CHAPTER FOUR

***ELENA'S POV***

My memory went blank at first when the strange guy who I just learnt his name is Dominic asked me for my name. But…the moment he stepped forward, fixed his stormy gray eyes on me and asked me 'who the hell are you?'

The memories I wish I could erase flooded in, suffocating me. So I just snapped, “Why did you care?” 

“What?” He blinked, clearly not expecting that. Like what I had just said was an abomination. Well, maybe it was. 

He looked at me—really looked at me. As if trying to see past my skin, past the blood and bruises, into whatever monster he imagined I might be.

I knew he wasn't ordinary. I could tell he was someone that could literally destroy me completely with the snap of his fingers. The tension in the room practically revealed it. But, who cares about that? 

He was tall. Broad shoulders with an insanely perfect jawline and grey eyes that could cut through steel. 

But I was already broken, so there was nothing left to intimidate anymore. I would rather even be gotten rid of at this point. 

“Is this how you talk to someone who saved your life?“ He asked, his voice tight with barely restrained anger.

I met his glare head on. “Did I ask you to save me?“ I fired back.

Then my hand dropped to my stomach. It was empty. I couldn't feel anything…

My baby. 

Gone. As much as I wanted to cry, to scream, to break, I couldn't. My eyes didn't even sting. It feels like they are no longer mine. But my chest—God, It tightened with pain as I silently mourn my loss. The only good thing that ever happened to me. 

He scoffed, yanking me back to reality. “I get it now,” he mumured. “But do know that wherever you come from and whatever you are, I will make sure to find out. And if I do find out that you're a spy, I will make sure to end your goddamn life,” he threatened, through gritted teeth.

“Oh… then good luck with that,” I said flatly, unbothered by his little threat. 

He clenched his fists, turned around and made his way outside, slamming the door shut behind him.

Then another guy, who has been quiet all this while, stepped closer. His lips curled up in disgust. 

“You don't get to talk to the Boss like that,” he spat through gritted teeth, gesturing towards the door. 

I wanted to say he is their Boss and not mine but I decided against it. 

I didn't say anything. I just scoffed. 

He glared at me and then shook his head at the absurdity of it all. He turned and also walked out of the room.

The moment he left, I left out a long exasperated sigh, pressing a hand to my throbbing forehead.

The door creaked open again.

“Hey,” another voice said. “It's a good thing you're awake.“

I raised my head to see a middle aged woman with a polite smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I'm Juliet. A medical doctor.“ She walked further into the room.

For some reason, I warm up to her. Unlike the Boss and whoever his “handbag” is, who seems to get on my nerves.

“Thank you for saving me.“

She held my hand, pressing it reassuringly. “I'm sorry about your baby,” she says, her voice low but thick with emotions. “It saddens me to tell you that due to how you lost the child, it will take only a miracle for you to get pregnant ever again. The people who hurt you like that…. don't deserve to live. Make sure you get back at them.”

I was taken aback by her statement, more scared that she had revealed what she found out to Dominic than for the fact that I may not conceive again.

“No, no, you don't have to worry, I said nothing to no one.” She assured me noticing the panic on my face. 

I nodded slowly. "Thank you… I'll surely make them pay.” Relief washing over me but still deeply hurt by the loss of my child. It didn't hurt me that I could never get pregnant again, I had already shut out anything called love. All I want is my revenge. 

She pressed a thumb on her eyes like she was wiping a tear drop before it slides down her cheek. She then sniffed. “You should go and take a warm bath.” She gestures towards a table. “Those are clean clothes to change into. And I will quickly prepare a hot pot for you.“

“Alright. Thank you, Juliet,” I say.

I tried to stand up but my legs weren't working. They were wobbly like jellies. Pain surged through my body like every piece of my bone is broken.

Juliet noticed my struggles. “Let me help you.“

She wrapped a arm around my waist, while I threw mine across her shoulders. Gently, she helped me out of the bed, and we made our way towards the bathroom which was a few steps away in the room I was. 

Every step was a struggle. Every painful gasp that slipped past my lips was a reminder of everything I had gone through.

After what seems like eternity, we reached the bathroom. 

“Thank you, Juliet,” I say.

“Anytime,” she replied and made her way outside.

I undressed and stepped into the warm herbal bath. I sat into the bathtub and only then did I feel relieved a little.

My eyes landed on the bruises on my body. I remembered how hard I had begged those security guards, while screaming 'my baby' but no one listened to me. 

I swear to God Almighty, that I will destroy them. All of the people of Hartwell Group. Especially… Marcus and Vivienne—they will suffer.

I realised that I had lost my ability to cry. Instead I let out a bitter, menace laugh that echoed through the walls. 

I washed up and stepped out of the bathroom.

******

The next morning.

I had just woken up when Mina—one of Juliet's subordinate stepped inside the room.

“The Boss seeks your presence,” she says.

The Boss?

What now?

“Alright.“ 

I stepped out of the bed and together we made our way out to the other wing of the mansion and into a study room.

Dominic stood tall by the window, staring out of it.

“She's here, Boss,” Mina said, bowing.

Without turning back, he ordered, “You can go.“

She stepped out of the room, leaving us two alone.

The silence lingered between us for a while. Then he turned towards me and sat back on a chair. His gaze was cold and calculating.

“We are leaving the estate soon,” he began, voice steady. “So, it's time for you to leave.“

Leave? 

My heart skipped a beat. My fingers clenched the hem of my blouse.

 I have no where to go. No one else to take me in.

 But instead of letting my fear get the best of me, I raised my head and met his glare. 

“Don't you think you're being unfair. I told you I can't remember anything but you still want to send me away.“

He scoffed. “You have a pleasure for getting on people's nerves, don't you?“ He said calmly but the irritation in his voice was evident. “First, I save you and you didn't even appreciate me and now you're trying to leach off me. What are you? A parasite?“

Right. I didn't say a word. Maybe I have been unreasonable. Just a little.

He continued. “You have until the next hour to leave. Or else, I might detain you for being a spy,“ he said, his voice final, sending a chill down my spine.

I'm so fucked. I need to do something. Think, Elena. Think. I need to stay here and figure out my next line of actions. Because right now, I've got nothing. 

Swallow your pride, Elena. You have no one else. 

And just like that, I dropped to my knees, head lowered. “I have been so ungrateful, Boss,” I said, my voice was a desperate plea. “I took your immense kindness for granted.“ Then I clasped my hands together. “Please help me. I really can't remember anything.“

It was silent for a while, then he burst into laughter—the sound, sharp and mocking. 

“Look—at—you,” he said, trying to muffled his laughter. “I thought you are tough, huh?“

Silence; I was just biting down on my lower lips.

Then he stood up and walked up to me in slow, deliberate steps. He stood in front of me, then crouched lower and tilted his head forward. His hand reached out, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes, his nose almost rubbing against mine.

“And this is where you belong,” he whispered, his breath warm against mine. “On your feet. Begging me like this. Not acting tough. You owe me your life, so don't you dare try to act rashly or think that you have anything to be proud of.“

“Yes, Boss,” I murmured.

He yanked my chin away and stood up, straightening. “To stay here, you have to earn it,” he said softly like he wasn't the one who had just threatened me moments ago.

“How?“

“We’ll find something for you to do. Something useful. Or entertaining,” he says.