Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Monster's Nemesis: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

LILLIANA Time was a torture in itself.  I didn’t know how many days it had been since I was shoved into this room and cuffed to the bed, but it seemed like ages. I was tired and tormented, mentally, forced to stare at the enclosed walls around me—like the white torture used by the CIA. Surprisingly, I was well-fed and hydrated, but they were smart enough to shuffle the meals so as not to provide me with a hint of the time and day. Each time, there would be a different servant, accompanied by two armed men, making sure they wouldn’t utter a word or try to start a conversation with me. Although, after some time, I did give up, I was restless and frantic. Nerves churned me inside out as I waited—and waited indefinitely—for someone to come in. I had almost dozed off when the sharp clank of the door resonated, and my eyes flashed open. The demure servant walked in with a tray of food, with two men on her heels, as she silently d

LILLIANAA week later.I had never felt spiritually closer to my mother than before. It was those little things that Ralph told me about her that made my heart flutter in joy.Now I knew that her favorite flower was white lily because it often reminded her of her homeland—Italy; however, she equally loved the smell of rose. And even though she never really liked snowfall, she wouldn’t ever let go of a chance to spend time with Ralph even in the coldest of weather in Chicago.My mother had the toughest life being married to an animal such as Dante, and while her death was as barbaric as one could imagine, I know she found her peace in the afterlife—if there was an afterlife.“I know Sophia is smiling down on us now,” Ralph said to me the other day when I helped him to take a stroll outside the perimeter of Marco’s house.It might have taken a day or two for me t

LILLIANAOne month later.Despite my best intentions to drive my life towards a constructive path, I was failing miserably. I have a family now, a new job, a couple of new friends I have managed to make despite my awkward social skills, but a constant emptiness chased me around like an old spirit in a haunted house.I channeled my inner millennial woman and tried everything in the books that people do after a breakup.A new haircut, check. I dared the bangs, layered the length, and mostly let it down. Adventure trip, check. Marco taught me rock climbing when we made a three-day trip to the mountains. I don’t think I have ever been so tired before in my entire life.A new hobby, check. After ten unsuccessful attempts at red velvet cake, I finally got the eleventh one right, even though the icing was a disaster.Rebound—well, I tried. Does sharing three drinks wi

He’s always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.”― Emily Brontë, Wuthering HeightsLILLIANAWhen Dominic had told me that he would be taking care of me in his home, the impeccable and opulent Romano Mansion, I didn’t realize that he meant everything so literally. Initially, I wasn’t keen on the idea of coming over to live here temporarily, no matter how tempting the idea of staying with Dominic was.The best and tragic moments of my life were trapped inside the very walls of this house like a silent haunting memory I didn’t know if I was capable of getting rid of it.In this mansion, my entire world shifted off the axis and turned upside down. A place where I fell in love with my nemesis, and I lost my identity and then found a new one.I didn’t know how to feel about the place.But every mo

DOMINICI didn’t remember how time flew by after I had tucked her closer to my body, carefully spooned, and anchored against me. I’d never felt so peaceful in my life before today, living one heartbeat at a time. Each thrum, each beat was a reminder that Lilliana and I have endured a storm and overcame it.We must have fallen asleep because when there was a loud knock on the door, the sunlight had already retired from the room. The loud banging woke Lilliana as well as she stirred in my arms.“Clothes...Dom, I need clothes,” her voice croaked from slumber as I rolled over the other side and grabbed my discarded shirt to help her into it.Putting on my jeans, I went on to unlatch the door that opened to Marco. Not a good time, I wanted to say and shut the door to his face, but he stormed in with a scowl.Thankfully, Lilliana was well-covered and under the sheets, but I knew Marco to pick up the tell-tale signs. For crying out loud, there were discarded clothes strewn around the room, h