I stared at the message as I thought about my father. He faked his death because he couldn't repay Antonio. He faked his death to run away from his enemies. I was not surprised, I knew this day would come soon.

  "Rea?" Antonio called out from behind, taking me off from my line of thoughts for a second. "Antonio," I replied, "You are still awake?"

  "Yes," he replied, "You have been staring at your phone for the last minute. Is everything okay?"

  "Yeah," I replied.

  But the reality is...

  ***

  "Rea?"

  I stared at the man who was my father. The man who faked his death and left me to deal with the damage. He was mocking Antonio, and I - I, Rea De Luca, was not going to keep silent as I always did. I am no longer the old Rea who died in silence. I was mature, strong and Antonio's wife.

  "Ronaldi," I called out, getting his attention immediately alone with my grandma's.

  "Is that how you speak to your father, Rea?" He asked, "I did not teach you that."

  "You are right. The man who died didn't teach me that," I replied, walking to stand close to Antonio, "But the man before me just did."

  "Rea!" My grandma exclaimed.

  "As for you, grandma," I said, turning back to Ronaldi, "We will chat afterward."

  I stood in front of my father, right into his eyes, I stared straight into.

  "I don't like the tone you spoke with to Antonio."

  "Antonio is a dangerous man-"

  "The dangerous man you gave me to - correction," I interrupted, "But also the man I married."

  The room fell silent.

  "Antonio is MY dangerous man. Got that?" I asked, "So, give him some respect."

  My dad froze, completely stunned.

  "Go on," I said, "Apologize."

  "You have changed," he muttered.

  "I think we both did dad," I replied, "It's even. Now apologize."

  "I... I am sorry Antonio," he said, bowing his head down, "I guess my daughter went in full swing into the marriage."

  I turned to my grandma and sat on the floor, facing her upwards.

  "You always told me how much you hate me," I said, "So I am giving you an opportunity to show it now."

  She clutched her pendant hard.

  "It's not brand news grandma, go on! I am giving you a chance to fulfill your wish."

  I pushed my hair backwards clearing my left cheek.

  "Go on grandma," I said, "Slap me."

  "I...uh..."

  "Touch her and you will deal with me instead."

  I could tell it was Antonio's voice. I am never this brave but I was relishing the attention.

  "I can't do that," she whispered.

  Antonio came by my side and picked me up, helping me to my feet.

  "You do realize that I am now have a voice right?" I asked, "You know what happens when the quiet observant child finally finds their voice..."

  "They speak up."

  "You wouldn't," my dad said.

  "Try me," I said, "It's only within a blink of an eye."

  "And I wouldn't want to kill my grandma to a heart attack right?" I asked, looking at her.

  "What do you want?" He asked.

  "Pay back every cent you deceived Antonio with and the secrets are safe with me. If not..."

  "We will pay it back by this month," Grandma replied, her voice firm and unforgiving.

  "No," I replied, "Three days max."

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  "That's too short!" He exclaimed, "Antonio?"

  "You heard her."

  A smirk formed on my lips. I remember saying I wanted nothing to do with Antonio or his dealings, but now... I am in this - there's no turning back. The enjoyment of seeing people who deceive others for their own personal gain suffer the consequences... I love it.

  "So?" I asked. "In three days, right?"

  After some time, he replied.

  "Fine. In three days."

  ***

  THREE DAYS LATER

  "So... how does it feel to be on the other side of the table, hmm?"

  Ronaldi- my dad asked me as I was bound on a chair, mouth closed and in a claustrophobic room where I could only hear him.

  "You were too forward in speaking that time, what happened to your bravery?"

  I kept silent. I should have thrown away the rag closing my mouth but I didn't. The silence was loud as I closed my eyes to steady my breathing.

  "ANSWER ME!" he exclaimed, causing me to jump. All the memories came back at once. The shouting, the cursing, the threats... the 'I wish you died with your mother' always haunted me. I freed my mouth, and took a deep breath before I could speak. The old me wouldn't have been this brave, but now, I was ready for anything - as far as to even die if that's what the situation comes down to.

  "Dad?" I called out, "Why don't you just kill me?"

  Silence.

  "Why would I?" he asked, "Why would you even think about-"

  "Dad, let's stop pretending. Grandma has always wanted me dead. Why not give her the satisfaction? Besides, we were never the same after Mom's death."

  "REA!"

  "I AM BEING HONEST HERE!"

  I bit my lip, trying hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.

  "Why?" I asked again, "Why don't you just do it?"

  Just then, I heard some commotion happening, and before he could leave, he switched on the water tanker to reroute the water into the room I was in.

  "You asked why I haven't killed you yet," he said, "This is my way of doing so."

  I stared at the water rising at an increasing speed, "Thank you."

  "Those might be your last words if... Antonio doesn't come on time."

  "Don't worry, continue with what you are doing."

  "DO NOT MESS-"

  A violent explosion happened near the basement, vibrating the room slightly. I looked around and looked at my legs. I tried to untie my legs, breaking one leg free at a time. After some time, when the water was about at leg's length, I finally broke free. I walked to the door and tried breaking my arms free by knocking the door down, hopefully, but with no luck. I made one big knock, and the chair broke up into components.

  "Weak chair," I muttered.

  I brought my tied hands to the door handle, where I battled to get one hand free. The water had risen to my waist length.

  "YES!" I exclaimed as I let go of the rope.

  Antonio's POV

  "Rea!"

  "Rea!"

  I caught sight of Ronaldi.

  "She's in the basement," he answered, without holding back.

  I was about to head there when he spoke once more, "That's if she will survive the fire."

  "What fire?" I asked, "And what kind of a man are you? What kind of father would do that to his daughter?"

  "I am no father."

  I flashed a wicked grin that made my blood boil.

  "I am Ravez - her father's deserted twin brother who is going to satisfy his revenge through her."

  "She's-" I wanted to get to him but Rea was more important. I tasked some of the men to not let him escape as I went into the basement. I ran down the stairs and found a door.

  "Rea?"

  No response. I broke the door down and was met with a body of water instead. Rea was standing, without a single movement. I walked to her and the water started to go down. I picked Rea in bridal style and took her out. She opened her eyes to see me and immediately hugged me.

  "Antonio," she said, a smile forming on her lips, "You came."

  "Of course I did," I replied, "I wouldn't leave my wife for too long."

  We rushed out, and saw smoke filling the house, blinding our paths. I used the shortcut I found on the way to find it close. Rea asked to be put down and she helped to open the door, which was purposely blocked from the other side.

  "He wants to kill us," Rea muttered.

  "Do you know him?" I asked.

  "He's my dad who 'came back from the dead' to the land of the living, no?" she asked, "Though my dad wouldn't act this extreme, but... people change. Besides, my dad and I were no longer close after my mom died-"

  "He's not your dad."

  Rea froze. "He's not?"

  I shook my head, "He's your dad's-"

  Another explosive blew off. I took Rea's hand and navigated back to the main entrance.

  "Run."

  "What?" she asked, "Why?"

  My eyes went to the bomb that was counting down. Rea followed my gaze.

  "There are only 10 seconds!" she exclaimed, tugging my shirt, "We need to get out-"

  "You do," I said, "I will find a way out."

  Though conflicted, she followed through, "Promise me?"

  I nodded, a faint smile on my lips, "I promise."

  She turned to the other side and ran while I headed in the opposite direction.

  Rea's POV

  I wiped the tears off my eyes as I headed out the door. Running down the the stairs, I finally saw the house set ablaze, causing us to stumble slightly. I got on my knees, my thoughts spiraling out of control. The man who caused havoc was not my dad and Antonio was...

  "Antonio!"

  I got to my feet and ran to the back side of the alight mansion. Some of his men ran after me to stop me, but I increased my speed. He promised to come out alive.

  He promised.

  As soon as I got to the back, I saw the fire intensifying. I walked towards the burning entrance of the mansion but one of the men, stopped me.

  "It's too dangerous Mrs-"

  I moved away from him. I looked around for a tiny sign of life... None.

  I stared back at the mansion. I then heard someone call my name, and I turned to see Alejandro. He looked at me then at the fire.

  "Where's Antonio?"

  I was about to speak when someone hugged me from behind.

  "Sorry for worrying-"

  But I turned around and upon looking at Antonio, I pulled him for a hug.

  "I... You are... awful to work with," I said.

  He looked at me, wiping a tear off my cheek, "I am sorry."

  Just at that moment, I felt someone hug my leg. I looked down to see Arya, who refused to let go.

  "It's okay, I am here," I said, pulling her for a hug, "Sorry that we scared you."

  "It's... okay."

  Antonio, Alejandro and I exchanged looks.

  "Arya?" Antonio called her, "Can you please repeat that?"

  She took a moment before she repeated, "It's okay."

  She looked up at us three, "Don't... scare me.. like that again."

  "I promise," I immediately answered, "And you spoke."

  With a huge smile on my face, I cupped her face, "I'm proud of you."

  Antonio joined and she went to him, Antonio hugging her tighter.

  My cellphone rang, and I quickly picked it up to receive a normal message - spam. I looked at my phone then at Antonio.

  "Some things need to be thrown away to move forward, right?" I asked.

  He nodded, "As you wish."

  I walked back to the fire and threw the cellphone in, causing another fire wave. I took in a deep breath before exhaling. Life isn't about focusing on the people you don't have. It's about appreciating the people you love and who have always been with you. True, there's much to Antonio yet to discover, but I know that I love him and I will always be forever under his care.

  THE END