Chapter 1 THE ESCAPE

CRISTINA'S POINT OF VIEW

My eyes dwelled on the toddler in my arms as he suckled on my bosom while intermittently throwing his tiny legs upwards. Anything to get my eyes away from the large man seated across me on the couch.

His presence in the room made it feel small as he dominated it with his form. That man is my husband, Alexandro Piero.

"You do realize that you and my son are coming back with me to Italy, right?" He suddenly asked, breaking the palpable silence between us.

Like his usual self, the words didn't come out as a question like it was intended, it came out as an order.

"Please, Alexandro. I do not want to go back with you..."

"You do not have a choice, Signora. Denying me the liberty to see my flesh and blood is enough atrocity committed by you, do not add to the list by defying my order," he said, the lines of his face set in a frown.

His words stung me hard like a poisonous bee and I looked away in guilt, memories of why we were there, rushing back.

***************

I stared at the urine test strip in my hands with its two red lines, while I sat on the water cistern. I was indeed pregnant for my husband of two months, Alexandro Piero.

I had just gotten married to Italy's most handsome, popular and wealthiest billionaire two months ago. The wedding was graced by the crème Dela crème of Italy, and it's sundry as everyone marveled at how the daughter of a common farmer was able to win the heart of the almighty Alexandro.

It is a mystery to me on how Alexandro had picked interest in me the very day he visited the restaurant I worked in. I had just resumed as a waitress and was asked to attend to him and his friend since my colleague who did the job was on sick Leave.

He was seated with one of the most beautiful ladies I had seen in my whole life; hence I was shocked and curious when, after their meal, he walked up to me behind the counter and handed me his card.

The rest they say is history, as I got married to him two months later without proper courtship. All that mattered was the fact that I loved him, and he adored me.

Sighing heavily, I stood up from the water cistern. I walked to the hand sink and washed my hands before walking out to the room. I will wait as he will soon be back from work, and then I will go to his study and inform him about the pregnancy.

Anticipation and impatience ate at me as I sat on the bed, waiting to hear his car driving into the compound. My wait was not futile, as the sound of the sleek gray Audi driving into the compound got me up on my feet.

I hurried to the window and parted the curtains just in time to see him stepping out of the car as the evening sun cast an orange glow on his masculine, handsome form. As usual, my breath caught in my throat as I took his features.

Raven black hair, brown eyes, broad shoulders and biceps that his gray suit did a poor job hiding. I still couldn't believe that this man who could pass for a Greek God was my husband.

I hastily turned from the window and walked to my dressing table as I took hold of the La Perla In Rosa perfume he got me. Sporadically spraying it on sensitive parts of my body, I took hold of a robe to cover my body, as the little gown I wore left little to the imagination.

Walking down the hallway to his study, my face turned a hue of color as I remembered the night he made love to me there. On the table, to be precise.

The sound of his voice, on a call, pulled me out of my reverie as I realized I was close to the study door. I was about to open it when his next words stopped me in my tracks.

"All I need is a baby. I hope it is a son, so father can will the properties to him. I do not trust Alvino..."

That was all I needed to hear as I retraced my footsteps back to my room. All he wanted was his baby?

Tears were streaming down my eyes as I got into my room and slammed the door after me. Did he marry me only because he required an heir and not because he loved me? He required someone to bear him a son for some sort of inheritance?

Oh, how callous can men be? I was merely a baby maker and had no special place in his life? Was that the reason he has never told me he loved me?

Different thoughts plagued my mind as I became confused. What would become of me if the baby finally arrived? Would he annul our marriage? Was the baby the only leverage I had over him?

At that moment, I decided that I would not let him use me as a baby maker and then toss me aside after his expectations had been met. It was a good thing he was not aware of my pregnancy. I will leave for my aunt's place in France, where he would never have access to my baby.

With that thought in mind, I walked to the door and bolted it. I began to throw in things that I would be needing for my escape journey. I was panting heavily by the time I was done.

And then, I changed into a black hoodie and joggers, with sneakers. Looking out the window, I realized the sun was gradually retiring for the day. I will stall until it is late. Alexandro won't come to my room anytime soon, he would merely send a maid to call me down for dinner.

That gave me enough leverage to plan my escape. Immediately, everywhere was dark, I took hold of my bag and snuck out of my room.

Stealthily, I walked down the hallway, intermittently looking behind my back to see if anyone was coming behind me. Satisfied that the coast was clear, I took the turn that led to the secret door that would lead me out the garden.

In the garden, I kept walking under the shadows of the night, careful not to get caught by the light. Soon, I was at the gate. It seemed the heavens were supporting my cause because the gate man was nowhere to be found. Gently, I opened it and snuck out.

Out on the streets, I began to run. The rest was history as that marked my escape from Italy, away from my husband, to France, to my grand aunt.

I had Alexandro Piero Jnr nine months later, and despite my aunt pleas that I inform his father of his birth, I turned a deaf ear. He was my son, and my only consolation. I won't watch my husband take him away from him.

The unexpected had happened this morning. I had just finished bathing and feeding Alexandro Jnr and I was about to go grocery shopping since we were running low on supplies.

Strapping Jnr firmly in the baby carrier, I walked towards the door with the grocery bag in hand. I opened the door, and gasped in surprise at the sight in front of me.

Alexandro was standing in front of the door, his face drawn in a frown. A soft scream of terror left my throat as I attempted to close the door, but he stopped the movement with his leg.

"Don't you dare, Signora," he said defiantly, and reluctantly, I let him into the room.

He cast an arrogant look at his surroundings before settling his massive form on the couch. Our little scuffle had upset Jnr because he was soon wailing loudly.

I sat on the bed as I unstrapped the baby carrier and settled Jnr in my arms as I brought out my breast, and he immediately took the nipple in his mouth.

"You do realize that you and my son are coming back with me to Italy, right?" He suddenly asked, breaking the palpable silence between us.