Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

THE HOSPITAL ROOM SHE WAS in was turned into a normal room in just a matter of hours after Dr. Jacobe announced that she's officially okay after two weeks since she woke up. He was only sent out of the room for three hours and when he was returned it was a simple room. the medical equipments are now gone but her discomfort did not go away because it was replaced by two guards outside her room

He's been in that house for two weeks since he got better and he's like a prisoner. All his movements must be in accordance with the wishes of the owner of the house. she cannot leave her room without the company of the guards and she is not allowed to roam around the house. She cannot eat without his permission and she will not be stunned if he tells her she is not allowed to breathe without his consent.

Dr. jacobe already said she's fully healed but the man of the house, that man who has a commanding aura around him did not even let her set off outside the household.

She planned to beg him to let her go and explain that there must be a misunderstanding but he hasn't been home for weeks now. she tried asking around but no one would answer her. People in that house always avoided him as if he had a contagious disease.

His looks at her as if he was guilty of them also did not escape his sight.

the woman who looked like her—that man's wife must have done something bad in this household. He thought that the people there were playing with him, especially that man, but when he saw the picture of the woman in the living room on the second floor of the house. His whole body was almost cold.

they are alike in every angle. Physically. They have no difference. They look exactly alike.

And her desperation to escape from this house—from that man only grows. He needs to get out of the house. Houses like this make her uncomfortable. it brings back old and ugly memories from her past and nightmares plague her sleep.

Every night, she shivers in fear. She trembles in her sleep. Her feet and hands are cold because of fear every time she hears a creak on the floor. And no amount of expensive duvet can calm her nerves.

all she wanted was to stay in a rundown small hotel so she could do what needed to be done.

Berry nearly jumped out of her skin when the door opened.

It's one of the nurses, Clara. "Come down. You're going to eat."

The irritation in the woman's voice was obvious but he ignored it. he is used to being treated like that by everyone in that house.

He stood up without a word and cautiously stepped out of the room.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the two guards were not there outside his room.

he stopped walking when Nurse Clara suddenly blocked his path.

"I'm not buying this act of yours, Bitch." He said as he looked at her from head to toe as if he hated her. "Your face is also thick, isn't it? I don't care if you get angry. you have no power in this house. I hope you die and never come back.

He couldn't stop laughing at his last lesson. If this woman only knew that she wants that too.

Clara was even more irritated with him because of his laughter. "And what's funny about what I said?" it is good for him.

He shook his head without saying a word then headed past Clara and continued walking.

When he got down to the first floor, he was still bent as he walked towards the dining table. she taught not to look at other person if not asked, or else, she will be beaten up again. She carried that until she grew up. When she entered the dining hall, her feet halted. He immediately felt a sense of dread and a little fear when he saw that the man who owned the house was there.

she was in the middle of calming herself when someone pushed her, causing her to stumble and fall.

He immediately stood up from his crouch and turned to see who pushed him.

He saw Clara grinning at him and glared at him.

he straightened himself up and each step he took near the table made no sound.

Approaching the table, he remained standing by and bowed until the man who was eating spoke.

"Are you going to stand there or are you going to eat?"

He swallowed. "W-eat."

"Then sit." there was no emotion in his voice but he could feel the blade.

He carefully sat down and stared at the plate for a few seconds. He was about to raise his hand to take food when an assistant placed food on his plate.

"I-it's me." he said shyly then took the dish from the assistant and put it on his plate.

"That's a first." The man said in a gruff voice. "You like slaving the maids."

he dared to look at the man and his breathing stopped when he saw that his chocolate colored eyes were also staring at him.

He immediately looked down.

He tsked. "Look at me."

Slowly, she looked up at him and her breathing became uneven when her eyes met his.

"So this is how you want it, huh?" His jaw kept on tightening. "You deserve an Oscar award for your acting. Bravo, wife. But you will never fool me again."

She averted her gaze. "I-I'm not your a-wife, S-Sir."

He laughed coldly, making her goosebumps. "Sir? Really?" he laughed again with no emotion. "You really wanna play with me?

He shook his head. "N-no, S-Sir." He secretly clenched his fist. "I-I'm just telling the truth."

He chuckled. "But you're a very good liar, Cherry. I'll give you that. You think I'll believe your lies—"

"B-but I'm not C-Cherry." He insisted.

"Bullshit."

"That's true." He dared to look at the man. His eyebrows meet and his eyes are sharp. "I'm not Cherry. My name is Berry p-po. Your husband and I just look alike, S-Sir."

The man stared at her for a few seconds then laughed softly. "You know what, Cherry, I will never fall for your acting anymore. Maybe if you were able to turn me around because of your pretending, not now."

"But S-Sir—"

"Shut up." He sneered at her. "Eat.and go to your room if you don't want to anger me more."

He immediately fell silent when he saw his clenched fist.

Would he hit her? Where?

for a few seconds, he felt his companion if he was going to hurt him, only then he breathed a sigh of relief when he finished his meal and left him alone at the dining table.

He closed his eyes and calmed himself down. a few more minutes passed before his heart beat normal. Only then did he manage to eat."WHAT IS HE DOING while I'm gone?" He asked Manang Josie, the twenty-year-old Mayordoma of his house. "I'm sure her acting is off since I'm not around."

"We didn't see much, Sir Cadmus." The Mayordoma's forehead was wrinkled as if something was disturbing his mind. "He didn't come out of his room when you weren't there. He only came out whenever he was about to eat. And even when he was outside, he didn't speak. she always has her head down when she walks and she doesn't seem to be Ma'am Cherry."

He raised his eyebrows then laughed softly. "Looks like she fooled you again."

Manang Josie looked down. "I'm sorry, Sir Cadmus. Ma'am Cherry is just acting strange—"

"Of course she's acting weird. That's her act to fool everyone again." He shook his head and his jaw dropped. "Remember the last time he acted like someone else?"

"Oh."

"Yes. I remember that too. And she fooled me into giving her another chance and a lot of money. that won't happen again, Manang Josie."

"Oh, Sir Cadmus."

"Good." He, then, dismissed her. "Alright, you can leave now. Good night, Manang Josie."

Manang Josie nodded then left her private office.

He felt the sensation then leaned his body against the back of the swivel chair.

everyone he talked to who was with Cherry during the two weeks he was gone said the same thing. He said it was like a different person.

But he will never be fooled again.

She will pay dearly.

he sighed deeply then opened his desktop and opened the live surveillance of the house and started watching the footage in his wife's room from the day he left.

Like what the maids and guards said, she didn't leave her room. she just stayed there, reading and lying on the bed. She only goes out to eat at lunch and dinner. Other than that, she stayed in the room. And at night, she would throw up on her bed and wake up scared.

He frowned at what he was watching. He has been watching the footage for several days but nothing has changed in his wife's routine.

She didn't even try to escape from the Guards. She didn't try to trick them so she could get her phone in his private office to call her lover.

cherry cannot stand a lifeless room like what she's been using for weeks. She hoped that he had bought furniture while she was gone but her room was devoid of any decorations.

The room is in the same state when he left.

He shook his head. For two weeks, she's in perfect character.

"She must be planning something big." He shook his head then laughed lifelessly. "I won't let you fool me again, Cherry. You won't fool me no matter what kind of pretense you do."

angrily he turned off the desktop then blew a violent breath before standing up and walking out of his office.

He was in the middle of going up to the third floor of the house to rest because it was almost midnight when his eyes caught his wife coming out of his room.

there are no Guards to stop her and follow her because he already sent them home.

I should have locked her up in her room. He tsked.

Knowing Cherry, she would just do something to escape. He was wondering and it had not yet escaped his power. that's why he thought that she must be planning something to bring him down completely. He nearly lost his two companies against her last attack. He won't let that happen again.

With a frown, he followed her quietly.

She was sneaking all right. She's up to no good again. it is said that this pretense will not last long.

When her husband got down, his legs carried her to the kitchen.

He was still wondering what she's up to when she picks up the knife on the sink.

His eyes widen, the scene in front of him is like a slow motion. he was only able to move on the spot to see the blood that flowed from his carelessly sliced ​​wrist.

"Damn it!" He cursed angrily then hurriedly caught the fallen body of his wife. "What the hell are you doing, you witch!"

looking dark, he carried his wife to her room, then called Dr. Jacobe and hastily took the first aide kit from the master's bedroom and returned to the room.

Just like earlier, she's still unconscious.

he quickly cleaned his wife's wound then applied first aid while waiting for Dr. Jacob.

When the bleeding subsided, he called Clara, the private nurse he had ordered to watch over his wife.

"Cherry's room. Now!" He ordered and went back to stop the bleeding.

did she cut herself that deep? A kitchen knife is sharp. He can make sure of that.

His jaw was moving in anger and frustration. "What the hell are you thinking, woman?! You will really stoop this low just to fool me?"

Cadmus was putting a pressure on his wife's wrist when Dr. Jacobe and Clara came into the room.

He immediately moved from sitting on the edge of the bed to make room for the two newcomers.

Dr. Jacobe immediately examined Cherrie's wound. and when he saw that he was breathing heavily, he released the breath that he had been holding for a while.

"Does your husband's family have a history of self-harm, Mr. Valcarcel?" Dr. asked him. jacobe while Cherrie's wound was tatooed with Clara's help.

He quickly shook his head. "Not that I know of. Her mother has no history of self-harm. So is she."

"Then why did she slit her wrist so often?"

He was stunned by Dr.'s question. Jacob. "What do you mean?"

"I didn't tell you this because it was irrelevant at the time, but your wife has healed cuts on both of her wrists."

"Meaning?"

"It means he always slits his wrists." The Doctor shook his head. "Some are deep and deadly. And his cut, it's not deep. I know some people who would cut themselves because they want to feel pain."

He's baffled. "Why would she do that? She's a proud woman. The last thing on her mind is to kill herself and damage her skin."

"Well... people kill themselves for far less reason." Clara said.

"She's my wife." he said irritated. "And he cannot die until he pays for his sin against me."

He left the room angrily but he was also stunned by the door.

He felt a magnet forcing him to look back. And he did.

and the most absurd thing happened, his heart pounded. It wasn't loud but enough to anger and disgust him. Not a chance. Not again.

He marched up to the master's bedroom and laid his body down on the wide and soft bed.

'Cherry is not me. my name is berry p-po.'

He shook his head violently. Impossible!

BERRY WAKES up alive again. When she opened her eyes and saw the ceiling of her prison room, she knew she wasn't dead.

He looked at his bandaged wrist.

he sighed deeply then got up and left the bed. When he left the room, he was not surprised to see two Guards outside the room.

Looks like he's gone again.

That's a good thing.

He makes her very uncomfortable.

He slowly walked down the stairs then went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

The only good thing in this house is the food. He was never hungry and always had food served to him when he came down.

But today is different.

when she entered the dining hall, the table wasn't empty. A beautiful little girl was there, eating.

Berry felt a small spark of happiness inside her when he saw the little girl. She's so beautiful and cute.

Only kids can make her dark world light up. they are the only thing that can make her feel good. Maybe because she knew that they won't hurt her like grown up does.

He approached the boy and sat in the seat next to him.

"Hello, baby girl." His voice was sweet and caught the boy's attention.

when he looked up, fear opened his eyes and immediately left the dining room and ran outside.

He blinked in shock. She knew that fear in the little kid's eyes all too well. berry knew the little girls must be frightened by now but she adores kids and she can't resist.

She followed her and found her in the living room.

When the boy saw him, he was about to run away from him again but he stopped in front of him.

he immediately retreated, his fear obvious. "I'm sorry. I won't make any more noise, Mommy."

Mom? He blinked. "Did you just call me... M-mommy?"

The little girl nodded, her eyes tearing up. "I'm sorry, mommy, I won't make any more noise. I'll listen to you. Sorry. Mommy. sorry."

She doesn't want to pretend to be someone else's, but she couldn't let the little girl cry.

"Hey...It's okay." He approached the boy and gently dried the tears on his cheeks. "I won't hurt you." He spoke to the child in a soft voice. "I just want to play with you."

although the boy looked at him with doubt, after a few seconds he nodded in agreement to what he wanted.

"Promise, you won't hurt me again?" That kid.

She frowned. "Again?"

"Yes." The boy grabbed his cheek, "you slapped me, remember? Because I'm too loud and so noisy."

what kind of mother does this little girl have? "I'm sorry." He caressed her hair then cupped her cheek. "I promise I won't hurt your cute fluffy cheeks again. Are we friends now?" He put his hand out. Even though he hesitated, the boy still nodded. "Alright.if that's what you want, Mommy."

He didn't pay attention to what she called him. She's delighted that there's an innocent soul in front of her, untainted from all the cruelty in the world. How she wished to be just like this little girl, oblivious and unharmed.

He grabbed the boy's hand and squeezed it sweetly. "Do you want to play, baby?"

The boy immediately nodded. There was a trace of excitement on his face as he looked up at him. "Yes."

"Okay," she softly smiled at her, "what do you want us to play?"

"Dolls?" she cutely suggested as she pursed her lips.

That made her smile. "Okay. Let's play dolls."

Berry seemed to return to childhood while playing with the girl. He forgot to eat and the hunger he felt earlier disappeared from his mind. she even forgot her nightmares and she felt a spark of light in her void existence.

For the first time in a long time, she's happy.

"WHERE'S MY DAUGHTER, damn it!" he shouted angrily at Clara who called him and told him that his mother left her son at home because he had an important trip. "Where's Snow?"

Clara answered palely. "In Ma'am Cherry's room."

Fear and anger filled him. the last time Cherry and Snow were together, she slapped his baby girl! And that was the last straw of his patience.

He clenched his fist tightly as he took big steps towards his wife's room.

If she lays a finger on his princess, he will not hesitate to end her life. he let her go at first but if he did anything to her son, they would both kill each other.

Every step he takes, dread consumes him. He can still remember Snow's whimpers and sobs. The redness of his Princess' cheeks and the pain and fear in her eyes as she looked at him.

No. Not again.

he has to hurry up! Maybe what Cherry is doing to her son.

Big strides turned into sprints. He was out of breath when he reached Cherry's room. He immediately opened the door but was suddenly stunned by what he saw.

Cherry and Snow were on their knees on the floor while playing Building Blocks and their daughter's barbie dolls were scattered on the floor. The two are both indifferent to their surroundings while happily playing.

He stared at his son. There is no fear in its face. her face is filled with happiness. Just like Cherry's. His wife looks happy... genuinely happy. Her eyes even sparkle in happiness and it's the first time he's ever seen his wife like this.

It's an act. That's in the back of his mind.

he violently shook his head then approached his son and immediately carried him away from Cherrie.

"Daddy, we're still playing—"

"No." He said, firmly.

"But Daddy—"

"No buts, Snow." He widened his son's eyes. "Go to your room. Now!"

Snow frowned and said goodbye to Cherrie who responded with a small smile.

When his son left, he didn't know he was going to strangle Cherrie or laugh because she pretended to be close to their son.

she already did this before, trying to get to him through their daughter and he won't let her use Snow again.

"So this is your plan? Be nice to Snow so I'll be nice to you?"

Cherrie stood up from her crouch and straightened her slightly crumpled clothes. "A-it's okay if you don't be nice to me, just don't scold the boy." He turned as the voice spoke to him gently. "I was the one who invited him to play."

He laughed at what he said. "Wow. You're giving me a Parental advice?" he pointed at it. "Just priceless and full of bullshit coming from you!"

"I was just playing along—"

"I don't care. And can you cut out this nice and pitiful woman act of yours? It's starting to get into my nerves." trembling with anger, he cupped her face and forced her to look at him. "And don't you dare talk nor play with my daughter again. The last time you used our daughter to your schemes, you hurt her. I'm warning you now, Cherry, I can be a monster when I need to."

He pushed his wife hard on the bed then took big steps out of her room and went to Snow's room.

Cadmus already left the room so he didn't see the tears of self pity and fear of being beaten in Berry's eyes.