CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Ariella 

“Please don't shoot!" I exclaimed as I opened my eyes.

"Mrs. Deluca calm down,” a strange man said.

"Who—who are you?” I asked.

"My name is Thomas Guerra. I am Deluca's family doctor, which means I will be your doctor as well," the man said, and I confirmed with his dressing.

“OK, what happened?" I asked, feeling so weak.

"Your fear of guns got the best of you, and you passed out," Luis explained as he walked in.

I felt like jumping on him and slicing him up; how dare he point a gun at me? 

“You will —" I could not even finish my sentence because I started to feel weaker.

“What's happening to her?" Luis asked the doctor.

"Nothing; it is just the side effect of the medication I gave her. Mrs. Deluca will come around soon, and please ensure she eats enough," the doctor said before walking away.

"David accompany him,” Luis said while walking towards me.

"Ariella Johnson, the only adamant law student to bring down the mafia, why do you think you are brave enough if you can not stand a gun pointed at you?" Luis asked me but I couldn't respond.

"Luis, what is happening here?" A familiar voice asked him, one I recognized as his sister's.

“Nothing, have you gotten back from studies already?" he asked her.

"No, I simply do not think it is working for me. I have tried various methods, but my grades are still dropping," she replied.

"It is okay, I will figure something out," he said, but her gaze was fixed on me.

"Wait, is this not Ariella Johnson, the law student—”

"Yes she is the one," Luis cut her off.

“What!" 

“But she's Ariella Deluca now," he replied.

"Luis, what did you do?” she asked him.

"I think you should go to bed now, and do not forget to tell Kendy to bring the soup the doctor asked her to make," he said as she walked out.

I was weak but lost in thought. I was so close to confronting my mother's murderer, but he has taken me too far now. How would I avenge her death? "Ariella, you finally came around," Kendy said, taking a seat on my bed and setting the soup on the table.

"Have you already become comfortable around her?" Luis inquired but Kendy sounded too scared to respond.

"No—no, it is not like that, Sir. She is your wife after all, and I could not bear the thought of knowing she is unconscious," she said, and I cursed her response.

Who told her I wanted to be her boss lady or something? I just want to go home to my father. Before I knew it, I overheard Luis on the phone with my father. "Mr. Johnson, my wife, is currently asleep. I will let her know you called tomorrow," Luis said.

‘How dare he lie to my father?’ I said at the back of my head, wishing I could slap him.

"Ariella, how are you feeling?" Kendy inquired softly, holding my hands.

“I feel—" 

"That is enough; you can leave now. I need some privacy with my wife," Luis said, and she stood up to leave.

“What do you want?" I asked, my voice so low, though I wanted it to be so loud.

"Nothing, what do I expect from a weakling? Anyway, take your soup and get some joules; you are already way too skinny," he said, attempting to feed me, but I shifted my head.

"Looks like you are not interested in going to school tomorrow; Emma called and told me that you will be needed for an important presentation tomorrow, so it is either you eat this and wake up with some energy or miss out and have to deal with the media," he said, and I panicked.

"Good girl, I am glad you are passionate about your career," he said while feeding me.

I ate and considered spitting on him, but I remembered the consequences and got that out of my mind. Perhaps I needed to play it cool to finally get out of his site. I finished and laid back on my pillow while he handed David the plates. 

 "Do not try anything funny, Miss," he said quietly before walking away.

'Jerk,' I thought to myself, reaching for my phone but could not find it. What the heck? That indicated that he had taken it away. I did not have the energy to go get it, so I fell asleep instead. The next morning, I awoke feeling energized but with a light headache. "Ariella, how are you feeling?" Kendy asked, standing beside my bed.

"I am fine. What are you doing here?" I wondered why she had come into my room so early.

"Well, Luis asked me to come check on you and see if you wanted me to make you a specific breakfast today," she replied, smiling.

"No, I am fine and thank you for checking on me," I replied, getting out of bed.

"Is there anything you would like me to pass on to Luis?" she asked.

"No, just tell him I am fine," I said and walked away. To be honest, I would have told her to tell him how much I hate him, but she is innocent and would get in trouble if she did, so I had to keep it to myself.

I had just finished showering and was drying my hair when I heard another knock on my door. “Who's it?" I asked.

"It is me, madam. May I come in?" she asked.

"Sure," I said, as I needed someone to help me with my hair.

"You are so nice, I can not believe Luis is mistreating such a gem; I wish things were different," she said, straightening my hair.

"It is okay, I will get through it, and do not be so formal with me," I said to her.

"OK, Ariella, do you have any plans for getting out of this or getting rid of Luis?" Kendy asked.