Chapter 92 - Third Wish

Persephone just looked at him silently. She was vocally paralyzed after she heard what he said to her. Oh, God, this was what he was thinking all along? He had been beside her when they were on the verge of dying and this was his thoughts about her? This damned man was inside her so many times this week and still, he thought that she was faking herself to make him drop his guard? 

If she wanted to escape him or worse kill him, she would have used the opportunity when he was sick even after coming to this ranch. 

But you see, he was right, absolutely right, she read too much into this. If she had been a little careful, she might have escaped this great embarrassment but she was who she was, a dumb and utterly disgusting woman. A woman who didn't even think twice before spreading her legs for the man who kidnapped her from her home and then threw her into hell. 

He was right again...she was a manipulative woman. She had been manipulating herself to think that this man might care for her in his own twisted way. She was fake too. A complete faux. Look at her faking nonchalance even after experiencing a fatal blow to her dignity. Then again, what was dignity? Can it save your life, give you food, shelter, or clothes to hide your bare body? 

"You are right," Persephone squeezed out a pained smile. "All the things...you said about me are right… I'm a disgusting woman...I know it from the start. Since you know so much about me, then why not consider the sex as the tip for saving my life? You see, nothing is free in this world. Neither is saving my life." 

"You are twisting my words again," Santiago growled.

"That's what a manipulative woman does, did you forget?" Persephone kindly reminded him. Taking a deep breath, she asked him, feigning nonchalance, "So, when would you be sending me to my father?"

"Three days later," His answer was short and direct. 

Persephone nodded her head as if she understood everything that was happening to her, around her, or because of her. But truth be told, she was numb, too numb to understand what was even happening at all. She didn't even know why her body was trembling so badly. New York was not hell. She would live a comfortable life there. Even the princess of this country wasn't given as many luxuries as she, being the daughter of Alessandro Marino, enjoyed. Being a mafia princess was what was written in her fate. As a mantra, she was narrating it in her head. 

After what seems like a lifetime, Persephone spoke, "If I remember correctly, I still have four wishes left?"

"Yes," Santiago replied. His throat felt dry when he heard her emotionless voice. He was reminding himself that the woman was playing the guilty card on him again. Yeah, this was the reason why he was feeling like an asshole now. It was all her fault for making him feel like shit. Yet, somewhere deep inside in his heart, he knew he said too much. 

"My second wish: I want you to release Giselle. She was not at fault at all. Help her achieve her heart's desire. Make sure she lives a comfortable life wherever her heart resides." She had always felt bad for dragging Giselle in her mess though she never admitted it. Moreover, Giselle reminded her of herself, a canary trapped in a golden cage that was meant to soar in the open sky. If she helped Giselle in achieving what her heart had always desired, she would think that she achieved her own dream of finding freedom too. 

Today, Persephone Marino was accepting her destiny. She would return to New York without kicking and screaming. And would calmly marry Nico after that. These few weeks of pseudo captivity made her realize that her dream of finding freedom was baseless and useless.

"I don't remember adding any third person could be included in your wishes," Santiago's harsh and frosty voice lowered the temperature surrounding her. 

"If you can fulfill this wish of mine, then thank you, if not, you are free to go back on your words," Persephone said in a calm voice, despite the storm raging inside her heart. 

Santiago took a deep breath and answered, "Fine." 

Persephone smiled a fake smile at him, showing how glad she was now that he agreed to her wish without causing a scene about it. 

"Now my third wish…"

As Persephone said those words, Santiago felt a shiver down his back. Those words didn't feel right… something was certainly wrong with her tone. What was she planning? 

"I want you to leave me the hell alone. Don't come after me. Let me go where I go for these three days. Don't worry I won't run away from you. I know your men will be here or there mixed in the surrounding and keeping an eye on my every activity," Persephone chuckled. "However, I want you to treat me as air as if you can't see me. I don't want to see your face unless I am forced to. This is my third wish, Villain. Leave me the hell alone for however long we are left with." 

Santiago stiffened as he heard her words. Those same words were ringing in his head like sirens. She didn't mean those words, did she? Did she disgust him so much that she couldn't bear to look at him? Was what she said at the island that day true? He could still remember those words for words. 

"Do I disgust you so much that you don't dare to look at me?" Santiago found himself asking. Just what was wrong with him? Why the hell was he asking her this question? He hates that she affects him so much.

However, Persephone calmly smiled at him. "It's not you who I am disgusted at. It's me. Whenever I see my reflection in your eyes, all my mistakes come running back to remind me of how much of a joke I am. I am not asking you to leave me alone because I can't tolerate looking at you...it's because I am afraid that in spite of what you think about me, I am gonna run back right into your arms. In short, I am disgusted with myself. Still can't believe that I, the woman, who thinks can fight with my father, can't even fight against this stupid thing that's between us. So, I beg you to leave me alone for these three days. After that, you won't have to see my face ever again."

Santiago took a step back, agreeing to her wish silently. His gaze didn't falter from his face until he reached the entrance that led him to the room where he would be wallowing in self-pity and unknown pain. 

Sigh, broken heart for two. 

Only when he was gone from her view, she let herself fall on the muddy ground under the heavy shower. Tears were now freely flowing down her eyes. She had never felt this kind of pain before. It was worse than what she felt when her Santiago, mama, or Lucien died. She was feeling as if her whole world had shattered in a single moment. 

If she could, she would pray to God to never let her feel this pain ever again. 

Seconds changed into hours when she felt rain stopping. She glanced up to see Lara holding an umbrella over her and then, the latter warmly smiled at her while grabbing her hand to help her to stand on the ground once again. 

Without asking any question, Lara took Persephone to her quarter. She asked her to have a warm bath first and gave her comfortable and warm clothes to wear. When Persephone came out of the washroom attached to Lara's small quarter, she found the elder lady standing there holding a bowl of hot soup. 

"Here, have this. It will help you in warming your body. I am afraid that you will catch a cold after wetting in the rain," Lara immediately said as soon as Persephone was on the bed inside the warm duvet. 

Persephone took the tray from her hands and placed it on the nightstand before hugging the elder lady's legs. "Thank you, Lara. You remind me so much of my mom right now." 

Just the mention of Penelope's name was enough to make Persephone forget Villain for a moment. 

"Tell me more about her," Lara encouraged her. She didn't want Persephone to think about whatever she was sad about. 

Persephone sadly smiled. "She was beautiful. Very beautiful. Most Beautiful woman in the world. Sadly, I don't look like her. But she and I share the same curly red hair. Those red hair were our thing. No one in my family had them other than me and my mom." 

"You have dyed your hair into black?" Lara asked her. 

Persephone fell silent. "I did. After she died. I didn't want to remind Papa of her especially when he has someone else in his life and heart. So, I abandoned my red hair for something common between me and my stepmom. I didn't want to feel left out. I wanted to be loved by her.. So, I dyed them black like my stepmom."