CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

" Leo" Lia managed to mutter out, as Leo sucked on her neck. He was dead set on leaving his mark on her.
Leo stopped sucking and looked at the spot satisfied with the conspicuous mark he had created.
He was about to go for another kiss, but the sound of his phone ringing stopped him.
With a heavy heart, Leo picked up the phone and held Lia close to him.
"Speak" Leo commanded the person on the other side of the line.
"We have found the girl. She seems to be with someone else, a man. I believe she is being held hostage"
"Send me the address"
"Understood" The call was cut off.
"Liana has been found," Leo told Lia.
"Oh," Lia muttered and looked down on her feet.
"Don't forget what I said, Lia. I love you" Leo said and gave her a peck on her lips and Lia blushed light pink.
"Can I come with you?" Lia asked.
"No, Lia. I want you to stay safe" Leo said as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"Sigh" "I will walk you to the door," Lia said as they walked side by side.
"I will see you later, love," Leo said one last time before turning around to leave.
Lia felt empty as Leo left, she missed him already. Her neck still tingled from their little session. Just the thought of it made her tummy tingle.
Lia shut the door and went into the kitchen. She was feeling a little thirsty and needed something to quench her thirst.
Cynthia appeared out of nowhere and pushed Lia as she was gulping down the water. Cynthia's action made Lia choke and cough vigorously.
"What is wrong with you?" Lia asked her, still recovering.
"You were standing in the way," Cynthia said harshly.
"You could have asked me to move"
"Don't talk to me that way" Cynthia said.
"What is your problem with me?" Lia asked.
"Everything"
" I haven't done anything to you"
" Not to me, but that poor girl is suffering because of you. You took her place, and now she has returned, but you refuse to step down" Cynthia said.
" I can't give up on my marriage just because of someone you don't even know about her origin"
" No, I do know. She is the one who is supposed to be wedded to Leo" Cynthia said.
" But he loves me, not her "
" He is just blinded, and very soon he would get rid of you. Once I make him realize it"
" Then I guess you are going to have to wait till that moment before you can get rid of me," Lia said.
" Just you wait, I can assure you that it would be very soon"
***
"..."
Mr. Black gritted his teeth, he was shaking from anger. After some time he calmed down and said,
"You don't have the ability to find her, do you?" Mr. Black said.
" What did you say? "
" If you had the resources to do so, you would have Liana hostage or better you would have found Diana yourself"
Ben stared at Mr. Black for a few seconds before bursting out in laughter.
" You are a really smart kid, but you weren't smart enough to know that you should have stayed out of my business," Ben said.
" You became my business the day you took my parents away from me"
" Parents? "
Ben thought for a while before realizing what Mr. Black was talking about.
" You were their son? "
Mr. Black only glared harshly at him.
" If I knew they had a child I would have spared the woman with just a little damage" Ben paused and continued,
"Hmm, I always thought you looked familiar. You grew up to look just like your father" Ben said with a wide grin on his face.
" You will pay for everything you have done," Mr. Black said bitterly.
" And, who is going to make me pay? You? Well, you can try, that is after you break out of your chains of course" Ben said with a mocking tone.
Ben went over to the bag he had put to rest by the wall. He took out some clothes from it.
" Come, Mabel. I brought you a change of clothes. The one you have on right now is dirty. " Ben said and Mabel stood up to take the clothes from his hands. Before she could leave Ben patted her head and muttered,
"Good girl"
"I will come back another time to get an answer from you," Ben told Mr. Black before leaving.
" Why do you allow him to treat you that way?" Mr. Black asked Mabel.
" What way?"
" Like a pet"
" Hmm, I guess I didn't realize. That's how it has always been between us" Mabel said.
Mr. Black couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but Mabel looked Sad rather than angry or annoyed.
Mabel took off her dress leaving her in her underwear. Mr. Black's eyes widened from the sight. Mabel's body was covered with cuts and bruises.
Mr. Black gulped.
"Isn't this a little too much?" Mr. Black asked.
"What does it matter to you?" Mabel snapped.
"It doesn't"
Mr. Black tried to change his position on the chair. Staying in one place for too long was starting to make him feel sore.
Mr. Black looked over to Mabel once again. This time his eyes caught something on her body and they stayed glued to that particular spot.
Mabel noticed him staring and traced his line of sight to her side stomach. It was the part of her body she hated the most because it was what Lia and herself had in common.
"What, you have never seen a birthmark before?" Mabel said.
"I have, but that isn't just any birthmark," Mr. Black said.
"Yes it's unique, I get that a lot. You don't have to..." Mabel was interrupted by Mr. Black.
"You are related to him, aren't you?"
"I am"
" Who are you?"
" Because you have already guessed it right, then I will tell you. Ben is my father. My real father. " Mabel said.
Mr. Black was taken back by her reply.
" That can't be"