Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

"WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT?" Cadmus asked his Private Investigator. "Who's Berry? Who was he before I saw him at the Hospital? I want to know every single detail."

The P.I. nodded. then a picture was placed on top of his desk, in front of him.

it's a picture of Berry in her expensive looking High School uniform. And she looks so much like Cherry. But he knew that was not his wife. His wife didn't go to a Private High School because her mother couldn't afford it.

he stared at the picture of Berry sitting alone on the Bench and staring into nothingness. She isn't smiling in the photograph. She looks sad actually. Her eyes have that glint of sadness in them.

Something might have happened to her for her to be like that now. something happened that scarred her. Or maybe something already happened before this picture was taken. Maybe she's just good at hiding it. And now, she's on the edge, on the brink of losing herself.

Cadmus sighed. "Who is Berry? What happened to her?"

His P.I. immediately answered. "Her name is Berry Lacsamana, only daughter of the Owner of Lacsamana Group of Companies."

His lips parted. "The Lacsamana Group of Companies?"

The interlocutor nodded. "Yes. That one. Mr. Henry Lacsamana and his daughter, Berry, went to the U.S. after her mother left them. Berry was just four years old at the time."

Turns out he didn't grow up in this country. Then why is she here? Last time he heard, the Lacsamana Group of Companies is about to elect a new Chairman. Is that why she's here?

"What else?" He asked, curious.

"She was top of her class in High School. but she didn't show up in her Graduation. No reason was given. Everyone I talked to who were her classmates at the time said the same thing about Ms. Lacsamana. They said that she kept to herself. he doesn't want to talk to anyone, he doesn't want anyone to approach him especially if it's a guy and he doesn't have any friends, or rather, he doesn't want to make friends. She's a loner. No one really knows about her that much."

"Family?"

"An orphan."

So she's alone in this world. "No relatives?"

The interlocutor shook his head. "Her father died when she was a senior."

"Cause of death?"

"Drunk driving."

Hell? "So who took care of her? She was a minor."

"Her Auntie adopted her from her father who lives here in the Philippines. She was brought here and went to College here." This is the answer. "But her aunt died when she was in second year college. Drunk driving too."

Every family she has is dead? "And?"

"Then her Uncle from her mother's side took her in. She was about to turn eighteen at that time."

"Nearly an adult."

"Yes.but no one knows what happened to her while she was living with her Uncle." She shook her head. "That was the time when she dropped out of College. Something might have happened back then, but no one knows. all I know is that her Uncle and his son were the ones using her inheritance money since she's living in their house."

His eyebrows met. "Are you sure that no one knows? Have you talked to his uncle? His uncle's son?"

His P.I. shook his head. "The son went to the U.S. after his father's death. Car crash. A year ago. That's when Berry resurfaced again after not being seen for more than seven years." His fist clenched. "So we can assume that it's about the money. Was she abused?"

"No one knows. I can't find her Hospital Records."

what the hell happened to her? "Um, boyfriend?"

The P.I shook his head. "She never had a boyfriend."

Is that because she dislikes men? He's confused. "Is she related to my wife?"

"I'm still investigating that but as of now, I can't see any connection that will tie the two together."

he blew out a violent breath. "Okay. Just inform me immediately if you find a link between her and my wife."

The P.I. nodded. he then said goodbye. When he left, he stared at Berry's picture on his desk again. Even in the picture, she looks sad.

sighed he hid the picture in the drawer then left the private office then went to Berry's room.

He stopped when he turned the door open. It's locked. I wonder what she's doing inside?

He knocked on the door.

No one answered.

Maybe she's hurting herself again. worry filled him.

He quickly took the master keys out of his pocket and used them to open the door. When he pushed open the door, he let out a relieved breath when he saw Berry staring at the ceiling, unmoving and unharmed.

He closed the door and approached her bed.

her body was instantly in a defensive mode when he approached her, that's why he just sat on the floor, a little far from her bed to calm her mood.

"Hi." He got her attention.

But she didn't move a muscle.

tears just keep falling from her eyes but her face is drained with emotion.

His tears continued to flow while staring at the ceiling of the room and he felt his chest tighten while staring at the girl. He can feel the pain in her tears. It's suffocating him.

he sighed and stared at the girl. This woman suffered a great deal of cruelty to be like this. And he's furious. He's angry at those people who made her like this.

He saw how she treated his daughter. Berry is kind, caring, loving, innocent, shy and scared. and to those people who scarred this woman, who hurt her, and who drove her to hurt herself, how can they do this to her?

His jaw tightened.

How can they hurt an innocent woman like her?

He blinked when he saw Berry move to dry the tears in his eyes.

"Hi..."

slowly, she glanced at him.

Fear flashed automatically in his eyes when he saw her.

"It's okay. I won't hurt you." He said.

Doubt is in her eyes and he understands her. So Cadmus pushed himself away from Berry to give a safe distance between them.

"Is this distance okay? or do you want me to go further?"

Berry remained silent but her eyes were trained on him.

Cadmus sighed. "Talk to me."

"What for?" His voice was weak and gentle as if he was very tired."I'm angry." He said while looking into her eyes.

Fear filled her eyes. "W-and me?"

He quickly shook his head. "No. No. Not at you."

"Then and w-whom?"

"To all the people that—" hurt you. He didn't finish what he wanted to say. "—you know... just the people in general."

Berry slowly landed on the bed then crossed his arms on the bed and rested his chin on it while looking at her.

"I'm furious too." She whispered absentmindedly. "And my anger won't go away that easily."

"I can make you smile." He offered. "If you let me."

Staring blankly it shook its head. "Don't bother. That's not happening."

As if on cue, the door opened and a gleeful Snow entered.

"Mommy! Mommy! Look! I'm one hundred in our test!" Snow's voice was shrill with a wide smile on her lips.

And like a light in the darkness, a sunlight breaking at dawn, Berry's face lit up and smiled softly at Snow. And without hesitation, Berry gets up from the bed and hugs Snow.

Berry's smile made him smile. So his Princess can make Berry smile. He's relieved.

"I'm really good, Mommy, said Teacher. Look, oh!" Snow shows her hand at Berry. "Three stars!"

The smile remained on Berry's lips as she looked at Snow's hand with amazement. "Wow. You're so brilliant, Snow. I'm so proud of you."

Snow grinned. "Can we play now?"

"Of course baby." Without hesitation, Berry agreed. Her eyes sparkling in happiness and she looks like a different person to him. "What do you want us to play?"

"Dolls and Blocks and let's bathe together again!"

"Sure, baby."

as if he was not in the room while the two were talking. But he doesn't mind. He's happy because Berry looks happy. And somehow, he felt good.

"Let's go, Mommy!"

Berry just let Snow pull him out of the room and he shook his head then stood up and left the room as well.

Cadmus hoped that Snow is enough to make Berry happy while he figures out what to do with her.

WHEN SNOW WAS SLEEPING AFTER SINGING, SHE CAREFULLY LEFT THE ROOM AND SLOWLY CLOSED IT.

Berry feels calm after tucking Snow to bed. she even felt happy and for her, happiness is hard to come by. Very hard. That little girl can calm her like a powerful sedative. She wished she could keep her, but she can't do that. She can't drag that little angel to hell with her.

berry took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging as she turned around... but only to gasp in shock and fear when she came face to face with Cadmus.

Just inches away. She could feel the heat of his body and her anxiety was automatically triggered.

Her father's fist punching her body. his powerful legs kicking her to the side, beating her up until she couldn't stand anymore. And when she couldn't move anymore, his dirty hands would the button of her jeans.

Berry stumbled as she moved away from Cadmus. her uneasiness doubled and she became agitated because of the memory flooding through her mind, frightening her.

Her uncle's dirty hands touched her bare thighs and she screamed. but immediately he stopped screaming when the uncle slapped him on both cheeks causing his face to darken. He fought back. Struggling away from his demonic uncle but he didn't let him fight. he was punched hard in the stomach causing him to writhe in pain and gradually lose his spirit. And the last thing he realized before completely losing consciousness was the sound of the chain being wrapped around both of his legs.

Men. She abhors men. they are the only creature on earth that can make her feel so small, worthless, despicable and worthless.

And as she walked away from Cadmus, the fear of being dragged by the hair and being locked up and beaten filled her mind.

She trembled.

Scared.

Cold.

"Wait." Cadmus stopped him.

He immediately stopped walking and clenched his trembling fist. "W-what's that?"

"Can we talk?"

She stilled.

"Don't worry." It immediately said. "I won't touch you or get close to you. I just want to talk to you."

He took a deep breath and nodded weakly. "O-okay. where?"

"In the Garden." He said then added, "if you don't mind."

He nodded before walking towards the garden of the house. When he got there, he immediately sat down at the end of the cement bench.

And when Cadmus arrived, he sat on the same bench but with space between them. at the other end he sat so somehow he could breathe freely.

He remained silent as he waited for her to speak. He was breathing deeply and clutching his cold hand.

Being in a dimly lit place like this makes her very uncomfortable. she wants the comfort of her bed and duvet and she's getting anxious every passing minute of silence.

He closed his eyes tightly as he felt anxious, and when he was like this, he knew what he had to do.

Pain. She needs pain to calm down.

I need pain —

"What do you remember before you woke up here in my house?"

He stopped then turned to the neighbor. "W-why did you n-ask?"

"I just want to know."

He looked down and focused his eyes on his feet. "I-I was riding in an accident. p-it's like I'm in an a-ambulance but I-I'm not sure k-because I don't have the strength to open my eyes."

"So you got into an accident and you were brought to the Hospital where Dr. Jacobe works."

He didn't say a word. she was focusing all her attention on keeping herself calm without pain and she's failing miserably.

"Do you remember anything else?"

She fisted her knuckles.

"Where were you before the accident?"

Calm down. Calm down!

"What did you do to be in an ambulance?"

Calm down! Please! Come down!

"Answer me—"

"Pain..." she whispered. "I need pain..."

He stood up and took big steps towards the kitchen. Berry was frantically looking for a knife when she spotted one. he hurriedly took it but before he could use it, someone grabbed his hand to stop him and snatched the knife from him.

The knife. The pain. Her own personal sedative...

She looked up.

It's Cadmus. And he looks furious.

"Don't even think about it!" He snapped at her. "Why do you always want to kill yourself, huh?!"

He tried to snatch the hand he was holding but Cadmus held him tightly.

Anxiety is spreading through her again. Her hands cold, pale and trembling. she was having an anxiety attack, her tears falling down on her cheeks when Cadmus held both of her hands and looked at her begging eyes.

"P-please—d-don't..." her lips quiver, "I-I'll b-be g—g—ood g-girl. P-please don't h-hurt me. P-please . P-please. I b-beg—of y-you..."

berry was sobbing so hard and was begging but Cadmus did not let go of her hand. Instead, he held it tighter.

"I'm not gonna hurt you." He spoke in a low voice as if he was choking her as they clasped their hands together. "I won't hurt you. Shhh... I'm not gonna hurt you. I won't hurt you. Shhh. Shh... Shh... it's okay. I won't hurt you. I won't hurt you like they did. I won't do that. Shhh... hold on. I won't hurt you... hold on... hold on..."

He won't hurt me. He won't hurt me. He won't hurt me.

he kept telling himself as Cadmus held his hand.

He won't hurt me. He won't hurt me. He won't hurt me.

Seconds and minutes passed. Cadmus was still holding her hand firmly and he didn't hurt her. Like he said. He didn't hurt her.

He didn't hurt her.

He didn't...

just like he said. He didn't hurt her. He just held her hand and looked at her in the eyes with utmost sincerity in them. He didn't do anything to scare her and to make her anxiety more severe.

He just stayed in front of her, holding her hand while looking at her in the eyes.

and slowly, she's calming down. Slowly, her breathing became even and her heart stopped racing.

"There..." Cadmus whispered and squeezed her hand softly. "I told you I'll talk you out of it if you try to hurt yourself again."

Her lips trembled. "I need it—the pain..."

"No you don't." Cadmus shook his head then slowly released his hand. "As long as you're here in my house, I won't let you hurt yourself. No. I will stop you. Every time you try. I'll be there to stop you."

A tear rolled down her cheek. "W-why? w-why do you bother with me, a despicable, worthless human being?"

Cadmus looked at her intently. "There are a handful of human beings who are despicable and worthless, and I'm pretty sure you're not one of them."

"H-how'd you know?"

"Because you're kind to my daughter. and that makes you worth it to me."

He looked down and his eyes focused on the knife that Cadmus held away from him and the man seemed to notice it.

"Don't look at it as if your life depends on it." This is it. "You're not cutting yourself again. I won't let you."

she looked down speechlessly then hugged herself before turning her back on Cadmus and walking towards her room.

Berry was calm until she entered her room. The darkness... the cold... the suffocating feeling...

Her fear went back. anxiety spreading through her like wildfire again and she immediately turned around and left the room.

And she came face to face with Cadmus. Again.

She was shaking and was about to walk away when Cadmus held her hand and.

He's not gonna hurt me. He's not gonna hurt me. He's not gonna hurt me.

he remained where he was and Cadmus held his hand.

He didn't do anything, just hold her hand. He didn't come closer, he didn't touch her inappropriately, he didn't do anything that'll trigger her anxiety again. He just stood there until her breathing relaxed.

and then he guided her back to her room and opened the lights.

He breathed a sigh of relief as the light enveloped the entire room. And when Cadmus let go of his hand, he walked towards the bed then lay down and wrapped the blanket around his body as if to protect him.

as she lay on the bed, she saw Cadmus looking around.

Berry thought Cadmus would leave, but he didn't.

Instead, he sat on the floor and leaned his body against the closed door of his room as if watching over her, then closed his eyes as if he was resting.

and she can't help but to stare at Cadmus' face, memorizing every angle and admiring his appeal until she becomes drowsy and her eyes drop close.