ARIA(TRIGGER WARNING: The content below contains self-harm, mentions of sex trafficking, severe sexual abuse, death of an infant.)She shook her head, as if trying to remove something unwanted from her head.“He came back with bags full of food, clothes, medicines. Everything I needed and didn’t have.”Was she talking about the man who was my husband?“He told me to take a shower because I was stinking.” Her lips quirked up, “I did as he asked and, in the bathroom, my water broke. I was so panicked, so terrorized because I had no idea what to do. He helped me. Fabiano. He helped me through the labor. He was the first one to hold my daughter.”My heart twisted inside me, watching the sprinkles of happiness in her eyes as she mentioned her daughter. I couldn’t bear it. I couldn’t control the pain that never went away. I averted my gaze and stared at my lap.“She was small, so small I thought I’d break her if I touched it. She was a survivor though. I had no help, no guidance, no medici

FABIANOFive months later:Aria had gone in labor.Back rigid, shoulders tense, Fabiano paced outside the room; his ears picking up the cries and screams of pain that escaped the room.He frowned, telling himself to sit down but something inside him didn't let him rest.Few minutes later, something made Fabiano tense even more.A sound, to be exact.He froze as the sound went up again.A cry.His ears picked up a cry.A baby's cry.He eyed the door, watching it blankly for a moment before pushing it open and barging inside. Every person inside the room tensed and looked back at him, pausing before they resumed their work.No one wanted to face the infamous beastly king.His eyes fell on his wife; her tired, deathly pale figure that eyed him.He walked towards her, and stopped beside her. Pressing a hand to her sweaty forehead, Fabiano forced himself to smile his infamous grin."Hello, lioness."But her lioness' eyes rolled back into her head as she slumped unconscious. Fabiano tensed

ARIA“Massimo Saint Lombardi.”I looked up when I heard him, swallowing when I saw the finality etched in his features and tone.Massimo Saint Lombardi.Massimo was a great name, but for some reason, my heart was stuck on Saint. I didn’t know why. But it just was.“Massimo Saint Lombardi.” I whispered, testing the words on my tongue.I nodded silently to show my husband that I agreed with him and was glad to see when he turned around and left us alone. I wanted some time alone with my son. I needed it to make myself believe that it wasn’t a dream.Finally, I had someone with me. Someone I loved with all my might.When I dragged my gaze back to my son, my heart nearly jumped to my throat.Saint was awake, watching me with big, round eyes.Big, blue, round eyes.A cry of pure glee reverberated in the air and I teared up at the sight in front of me.My son had my eyes.“My beautiful son.” I kissed his tiny hand, keeping it pressed to my lips, “My savior. My light. My prince.”He kept sta

ARIA “Fabiano.” A purr resonated in the air. I saw Fabiano’s face hardening, his eyes darkening with the message of incoming storm before he blinked and smiled, slowly and viciously. “Mother.” He crooned, a mocking note in his voice. My head snapped, shock penetrating through me at his word. Mother. My gaze danced between the two, my mind registered the similarities between them that I had failed to notice before. Those eyes. They both had the same eyes. Grey like dark clouds filling the sky before a storm. “How nice of you to come here.” Fabiano widened his smile, “It must have been difficult, huh, mother? To come back from the Land of the Dead to haunt my ass?” “Fabiano!” It was a hiss this time, speaking of the anger that was growing in this room. Shivering at the tense atmosphere in the room, I backed myself away from the sick woman. As soon as my feet touched the floor, I went for my son. I bent over the crib, holding Saint in my arms, careful not to wake him up. I pr

ARIA THREE WEEKS LATER; I had heard her screams. They were painful, ringing in my ears but as I heard them, I felt nothing. No pity. No horror. No sadness. It was like I was an empty vessel. Her screams echoed in me and returned back. That’s it. I didn’t know what Fabiano did to her but it was nothing pleasant judging by the shrilling screams of her. The kept echoing inside me for some unknown reason. I wanted to forget them, the screams and cries that somehow wanted to harm me, hurt me but I wouldn’t let them. I wouldn’t. I promised myself. Slowly, the days started to pass. I listened to what he wanted. I obeyed him like a good wife. I realized that I should just stop talking. Me fighting him brought me nowhere. It was much easier to do as he said. When I did as he said, he would leave me alone sooner. I started to even write a diary. The psychiatrist my husband brought here had told me to do so. It was nine months ago. When I had harmed myself. Lina had treated me but sh