Chapter 3 – Alive

Sophia's POV

When I opened my eyes, I was in a completely different place. The white light above me blinded my vision. I touched my face and realized it was wrapped in bandages. Sharp pain coursed through me, my whole body stiff, until I heard a voice.

"You're awake," the figure said with a relieved smile.

I sat up abruptly, with the help of the figure I didn't recognize.

"Where am I? What happened to me?" I questioned searching his face for an answer, I didn't quickly remember what happened to me.

"I'm sorry Sophia," he said quietly. "We tried our best."

What are you talking about? I looked around more confused. However I immediately felt a sharp pain in my stomach, and every memory of what happened crashed back into me.

I gasped suddenly as my hand flew to my belly. "My child....my baby..." I whispered, my voice breaking as I held my stomach, hoping against all hope that the memories were just a dream.

"Sophia," he called softly.

I lifted my teary eyes to meet his gaze.

"We tried our best.....but you lost the pregnancy, we could only save your life."

My belly churned and twisted violently as I sucked in a breath, unable to process what I had just heard. Without thinking, I disconnected the IV needle out of my hand with so much force that blood streamed down my wrist.

The figure rushed to my side immediately, but the pain in my hand was nothing compared to the agony tearing through my chest.

I stepped out of the bed. "No!" I cried. "It can't be, no, I didn't lose my baby!" I shook my head several times, "that's my only hope of being a mother! I screamed, staring at the person like he had just ripped my world apart.

"Sophia, you need to calm down, you need to be strong," he said gently.

I shook my head violently as my trembling fingers reached for my face, trying to rip off the bandages.

He stepped towards me and grabbed my hand. "You cannot do that!" He yelled with fear rushing through his voice. "We performed a minor surgery on you. Your face hasn't fully healed."

"What?" I whispered, but the moment I turned my head, my eyes locked with the last person I ever expected to see.

"Mattoe”..i called shockingly. Every memory of how he hurt me, every blow, every scream, and every moment he tried to kill me, rushed through my head.

I had no idea where my strength came from, but I lurched forward and grabbed his shirt with shaking hands.

"After you tried to kill me, you still have the guts to show your face here, Huh!?" I roared. Are you here to finish what you started?" My breathing turned wild and uncontrollable.

"Where is my baby!" I screamed into his face. I know I could pass for a mad woman now but I cared less.

"Answer me you bastard!" I yelled, tightening my grip off his shirt until my knuckles went white. "Where is my child?!"

The look on his face was like somebody pitying my situation, and it triggered me more, uncontrollably anger shot through me. I took a sharp object from the surgical tray and stabbed him in the chest, he didn't budge. I raised my hand to stab him the second time when a strong hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.

I looked up at the person who had been trying to calm me down earlier, his once calm face now set into anger.

"Stop it, Sophia," he shouted. "I know you're in pain, but you cannot take it out on an innocent person. He's not Mattoe, he saved your life."

"Adrian, let her be," the person I assume was Mattoe finally spoke up. He lifted a hand toward Adrian. "Excuse us," he said.

Adrain hesitated, looking between us before he finally stepped out.

He gently pushed me to sit on the bed as he picked a piece of cotton wool and began cleaning my bloody wrist, not even caring about the wound I've given him.

"How are you feeling now?" He asked calmly.

I couldn't say anything, I went into a long silence just staring at his face. His Black hair, long jawline, and those piercing blue eyes I fell in love with. And truly something about him felt different, very different from Matteo. His eyes held a depth that seemed to understand the weight of my despair, yet there was a warmth within them that offered solace.

"Who are you?" I asked slowly, taking my gaze away from him.

"Marcus," he said, "Mattoe brother, I'm sure he never told you about me, but—we're twins."

He dragged the chair closer and sat.

"I was the one who texted you the last time you attended that party with Mattoe," he added.

I had a flashback to that night. I was at the elite party with Mattoe and his friends. We were all sitting round the table, and he was behaving all loving, touching my waist, kissing my cheeks, smiling like he was the best husband in the world. All for show, so people would think I was lucky to have him.

Buzz.....my phone vibrated, I checked the screen it was a message from an unknown number.

"I can save you from him if you want. I can see you're not happy sitting close to him."

My chest tightened, I looked around quickly, scanning every face but no one looked suspicious. I placed my phone back on the table.

Buzz....buzz, the second vibration drags the attention of everyone at the table towards me.

"Who's that?" Mattoe asked with that sweet, fake smile of his.

"It's Alessia, she's texting me," I stuttered.

Before he could ask more, I excused myself and rushed to the bathroom.

Another message came in.

"Check under the sink, you'll find a pill. When you're ready and want me to save you, text me. I'll tell you what to do with it.

I kneeled and checked under the sink, and truly a pill was indeed there, I grabbed it and hid it inside my shirt. Then I wiped every message from the number and returned to the table like nothing had happened.

That night when we got home, Mattoe hit me several times, accusing me of talking to a lover, accusing me of trying to embarrass him in front of his friends. Accusing me of many things I don't have the strength to deny.

The next morning, after he left for work, I searched for the unknown number and texted, "I'm ready."

The reply came instantly.

"It's a drug that will make them think you're dead, and it lasts for five hours, if I don't get to you before the time ends and give you an antidote... you'll die for real."

I kept the pill hidden for days in my bag. Until the day I found out I was pregnant, everything inside me broke, I just wanted to get away from Mattoe at all cost.

I took the pill and texted the number, I already knew the drugs needed thirty minutes before the effect would start. I just wanted Mattoe to find my body when he's back from work and believe I'm gone.

I never knew Alessia would be in the house. I never knew Mattoe would return from work early.

The day I chose to escape became the very day everything collapsed.

Marcus's voice pulled me out of the flashback.

"I can help you get the revenge you want from Mattoe," he said quietly.