The Wedding Night

“The past should remain in the past so the future won’t be so far away.”

Lorenzo POV

“It all started when I was five years ago,” I began the story that I tried to bury deep in my heart but it kept resurfacing. “It was an afternoon, you were in school but I had stayed at home because I fell sick. Uncle Benjamin and Lucas had come to visit us that day. I was in my room sleeping that afternoon while I heard the news. It came from our parent’s room.”

Twenty years ago,

“I’m here to claim what truly belongs to me brother!” Uncle Benjamin shouted.

“You guys should keep it down. The kids will hear you!” I heard my mother begged.

“Keep what down you whore!” My father accused her. “You are the cause of all of this. If you haven’t whore around then this wouldn’t have happened.”

“I met Benjamin before I met you. I was pregnant with Giovanni before you emotionally blackmailed you wicked soul.” My mother retorted.

I could hear everything from my room. As a little boy, I had no idea why they were fighting. We were a happy family and fighting is not what makes a happy family according to what my mother always said. I stood up from the bed and walked to my parent’s room. When I was almost there, I heard my father declaring that we were bastards.

“They are no son of mine but I won’t allow you to claim them!” My father declared.

As a little boy, I ran inside the room but the state I met my mother in was not comfortable. She was laying on the bare floor with father on top of her and uncle Benjamin trying to pull him away.

“Mummy!” I burst into tears like the little child that I was. I didn’t want my mother to get hurt so I ran and tried to push my father of her. My father laughed and pushed me away with a strong force. My back made contact with the desk that was opposite the bed. I let out a scream and laid on the ground with a broken rib.

I heard mother and uncle Benjamin ruining towards me before I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in the hospital and the first person I saw was my father. He smiled

at me and then gave me a warning. ” pretend you didn’t see anything and we’ll be fine. If your brother finds out about this, I’ll kill your mother.” He threatened me with my mother whom I loved very much. As a little boy, I pretended everything was fine to keep my mother safe. One week pass and the news of uncle Benjamin came. He was accused of murder and sent to prison. I didn’t know much at that time but all I knew was that my father wasn’t my real father.

Present

“What happened after then?” Giovanni questioned.

“As I grew older, father abuses me almost every day but pretends to care more about me anytime he sees you,” I chuckled when I remembered the memory. “I could remember the hate in your eyes anytime you see father caring for me.” I chuckled again, “I was suffering and I couldn’t tell anyone. Mother knew about it but she was just as helpless as I was.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I wanted to protect you. He threatened to kill you and if I had told you, he would have killed you.” I turned away from the window and faces my brother. “I was abused all through my life. He started with a whip when I was eight years and then he upgraded to knives when I turned thirteen. He cut me open most times and fixed me up. I was a toy to him!” I blinked the tears that were settling in my eyes away. I didn’t want him to see me in my weak state but I couldn’t help it.

“I’m sorry,” Giovanni apologized but I just smiled. He had spent his whole life hating me but I didn’t want him to feel any regret because he had no idea. ” I had no idea. I hated you my whole life while you were suffering.” He said with remorse.

“It not your fault brother, you were oblivion.” I smiled at him but Giovanni probably knew that it was a fake smile.

“Is father behind all the attacks?” He asked the question that I feared. I knew he was going to ask and not telling him would only cause more problems.

“Father has been behind all the attacks on you and melody. He is planning more.” I informed him.

“Hmmmmm,” was all Giovanni responded with. “What happened five years ago after you saved me from the fire? What happened to melody?”

“I…”  I stuttered not able to form words and when I finally did, I said, “father had everything planned out. He wanted you gone after he found out your secret. Whatever happened to melody should come from her mouth, not mine. It, not my place to say.”

“I’ll ask her but for now, I need to pretend that I have lost my memories again and you are going to help me. I know you’ve suffered so much because of our parent’s mistake and I wasn’t there as a brother for you but I’ll make sure I get back at that man for every pain he has caused you.” Giovanni made the promise with his hands on his chest. “I’ll be there for you.”

“Same here bro,” I answered back.

“If it not too much,” Giovanni hesitated at first but I urged him to continue. “If it not too much, can I see the scars?” He requested.

I didn’t want him to see my scars. It would only infuriate him more. “Can I?” He pleaded.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

I nodded at him and pulled off the black t-shirt I wore. He gasped when he saw the scars. Some were whip marks while the rest were mostly from knife cuts. My whole back was covered with scars. They were irritating and unpleasant to look at.  I turned to face him and began to explain how I got the scars. Giovanni couldn’t help it as he burst into tears. A full-grown man crying over my pains. I didn’t want him to blame himself so I walked closer to him and embraced him.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized over and over again.

“It okay. It, not your fault,” I tried to smile but I wasn’t good at hiding my pains. I sobbed quietly as I held my brother. We had both suffered due to our parent’s mistake but enough is enough. It was time to stand up and fight back.

“I am going to make sure that man pays for everything he has done,” Giovanni said with determination. “He is going to suffer for the pains he had caused every one of us.” He promised.

“We are going to make him pay,” I joined in his revenge mission. “We need to come up with a plan,” I offered. I wore my t-shirt and then began to inform Giovanni of the plan I had come up with.

*****

Melody’s POV

I saw him in my dream. He muttered some words into my ears but I couldn’t hear them because it was not loud enough. The only thing I could figure out from the way he sounded in his sleep was how he sounded like he was in pain. He promised to come back and while I tried to hold onto him, I woke up.

“Glad to see you’ve woken up,” Lorena commented. “How are you?” She asked.

“Fine,” I answered back. With her help, I sat up on the bed. “Has Giovanni woken up?” I asked her.

“You don’t remember?” Lorena throw me a questioning look. “You were out for two days.”

“What?” I shouted, “how is that possible?”

“The doctor said you needed rest.”

“I need to see Giovanni. He must have woken up right?”

Lorena heaved a sigh and grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry to say this but Giovanni had been discharged. He left the hospital a while ago.”

“What?” I jumped out of the bed. “I need to see him. He might still be in the hospital premises right?” Lorena shook her head at me. “Did..” I hesitated. “He came to visit me right?”

“I’m sorry Mel,” Lorena rushed to my side as I fell to the ground.  “I’m sorry.”

“He has abandoned me again right?” I didn’t need anybody to tell me that he didn’t want to see me.

“He didn’t abandon you, Mel,” Lorena defended. “He paid for all your bills and whatever is going on with him is worst than what you could think of.”

“Why are you defending him?” I yelled at my friend. “I’m suffering!”

“He is suffering too! He was attacked Mel, try to be considerate and for once, stop thinking of yourself.” Lorena was right about one thing. He was suffering.

I stood up from the ground and walked towards the door that leads outside. “If it not too much, can we take a walk outside and where is my daughter?” I looked around for Hope but couldn’t find her.

“Kendra came earlier and offered to take her out for ice cream. ” Lorena replied.

“Okay.”

While taking a stroll in the hospital park, I saw someone I least expected to see. Lorenzo was heading towards me with his usual boyish look. He waved at me but I pretended I didn’t see him.

I was still angry at him.

“Melody,” he called my name when he was only a few feet apart from me. “How are you doing?” He asked.

“What are you doing here?” I questioned when we were standing face to face. Lorena sneered at him and wanted to say something but I stopped her.

” I came in peace Melody.” He simply replies.

“Peace,” I scoffed, “I know you hate me, Lorenzo. You don’t have to pretend you care.” I pointed out.

I thought Lorenzo was going to reply to me like he always did but instead he smiled at me. “I don’t hate you, Melody.” He stated and moved closer to me while I moved backward. “Giovanni sent me here,” he announced.

My eyes widened at the sound of his name.  It sent shivers to my whole body. I was happy to know that Giovanni had sent his brother to me. “What did he say?”

“Well,” Lorenzo scratched his head. ” concerning the Chinese project,” he paused and looked at my face before he continued. “He wants you to stay away from the office for now.” He dropped the bombshell.

“Why?” I asked as I felt the tears welled up in my eyes.

“I have no idea.”

“So who is going to be in charge of the Chinese project?” I asked him.

“About that,” he sighed briefly, “you are still in charge but,” he paused.

“But what?” I anticipated.

“It would be on hold until you are back to the office.”

I blinked the tears away and breathed heavily. “I am still in charge!” I wanted to scream out but instead, I said,” how is he?”

“He is doing fine,” Lorenzo replied. He stared at me for a while before turning to walk away.

“Wait,” I stopped him.

He turned and looked at me. “Can you relate this to him please?” I pleaded. “Tell him I miss him.”

Lorenzo smiled and nodded that he understood. He looked at me for a while before walking away.

“What next?” Lorena asked.

“Now we find out why I had that memory. Our first stop is the orphanage now. I need to ask my mother about some information.” I decided.

I was going to find out who I was and after that, I was going to find out who attacked Giovanni and me. It was going to be tough but I was ready to take a flashback.