Maria:
I held my cheeks as I turned the other way. Did this woman just slap me? I could feel my face sore and I needed no one to tell me that she had left a mark on my face.
A sharp sting spread across my cheek as my head snapped to the side. My breath hitched, and my fists clenched at my sides. My skin burned from Lucia's slap, but the pain in my chest, betrayal, anger, and frustration were far worse.
Tears rolled down my cheeks and I knew that no one was going to save me even though my mind tried to picture basically anyone walking through that door to rescue me.
Calling on my father's name, knowing he was watching from afar, he still chose to blatantly ignore me.
I slowly turned back to face Lucia, my vision blurred by unshed tears. Diana stood to the side, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips.
I raised my face up only to see Diana laughing uncontrollably on the couch. "Oh my God, Mom! " I didn't know you still had it in you." She praised her mother.
"Oh my dear, I do. " And if she doesn't compose herself, I am going to slap her even more," Lucia added.
I chuckled. "You wouldn't dare!" I retorted.
As she tried to raise her hands to slap me for a second time, I held her hands and flung them away. Startled, Diana stood up and faced me. "Why don't you pick someone your own size, MARIA!"
"Stop my darling Princess, there's no need to fight or banter words with this unfortunate girl. " She's ruined already, no need to ruin her worthlessness." Lucia said and turned to me. "Maria or whatever they call your name, for this disrespect, not a single cent will be coming out from The Falcone family bank to pay any bills for your useless mother. Go out there like your mates and work. Use your certificate for something good!"
She continued. "Let this be the last time you, Maria Elizabeth Luna de'Silva Falcone, step your filthy good-for-nothing left legs into this estate. " If you do, I will make sure I arrest you for what you can never imagine," she warned.
"How dare I?" My voice trembled with barely contained rage. "How dare you?!" I screamed.
Diana scoffed, stepping closer. "Watch your tone, Maria. You seem to forget your place. You're nothing but a pawn in this family, and you'll do as you're told. Not because you think you are married to a Thompson son, do you think you are now a goddess? Don't forget, your husband is just another bastard."
I swallowed hard, my fingers itching to slap her back. But what would that accomplish? My mother was still in the hospital, and I was running out of options.
"You promised me," I whispered, my voice cracking. "You swore that if I married him, you would pay for her treatment."
Diana let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh, for heaven's sake, Sister, stop being so dramatic. It's just a hospital bill. The Thompsons are billionaires, aren't they? Go beg your husband's family for money if you're so desperate."
I flinched at her words. I never wanted to rely on Daniel for anything, already knowing his history with his family. This marriage had never been about love or support; it was a deal, a business transaction. But now, standing here, abandoned by my own blood, I realized how foolish I had been to expect even a shred of decency from them.
I took a shaky breath. "You'll regret this," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos raging inside me. "You both will."
Diana laughed. "And what exactly will you do, dear sister? "Cry to your weak husband? " Threaten us?" She stepped forward, lowering her voice so only I could hear. "You're nothing, Maria. And no one, not Daniel, not your sick mother, will ever change that."
Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I refused to give them that satisfaction.
"Leave! " Leave here at once! "We have no money, no money for your mother! " Leave before we call the security on you!" Diana pressed and vigorously pushed me out of the house.
Turning on my heel, I stormed out of the house, my hands shaking. The moment I stepped outside, the cool evening air hit my burning skin. I sucked in a deep breath, willing myself to calm down, but my heart was beating too fast.
I needed to think. I needed to act.
"No money! " No money for your mother!" It rang in my head as I hopelessly walked out of my father's mansion, making my way to the road. I didn't even know where I was heading, but I was sure I needed a drink. Hot tears had already filled my eyes, making my vision quite blurry, but I didn't care.
It was already dark, but there were still people moving on the road. Fortunately, no one noticed me. I was tired of all the paparazzi and people always looking at me when they recognized me as Daniel's wife.
Funny enough, I was famous but broke. How can a person be famous and still be broke? I got to a bar and sluggishly made my way to get a drink. "Hey, Hey." I called out to the bartender who was cleaning a glass of cup.
I got his attention and walked up to me with a sheepish smile. "What can I offer you?" he asked.
"Hmmm, two shots of anything you have that's cheap," I replied.
"Okay, coming right up, miss." In a few minutes he placed it on the table and I didn't waste a second before I started gulping it. "More!" I requested, and took out my phone to call my best friend Frank.
The phone rang for a few seconds, and he eventually picked it up. "Hey Mrs!" he teasingly yelled.
"Hey Frankie, Oh cut off with the crap, my life is over!" I cried.
"Huh what! "What happened?!" he asked worriedly. I could hear the concern in his voice.
I sighed. " It is about the money. " They said they didn't have the money anymore. My mom is going to die. Frankie, she won't make it. " I need a miracle. " I replied, almost in tears.
"Hush! Maria, don't say that, they can't do that to you. After all, you've been through and all you've done for them. No way, you can't just marry that demon for no reason. Then, they put you at risk of your own life. "No way I'm going to take that! " Tell me where you are, where are you, Maria?" he asked, with a tinge of anger in his voice.
"Am at the bar, the bar across the city, the one close to my dad's estate." I busted out in tears.
"Maria! " Don't tell me you got yourself wasted! " You know what, don't say anything, okay don't move a muscle. " I will be there in no time." He yelled and hung up the phone.
I took a few shots and as I continued sobbing, the bartender walked up to me. "Hey Miss, are you okay?" He asked nicely.
I can't count how many times I have been asked this all my life, but right now all I can do is nod my head. A couple of people who were sitting beside me had already noticed my frustration and, as I didn't want to be pitied, I immediately took out my card to pay for my drink.
"Payment," I said, extending my card to the bartender.
"Never mind Miss, the drinks are on the house." he offered. Right then, I knew I was being pitied. "No, no, you don't have to. " I can pay for my own drink." I declined politely.
" No, no, please, I insist." You need it more than I do, " he urged.
That was it! I need to leave this place as soon as possible before I become an internet charity skit. I squeezed out a few dollars I had in my pocket, dropped it on the counter, and tried to stand up.
It was then I knew that I was completely wasted and more drunk than I had ever been. I hopelessly staggered, and some guy tried to hold me, but I swiftly withdrew myself from his grip. " No, don't touch me, I can handle myself, and I am a married woman. " I could get my man to sue you for touching his wife when he hadn't even touched me since we got married! " I yelled pointing my pinky finger at him.
"Don't touch me. Don't touch! Touch. Touch. " I stammered as I completely lost my balance and fell onto the floor. I got back up and found my way to the door.
Holding my bags firmly in my chest as I made my way to the buzzing road. Sounds of car horns coming from different directions, flashlights attacking my blurry vision, and sounds of people cursing. "Crazy lady! "Get off the road. " Get the hell out of here. " Do you want to get killed?!" they yelled.
I realized I had just walked onto the road with a lot of moving vehicles at high speed. I tried to get a hold of myself and turn away, but just as I was about to make a move, a man came out of his vehicle and walked up to me. "Lady! " Are you crazy?! " Did you leave the psychiatric home or something?" he asked angrily.
Just as I wanted to speak words from my mouth, I released puke on the man's face. That wasn't supposed to happen, but I felt a bit relieved. I tried to apologize, but I felt a big slap on my face.
"Ahhh." I cried.
"You crazy woman!" The man spat.
Suddenly, I sighted a figure charging toward us. The first thing I saw was a punch in the man's face. The man rolled over on the floor and the person continued hitting the man with no intention of stopping.
Few people had stopped to see the drama and suddenly there was horning from different sides of the road. Apparently, it had caused a bit of traffic. As usual, everyone brought out their phones to film the scene.
A black car stopped in front of me and I tried to identify who it was under that light, but it was to no avail because my headache was so bad from all the noise and commotion. I could sense my vision slowly blacking out.
I tripped over as I held my head and just as I was about to fall, I heard two familiar voices call out to me. "Maria!" I tried to open my eyes, but my vision was already fading. I felt two pairs of arms engulfing me. "Maria! Maria stay with me, Maria!"
I slightly opened my eyes and I could see two handsome faces staring at me. "Dan. " Daniel ? " Frankie?" I whispered and blacked out completely.