SIXTY-ONE

Kamilla Lopez

The days passed slowly, preparations were in full swing, Bianca and Dona Carolina spent most of their time planning the entire wedding arrangement. I didn't participate in anything, I didn't have the energy, I wasn't able to show happiness, I'm not happy. I thought my pregnancy would be peaceful, better, almost peaceful. Now everything looks like at any moment I will fall off a precipice.

Nothing makes sense, Dona Carolina's words, Ethan's words. I stopped for a while to think, something told me that Nick wasn't to blame for my mother's death, I don't know if I'm in denial, I don't know if he's really guilty. How can I judge him without hearing the truth from him? For days I'm suspicious, Bianca is supporting me in everything, however, she showed that she doesn't agree with my decision, but she gave up giving an opinion.

There was only one day left for the wedding, the ceremony would take place in the Garden, there would be few guests, only those closest to Ethan. He tried to get to know me better in the last few days, I even tried, but everything I did wasn't spontaneous, he took me out, we even went on a boat ride, in the end he asked me for a kiss, it was colder than an ice cube, he didn't compares it to Nick Ross's kiss.

I am sitting on a bench in the garden, watching the small lake occupied by ducks with a vacant and distant look. I'm missing Erick, how must he be? Probably sad, that boy doesn't deserve a mother like me. He loves me like I really am his mother, and I love him with all my might, but I was able to leave him, again.

I see Bianca go down a flight of stairs and approach me, she sits next to me, she is silent, just as I am. She scratches her throat and breaks the silence.

— Well, the wedding is tomorrow.

— I know.

— Are you sure about that? Are you really going to marry this man?

— I have many things on my mind, Bianca, the last one is this wedding.

— You love Nick Ross, you know that if you want to go back to him, I'll support you, right?

— What if he's involved in my mother's death?

— Are you sure about that?

— No.

We were silent when security guards passed by us, when they were distant, we spoke again.

— Kamilla, do you trust Dona Carolina? — She asked.

— Tell me, who should I trust?— A man who kidnapped me and kept me trapped in his house, or a woman who took me off the streets?

— Do you trust me?

— Of course, even after all that has happened, you're the only one I trust.

— So trust my words, Dona Carolina is not giving me confidence. She's planning something with this Ethan guy.

I looked at her confused, in fact, it was something that came to my mind since we arrived at this property. It would be a greater disappointment if we were right in our distrust, certain that Dona Carolina is not the good person we thought she was.

— I'm suspicious too, Bianca.

— I don't believe Nick killed your mother, he looks so young to me.

— I don't remember his age.

— When did he tell you?

— We were taking a bath together, many months ago.

— It doesn't matter anymore, nothing they said made sense.

I rested my head on his shoulder, I stared straight ahead, I realized that the security guards were watching us, so peacefully, I spoke in a low voice.

— Maybe you're right, I'll get this out of the way now.

— What will you do? Bianca asked worriedly.

— Do you trust me?

— No! You are too fragile with this pregnancy.

— In 5 minutes, go to the room, wait for me there.

— Kami, nah.... .

— Do as I say, I'll remove my suspicions.

I got up from the bench and hurried my steps towards the stairs, I climbed carefully and walked to the office, I needed to talk to Ethan. It all seemed to fall into place at the time I was told, but with time analyzing what was said, now it all seems fuzzy and out of place. I stop in front of the door, knock on the wood and wait for his answer, asking to come in, I did.

— Ethan?

— Yes? — I saw him sitting in his armchair, he had some papers in his hands.

— We can talk?

— Clear.

With confirmation, I entered and locked the door, timidly approaching his table, pulling a chair for me and sitting in front of him.

— What do you want to talk about? — he asked.

— Will my father come to the wedding?

The question seemed to have taken him by surprise, I saw that he was looking for words to answer me, it was at that moment that I realized that my suspicions and Bianca's began to make sense.

— Why the question? he asked suspiciously.

— We're getting married so we'll have help from my family's mob, so I assume he's at the ceremony.

Once again he was out of arguments, I controlled my tremor and nervousness, I continued to speak:

— Does he know I'm alive?— Do you know that you managed to find me?

— Kamilla, I've communicated with your father, but he won't be able to come to the wedding.

— How not?— I asked confused. — I find out I have a living relative who's been trying to find me for years, and when I show up and I'm getting married, he doesn't come?—

— I am really sorry.

I pretended to be saddened, sniffed my nose and continued my questions.

— Have you seen him in person?

— Yes, a long time ago.

— Will I be able to see you when we get married?

— Of course, we'll go to Italy as soon as you're carrying my last name.

With a small smile and a nod, I get up from the chair and leave him alone. I go directly to the bedroom, getting there, I see Bianca sitting on the bed, when she sees me, she quickly asks:

— What did you do?

— I went to get my suspicions out.

— And you took it off?— Before answering her, I locked the door and approached her, sitting in front of her. — I don't think Nick killed my mother.

— I also think it makes no sense for him to kill your mother.

— I asked Ethan if my so— called father would be coming to the wedding, and he said no, he said he couldn't come.

— Very strange, how could a father who had been looking for his daughter for years not come to find her? Or rather, for marriage?

— Exactly, only one fact crosses my mind.

— And which one is it?

— That the whole story was a lie, maybe I don't have a family, Bianca.

I let a few tears fall in helplessness, my heart squeezed, how could I have been so blind? I let them play with my feelings, I never thought that Dona Carolina would do something so cruel.

— I'm sorry friend, but the way they told you....

— At that point I don't care anymore.

— Okay, but what are we going to do?

— Let's run away.

— But now? she asked in alarm.

— No! You will stop my marriage.

— And how am I going to do that?

— I don't know, during the ceremony you go looking for a weapon, try to locate a security guard's room, maybe there is one.

— Kami, we have no money, how are we going to escape?

— As soon as we leave, we go to a jewelry store, pawn the ring and get out.

Bianca looked at me with concern, she grabbed my hand and said tenderly.

— Are you going back to Nick?

— I don't know, but there's my baby and Erick.

— Whatever your decision I will support, what matters is you and the baby.

At that moment the door slammed, we stopped talking, Bianca got up and walked to the bedroom entrance, unlocked the lock, Dona Carolina came in with a box in her hands.

— Your wedding dress has arrived!

With a big smile on her lips, she approached me and deposited the box on the bed.

— I thought you were coming tomorrow.

— The seamstress made an anticipation so that nothing goes wrong.

—Oh! I understood.

— Very well, I'll let you rest, tomorrow will be a wonderful day.

— O go!— Bianca laughed.

With his withdrawal, I looked at the window, I realized that it was already dusk. Bianca and I decided to have dinner in our room, we didn't go out at all. We spend the whole time trying to find a way to get away from this place, there are a large number of security guards around the property, if everything is a lie, which at this point I don't doubt, Bianca and I are in danger.

My heart is saddened to see Dona Carolina involved, she was the one who took me off the streets, gave me shelter and food when I had nothing, not even a job. She said she was tortured by Nick, which makes no sense. Is half of what she said true? Do I really have a family? No.... Everything is nothing more than a lie very well organized by them.

(...)

It was 2 pm, everything was ready, I was already wearing a beautiful and impeccable dress, stunning, worthy of a true princess. However, it is a pity that I will have to tear it from my body when Bianca and I escape. I looked at my face in the mirror, light makeup and lip gloss, my hair was in a braid with a bun, a few loose strands adorned it completely. On the feet, a white heel combined with the lingerie and the dress.

I hear the door open, Dona Carolina and Bianca enter the room and stare at me, hypnotized.

— You look beautiful, girl. — Dona Carolina praises me.

— I think the groom will lose his breath when he sees you.— Bianca says, smiling mockingly.

— Okay, let's go, the groom is waiting for you.

Promptly, Dona Carolina walks to the door and waits for me to follow. I'm standing next to the door that leads directly to the ceremony, I'm nervous, my hands are trembling and freezing, I look at Dona Carolina, she encourages me to walk, for a moment I feel sad, the woman who supported and cared for me, I would never encourage myself to marry someone I don't love.

I took the first step with courage, at that moment, Bianca scratched her throat and said:

— Go ahead, I need to go to the bathroom.

Dona Carolina and I went to the altar.

Bianca Kendall

I hurry from one side to the other inside the mansion, I try to find some security room and get a revolver, I won't let Kamilla marry that fop. I knew she would believe that bullshit lie, but how could she not? They knew how to play with her, they knew how to manipulate her using a family that probably doesn't exist.

I find an extensive and long hallway, I start walking carefully so that my heels don't make any noise. I open a double door, I come face to face with an armed soldier, the words quickly disappear from my mouth, he looks at me with a serious expression, he asks firmly.

— What are you doing here?

Before I even thought about answering, the door behind him opened and he was pulled inside. I hear a body struggle and get scared when I hear someone fall to the ground and remain. Even with fear, I approach, if the security guard is unconscious, I can take his gun. At that moment, I feel my body being pulled to the side, with the idea of screaming, my mouth was covered, I was quickly pinned to the wall.

— Hi brunette, did you miss you? — it was Viktor, Nick's underboss. I sighed in relief.

— What are you doing here? I asked against his palm.

Nick Ross appears in the doorway with a demonic look, he has a serious and scary expression.

— We've come to take you back where you should never have gone. said Viktor, also with a serious look.

— Do you really think I wanted to run away?— Dona Carolina appeared as the savior of the homeland and manipulated Kamilla. I explained quickly.

— What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the damn wedding? Nick asks.

— I was looking for a weapon.—

— And for what?

— Dona Carolina and Ethan said you killed Kamilla's mother.

— Motherfuckers.... .— he muttered angrily.

— And how manipulation made her accept this marriage, but yesterday, Kamilla and I came up with a plan to run away, she was going to run away, Nick.

— Just as she ran from me, she had a choice and she chose wrong, she will pay for it.

— What the.... .— He didn't let me finish, passed orders to Viktor.

— Take her, I'll get my wife.

Without a doubt, Viktor grabbed my arm violently and pulled me off the property.

— Viktor, she's pregnant, is he going to hurt her?— I asked with concern.

— That's none of your business, you should be worried about what I'm going to do to you.—

— You won't do anything to me!—

— You who think, now walk, this house is full of explosives.