"Beautiful art," the familiar deep voice I had fallen in love with broke my tranquility.
I stopped painting and turned around to find him standing behind me, his arms folded and his muscles bulging.
My eyes couldn't help but catch a glimpse of the tattoo on his arm, and the ones on his neck that I had always admired. I had always loved his tattoos, ever since I first saw them.
I wondered where else he had them on. I tried to shut the dirty thoughts that were creeping into my mind, but I couldn't deny how Alvaro made me feel and how easily he evoked the whore in me.
"Thank you," I replied softly.
We stood in silence for a while, until I mustered the courage to break it. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to our lessons today," I said, trying to avoid his duo-colored eyes. "I...I wasn't feeling alright."
"So I'm guessing the party was fun?" Alvaro's comment caught me off guard making my eyes widen in surprise.
H..how did he know about the party?
He smirked and took a step closer, while I instinctively took one back. "Huh?" I replied dumbly.
"It's okay, Isadora," he said, his smirk never leaving his face. "I won't tell your husband, but tell me something, Angel. Why do you have to keep it away from him?"
I didn't know what he was referring to, but there was something about his tone and the way he stared at me that made me feel uneasy. I looked everywhere but at him, feeling uncomfortable with the direction our conversation was heading.
"Can we not talk about that?" I whispered, feeling my cheeks heat up. "I am not quite comfortable."
He didn't say anything, but his intense gaze never left my face. We remained in a tense silence, with only the morning breeze speaking between us. I continued painting, trying to distract myself from the rising tension.
As I worked on my art, I could feel his eyes on me. He sat on one of the chairs in the garden, watching me with an intensity that made me feel hot under his gaze. It wasn't just the heat of the sun, but the distraction of my dirty thoughts that was making me feel flustered.
I check the time on my wrist. 2:35. It was almost time for my appointment. I rolled my eyes and reluctantly stopped what I was doing.
I gathered my tools and kept them in the shed. I dusted off my hands and made my way back to the house.
I went to my room and quickly got ready. I put on a simple white dress and brushed my hair. While I was styling my hair, a loud bang interrupted me.
"Hurry the fuck up Isadora," his impatient voice called. I rolled my eyes, but kept up with my pace.
Once I was done, I grabbed my bag and the medical report. He had asked me to come with them and I wondered why.
I reached the bottom staircase found him standing by the door, a look of irritation on his face.
"Finally," he muttered as I approached him.
As we made our way out, Alvaro emerged from the dining room. "Where are you two going, father?" he asked with a curious expression.
At the sound of his voice, Pablo released his tight grip on my hand and held me gently. He turned to Alvaro and flashed a forced smile. For a moment, I mistook his countenance for nervousness.
"We're going to see a doctor," Pablo replied, his voice taking on a tone that didn't match his usual confidence.
Alvaro raised a perfectly arched brow, clearly curious by the answer. His eyes flicked back to me, and I could see the gears turning in his head. Before he could throw his next question, Gabriele stepped in.
"Alvaro, mamá needs you, it's important," he exclaimed, his excitement evident as he tugged on his wrist.
Alvaro nodded, but turned back to glance at us with a blank expression in his eyes.
His blank gaze wasn't what fazed me, what bothered me was Pablo's reaction. But what caught my attention the most was the sudden shift in Pablo's demeanor. He was usually confident and arrogant, but now, he looked anxious and almost scared. I observed him keenly, trying to figure out what could have caused this reaction.
I had noticed that there was some tension between Alvaro and his father. I couldn't help but wonder about the strange father-son relationship. There had to be something deeper going on between them, and I was determined to find out.
Our journey to the hospital was quite a lengthy one. Apparently, he chose a gynecologist out of town for my appointment, and I knew the reason why he did that. I shook my head with a sly smile. If anything, I was more confident that I wouldn't get exposed.
We finally arrived at the hospital and the driver got the door for us. Pablo wrapped his arm around my waist and led me inside, his grip possessive and protective. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as we walked through the crowded waiting room.
I could feel the stares of judgment upon us, their disapproving glances burning holes into my skin. I wanted to shrink away, to hide from their prying eyes. But I forced myself to hold my head high, to not show any weakness or vulnerability.
It wasn't easy though. They saw me, a young girl with an older man, and they automatically assumed the worst. They probably thought I was a gold digger, a slut who had trapped an innocent man into marriage.
I could feel the stares of judgment and disbelief from the people around us, and it made my blood boil.
Why did society assume that every young woman with an older man was a gold digger or a slut? What about those of them who genuinely fall in love?
I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore their stares. It didn't faze me, but what did bother me was the fact that Pablo was too close to me, acting all possessive and protective. It irritated the hell out of me.
The waiting hall was buzzing with people, each one waiting for their turn to see the doctor. Of all the people waiting, Pablo seemed to be the most impatient. His restless legs bouncing up and down, was starting to irritate me. I wanted to yell at him to stop, but I didn't want my actions to make him cause a scene.
"Ms. Rivelli?" Just then, a tall, elegant nurse with blonde hair and a doe brown eyes walked into the room. She smiled warmly at us as she looked through the clipboard in her hand.
"You can go in, Dr. Clarkson is waiting for you," she said with a smile.
I gave her a small smile in return and followed Pablo into the office. The moment i stepped in, the scent of roses mixed with a mild smell of medicines filled my senses. I looked around and noticed that the office was beautifully decorated, with medical charts hanging on the wall.
Dr. Clarkson, a middle-aged woman with bob brunette hair and a half rimmed glasses perched on her button nose was busy typing on her laptop but looked up as we approached her.
"Welcome, Mr DelFavero and Ms Rivelli," she said with a smile. "Please have a seat."
Pablo and I sat down on the chairs in front of her desk. I noticed the confusion and curiosity in her eyes as she looked at us. I could tell that she was wondering why we had different surnames, even though we were married.
"Ms Rivelli, how can I help you both?" She asked with a smile.
"It's been seven days since we got married, and we haven't been intimate," he said, the situation making my soul burn with embarrassment. I nervously played with the ruffles on my dress, unable to meet the doctor's gaze.
The doctor's expression turned serious as she turned her attention to Pablo. "Ms. Rivelli, can I see your previous medical reports?" she asked, her tone professional.
I swallowed the anxiousness that had been building up in my throat and handed over the reports. I could feel Pablo's intense gaze burning into the side of my head, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. I mentally prepared myself for the worst, in case my intuition failed me and my lies were exposed.
"So, tell me, Ms Rivelli, how long have you had this?" The doctor dropped the reports on her desk and gazed into my eyes with no emotion in her brown orbs. Panic started to rise in my chest. Had she already caught onto my lies?
"It's been two months," I whispered, avoiding her gaze.
"Who in your family knows about this?" Her next question caught me off guard. I inwardly rolled my eyes at the unnecessary prying. It was my personal information, and if I didn't want to tell anyone, I didn't have to.
But instead of saying that, I chose to lie. I knew it would only raise Pablo's suspicions higher if I said nobody.
"My brother, Leonel," I lied through my teeth.
She furrowed her brows for a moment upon reading the reports in her hand. She glanced over at an anxious me, and then turned to Pablo.
"Come with me, Ms Rivelli," the doctor said firmly, standing up and motioning for me follow her. Pablo furrowed his brows in confusion but quickly stood up as well.
"Where are you taking her to?" He questioned with a displeased look in his eyes.
"Mr DelFavero, I plead that you wait for us here. We need to run some scans and tests to ensure she is fine," Doctor Clarkson explained, trying to remain calm.
"Why can't I be there?" Pablo asked angrily, his brows still furrowed in frustration.
Doctor Clarkson was quiet for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.
"It's hospital policy, sir. This is not a pregnancy test or examination where you would be permitted to be with her. You may be her husband, but the patient's comfortability matters to us. And judging from her demeanor, she doesn't seem comfortable with your presence. If you'd excuse me, sir," she said, trying to remain professional.
Pablo's anger only seemed to escalate. "No, I want to be in there with her!" he demanded, taking a step towards the doctor.
Doctor Clarkson didn't argue further. She let him do what he wanted and turned to lead me out of the room.
Meanwhile, my heart was beating rapidly in my chest. My intuition failed me, I thought to myself, feeling disappointed. This wasn't how I imagined it would go. I shut my eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
As we entered the examination room, i felt uncomfortable with Pablo sitting beside me.
I shut my eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
Before the scan, i was given a bottle of water to drink, so i would be able to urinate and provide a sample for the test.
As we began the CT scan, I felt a wave of fear wash over me. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
All the while I laid there, I saw my life flashing before my eyes. There was no one to save me from my current situation.
The scan was finally over, and Doctor Clarkson called in one of the nurses to help me get up from the bed. As they left the room, Pablo and I were left alone.
"How are you feeling Isadora?" His voice cut through the silence, his eyes fixed on me with an eerie smile on his face. "Don't you think we should check your blood pressure as well? Your heart seems to be pounding rapidly." He leaned in closer, his heinous gaze never leaving mine.
I remained silent, my eyes fixated on the boring white ceiling above me. I knew I couldn't hide the truth from him any longer. If he found out that I had been lying to him about my health, it would be over for me.
There was no way he wouldn't find out, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. I thought I had more time to figure out a plan to escape this loveless marriage.
"We're done here Ms. Rivelli, let's go," the doctor's voice interrupted my thoughts. She helped me stand up from the bed, her smile masking the pity in her eyes.
We walked towards her office in silence, Pablo's impatience palpable as he kept glancing at his watch. When we finally sat down, he wasted no time in demanding for answers.