Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Berry QUICKLY DROPPED the knife he was holding when he saw Snow enter the kitchen. With him was Clara who looked at him intently.

"Mommy!" Snow gleefully ran towards her and embraced her legs tightly as she looked up at her.

She felt a warm hand caress her heart. this cute little girl thinks she's her mother and she can't say otherwise because she doesn't want to disappoint her like she was disappointed in her childhood.

"Good evening, Mom." Snow greeted him with a smile while still hugging him. "Are you hungry? You didn't accompany me to dinner earlier."

If only she could tell this little angel that her father doesn't want her to.

"Because I did something earlier." He excused himself.

"You're busy again, Mommy?" Snow asked then released him from the hug and stepped back. "Am I not allowed to talk, Mommy? Am I being too noisy? can we play again Can you join me for a half-bath?"

He knelt down so that his and Snow's faces were level, then gently cupped her cute face. "I'm sorry, it's not possible." the happy sparkle in the boy's eyes disappeared so he immediately retracted what he had said. "Do you want us to take a half bath together?"

Immediately the light returned to the child's face. "Really, Mommy? You'll do that for me? You won't mind if the water ruins your make up?"

He shook his head then smiled at her. "Let's go?"

Snow immediately took her by the hand and pulled her out of the kitchen. Clara immediately blocked them.

"I'm sorry Snow, but you can't go with your Mommy." Said Clara who looked at him badly.

Snow's face immediately crumpled. "And why is that? she's my Mommy!"

"Snow, listen to me—"

"Why would i? You're not my Mommy. Hmp!"

Snow pulled her away and Clara did nothing. When he looked back, he was calling someone on his cell phone.

It looks like it will report to that man again.

He charged Snow. "Where is your room, baby?"

Snow turned to him in surprise. "Why are you asking me that, Mommy? Have you forgotten?"

He grimaced. "Something like that, baby."

"Oh." It pointed to the hallway on the second floor. Its in the opposite direction to her room. "There, oh. Let's hurry, Mommy. Daddy might come again and scold us again."

He smiled at the boy's gesture. "Are you afraid of your Daddy?"

Snow shook her head. "Nope. Daddy is the sweetest. When he scolded us, he didn't really mean it. That's just how Daddy is. He's mad at you, Mommy."

"Why is he mad at me?" She wanted to know the reason why he won't believe that she's not his wife.

Snow shrugged. "Daddy said its adult stuff only."

He nodded then entered Snow's room.

they wasted no time, they undressed together and then soaked in his big bath tub in his own bathroom.

Berry felt happy again as she bathed with Snow. It's a simple thing but he is happy that there is no fear in his chest. this is why she loves kids, they are innocent and won't be able to hurt her. And Snow is just so cute, so sweet and so cuddly not to adore. He kept hugging her while they both soaped each other.

And they decided to put shampoo on each other's hair.

their half bath turns into a full bath as they play on the bath tub. Splashing water at each other and putting shampoo foam and bath bubbles on each other's faces.

Their laughter echoed inside the bathroom.

It's been so long since she laughed freely and happily. it's been so long since she felt secure and unafraid. It's been so long since she felt like this...loving the feeling of being alive and not the thought of being dead.

She's glad she met Snow. She's happy to meet such a cute little girl whose laughs are contagious.

they just stopped playing while taking a bath when he noticed Snow's hands turning pale from soaking in the water.

He immediately carried Snow under the shower to rinse off. then she dried off Snow's body and dressed her in a bath robe before drying herself and wrapped the baby towel around her body.

The towel was short but he had already fitted himself. He will run to his room later.

"Mommy, can you sleep beside me tonight?" Snow asked as she dressed him in pajamas.

He immediately thought of his father. "Your Daddy might be angry."

Snow held her tightly by the hand and spoke with her eyes staring at him. "Please, Mommy. Please?"

Berry doesn't have the heart to disappoint this little angel. But he also doesn't want his father to be angry with him.

He picked Snow up after getting dressed then carefully laid her on the bed and stroked her hair. "How about we compromise, hmm, baby?"

snow looked at her with her innocent questioning eyes. "Compromise? What is that?"

"Its like a negotiation." He explained while still stroking her hair. "I will do what you want and you will do what I want."

Snow immediately grinned happily. "Okay. What do you want, Mommy?"

"Well," she smiled, "I want to sleep in my room. Your Daddy will be angry when he sees us together. In return, I will stay by your side until you fall asleep. I promise, I won't leave until you fall asleep sleeping."

Snow began to think, then nodded with a wide smile. "Okay, Mommy. Deal."

She smiled and kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep."

Snow nodded then closed her eyes. He, on the other hand, laid down next to the boy and gently caressed his hair while singing in a low voice.

'... caterpillar in the three,

How you wonder who you'll be,

can't go far but you can always dream.

Wish you may and wish you could,

Don't you worry hold on tight,

I promise you there will come a day

Butterfly, fly away...'

While humming Snow to sleep, Berry didn't realize that she was falling asleep as well. the last thing he realized before his eyes completely closed was the opening of the bedroom door and the entry of Snow's father. CADMUS HURRIEDLY went home when Clara called him, telling him that Cherry is with Snow again. he almost flew the car he was driving as many scenarios played out in his mind.

But the scenario that didn't come to his mind was hearing Cherry singing to Snow to get a good night's sleep.

from outside Snow's room, he could hear Cherry's soft humming and he couldn't move his feet to enter the room. He wanted to hear her weak singing. He wanted to pretend they were a normal family.

But reality came too soon.

cherry's voice fades away into the air, waking him from his reverie.

He grabbed the door knob then opened the door and slowly pushed it open.

Cadmus felt his defenses softened when he saw Cherry sleeping beside their daughter, her arms hugging her and her lips pressed against Snow's temple.

The scene in front of him is a picture of a loving wife, taking good care of their child.

But he knew the truth. he knows better than to trust Cherry again.

The last time he gave her a third chance, she destroyed his companies and hurt his little Princess.

He could never allow that ever again. It's okay for him to get hurt, just don't let Snow. She's too innocent to get hurt. She's too young for this mess.

He took a deep breath to calm himself then approached his wife who was fast asleep.

He was stunned and his jaw dropped when he removed his blanket and saw that he was only covered with a short towel.

Snow's towel.

Cadmus gritted his teeth and was about to shake Cherry awake when he noticed something in her back.

He frowned as he watched her back.

Cherry's back is flawless. No speck, no bruises and no cuts. It takes care of its body so how can it have so many wounds on its back? and that's the only part of its back that he can see. How about the lower part of her back?

How did it get injured like this? It's not from the car crash that's for sure. He is not a Doctor but he can tell that these wounds and cuts healed years ago not just weeks!

What the hell is this?

he ran his fingers through his hair as he stared at Cherry's back. This can't be. That was not his wife's back. He knew his wife's body. They have a child together for Christ's sake! And this is not it!

he took off the suit he was wearing then covered it over his body and put the blanket back on it.

Cadmus, then, got his phone from his pocket and called Dr. Jacob. The other line rang several times before he answered his call.

"Mr. Valcarcel—"

"When can you see me?" he cut him off. "It's urgent."

"Oh. I'm in a Conference in Macau." That Doctor made his senses hurt even more. "I'll be home next week."

Cadmus blows a loud breath. "Can't you cancel that meeting?"

"No. I'm the speaker."

He sighed heavily and left his son's room. "Fine. I'll ask you on the phone then."

"What is it?"

"Is that woman really my wife, Cherry?"

Cadmus was holding his breath as he waited for Dr. Jacobe's answer."I would gladly answer that, Mr. Valcarcel but it's better to show you than to tell you."

His jaw dropped. "Just a no or a yes, Jacob."

"I'll answer you when I get back, Mr. Valcarcel."

He tightened his grip on the baluster then hung up. Then he turned to the closed door of his son's room.

That woman. That can't be possible Cherry. I just need a confirmation. but who the hell is she? They're face are exactly the same in every angle.

He pulled out his own hair and shook his head violently.

This is fuck up! He's sure as hell that Cherry doesn't have a twin sister. She's an only daughter of a struggling single mother. it's just difficult that's why he married her to improve her life. She only wants his money, it's too late for her to know that. That's why she doesn't want a child. He should have known by then that she doesn't really care about him.

And if that's not his wife then she's not really acting. that woman is really shy, nice and quiet. Very different from his bitch of a wife. And she was really happy playing with his kid.

He let out a violent breath and walked absentmindedly towards the master's bedroom as he thought of the woman who looked like his wife.

seven-year-old Berry's HANDS are CLOSED on her chest and her eyes are closed tightly as she tries to block out what is being heard from outside her room.

"Oh! Go ahead! Oh! Oh! Hector. Go ahead! You're so delicious. Ah! Ah!"

He violently shook his head and cried as he tightened the covering over his throat.

"It's enough..." she softly begged and whispered while crying. "That's enough. That's enough."

"Oh! Oh! Hector. It's delicious! Go ahead. Just do it. Ah! Ah!"

he fell on the bed then covered the pillow so as not to hear the noise coming from outside while crying loudly.

Berry was able to sleep through the noise outside and he woke up to hear a loud kicking at the door of his locked room.

he got up awkwardly then pushed himself to the edge of the bed while his body trembled with fear.

"Open it, Berry!" His father shouted from outside.

he was startled with fear and his body was cold, hugging himself while praying to Papa Jesus that his father would not open the door but Papa Jesus did not listen to him.

The door flew open and her father entered her room, a belt on his hand.

Berry instantly quivered in pain when his father walked towards her. He braced himself for pain. But he was surprised when his father grabbed him by the arm and pulled him down from the bed.

He choked because of the pain in his arm. "Daddy! It hurts!"

but his father didn't stop pulling him until he got out of the room. He continued to pull her down the stairs and every time her body fell on each step, she screamed in pain.

He was constantly begging. "T-that's right, Daddy! I-I can't p-po anymore." He was crying and begging but his father was deaf.

He dragged her towards the living room and slammed her body on the center table before beating her up with his belt.

On the back, on the neck, on the feet, on the thighs, on the arms and on the legs. all of that was hit by the end of his belt until he became weak from the extreme pain in his body.

At his young age, his body could no longer withstand the force of each stroke of his father's belt on his body. and when he completely weakened, he felt his father's hand caressing his body.

"You look just like your Mommy."

His father's words made her want to scream for help. But he knows that no one will help him. At his young age he knew he couldn't do anything. no one can hear him.

All she could do was scream in her mind not to while her father removed her underwear.

Scared, Berry got up and screamed with a trembling voice when he saw the giant sitting on the side of his bed.

her nightmares are still within her and she panicked. Her mind is telling her that it's her father and he came back to abuse her again. He was kicking the bulk while crying and begging.

"Leave me alone! Please! Please me alone! I don't want it! I don't want it! Please! Don't hurt me... don't touch me!"

but his father insisted on holding him but he struggled even more. It finally gave up at the same time as the whole surrounding area became bright.

Berry gasped and hugged her naked body as light engulfed the room. Her body trembled in fear.

then his eyes widened when he saw that the man he was kicking was the man who owned the house.

Shame consumed her. "I-I'm s-sorry."

Berry expects him to shout at her and be angry at her but he didn't say anything. he just picked the duvet on the floor and wrapped it around her nakedness.

"I think I scared you." He said in a low voice while fixing the blanket on her. "I was just moving you to your room. It was cold in Snow's room and you didn't have any clothes on so I carried you here."

he held tightly to the blanket. "I-I'm sorry." He apologized. "P-I'm sorry. P-please don't h-hit me."

It retreated then shook its head. "Don't worry. I won't." After saying this, he left his room.

he was left ashamed of what he had done but the fear was still there in his heart.

He stared into nothingness and closed his eyes tightly as he lay down on his bed. And as he stared at the ceiling, he knew he couldn't sleep anymore. and he also knows what he needs to sleep.

He quickly got up, got dressed, then left the room and hurried down to the kitchen.

When he looked at the clock hanging on the wall he passed, it was past midnight.

He took big steps into the kitchen and looked for a knife. Seeing one in the sink, he grabbed it and left the kitchen.

Then he stopped walking when his eyes caught the door of the house.

No guards and no one is around.

but it's locked from the inside and she has no key.

She resumed walking and hurriedly went to her room. He locked the door then sat on the edge of the bed and held the knife tightly.

I want to sleep. I need to sleep. And he only sleeps when he feels pain. she needs pain to sleep. Just enough pain to make her sleep and not die. She's thinking of Snow. She doesn't want her to see her die like that.

But he still doesn't want to change. She still wants to die. But not in this house. Not in that little girl's presence. she doesn't want to taint her innocent view of the world.

He took a deep breath and stared at his wrist as he slowly cut it open. It wasn't deep but it was enough to numb his hand. when he felt the pain, he let go of the knife then he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes.

He immediately fell asleep. The pain in her wrist is like a lullaby for her. The pain makes her sleep soundly.

but before he fell asleep, he heard the door open and someone enter his room..