There are no words to describe how I feel. Is it guilt or is it pity?

I know that I am the daughter of this monster, but I am not him and do not look like him! The words that have been said, however, give me clarity.

I now understand why Leroy is so hostile towards me. I understand everything, but I don't understand how he could marry me.

How can he sleep in the same bed as me? I am not Pablo Di Fina and yet I am the daughter of a murderer. 

The daughter of the man who killed my mother-in-law.

"Do you know whose daughter you are?", I hear his deep, biting voice in my head. It sounds distorted as if pulled from the past into the present - like the truth. 

Yes, now I know. 

I hung up after Mom told me. I didn't know what to say or how to react. All I know is that I need time for myself.

So, while I was walking back to the villa, I was thinking, but now that I'm sitting in the bedroom, after wishing William a happy birthday downstairs while still in a trance, I regret not sitting on the bench for a moment longer. 

I need some more time for myself, but I can't take it, otherwise, Leroy will get suspicious. 

But there's something strange about him too.

On the one hand, I don't want to push my luck, but on the other hand, my luck came much too suddenly. Is he now actually giving me more freedom and thus trusting me, or is he just playing an evil game with me? And if so, what does he hope to achieve? It doesn't make sense.

As he said, he is trying to fulfill my wish and treat me like his wife - not like street trash. I should be grateful. 

But am I ready to give him more?

Hearing a gentle knock and looking immediately into Danny's warm eyes, I push the thoughts to the back of my mind before putting a smile on my face. 

"Breakfast is ready," Danny forms with his hands. I nod and stand up.

I brush my fingers through his hair with a smile and he grabs my hand with a grin. Even though I don't feel like having fun, Danny is still a five-year-old kid who needs a smile. 

"Has your dad left yet?", I ask him and he nods. Down at the table, I also only see Olga, Franca, and Kelly.

I pay no attention to the latter. 

"Let's have breakfast and then decorate the garden. When Willy gets back, I want everything decorated, okay? Do you think we can manage that?" Asks Olga. Franca nods in agreement and I smile reassuringly at her too. 

"Of course, we can," I reply. Olga exhales in relief and gives me a broad, grateful smile, which I return. It is quiet during breakfast. The kids whisper a little among themselves, but nothing more happens. 

"Will many people come?", I ask as the silence seems to overwhelm me. 

"Not today, today we celebrate among ourselves on the yacht, and in three or four days we do a bigger celebration in the garden for all his friends. Oh, and yes, William has many friends and acquaintances. Mostly around his age, but I hope a few your age will turn up too, so you won't get bored," Olga smiles.

"I don't fancy his Uncle Alfredo," Franca grumbles and I look at her questioningly. She sighs. "A farting old fuck," she adds for the sake of explanation and Olga inhales indignantly. 

"Franca!" She gasps and I cover my mouth with my hand to keep myself from snorting. Franca just rolls her eyes at her mother's horrified look.

"It's the truth! He has no manners at all, farts when and where he wants," she chokes and screws up her face, just like Kelly. Olga shakes her head blankly. 

"The man is ninety-five years old and has dementia. Have some respect. He used to be a very respected man and used to bring your brother and you presents that you were very happy about. Besides, you often farted at him when you were children, but it never occurred to him to choke or push you away," Olga sighs.

I lower my eyes and am ashamed for a moment that I almost laughed earlier. No, you shouldn't laugh at sick people. 

"If I had no respect for dementia and old age, I'd say something like that in his face, but we're just having a conversation, Mum," Franca replies annoyed and as soon as she reaches for her fork, I realize that she's not going to say anything more in reply to this.

Olga shrugs. "Whatever you say, mi hija." 

Then it's quiet again and this time I don't want to start a conversation again. So we eat and continue with our thoughts until we're all done. 

"It's still quite cold outside and it's going to get even colder tonight, so remember to dress a little warmer." Olga looks at us warningly, to which we merely nod. That sounds much better because even with my sweater on, I'm already freezing. 

"I have a very good idea and I'm sure Uncle William will like it," I suddenly hear Kelly's voice. I would have loved to cover my ears just so I wouldn't have to listen to her voice. 

"I'm listening, my dear", Olga follows up and I refrain from rolling my eyes when I see Kelly beaming.

Then she rambles something about yellow balloons, a surprise with a cake made of strawberries, only to surprise him with a huge chocolate cake because William is allergic to strawberries. 

I already stopped listening to her. 

Hearing her voice is torture. I can't forget the way she moaned last night. How her fingers found their way into her and pleasured herself, only to light a fire inside Leroy - which didn't happen.

Yet it bothers me.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" she suddenly hisses and I flinch as I wake up from my daydream.

I look around, but it's just the two of us still here in the greenhouse. I hear Olga's voice in the garden, immediately wondering why I hadn't noticed that she had gone outside.

Then I look at the brunette in front of me again. She has pursed her red-painted lips and raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. 

"Hey, Middle-Class, I'm talking to you!"

My eyebrows raise in surprise at her words. A word like that out of her mouth? My God, Kelly must think a lot of herself.

She seems pathetic now. 

"I'm just wondering what it must feel like to be rejected completely in ecstasy." 

The words escape my lips without a second thought and they have an immediate effect. Kelly's features slip and she turns as white as the wall. 

"What did you say?" She hisses like a snake. Red marks appear on her neck and her body quivers. She is mortified. Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but it's out now anyway, besides, she has no right to speak to me like that.

She allows herself too much and I am beginning not to give a fuck that I might break it with Leroy if I mess with her. I don't want to swallow any longer. 

"Well, I saw you offering yourself to Leroy like meat at the market, and believe me when I tell you that I was embarrassed with you for being rejected," I say, looking at her blankly. 

No sympathy, Rina, because she shows none either! 

Her eyes fill with tears and if looks could kill, I would surely be in the ground now. 

"But hey, cheer up, upper-class! You can blame it on the alcohol," I smile sympathetically and tilt my head.

Her hand wraps around the edge of the table and she squeezes so hard her knuckles turn white. 

Slowly, the beautiful brunette shakes her head and takes a deep breath. Her eyes look back into mine and I see the storm in them. The flaming anger. 

"You're going to regret this," she hisses and walks out to the garden, but not without bumping into me. I swallow, but I also feel the satisfaction of pulling her down this time and not her me.

☼ ❅

*holds breath*
*being dramatic*
*screaming*

She stood up for herself, bitches!

Kelly make me pull a face of a stingray in a good mood... not pretty.

Will Leroy really end things with Rina if Kelly adds more gasoline to the fire?

You would never, Leroy? Right...?

☼ ❅