was about to answer when I saw the two men look at me but I turned my attention to Daniel. "Should we do it now? Daniel, I'm still married to Nicolas." I whispered to him.

His forehead furrowed then he beckoned the two to leave the room. My heartbeat quickened. "Did you forget? You signed the divorce paper and I sent it already to De Luca. He probably received it now. Apple listen to me, he never loves you so why would you force yourself to that man? I'm the only one who loves you Apple. So sign now if you don't want to die your friends. "

I composed myself. Maybe Nicolas has already received the divorce paper. Will he sign?

"I thought we would get married in church. You know I really want to get married in church Daniel."

"We can do that but I want us to get married now. We can do the wedding in the church next time."

I closed my eyes. My excuse didn't work. How can I stop this?

"I know what you're doing. You're trying to stop this marriage."

I looked at him. All I could see was anger in his eyes.

"Why are you doing this Daniel? You're not going to do this just because of your feelings that we've ended long time ago. I broke up with you because I can't afford to be with a murderer like you."

Daniel suddenly grabbed me. He pressed me to the sofa and coiled his hands around my neck. Choking me to death. "You say that again and I will end you. Who do you want to be with? That fucking De Luca?" He laughs. "You don't know that person. His worse than me and more people have been killed than me. He's the Capo of La familia, Apple. He's not jut an ordinary businessman you think." He tightened his grip on me so when he realized I was about to catch my breath he immediately let go.

I coughed and gasped for breath. I even held my neck because of the pain.

"He's a monster. Nicolas is a monster. He killed my parents and I want him to pay for that."

I fell silent and tried to pay attention to what he said. I laugh bitterly when I realized something. Now I understand why they act like that and why they are so rich, it is because of their illegal activities. They're doing illegals.

'I want to go back. Where everything is normal. Where I care nothing but my studies and being like Dad. Every day I can spend time with my friends and freely do what I want. I want it. I want to go back. '

I couldn’t help myself. My tears flowed and I cried. I just felt that Daniel hugged me.

"I'm sorry. I love you Apple."

I do not know what to do. I'm getting scared.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry if I have to do this." I looked at him and then suddenly I felt something stabbed in the neck. My eyes dimmed until I was engulfed in darkness.

I woke up to the sunlight hitting my face. I'm in bed again. In Daniel's room. I scratched my head when it stung. I haven't taken a bath yet. This is still what I was wearing when Daniel kidnapped me.

I got up from bed and walked straight to the bathroom. I need a shower. I took off my blouse and then my pants followed but I stopped when I felt something hard inside my pocket. I picked it up and my eyes widened when I saw the ring. I almost forgot about it.

I hid it while I was still on the plane. I held it tightly. "I will return you to your owner. I love you Nicolas."

After I took a bath I also got dressed. Fortunately, there are clothes in the closet. I pushed the door but it was still locked. This is so boring. I don't even have a cellphone.

Wherever I was, I am always confined and locked up in a room. What's wrong with this people.

I went back to bed and sat down. The door soon opened. It was Daniel. He went straight to me and then knelt in front of me. My forehead furrowed at his actions.

He took something from his coat pocket. When I saw a small box in his hand I felt nervous. He opened it and I saw a ring, it is overflowing with beauty. It has a ruby ​​in it. If we were in different situation maybe I will be glad but the reality was so cruel.

He took my hand and put the ring on it. I thought it was over but it wasn't. He took something from the other pocket again. It was another box. When he opened it my eyes widened. It was like Nicolas and I wedding ring.

He took my hand again but I immediately pulled it back. He looked at me. "Stop it. We're not married."

He just looked at me. No emotion can be seen. "You're my wife now. You signed the paper."

What? I didn’t sign anything. I didn’t do that. What is he saying?

"Just wear it. Your friends are coming now. Don't worry I won't hurt them." He smiled. He pulled my hand again and then put on the ring.

"I want to go home, Daniel. I don't want to be here." My tears flowed. He stood up and wiped the tear from my cheek then hugged me.

"Don't worry. We'll go home but not yet." His arms tightened around me. I was already hurting so I struggled. He released me but his hands still on my shoulders. He stared at me which I reciprocated.

If he thinks badly of me then I think badly of him too. I will admit. When Daniel and I were together I was happy. We are happy. I liked him but it was all in the past. It all disappeared as I gradually figured out what his habit really was. He killed someone not just once or twice. I don't know how much he killed. I broke up with him because I'm so scared and he hurt me.

"Do what I want if you don't want to die your friends."

"Stop using them."

"Then do what I want."

"I hate you." He caressed my hair.

"I know Apple but your feelings will return to me eventually." I stared at him.

He just laughed but stopped immediately when there was a knock. A woman entered. I don’t know her but judging from her expensive make-up, and she's wearing, she is not just someone.

"They're here." She says coldly.

When her gaze landed on me her eyebrows immediately rose. She looked at me as if she knows me.

"Thank you, Hazzel. You can leave now."

The woman nodded. Before she left she looked at me again.

I don't like the way she looked at me. I have a bad feelings to her.

"Nicolas' whore. Hazzel Vassili."

Now I know.

_____________