Rust Upon the Soul

I was crying my heart out. The faces of my grandmother and my son kept flashing in my mind. The memories were so painful that they made my heart feel like it was being torn apart.

In that moment, I finally understood that Angelo was like a block of ice. No matter how much warmth I gave him, even if the ice melted, it would only become water that I could never hold onto. So many thoughts rushed through my head all at once.

Mrs. Lombardi tried to say a few words to comfort me, but when she saw that I was really going to leave, she suddenly knelt in front of me and even bowed her head to the floor.

“Sophia, this is all my fault,” she said, crying.

“I didn’t teach my grandson properly and I allowed him to do something so cruel. Please, I promise he will make it up to you. Only you can help control Angelo’s nightmare disorder. I beg you, please forgive him, if not for his sake, then for the help I gave to your people before … ”

It was just like that scene seven years ago when she came to our village.

But this time, I would not turn back. Angelo’s nightmare disorder no longer had anything to do with me. I didn’t care anymore whether he lived or died.

When Mrs. Lombardi realized that I was serious about leaving, she sighed again and again. She looked like she wanted to tear Maria apart with her bare hands. Meanwhile, the doctor said my body was still too weak and I needed a few days of rest before the abortion could be done.

I booked the appointment for the day after tomorrow and left the hospital with what little strength I had left.

After cremating the bodies of my grandmother and my son, I brought their ashes back to the mansion. But as soon as I opened the front door, something heavy hit me on the forehead. I stumbled backward and accidentally knocked over the incense and candles by the entrance.

The hot wax burned my hand, while my eyes were filled with tears from the pain.

When I looked up, I saw a small cloth doll. It was about the size of a walnut, covered in dried herbs and stuck into a piece of torn cloth that used to be a peace blessing.

I spoke without thinking, “This isn’t from my grandma-”

Before I could finish, Angelo grabbed my wrist hard and shouted with rage.

“If not her, then who else? It had to be your evil Romani Family! Your grandmother embroidered that peace blessing for Maria as a gift, but you dare to hide a cursed spell inside the doll!”

“I’m warning you … if anything happens to Maria or her baby, I’ll make sure you and your dead grandmother are buried with them!”

The blister on my hand burst from the pressure. In fact, the pain made my vision go black for a second. But Angelo wasn’t done. His anger hadn’t cooled at all.

He called for the bodyguard to hold me in place and handed a wooden ruler to Maria.

“She keeps trying to hurt you. You haven’t had the chance to fight back before, but now I’m giving you the chance. Go ahead, Maria! Take your revenge!”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

My grandmother was already dead because of them and now they were using the peace blessing she had lovingly embroidered to frame her!

I took a deep breath and said, “The fabric of that doll is clearly different from the one used in the peace blessing.”

“My grandma was locked up by you and forced to make endless peace blessings, so how would she have had the time or strength to make something new like that to harm Maria?”

“My grandmother lived with honesty and dignity. I won’t let you smear her name like this.”

Angelo’s eyebrows furrowed and he stayed quiet. Slowly, he reached out to take the ruler back. However, Maria grabbed the ruler before he could and without a second thought, she slapped me across the face.

I felt the sting of blood in my mouth right away. My lips burst open and I tasted metal as pain shot through my jaw. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

Before I could even stand straight, the second hit came.

Then, she raised the ruler again for a third time.

However, Angelo finally stepped in and grabbed her wrist.

“Maria, what are you doing?” he shouted.

Maria’s eyes were full of jealousy and anger as she spoke with hatred.

“Angelo, this bitch killed my entire family! She’s so good with words, so you really believe that her grandmother didn’t make this cursed doll?”

“Fine! I see it now. You still have feelings for her. If that’s the case, I’ll end this pregnancy and become a nun again. I’ll leave this world and go pray for the rest of my life!”

She turned around dramatically and acted like she was going to leave.

Angelo’s face turned pale. He ran after her, full of worry and picked her up like a princess. Then he turned around and kicked me hard in the chest.

“Drag her out! Make her kneel for three hours!”

He carried Maria into the bedroom.

A little while later, I heard the sounds of the two of them making love. The bodyguard finally let go of me. Unfortunately, I quickly lost all the strength in my legs. Immediately, I collapsed to the floor and fainted.