Episode 9

ALANA

When I arrived at university, Carmen and I excitedly went to enroll, but I ran into my sister Lucia. I hadn't heard from her in a long time and I wasn't sure how to talk to her now that we didn't live under the same roof.

"Hello, I hope you're doing well," Lucia said, and I smiled at her. The truth is, she never mistreated me; she simply ignored me to avoid problems with our mother.

"Hi, I am. And how are things going at home?" I asked curiously.

"My parents are struggling. They claim that the monthly allowance our grandfather left isn't enough, and since the lawyer didn't provide further details about your wedding, things have gotten worse," Lucia said.

"Well, I hope you're doing fine. I don't care about them, and you know perfectly well why," I replied, and she nodded.

Carmen and I both enrolled in the Business Administration program, and afterward, we went for a coffee and something to eat. We talked about what would happen when I got divorced and finished my studies. Just the thought of Chris being far from me made me feel very sad. I didn't want to suffer again. I pondered over it the whole time, and Carmen suggested that I go talk to Christopher. So I did.

When I arrived at his company, I was surprised. It was truly beautiful and elegant. When I announced myself to his secretary, she let me go up to the executive floor. As I entered, I finally had a conversation and reached an agreement with the icy man. However, a loud argument erupted, and the voice I heard seemed familiar. Right as Christopher was about to leave, the door swung open, leaving me in shock.

"Here's the person I wanted to see. You're going to jail for marrying my underage daughter without my permission," said the man who fathered me.

"Father," I uttered, trembling.

"Here she is. We won't be going home right now," he said, forcefully grabbing my arm, and I reacted.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I said, trying to break free, but he tightened his grip on my arm.

"You're my daughter and you'll come home. Your mother is waiting for us. Don't you miss our home, honey?" he said, surprising me. I can't believe he's such a hypocrite.

"Sir, she's my wife," Christopher said.

"You married her without my or her mother's permission, and I'm taking her with me now," he said, still squeezing my arm. I'm tired of listening to his lies, and I refuse to go back to that hell.

"Let go! Why do you want me to return? So you can hit me or is it because your wife is so bored that she has no one else to abuse or humiliate? Does she not have someone to clean the house for her? It seems that the monthly allowance our grandfather left you isn't enough, and you want mine," I shouted as tears streamed down my face.

"What are you saying, Alana? Did you both do that to your daughter?" Christopher spoke, filled with rage, and he grabbed my father by the collar. "I'm going to kill you," he said.

"Don't dirty your hands, it's not worth it," I said, trying to make him let go as my father turned purple.

"Leave before I kill you," Christopher shouted, releasing him.

"I won't leave without my daughter," my father had the audacity to speak.

"Get out," Christopher said, pushing him out of his office. I stood paralyzed until Christopher returned and unexpectedly hugged me.

"Now, tell me everything, in detail," he said, looking into my eyes.

Both of us sat on a sofa in the office, and I began recounting everything in detail. The times I ended up in the hospital and the beatings I endured from them. In the end, I was crying like a baby.

"Take it easy, cry as much as you want. I promise they'll pay for all the harm they've caused you," he said, embracing me. And in that moment, I truly felt safe in his arms. I cried in his embrace for a long time. When I realized it, his shirt was completely soaked.

"I'm sorry, I soaked your shirt," I said, wiping my face.

"Calm down, now what matters is that you're okay. Let's go home and don't worry about your parents, I'll take care of them" he says, looking into my eyes, and I felt somewhat nervous.

"I think we should leave, it's getting dark, and I want to hug Chris" I said, getting up.

"You're right, but first wash your face. I don't want Chris to worry" he says, and I nodded.

He showed me the bathroom, and as soon as I was presentable, we left his office, hand in hand. We walked to the car, and I felt nervous because he didn't let go of my hand throughout the entire journey, although I also enjoyed that feeling. When we got out of the car, he released it for a moment, only to take it again as we entered the mansion, where a mischievous little boy greets us.

"Mommy, daddy's here!" he says while running. Christopher holds him with one hand and lifts him up. My little one gives a kiss to his father and then comes into my arms, where I hold him tight.

"Mommy, you're holding me too tight" my little one complains.

"I'm sorry, my prince. I missed you so much" I said, feeling somewhat emotional. I felt weak after that encounter with the man who fathered me.

"Let's have dinner and then rest, we need it" the ice man says, who now seems to be in neutral mode, not as cold as always but not overly attentive either.

"Yes, let's go" I spoke, and the three of us ate peacefully while my little one talked about what he did at school and in his football training.

His grandmother took him because I went to the company. I would have preferred to be with him rather than see that man. After dinner, the three of us went up to the little one's room because he wanted both of us to read to him. When he fell asleep, we went to our room. I took a shower first, got ready for bed, got into the bed, and after a while, Christopher entered and wrapped his strong arms around me, as he does every night since we got married. I feel safe with him.

"Will you have problems because you married me?" I asked pensively.

"No, your grandfather took care of everything. Your father has no rights over you" he replied.

"I know him, he and his wife won't leave me alone" I said, still deep in thought.

"If they come near you, I'll kick them to the curb. And if they still don't stay away, I'm capable of killing them" he said as if it were nothing.

"I thought you didn't care about what happened to me" I said, feeling ashamed.

"Listen to me carefully" he says, making me look into his beautiful gray eyes. "The moment you and I got married, you became someone I will protect with my life if necessary. And if your father wants to hurt you, I'll kill him before allowing anything to happen to you because of him" he says, and uncontrollable tears escape from my eyes.

"Why are you crying?" he asks, wiping my tears, which are getting more and more.

"It's just that no one, other than my grandfather, has ever wanted to protect me like you do. Thank you" I replied, feeling vulnerable after that visit from the man who fathered me drained all my strength.

"Don't thank me. I should thank you for taking care of and protecting our son. Now rest" he leaves a kiss on my forehead and hugs me tightly to his chest. In no time, I fell asleep.

After all, I don't think this marriage is going to be bad. And well, the ice man seems to have a warm side, very well hidden but he has it, and I liked that a lot.

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