Chapter 89: Chapter-89. (For Emma).
"Hi," she whispered, her voice was so soft and delicate that I almost forgot where we were and what the situation was.
My lips trembled to say a word when Josh leaned down beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder.
His touch looked gentle, but I knew better. It was a chain, just like the one biting into my ankle.
He was the snake dressed like a gentleman. He looked straight into my eyes, danger lurking in those dark orbs of his, "See, Elena?" he said in his velvety voice.
"She looks just like you, didn’t she?" His question rang danger bells in my mind as he stared at me with an expectant look, as if he really expected me to answer him, but when I did not, his smile faltered.
My breath hitched knowing full well that if I do not answer him then and there, he would go ballistic, and that too in front of that little girl, which I could not let happen at any cost.
He again muttered, "Doesn’t she look perfect, honey?"
"Yes...yes, she does," I muttered, nodding my head.
"Hi," she whispered, her voice was so soft and delicate that I almost forgot where we were and what the situation was.
My lips trembled to say a word when Josh leaned down beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder.
His touch looked gentle, but I knew better. It was a chain, just like the one biting into my ankle.
He was the snake dressed like a gentleman. He looked straight into my eyes, danger lurking in those dark orbs of his, "See, Elena?" he said in his velvety voice.
"She looks just like you, didn’t she?" His question rang danger bells in my mind as he stared at me with an expectant look as if really expecting me to answer him, but when I did not, his smile faltered.
My breath hitched knowing full well that if I do not answer him then and there, he would go ballistic, and that too in front of that little girl, which I could not let happen at any cost.
He again muttered, "Doesn’t she look perfect, honey?"
"Yes...yes, she does," I muttered, nodding my head.
Josh’s smile returned the second I answered his question.
"That’s what I expected from you, honey," he whispered, brushing Emma’s hair like he was some kind of loving father, knowing completely that it was a sign of power...The authority that he had over her.
Over us. The sight made me sick, but I controlled myself. "See, Emma? Mommy thinks you are perfect, too."
Emma looked at me with big eyes, confused but hopeful. "Mommy?" she asked, her little voice trembling as if she was testing the words on her lips.
My heart sank seeing her all hopeful. She expected to get a complete family, but the reality was the total opposite.
I wanted to tell her no, that I was not her mother, that this was all a lie, but when I glanced at the man standing beside her, I saw it.
His eyes carried a warning. One wrong move and he would explode and would... I cannot even think about those horrible things he did to me. That too, in front of her.
So I forced a weak smile. My lips shook, but I whispered, "Yes, Emma. I am...your mo...mother."
Her whole face lit up. Fortunately, she did not notice my stuttering and accepted my words.
She hugged her doll closer and took a small step toward me. For just a second, the dark room, the chain biting my ankle, the pain in my body...it all faded, and all I saw was her.
Her tiny hands clutching onto that doll, her big doe eyes staring at me with those expectations which could not be fulfilled, made my heart ache.
Josh leaned back, smug and proud, "Perfect," he said softly. "Now we are a family. A perfect happy family."
The word family stabbed through me. My head snapped in his direction, as I clenched my jaw, tears threatening to fall out, but I before he could notice my anger, I turned my head.
Wiping off my tears, I focused on Emma.
Emma’s small hand reached out and touched my arm. Her fingers brushed over one of my bruises. "Are you hurt, Mommy?" she asked, her brows scrunching in worry.
Tears again started burning my eyes, but I swallowed them down.
"I..I am fine, sweetheart," I whispered. A lie, but did I have any choice? None.
Josh’s grin grew wider. "See that, Elena? She cares for you..." his hand pressed down harder on Emma’s shoulder as he leaned in, whispering in my ear, "And if you don’t listen to me, she will be the one who will pay."
His words sank into me like a heavy stone, dragging me down in utter darkness until I could barely breathe.
I wanted to scream at him that he could not just straight up blackmail me like that, but when my eyes landed on Emma, I stopped in my tracks.
Her brown eyes, her little face, and everything made me swallow the words. He did not just bring me here to play happy family but also to force me into this sick game of his.
And somewhere he might be true, but in that moment, I also promised myself to fight. Not only for me but also for her.
For Emma.
Josh then straightened up, pulling his shoulders back like he had won something. He looked at Emma, then at me, and that same smug smile stayed on his face.
"Come on," he said softly, but his tone left no room to argue. He tugged Emma toward the door, " We will get some nice clothes for our pretty daughter.
Emma looked back at me, her small eyes directed towards me as if she wanted to stay with me. She tried to reach for me, but Josh pulled her closer. I tried to smile, even though it broke me inside.