Chapter 2:

“Shit!”

“This can’t be happening.” Renata paced around the corridor of the reception hall with a bouquet of daisies firm on her grip, panic and anger surged through her chest.

“What do I do?” She bit her lips, her veil kept flowing to her face and she had no better option than to yank it off her hair, she threw it to the floor and stomped on it severally.

“I hate this! I hate myself right now!” She cried, her eyes on the veil as she continued to stomp on it with all her viciousness.

“Ree!” Santiago ran to where she stood, still stomping on the poor veil on the floor.

“Ree, stop!” He grabbed her and pulled her to his chest.

“Let me go!” She hit his chest with the bouquet. Santiago tried to hold her firm but she broke out of his embrace.

“Why?” Concern etched in his voice.

She raised her teary eyes to look at him, her hands flying to the air at the same time in frustration.

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?” He looked over his shoulders in confusion and returned his gaze at her sharply.

“Your father… You didn’t… You didn’t tell me he was going to be here. To our wedding,” she rolled her eyes, trying to fight back the tears.

“Ree, is that why you are crying?” He asked softly.

“He decided to honor the invitation at the dying minute. I was surprised to see him also, You shouldn’t be crying because of that,” Santiago’s brows furrowed in suspicion.

“But, was that really the reason you were crying?” He squinted his eyes, watching her facial expression.

“Uhmm… yeah… I mean…” Her lashes fluttered as she couldn’t maintain eye contact with him.

“I was just surprised to see him sitting with your mother… and… I just… I…” she stuttered with her other hand tugging at her hair nervously.

“Ree, it’s fine baby,” he pulled her close and kissed her forehead.

“Look at you… You look like a baby panda.” He laughed at the mascara that had smeared her eyes because of her tears.

“Go take care of your makeup and meet me at the reception hall.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly before letting it go.

“Oh my!” She gasped for breath while holding her chest.

“Breathe, Rena. Breathe.” She closed her eyes as she inhaled and exhaled.

“I have to look for a way to cover up my mess,” she sighed as she turned to leave, leaving behind the veil.

Renata got her makeup fixed and changed into her wedding reception dress, with a different bouquet this time.

Wearing the red diamond-stoned dress, her lips trembled. Her hands were cold and delicate as she clutched the bouquet like it might keep her upright.

She had seen him again. He sat on a stool at the bar, sipping a glass of whiskey while he had his lustful gaze on her.

Her hands kept trembling, and she had to use the other hand to support the other. Last night, those hands had been in his hair.

On his chest.

Clawing at his back as she moaned his son’s name, he wished it was his name she had vibrated through her soft lips.

And now she stood beside his son, pretending she hadn’t wrapped her legs around him just hours ago.

He raised his glass to her and she just smiled amidst her thumping heartbeat, but Domingo’s smile was different.

It was slow, cruel, and destructive.

It was dark and everyone surrounded Renata and Santiago, whispers of a good marriage filled the air. Under the fairy-lit garden tent, champagne flowed, cameras flashed, and everyone tried to be happy.

Domingo was having the time of his life watching her from where he sat at the bar, watching Renata struggling to breathe through it all.

She laughed when she was supposed to. Kissed Santiago when prompted. But her eyes kept flickering to him… nervous and terrified.

Eventually, she slipped away from the crowd when Santiago turned to talk with his best man.

Domingo followed her.

She didn’t see him until he shut the door of the venue’s private guest lounges.

“Get out!” She hissed, her voice trembling.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“You’re rude,” he smirked, stepping closer.

“Is that how you thank the man who made your last night of freedom unforgettable?”

“Can you just stop?” She whispered as she stretched her neck to make sure no one was watching them.

“You tricked me,” her voice cracked.

“I didn’t trick you. You walked into my room. You climbed into my bed.”

She spun around, eyes blazing. “I was drunk. I thought you were Santiago.”

Domingo raised a brow. “And yet, you begged for more.”

Her jaw tightened. “You’re his father. You’re disgusting to stand here and spew this garbage.”

“And yet you still came.”

“Don’t,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Don’t ruin this for me.”

Domingo studied her. His eyes slowly raked her body, now hidden under the red diamond-stoned dress, but his memory was wild from last night.

The way he looked at her, her moans filled his ears again… the way her fingernails dug at his skin, he could swear that he had marks from it.

“I won’t ruin it,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “You will… if you don’t do exactly as I say.”

She froze.

Her eyes searched his, wide and terrified. “What… what do you want?”

“I want you.”

“One night a week. Until I say we’re done.”

“If you refuse, I’ll send Santiago a little souvenir from last night. I have cameras in my suites.”

She jerked back, her hand on her chest as she gasped in shock. “You’re… you’re lying.”

He smiled softly. His eyes on her as he dipped his hand into his pockets, pulled out his phone. Opened the screen and pressed play.

Her voice moaning his name filled the room.

Renata gasped, face white, knees nearly buckling.

He slid the phone back into his pocket. “You’re not the first pretty thing to wander into my life. But you might be the one I enjoy breaking the most.”

“You’re a monster,” she spat with her eyes already teary.

“I should have known… So it's true?” She shook her head slowly in disbelief.

“What’s true?” He shrugged.

“You go about recording your sex escapades with different girls… women… and…”

“And what?”

“You’re just unbelievable, you’re disgusting… You make my skin crawl,” she wrapped her arms around her body as she spoke amidst gritted teeth.

Domingo smirked. “And you’re a married woman who still aches for her husband’s father.”

He leaned closer and kissed her cheeks which were pink from the blush she applied earlier.

Then he walked out. Leaving her shaking, shamed, helpless, and confused.

But now?

Now she belonged to him.