Fortunately, Anthony’s long frame meant that his jacket hung rather loosely on me. It provided a rather opportune cover.
I got changed as quickly as I could. In my hurry to escape from Armond and Nora, however, I realized that I’d forgotten to bring my phone with me.
I could only hover, frustrated, in the bathroom.
Suddenly, someone rapped sharply on the bedroom door. When I cracked it open, Nora pushed her way in.
She stuffed the tampon that she had been discreetly hiding into my hands. Nora batted her eyelashes at me slyly, saying, “You’ve got rather good chemistry with your husband, haven’t you?”
I bit my lip, then retreated into the bathroom to change. When I emerged, Nora was sitting on the bed in deep thought. I took a seat beside her. “What were you discussing in the rear house with Armond?”
“We were talking about life. Can you believe it?” Nora scoffed. She sounded disappointed.
Seeing her upset face, I decided not to pursue the matter and merely commented, “I had plans to move in with you, but that’s turned out to be rather unfeasible. I promised Armond that I’d be here for all three meals in the day.”
Nora nodded. “Got it.”
After a moment’s pause, she turned to me and said triumphantly, “I think Anthony moved here on purpose to further his chances with you! I really appreciate his persistence and approach to courtship.”
Speechless, I made no reply.
We sat at length in companionable silence. At last, when night had decisively descended on us, Nora got ready to leave. I followed her downstairs. Anthony and Armond were engaged in a vigorous discussion that broke off when Nora and I appeared.
Armond stood courteously. “Let me send you home, Nora,” he urged.
“It’s fine. I drove,” Nora replied briskly. Traces of unhappiness were still apparent on her face.
What on earth did they talk about?
Armond, however, paid no heed to Nora’s disagreement. He tailed her out of the living room.
I prepared to follow. Anthony, however, clutched me and smoothly stepped in my way. “What are you doing?”
Startled, I retorted, “I’m going to send Nora off, of course!”
“Armond’s already doing that,” Anthony said. He towered above me, barricading my way out.
Suddenly, a thought seemed to spring to Anthony’s mind. “Does your stomach still hurt?”
I shook my head. “I feel a lot better now, all thanks to you,” I replied meekly.
I opened my mouth, about to ask Anthony to take his leave. However, he interrupted, “It’s almost autumn. Dress warmer when you go out.”
I nodded obediently. “OK.”
Anthony maintained his tight grip on my arm. I tried to subtly wriggle out of it, but he held fast. “Where’s the ointment?”
Anthony was looking rather intently at the scalded area. I mumbled in reply, “It’s much better! I’m fine!”
Anthony furrowed his brow. Without even asking, he took my bag and fumbled through it for the ointment. He then proceeded to apply it.
Anthony looked at me throughout the entire process. His gaze was unfathomable. “Is Armond better at this than I am?” he questioned.
Uncomfortable, I shifted my weight from foot to foot, then stammered, “It’s late, you…”
“Are you chasing me away?” Anthony demanded, his face growing murderous.
I took a deep breath, then nodded defiantly. “Yep. Or would you rather stay here?” I asked sarcastically.
“Can’t I?” Anthony challenged. His dark eyes bore into my soul.
Dumbfounded, I shrugged. “It’s up to you.”
Anthony thus remained in the villa. I did my best to ignore him and headed up to my own bedroom.
When Armond was back from sending Nora home, he’d naturally deal with Anthony.
After my shower, I’d completely put aside all thoughts of Anthony. It was almost ten at night, so I blow- dried my hair, read a little, and eventually drifted off to sleep.
The rain came without warning. It was a chilly autumn night, and droplets pattered rhythmically onto the ground. A frosty wind blew into the bedroom, and I woke up with a shiver.
I made my way over to the window to shut it.
Suddenly, a burst of lightning, followed by the deafening clap of thunder, filled the room. Petrified, I bolted towards the window.
In my alarm, however, I ran right into the arms of the chaise lounge beside the bed.
A sharp pain shot through my knee and I crumpled to the floor.
The pain was immense. I exhaled sharply as I cradled it for a long while. The open window was still waiting, and I tried to get up to no avail. I finally sat on the floor, defeated.
The only thing within reach was the small lamp beside my bed. I turned it on, but the dim light only succeeded in casting ghoulish shadows against the wall. The wind continued howling through the open window. A chill ran down my spine.
The curtains were flying, spraying droplets of water across the room. At that moment, in the middle of the storm, the villa seemed to be a most forlorn, desolate place.
Ever since that traumatic incident with my baby, I’d always felt a sense of dread in the presence of rain and thunder. I was utterly vulnerable at the moment, incapacitated as I was with the elements blowing right at me.
I started to panic. My imagination was running wild and I began to tremble from terror. Valiantly, I tried multiple times to stand up with the support of surrounding furniture but only succeeded in knocking into others.
With a loud crash, the lamp fell to the floor and shattered. Its wan light instantly went out, leaving the room smothered in darkness.
I felt a wave of horror wash over me. Shrinking into a corner, I thought I could hear the sound of an infant wailing above the noise of the storm.
I recoiled in fear. Amidst the mounting dread, the sadness I’d suppressed for so long noticed that I let my guard down and saw its chance. Physically and emotionally debilitated, I nearly went mad with despair.
As I looked once more, dazed, at the window, the faint light streaming into the room took on the appearance of blood seeping steadily across the floor.
I screamed with every last bit of strength left within me.
“Sienna!” someone cried from beyond the window.
“Go away! All of you, go away!” I shrieked in fright.
Stupefied with fear, I’d curled up into a ball, my head stuck resolutely between my knees. I was shaking uncontrollably.
“Sienna, it’s me, Anthony,” a voice said gently beside me. It pierced through the tumult of the nightmare. My heart clung wildly to that voice. At that moment, the rest of the world seemed to quieten down and fade away.
I lifted my head slowly. The light in the room had been switched on and the curtains neatly fastened. The window was now tightly shut.
“It’s me. Don’t be afraid,” Anthony said again, softly.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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