Camila
I felt it deep down, how his touch sent shivers down my spine, together with his dangerous threats. And no, I wasn't planning on killing myself. If I get to burn down the house, it will be good. I was surprised when he didn't touch me last night. It was as if he was reminded of something. He left the room without uttering a word. The relief that washed over me at that moment couldn't be measured. I won't allow him to touch me. He doesn't own me.
My legs were crossed together as I waited for Sam to bring some of the pending projects and my laptop from the house. I didn't pack them, and I don't have the strength to face my parents yet. I'm planning on starting work this coming Monday. That's two days from today. There's no point in resting. The marriage is nothing to me. I will act as if he doesn't exist. Maybe that way he will get tired of me and set me free.
"What are you still doing here?" I heard his voice on top of my head. I didn't spare him a look or initiate to talk. I focused my eyes on my phone, pressing on something I don't know. The next thing that happened was my phone getting snatched by him.
"What are you doing!"
"Oh, now you have the mouth to talk. Aren't you supposed to be cleaning the mess you made?"
An annoyed chuckle erupted from me. "Excuse me, man, I'm not a slave or a maid. You either find someone to do the work or do it yourself." I think my words triggered him. He was fast in pinning my arms behind me. I let out a low wince.
"You must be crazy, woman. This is my house. You are my wife. You do whatever I order you to do."
Even in the situation I was in, I didn't back down. "You married me as a wife, not as a slave. I'm not going to succumb to your demands." I seethed.
"Oh, is that so? Then I will show you who is the master here." It happened so fast. I felt my body being dragged away. I was trying to detach my hand from his hold, yet it was so strong that no amount of strength would be able to free me. He dragged me to the kitchen, pushing me inside. I almost collided with the kitchen counter.
"Now start cleaning," he ordered in a strong voice. I don't think he knows how stubborn I am.
"You can't force me," I retorted. Something flickered in his eyes. It was a dangerous expression. But I ain't backing down. If I allow him to tame me this time, he'd always get the upper hand to keep doing that. I won't let him have that privilege.
"Don't make me angrier than I already am, because it won't be good for both of us." In return, I folded my arms across my chest.
"I would like to see that side of you, Mr. Antonio Di Salvatore," I spelled out word by word.
My insides were thumping with fear as he slowly advanced his way towards me. I know whatever he was going to do, I'm the cause of it because I couldn't keep my mouth shut. However, he stopped a few feet away from me. He reached for the door and began pulling it. "What are you doing?" I exclaimed, marching forward. All he did was push me away. This time around, my elbow landed on the kitchen counter.
"You're going to have a taste of your own medicine. You won't leave this place until you clean up the mess." The smirk that was playing on his lips didn't go unnoticed. And just like that, he slammed the door flat on my face, followed by the sound of the keys.
I was shocked for a minute. I can't believe he was hell-bent on forcing me to succumb to his demands. Then we'll see. Cleaning the kitchen won't be that hard, but I won't do that. I'm going to show him how stubborn I am. Thank God there's light coming from the window. I won't suffocate to death if that's what he wants. I won't die just like that.
I made myself comfortable on the marble floor where it's clean. Fifteen minutes went by, then thirty minutes, and I began getting exhausted. A hiss left my lips.
"Camila, you shouldn't have run your mouth like that. All this wouldn't have happened to you," my inner voice echoed. From pacing around the kitchen to inspecting the refrigerator for anything to eat. I ended up finishing the granola bars, topping it off with yogurt. In the end, I fell asleep on the cold tiled floor.
I jerked up as I felt something cold on my body. I was greeted by Antonio with a bowl in his hand. My whole body was drenched with cold water. "I see you're so stubborn, right?" He said, dropping the bowl on the counter.
My legs were icy from sitting in one place, and the shivers that ran down my spine from the cold water didn't help. I said nothing, only proceeding to make my way out. I was halfway out of the door when he spoke up again. "You don't want your parents to see their daughter in this situation, do you?"
I turned around with a questioning look. He slowly trailed his thumb on my cheek, down to my lips. Although I felt disgusted by his action, my body couldn't deny how his touch sent shivers down my spine. "You know, they shouldn't see you in a bad condition. It should be the other way around. I don't want my in-laws to think I'm not taking care of their daughter."
When my senses came back, I yanked his hand away. "That is none of your damn business. They already know the kind of person you are. There's no need to fake it. And do take care of your kitchen, Mr. Antonio Di Salvatore." With that said, I turned on my heels and walked away. I was pissed, angry, and every other name I could think of. I felt so stupid when my body reacted to his touch. It was as if I didn't have control over my body.
I went straight to the bathroom and slipped out of my dress, letting the shower drain the pain away from my body. The images of Antonio's hand on my face flashed before me. I hissed out in annoyance, scrubbing the spot with my palms. "I don't want his touch. I hate it. I hate him!" I yelled out. The urge to break the mirror into pieces or even to land a punch on his face grew within me. I left the shower on for a while before turning it off and slipping on my bathrobe.
My steps came to a halt, followed by a gasp that escaped my lips. His eyes were directed right at my body. There was no mistaking it, lust was the only thing dancing in his eyes. "Get the hell out of my room!"