Rona.
I clutched my stomach, recoiling as I heard the footsteps against the damp floors.
He was here again.
The dark Italian leather shoes appeared in front of the steel bars of my cell and I slowly raised my head, craning my neck to meet his cold gaze.
Caesar's lips rose ever so slightly as he saw my pale, sunken cheeks. "How the mighty have fallen."
I sneered at him, shooting a hateful glare his way. "Pot calling the Kettle black."
Caesar chuckled darkly as the chains rattled, he leaned forward gripping my chin as his lips curled in a loose smirk. "I'm not the one in prison for attempted murder."
"And I'm not the one who fucked my fiancée's mother." I shot back.
That got him,
His grip on my chin loosened and he stumbled back, his shoes scuffing against the uneven ground.
"Caesar Rune, Heir of the Rune conglomerate caught in the middle of sex with his future mother-in-law." I watched every micro expression of his, His jaw clenched and a vein popped on his forehead.
"I bet the media would love a scandal of their poster prince, won't they?"
"Not as much as they would love yours, 'Famous tycoon imprisoned for attempted murder'."
I could make out the rough outline of his face, the eerie glint that flashed in those steely grey orbs.
The very ones that always reminded me of metallic taste at the tip of my tongue, the blood that stained the cashmere rug.
My finger's curled into fists as I clutched my rags. "You killed her!" It echoed, taunting me from the depths of my mind. "You're a monster. You deserve to rot in hell."
It was closing in. Closer. Closer. I could feel itd presence at the back of my mind.
"Murderer." It called out, "That's what you are, A murderer."
"The truth does with you, Rona." Caesar's voice cut through my thoughts.
I gasped, relief thrumming through my veins, never had I thought I would savour the sound of his voice.
He turned his back to me, eyes narrowing at my form, "Give it to me."
I chuckled, a dry, throaty sound reverberated through the walls, "You have to be more specific, darling. Give what to you?"
His facade cracked as he gripped the bars, his molars grinding against each other. "Damn it! Rona, where's the goddamn tape!"
"You said it yourself, darling." I cooed mockingly, "If the truth dies with me, I'll make sure I drag the both of you into the depths of hell."
I tilted my chin in defiance as Caesar ran his hands through his hair, his brows furrowed in distaste.
But even against the dim light, he still looked devilishly handsome -One of his only redeeming quality-.
"Do you remember what today is?" I muttered, my voice softening
His head snapped back in my direction, "What the actual fuck Rona? Don't change the damn topic! Where's the-"
"So you don't know what today is?" I shuffled on the floor, my shoulders relaxing as I leaned against the mouldy walls. Of course he wouldn't, what was I expecting.
"I guess running your family business to the ground must be pretty exhausting." I met his gaze head on, daring him to speak.
"Your horrible business acumen must have affected what little is left of your brain cells."
I still made excuses for him, year after year. A tear slowly slid down my eyelids but I wiped it off at lightening speed. There was once a version of him I loved but the Caesar in front of me was not him.
"Happy five year anniversary..." My chest tightened as I choked back a sob, "You promised us a trip to the grand canyons, how could you forget?"
"He was too busy fucking your-"
"You promised to love only me--"
"And I did!" Caesar yelled, his voice overlapping mine as it cracked towards the end. "I loved you Rona."
"Loved?" I raised my brows, "I didn't know screwing two generations was your way of showing... love." I spat, the word burned through my throat
"But, I have to know, darling finance. Why? Was it for the thrill or have you been stringing me along for five fucking years of my life."
Caesar tugged at the roots of his perfectly coiffed hair, "I don't fucking know why!"
He paused, gaze flickering back to me in guilt? Pity?
It was too late for either of them especially since he was the very reason I was locked up in an isolated detainment centre.
"Get out." I whispered, my voice eerily calm. "Get the hell out of here."
Caesar exhaled sharply as his grey orbs turned piercing. "Think about it Rona, I've given you the best exchange."
"It couldn't get any better than that." I rolled my eyes. "My life or your dignity."
He sighed, slamming the bars shut as he walked off without so much as a glance.
"What I wouldn't do to see him on his knees." I muttered under my breath.
My chest constricted as his footsteps faded to nothingness, I doubled over, ricocheting as mouthfuls of blood splattered on the moss ridden floor.
I leaned against the wall, darkness enveloped me as the doctor's words re-echoed in my head. "I'm sorry Miss Reid. You're pregnancy test came out negative."
Hehe. I can't believe I nearly had a child with that two faced bastard.
A sharp cough tore through my chest as the familiar metallic taste flooded my senses.
† Flashback †
"Miss Reid, I believe you need to see this." Doctor Everest said, handing me the test results.
"You've been diagnosed with non gestational Choriocarcinoma."
My world stopped, I staggered backwards, barely managing to catch my balance. "What did you just say?"
He held me sturdily, helping me to the chair. I grabbed his arm, my gaze burning into his. "What did you just say?"
"It means you have to begin treatment as soon as possible ma'am."
I shook my head, unbelieving. "That's not possible, I've always been healthy. Take the test again."
Doctor Everest placed his hands on my shoulders, placating me. "Our equipments are top of the line, there's no -"
"Take the test again." I interjected sharply, watching with narrowed eyes as he ambled out, nodding helplessly.
That day, I collapsed on the hospital's floor, my legs weak and feeble. The world around me was spinning.
"Stage IV with Critical Metastases."
An ear splitting scream echoed through the hospital's empty walls as I flung my purse into the distance.
"Non gestational Choriocarcinoma. Stage IV." I broke into a fit of laughter and tears slowly slid down my eyes.
My fists met the tiles, and I furiously pounded into them, dismissing the pain, the reddened, torn outer layers of my skin.
I didn't register the pounding of footsteps on the floors, till warm arms engulfed me and I sunk into the familiar embrace. I stared at Vance, my gaze meeting his, all teary eyed and hyperventilating.
"I'm going to die, Vance." He parted my hair pulling me closer as he reassured me.
"You're not dying, Choriocarcinoma is not a death sentence." His grip tightened as I sobbed harder, the weight of my loss sinking in.
"My baby. I don't... I don't have my baby." I hiccuped, thrashing against his hold. "...My baby."
"Get me my baby!"
A whimper broke through my lips and I felt a slight sting on the base of my neck.
The familiar lavender perfume wafted past and Kayla stared down at me dressed in her white lab-coat, hanging in-between her fingers.
Her eyes held nothing but pain, "I'm sorry." She mouthed as I slowly succumbed to the darkness within.
†
The steel bars clanged as the menacing guard tossed a food tray my way. I stared at the food tray, and bile slowly rose up my throat.
I gagged, the foul stench reaching me.
"What? Is our five star meal not suitable for her royal highness?" The guard teased, earning playful jabs from his friends.
He unlocked the cell doors, lowering himself to my eye level, "Eat up Bitch, This is the only food you'll get here."
"I'd rather die." I spat in his face.
I could hear the jeering of the guards behind. "The princess still got claws."
The guard picked himself up, "What do you expect from a witch that nearly killed her own mother."
The lights blurred too fast, my bones crunched, I found myself flying across the cell, my back hitting the metal bars, Hard.
The metal reverberated from the force and my ears rang.
I could feel a migraine coming.
I gasped for breath, black spots dotting my vision.
"That woman..." is not my mother.