Always Been You

~Lola’s POV~

Where am I? And what causes the gloominess of the atmosphere? My head is throbbing. I feel like I’ve been struck by something, but who did it? Panic took over me instantly.

“Hello!” I yell as I move my head in different directions in search of the light.

“Hello!” I yelled out once more, and this time I heard my voice reverberate several times. I was startled when I recognized the sound of a voice that I hadn’t heard in almost two years. My husband’s voice.

“You got pregnant and ran away from me, Lolita.” I got goosebumps from his deep, booming voice. He has changed and become ruthless. He used to be considerate, but now I can’t even take a breath in his presence without feeling suffocated. I fought the desire to look at him while tightly closing my eyes. I know that this beast still takes up a lot of space in my mind, my body, and my soul, and I despise it. I fought the urge to look at him while tightly closing my eyes. “Answer me, Bunny!” His thunderous voice rippled across the room, and it made me shiver. I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes. I can’t even breathe in his gaze. No, I couldn’t. I couldn’t look at him. Can I fight for myself? What excuse do I have? That I was unloved or that he didn’t keep his promise? Is that reason enough to make it an excuse that I ran away with his children? I heard a loud bang, which made me jump from where I was. He punched something hard, then growled again, “You stole two years from me, Lolita.” That is unforgivable. One year to watch your sexy little tummy expand, your cunt expand.”

Cunt, he is sick!

He continued, “One year to be a father to my kids. Do you think you deserve to be with them?” I was ready to respond when all of a sudden, I heard reverberating footsteps coming in my direction. I felt my heart pick up. I didn’t need to turn around to know he was coming for me. I got back on my feet and started running. I was running without a destination in mind but didn’t get very far because I couldn’t tell where I was headed. I gasped as I felt myself colliding with something, or rather someone. When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar face. Dante was staring down at me. With one hand, I was hauled up. My legs were floating in mid-air as he choked me. I was praying for my dear life. A forceful kiss that felt like ‘You are mine’ swallowed my screams and my gaping for air as I was being choked and kissed at the same time.

“I am your breath, and you are mine, Lolita.” He breathed air into my mouth. I was being choked, but I was turned on as he forced me to breathe in his minty air. With my body pressed against the cold wall, I begged,

“Please.”

“Please! Will your please bring back the lost years? Lolita, you made me into the monster I am today. You broke my heart by running away from me.” He loosened his grip on me.

“You broke every promise you made and never kept any of them!” I responded in kind.

“Aaah, and that gives you the right to take my children away from me, Bunny!” A ghostly smile appeared on his face. This was a whole new Dante. He was different and ruthless. Suddenly, he turned on the light, and I saw Candice smirking at me while carrying Mia.

“You did an excellent job, Lola, and now I am a mother of three.” What’s her name?”

“Let my daughter go, you bitch!”

“You have no say in the matter, Lola. They are mine, and Candice is in charge of raising them.”

“You lie!” I felt my whole body tremble as he stared at me and smirked.

“You made me this way, Lolita!”

“No, go away,” I screamed.

“You can’t run from me, Bunny. You are really pissing me off now, Lolita. My Lolita, I will find you and I will take my children away from you. You will be left with no choice but to follow me home where you belong. I have many ways to punish you, Bunny. Sexually, financially, emotionally, and physically.” I gasped as he grabbed my breasts and squeezed them so hard. My gasp turned into a scream.

I sit up straight and take a deep breath. I raise my palm to my chest, attempting to calm my racing heart. I looked around my room, but I still didn’t feel relieved. I jumped out of bed and dashed to my children’s room. I switched on the light from the wall and rushed to Mia’s bed. My lovely daughter was sleeping soundly. I checked my two boys, and they were also sound asleep. I felt a creeping sense of dread throughout my body.

If Dante ever finds out about them, will he take my children away from me?

My body was drenched in salty sweat. I didn’t want to start crying in front of my children for fear that they might wake up, so I went back to my room. I tried to get back to bed, but my body was sweaty and so were my sheets. I threw the blanket off of me and walked towards the window. Still breathing heavily, I went outside through my sliding door and onto my balcony to catch some fresh air. I sat in my rocking chair, trying to think while glancing at the sky. I sat in the chair, still watching the black storm clouds that blanketed the sky. There were no stars or even the moon to be seen. I took out my phone, and it was one a. m. I groaned, knowing there was no way I was going to get any more sleep after that nightmare. Dante will surely kill me if he ever finds out that I lied to him. I have been checking the news about him and he has changed entirely. He appears more cutthroat and has reverted to his playboy persona. I’m not sure I can put my trust in him with the kids. Maybe I should tell him about the kids and tell him that we can’t work. Why hasn’t he submitted the divorce papers? I sweep my hair back, attempting to comprehend Dante Monroe. I don’t have a copy, so I can’t submit it, and if I send him the divorce papers now, Dante will surely start looking for me and possibly want a meeting with my lawyer. If he meets with my lawyer, it will be the end of me because he will start following the lawyer. I am stuck with him, not by choice. Maybe I should tell him about the kids just to avoid his fury. I held my phone in my hand and hid my caller ID. I heard the phone ring, and after a while, he answered.

Dante: HelloNôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

That voice, I paused and didn’t say anything. I could hear him sigh.

Dante: Lola, are you there?

How did he know it was me?

Lola: Yea, I’m here. I want to tell you something.

After pausing, I lowered my head, shut my eyes, and took several deep breaths.

Dante: Tell me where you are. You can’t do this to me, Lola. You are my wife!

I panicked when I heard him yell, and I hung up the call. How could I be so naïve? Why did I call him? He will track me. He’s going to look into the phone call. With trembling hands, I quickly dialed his mother’s phone. She was very quick to answer the phone.

Martha: Hello, baby. Are you all right?

Lola: I called him.

Martha: Oh no, baby, it must be very hard. Stop crying. I’ll take care of it for you. For the time being, take your SIM card from that phone and dip it in the water. I’m going to call my guy right now to get rid of all the traces. I know it’s difficult, but you must try. But if you want to work on your relationship with him, you will have to come back home. Do you want to return home, Lola, because if you aren’t ready and you continue calling him, things could spiral out of control? Dante is my son, and he has some lessons to learn.

Lola: I know and I’m sorry. It will never happen again.

Martha: Don’t say that, Lola. I know you love my son and I know you will still call him. Whatever decision you make, I will always support you. Now get some rest and stop overthinking.

What a strange dream. I haven’t dreamt about Dante in a long time. The last time I dreamt about him was when I was pregnant. Why now? I looked up at the sky, my thoughts slipping away from Dante. I walked into the room, grabbed a blanket, and went to one of the patio couches to sleep.