βρωμιά – Part l

Ophelia's jaw twitched as she noticed Leona's eyes sweeping over her body from head to toe, assessing how she had grown and looked. Leona hadn't changed much in the past two decades, except there were fewer wrinkles on her face and her hair wasn't silver. Leona appeared to be well-off; her clothing exuded wealth.
"You've matured decently." Leona's voice was thick with accent and elegance, and she spoke monotonously.
"And you seem to have trapped someone wealthy." Ophelia sneered blankly and noticed Leona's fingers clutching her designer handbag.
"Won't you invite me inside?" Leona inquired, and Ophelia raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I?"
"Because I came to visit you."
"You dropped at my door unannounced. And you're uninvited back in my life."
"I have no desire to intrude on your life."
"You wouldn't have shown up at my door if that were the case," Ophelia said casually with a straight face, and Leona's indifferent mask began to crack.
"I came here just to talk."
"There is nothing to talk about, Leona!" Ophelia said indifferently as she noticed Leona's cold mask cracking with frustration.
"There is. And I'd like you to invite me inside so that we can talk privately."
"As entitled as ever I see."
"It appears that America hasn't taught you how to respect others." Leona gritted her teeth.
"Respect is supposed to be for people, not for skunks."
Ophelia noticed Leona's jaw clenching and nostrils flare in rage.
"I never expected you to be so disrespectful!"
"You didn't even expect me to be alive. But here we are!" Ophelia said indifferently, and she noticed Leona's eyes twinkle slightly, but she kept her cool and said.
"I only need a few moments. Let's talk, and I'll leave."
"You can say it right here and leave if it's only a few minutes and a few words." Leona chuckled and shook her head in response to her words. "You're just as obstinate as I am. After all, I gave birth to you, carried you for nine months and named you βρωμιά Marilyn." [Vromiá]
"It's Ophelia Jade, Leona."
"You didn't even keep the name!" She exclaimed and Ophelia chuckled. "Why would I?"
Leona hissed as her jaw clenched.
"I'll get right to it. I want you to stay away from him."
"Who?" Ophelia inquired.
"Onyx Reighs."
"And why would I do that?" Ophelia raised her brow.
"Because you have no idea who he is! What he is!"
"And you do?"
"Yes, I do. So does Abilene. He'd be better off staying with Abilene." Leona's voice was monotonous, and Ophelia's eyes grew cold.
"Onyx has been with her for a couple of years, and I'd like to keep it that way. You barged in and nudged him away, but I'd like you to leave and let him go."
"Entitled much!" Ophelia stated coldly, crossing her arms across her chest. "I'm guessing this Abilene is your daughter."
"Yes, she is! And she is bawling her eyes out currently. She hasn't been out of her room in days! Especially after seeing your picture with Onyx all over the magazines!" Leona yelled.
"And?"
"You're causing her this much suffering and pain and you have no remorse? She's your sister!" Leona exclaimed and Ophelia laughed bitterly.
"As far as I know, I am my father's only child."
"You're going to ignore the fact that I exist!" I'm your mother!" Leona yelled.
"I don't have a mother. For all I know, she is no longer alive. I only have my father whose name is Mason Jade." Ophelia noticed something flicker in Leona's eyes, and Leona's face instantly turned cold. She hurled out something from her clutch and held it out to Ophelia.
"Here is a blank check. Take it and leave Onyx." The moment Leona uttered those words, Ophelia saw red. For a brief moment, Ophelia wished she could beat the woman who had given birth to her, to her heart's content. But, with all the self-control she could muster, Ophelia pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Ophelia took the check from Leona and stared at the signature and blank space to write in the amount of money. She lifted her head and looked back up at Leona. Staring right into her eyes, Ophelia tore the check into pieces.

Leona stood there watching as Ophelia tore the check and the pieces fell to the ground.
"I must say, Leona, you have guts!" Leona raised her eyes to Ophelia as she began to speak. Her face was shadowed and gloomy, and her eyes were darkened with unyielding rage. When Ophelia took a step towards her, Leona felt a shiver run down her spine. Leona took a step back with each step Ophelia took until her back was against the opposite wall of the corridor. Ophelia stood tall, her shoulders flaring, making her appear even larger. Ophelia's body towered over Leona, and she yelped as Ophelia's hand slammed against the wall just beside her head.
"What do you think I am, Leona? Still the little kid you could toy with? You thought you could just come here and tell me to leave Onyx alone? You thought I cared about you or your utterly pathetic family? You thought you could just hand me a blank check and I'd take it and move? You thought I'd grow up to be a skunk like you, Leona?" Ophelia asked in a cold voice and tilted her head. Leona gulped her saliva as she stared at the woman.
"Well, here's some breaking news! I don't care about you or your f*ucking daughter. I don't give a damn about your money. And I sure as hell won't leave Onyx! Do you know why? Because he is my f*ucking fiancé!"
"Y-you don't know what a monster he is, βρωμιά! H-he would destroy you!" Leona stuttered and a devilish sneer danced on Ophelia's lips. [Vromiá]
"I don't believe a word you say, Leona. And even if he is a f*ucking monster, he is still mine!" Ophelia exclaimed as her fist slammed against the wall again, and Leona flinched visibly.
"Get this through your thick skull. I don't want to see your f*ucking face. I don't want you or your f*ucking daughter anywhere near my family or me. And I never want to hear that name from your lips again! My name is Ophelia! Captain Ophelia Jade!"
"I f*ucking hate you! I am nothing like you! I look nothing like you! I hate you so much that I even hate myself for being born from you! I hate that you gave birth to me! I hate that I ever wanted to be loved by someone like you. And what kind of a parent name their child dirt! I hate that f*ucking name!" As Ophelia grew older, she found that the name her birth mother had given her meant "dirt" in Greek. That was when she felt another pulse of hatred and anguish wash over her. She couldn't comprehend why a parent would name their daughter dirt! How could they have even considered it as a name!
Ophelia drew back and straightened up.
"Leave, Leona. Before I call the security." With that word, Ophelia turned around and walked inside her hotel suite.

Ophelia closed the door and stood against it, her head resting against the wood. She closed her eyes as she filled her lungs with deep breaths. Seeing Leona had reopened some unhealed wounds that were growing increasingly raw and painful. Leona has no remorse, and she doesn't care about her. She doesn't care for all the wounds and scars she had embellished Ophelia with. Maybe, Leona meant whatever she had said all those years ago, she doesn't even consider her as a child of her own. Despite all of the wounds, scars, and traumas, a part of her yearned to be acknowledged by the woman who had given birth to her. She has been deprived of a mother's love her entire life, and for that, there is and will always be a void in her heart.

"Hello?" Ophelia said as she answered the phone and pressed it against her ear.
"Good morning, léift." When his rich voice came through, Ophelia's eyes twinkled with happiness. It had been two days and except for some text messages, they didn't really talk. And even though she would not want to accept it, she was getting desperate to hear his voice. (Love)