Chapter 5

Belladonna bit her lower lip hard to keep her tears from spilling out. Slowly, she stepped closer to Dominic and knelt at his feet. She picked up the handkerchief on the floor with her trembling hands.  

“Please, come home with me for lunch. I don't want to disappoint my parents,” she pleaded as she dusted off his shoes with the handkerchief. It was okay; she would soon forget what had just happened. She chanted the words over and over in her heart like a mantra to comfort herself.  

She wouldn't write it down in her diary, though, because what she had done just now wasn't something worth keeping in her memory. She didn't want to be reminded that she had stooped so low just to make a desperate plea.

Dominic just stared at her without looking away. Somehow, he was irritated by the fact that Belladonna was actually cleaning his shoes as he had ordered. Was that woman a fool?  

Seeing her still cleaning his shoes while begging made him even more irritated. He abruptly pulled his foot away. It was a truly sickening sight.

“You're such an idiot, and I'm sick of you!” He stormed off, having seen enough of Belladonna's stupidity in willing herself to be humiliated.

Belladonna watched him leave. Let him hate her, she thought. She hoped his hatred for her would become even stronger so that when they parted ways, and Bianca returned, there would be no feelings left between them.

She had no idea if he would agree to get back together with her, but at least she had tried. She turned and walked away toward the warehouse, her head hung low. What made it worse was that she was ashamed of being the center of attention of the maids who had been stealing glances at her earlier. Now she felt like she was lowlier than those maids.

Once inside the warehouse, she squeezed her eyes shut to hold back all the painful feelings she was experiencing. “Everything will be fine, Bella,” she muttered to herself.

After feeling better, she took her cell phone as she had to talk to her mother. She was sure Dominic would come back with her because she had obeyed his orders to beg and kneel.

“How did it go? Did you manage to get him to come home?" asked her mother.  

“Yes. I think he will come home with me for lunch.”  

“Good. You truly are the daughter I can always count on. It was not in vain that I took care of you since you were a baby, since you know how to repay the favor.” Hearing her mother's words made her smile bitterly. Being indebted to someone was really not pleasant at all.

“Then tomorrow, you must welcome him properly, Mom.” She wanted so badly to end their conversation, but she didn’t dare.  

“I will do that, of course. I’m so glad that you managed to bring him over. Now get some rest and have a happy marriage.”  

Once again, she could only smile bitterly. What was there to be happy about? Was her mother asking her to be happy about her suffering as a wife who was unwanted by her husband?

“I will be happy,” she said, despite not knowing what there was to be happy about.

She placed her phone down after talking to her mother. Sleep would have been the best option, but she was feeling hungry now. There was no way she could run out to get food since she was just a nobody, or to be exact, a stranger in that house. Dominic didn't offer her any food either. So she had to know her place. It was better to endure it and buy food tomorrow when she went to work.

Holding her rumbling stomach, she chose to sleep instead. It was okay; she would forget all of this soon. She had no idea how many times she had uttered those words today, and it seemed she would keep saying them to cheer herself up.

*****

A rumbling stomach woke her up earlier than usual. She was starving since she had missed lunch and dinner. Her eyes widened in confusion as she found herself awake in a small warehouse. She couldn't remember how she got there.

She pondered for a short while, trying to recall where she was, until it dawned on her that she was the unwanted wife of Dominic.

Her memory seemed to be getting worse. She had to make sure not to forget herself, so she decided to write down her name. She also had to keep a picture of Dominic, so she would always remember who he was when she forgot about him.

Her stomach kept growling, so she made up her mind to go outside. She met several maids who were busy. They just stared at her, who looked lost in the grand mansion.

Dominic hadn't woken up yet. Looks like this was her chance to get some food because she couldn't stand her hunger any longer. She couldn't faint, or it would be a big problem to deal with. Just a slice of bread, that should be fine.

“Miss, what are you looking for?” asked the maid, startling her as she looked around for the kitchen.

“I-I want to go to the kitchen. Sorry...” she looked at the maid, trying to remember what she looked like.

“The kitchen is over there. Do you want to make breakfast for Sir Dominic?

“No. I...?”

“He likes black coffee. Just make him a simple breakfast.” The maid thought she wanted to make breakfast for Dominic.

“I don't...”

“Everything is in the refrigerator, Miss. You can get it yourself.” The maid patted her on the shoulder and walked away.

She was about to tell the maid that she only needed a slice of bread and didn't intend to make breakfast for Dominic. She knew that he would never touch the breakfast she made, but the maid left her there without hearing the rest of what she had to say.

She then made her way to the kitchen and started looking for bread. She was torn between making breakfast for Dominic or not, making her feel conflicted. What if she ended up with nothing?

She would get blamed anyway since the maid had asked her to make breakfast for Dominic. She was really not sure what to do. Whether she made breakfast or not, the result would be the same. But rather than being scolded for doing nothing, it was better to make breakfast for Dominic, even though she had no idea whether he would like it or not.