Chapter 4 - Found His Wife In Enemy's Territory

Six Months Later... “Veronica! Are you sure you don’t want a maid?” the old lady asked her, worried for her condition. “Mrs. Payton, I’m fine. I can do my own chores,” she smiled through teary eyes. Those were tears of happiness. She couldn’t wait to hold her baby in her arms. Mrs. Payton was the first woman who saw Veronica roam around aimlessly. Mrs. Payton and her husband owned a small bakery. She welcomed Veronica into her home, and ever since then, Veronica had been living with them. She loved helping the couple bake goods for the bakery. “Then I will help you with the child,” Mrs. Payton said, sitting on the bed with Veronica and holding her hand. “Are you sure you don’t want to call the father once? Maybe he has changed his mind about you and the baby?” Veronica hadn’t told Mrs. Payton about her husband’s background or any more details other than the fact that her husband didn’t like her and didn’t want children with her. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Because now it’s me who doesn’t want him near me or my child,” that haze of desperate love was long gone now. Veronica had fallen out of love with Carlos. She had moved on from that chapter of her life. Time started to pass quickly. Several months went by, and Calos still couldn’t find his pregnant wife. Carlos had been doing whatever he could to try and get a hold of his runaway wife. But it seemed to him as if the earth had swallowed her. He had grown impatient, restless, and even heartless during this time. His frustration was evident from the way he began to treat his targets even worse now. "Boss!" Carlos raised his head from the gun he was holding to watch his trusted man, who had just entered his private office—one of the few people allowed inside. Carlos knew the look on his man's face. He must have found some information about his wife. "I found her," Mathew said, steadily placing the pictures on the table before Carlos, who wasted no time straightening in his chair and examining them with curiosity. He had been waiting for this moment for so long. And sure enough! The pictures showed a heavily pregnant Veronica going about her daily chores. She looked the same, though. Her beautiful blonde hair was in big curls. She had some makeup on, but not much. The pregnancy seemed to have added a new glow to her face, and Carlos couldn't help but keep staring at the pictures. "There has been an issue, Boss," the soldier, Mathew, cleared his throat and composed himself before speaking. His boss seemed too engrossed in the pictures of his wife. "Yes? What is it, Mathew?" Carlos’ voice was crisp and sharp, his eyes darting to his man, who began to explain what had recently happened. Mathew had been sent to Malta once Carlos found footage of his wife boarding the ferry. He had sent Mathew disguised as a common man into enemy territory to find her just a week ago. "The mafia of Malta—our enemies—have somehow found out about Veronica. Someone must have spied on Sicily and heard the news of the search for your wife here," he looked weak before Carlos, knowing this news would get his boss all riled up. "Say more," Carlos ordered, his fingers already tracing the path to his gun again. "Yesterday, before leaving for Sicily, I found some men spying outside the house she shares with some bakery owners. I'm afraid their mafia is going to use her against us," those words were terrifying to Carlos. Not because he was afraid of the Malta mafia, but because that would mean the Malta mafia boss, Fernando, would have his hands on Veronica. "And you're telling me this now?" Carlos yelled, getting up and kicking his chair behind him until it fell far away. "I just arrived and came straight here. I have already informed our enforcer, and he is preparing the necessary means to bring Veronica here," Mathew quickly explained. He wasn't just sitting on his ass doing nothing. “No! I will go there myself,” Carlos decided without giving it a second thought. “But boss—” Mathew knew better than to argue with his boss. He could tell Carlos was enraged upon hearing the news. “Prepare the jets. I will go there under the disguise of meeting Fernando for some arrangements, but in reality, you will be in my jet to distract them while I go fetch my wife,” he clenched his jaw as he made up the rest of the plan with Mathew. On the other hand, Veronica was getting ready for her monthly doctor checkup. She tied her hair in a rough bun and grabbed her light brown tote bag as she walked out of the house with Mrs. Payton. The two boarded a bus, and the minute Veronica took her seat, a kid from the front row got up and leaned back to get a good look at her. “You are so pretty,” the kid complimented Veronica, making her blush. She had always loved children and was already excited about having her own. “Well, thank you,” Veronica responded. “Mommy, look! We have a celebrity on the bus with us,” another kid from the front row yelled, pointing at Veronica. Everyone began turning their heads at the mention of a celebrity. “Oh no, I’m not a celeb,” Veronica quickly shook her head to stop the rumors. “But you are so gorgeous—you should be a model,” the children’s mother added. “Back in the day, women this beautiful would receive so many proposals,” an elderly lady smiled at Veronica, admiring her beauty. Veronica blushed hard. “And you’re pregnant too! Wow, that glow is unreal,” another lady said, making Mrs. Payton smile for Veronica and gently squeeze her hand. It was hard for Veronica to hear these compliments and not feel overwhelmed for a moment. Her husband had made her believe she was ugly by the way he never complimented her or put a bag over her face whenever he did nasty things to her. Everything was fine with Veronica and the baby, but she was anemic, and the doctor said she needed a lot of care. After Veronica had her appointment and was returning home, she felt like she was being watched. That’s when Mrs. Payton suggested they go buy new clothes for the baby. Veronica had been saving a lot to give her child everything she could for a fulfilling life. But of course, it was still not enough, as Veronica knew she would need to put in more work for her baby to have an ideal life. After shopping for a while, they were finally heading home. “Have you noticed a lot of white vans around the bakery lately?” Veronica asked Mrs. Payton, confused about why there was always some sort of commotion happening in the neighborhood. “It’s a small neighborhood with many shops. Maybe one of them is thriving like our bakery,” Mrs. Payton didn’t want Veronica to freak out, especially when she needed comfort and love. This time, a black car was parked right across the road from the bakery. And it wasn’t Fernando’s men spying on Veronica—her husband had arrived to take back what belonged to him. He sat in the car, waiting impatiently. Every second was crucial since they didn’t know when Fernando would send his men to fetch Veronica. His heart skipped a beat the minute Veronica appeared in his view. He gulped, straightening his back and attentively watching his pregnant wife. She looked perfect, just like before. The weight had shifted to her breasts and bump. Her face was blushed and fresh. Her juicy lips only had lip gloss on. He kept watching her, noticing the bags in her hands. Those must be for the baby. Veronica and Mrs. Payton entered the house, and that’s when Carlos got out of the car to finally confront his wife. He was drowning in a flood of emotions. Anger—that she thought she could run away from him. He crossed the road determinedly and rang the bell, stretching his neck. His hand clutched near his crotch, his posture upright and intimidating. “I’ll get it,” he heard Veronica’s voice after so long. He raised his head and saw her opening the door with a bright smile on her lips. But the moment her eyes locked onto him, fear and terror took over her face. Her husband stood before her with a threat in his eyes. She began to lose her balance as he cocked his head and hissed under his breath. “Hello, wifey!”