Chapter 0005

I used to beg them not to do it in the past days; I even used to threaten that my husband would deal with them, that he ran Atlanta, but after today I think that would be a waste of my breath, especially after he showed up today and showed interest in their boss, Aaliyah.

“Calm, obedience, or memory reset?” One of them asked, playing with the remote control.

“We can't use a memory reset for now; remember what Ms. Aaliyah said?”

“Oh, she won’t sign if she loses her memory now. Okay, let’s do obedience.” She answered the other, who now moved the plugs from my temples to my back.

“Bitch, you're not going to beg for your life?” The other asked, maybe they were used to my begging, but I didn't have it in me today.

“It's not like we will listen, but it's what makes this whole experience more fun.” The other admitted, and I just closed my eyes and waited for it to be over.

“I don't like this.”

“What?”

“She's being rude, and she is a nobody to be rude to us.”

“You're right, I also want to hit her for this.”

“Well, remember not to do the face, as the boss will be back for more pictures tomorrow.”

“Yeah, let me…”

“Agh!” I groaned as a kick landed in my abdomen, which sent me to the floor, still tied to the wheelchair.

They didn't even give me time to feel the pain or recover, as a punch followed, then several others. At this point, I couldn't tell whether they were kicks or punches, but the pain was so much that I could feel myself losing consciousness.

“Bitch, beg for your life.” One spoke while hitting me; she sounded so mad that I began to wonder if this was just an order from Aaliyah or if she had personal issues with me.

Hmm, remember how I hadn't eaten since morning? Well, it wasn't helping, as I felt my stomach churning at the same time, reacting to the pain they were inflicting on me.

“By the time we get to the shock, she is going to know who's boss around here.” They didn't stop, even when my cries had now stopped; they still went on taking turns until they suddenly stopped at the voice of someone.

“The director is here; you are all in trouble!” It was a woman's voice, but they weren't apparently scared as they turned to attack her.

“Who do you think you are? You're just a cook. Stay out of our business; we are nurses.” They said to her, and that's when I remembered who that voice belonged to.

It was one of the women who served us food; she used to sneak extras for me, and that's how I was still breathing today without breakfast, as the last time I ate, she gave me enough for two days.

“I'm not joking, the—oh, he is here, sir, we—”

“What the hell is going on here?!” I heard a manly voice demand, and I had no hope until he told them to pack their things, saying they were released from their duties.

I could hear them begging for their job and saying I was crazy and that they were trying to calm me down. Well, their voices started fading in the back of my head. My eyes were closed, but I could feel someone freeing my hands.

I really tried to keep my mind awake; I wanted to ask whoever this was to let me out of here, but that's when my body failed me as everything stopped.

But it was just for a second, as next I heard my name being mentioned. Now I knew only the news would address me by my full name, so forcing my eyes open, I quickly drew my attention to the TV screen.

“And so this left Atlanta in shock, as last week Mrs. Roberts, the young daughter of Mr. Wilson, fell off the stairs and lost her baby and memory, so how could Mr. Roberts propose to her sister?”

“What?!” I promptly sat up, shocked at what I was seeing on the TV. He proposed to my sister? How?

“Yes, it's no secret that the elder daughter of Mr. Wilson, Aaliyah, left her son and Mr. Roberts, who was her fiancé back then, eight years ago. The poor boy was just four years but well, she is back, and since the sister is showing mental problems, I'm sure that's what's making her step in.” The news lady said, as she showed a picture of my sister and husband, they looked so happy as she showed off her engagement ring.

“Ms. Aaliyah, soon to be Mrs. Roberts, also tweeted that she was given the family heirloom ring, which goes to show how much Mr. Roberts loves her. Of course, we feel bad for Ms. Valera, but who doesn't love a love story?” Okay, I couldn't listen anymore. And where the fuck am I?

I looked around, and if not for the machines connected to me, I would think I was in a hotel room, with a proper bed and TV screen on the wall, but well, I needed to get out of here; I needed to go and tell them to their faces that the wedding wasn't happening, as I wasn't going to sign the papers.

IVs were connected to my wrists, and with the way I was feeling, I could tell they had given me a bath, but how did it happen within a second?

Well, it wasn't important. I was about to pull the needle out of my vein when the door opened, and I naturally found myself scared as I uncomfortably shifted, but when I saw it was an unfamiliar man dressed in a doctor's suit, I relaxed.

“Ms. Valeria.” He had a soft smile on his lips. “May I come in?” He asked, already walking in, I didn't respond as a woman who I figured was a nurse followed in, then an unknown man behind her, “How are you feeling?” He asked, and I didn't respond, as I still didn't know these people's intentions.

“It's okay, you can answer him.” The man who came with the nurse said, and I wondered who he was, but as his voice registered in my mind, I remembered him.

He was the man who came in when I was being beaten by those nurses; he was the director.

“I can't go there, please, I can't go back there, I–”

“Relax, calm down, Mrs. Roberts, you are not going anywhere.” The director rushed to me and tried to touch me, but I shook my head. “You are safe now. I didn't know that was happening with you. You're not crazy; you're fine. Your family might have made a mistake.” He said, and that really settled my heart, as he was right; only that my family didn't make a mistake, they knew I hadn't lost it — this is what they wanted.

“She had so many bruises on her stomach and back when I gave her a bath, but luckily we stitched them all.” The nurse said, and I wondered how long I'd been out.

“She's very strong; usually people who go through what she went through lose the pregnancy, but—”

“Pre-pregnancy?” I interrupted as I finished his sentence in my head, “Pregnancy?”

“Yes, Mrs. Roberts, your baby is healthy, two months, right? I can tell you knew, as I found vitamins in your blood.” The doctor said, which made my heart totally stop.

My baby, I… I didn't lose it… I didn't lose my baby.

This was shocking…

How was it even possible?

I was told I lost it on my fall down the stairs; a doctor confirmed that before I was taken to that mental rat hole, so how was it still there?

How was I still pregnant? D-did… did they do this on purpose too? Was Rodrigo on it with them?!