The Slave of Pleasure

Vincenzo

The cold lights of the interrogation room still flickered in my mind as I faced Veronica for the last time in that conversation. She was haggard, but she kept that look of disdain, as if she could still control the situation. I knew that somehow she would always find a way to manipulate, but in that moment, something changed. The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them.

"Everything could have been different for us, Veronica. You know that." My voice was firm, but it carried an emotional weight that even I could not hide. "I am not here to condemn you. You will always have a special place in my heart. But that does not mean that we both do not have to pay for what we did."

She did not answer. For the first time, Veronica seemed at a loss for words. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was regret. Or maybe it was just the realization that the end was approaching for both of them.

The guards escorted me back to the hallway. A police officer, who had been watching the entire conversation on camera, was waiting for me at the end of the path. His expression was stern, but there was something in his eyes that suggested respect.

"We heard everything, Vincenzo. We're going to extract all the information we need to rescue the child," he said, as I nodded slowly. "You can go back to your cell now."

"Before that," I interrupted, my voice thick with urgency, "I need to speak to Rachel. Can you give me that call?"

He considered for a moment, then nodded to the guards. "Take him to the communications room."

A few minutes later, I was at the phone.

The phone was cold in my hand, but the real weight came from what I knew needed to be said. The walls of the detention room, painted a dull gray, reflected the emptiness I felt in my chest. The guard nodded, indicating that I could make the call. With slightly trembling fingers, I dialed the number I knew so well. Each ring seemed to echo in my ear like a reminder of my own fragility.

When Rachel's voice came through the line, soft but thick with emotion, I felt something tighten in my chest. "Vincenzo?" she said, and for a moment, I was speechless. How could I explain everything that was happening without sounding even more guilty?

"Rachel," I began, my voice hoarse with tension. "I... I'm here. I'm sorry about all of this. I'm sorry you got dragged into this."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. I could hear her breathing, the slight tremor in her exhalation. She was struggling just as much as I was to process everything. Finally, she spoke, with the firmness I so admired in her. "Vincenzo, I'm not calling to hear excuses. I want to know what happens now. Where does that leave us?"

Her brown eyes loomed in my mind, as clear as the day we met. I knew I owed her more than empty promises, but how could I explain the chaos Veronica had brought into our lives?

"Rachel, this is more complicated than it seems," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "Veronica... She made choices that put us in danger. But that's not all. She has... information that could change everything. About the past. About... me."

"About the son?" Rachel asked directly, without beating around the bush.

"Yes," I answered, feeling the weight of the word. "Rachel, I didn't know. I never imagined Veronica would do something like this. She said the boy exists, but that's all I have. Nothing is concrete, and it's destroying me." "Do you believe her?" The question came with the vulnerability of someone who needed an answer, something to hold on to.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

"I don't know," I admitted. "Veronica has always been manipulative, she's always known how to play with people. But... what if she's telling the truth? What if this boy really does exist? I can't just ignore that."

The silence between us was so heavy it seemed to fill the room. Finally, Rachel sighed. "And what does this mean for us, Vincenzo? For what we have?"

"Rachel, you are everything to me. But I can't pretend that none of this is happening. If this boy exists, he is my responsibility. And I need to face that."

"What if it's a lie?" she asked, the pain evident in her voice. "What if this is just another game she's playing?"

"Then I'll expose her," I promised. "I'll fight to protect you, to protect what we have. But I need your trust, Rachel. I need you to believe that everything I'm doing is for a better future for us."

There was another silence, longer this time. When Rachel finally answered, her voice was softer, but still thick with emotion. "I trust you, Vincenzo. But that doesn't mean I'm not scared. Of losing you. Of losing what we've built." "I'm scared too," I confessed. "But fear won't define us. We'll get through this together, Rachel. Somehow, we'll find a way."

The call ended shortly after, but her eyes The words kept echoing in my mind. "I trust you." That was all I needed to hear to keep fighting. My fingers hesitated before dialing the number I knew so well. Rachel answered on the second ring. "Vincenzo?” Her voice was a mix of surprise and relief. "Yes, it's me," I replied, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. "I made it. Veronica said. Our son is in Japan, under the Yakuza's control." There was silence on the other end of the line. I could imagine Rachel processing the information, but it was Nancy who broke the silence. "Wait... Did you say SON?" A small smile escaped my lips, despite the situation. "Nancy, you never let anything go, do you? Yes, it's a boy." "So it's a boy," Rachel finally said, her voice low and distant. "Yes," I confirmed, waiting for her to say something more. But all I heard was silence. "Rachel? Are you still there?" "I am," she replied, but there was something in her voice that didn't sound right. Before I could ask, the guards signaled that my time was up.

"I have to go," she said quickly. "But we'll figure this out. Trust me."

The line was cut off before she could respond. As I walked back to my cell, I couldn't get Rachel's sudden silence out of my head. What could she possibly be thinking? And what did this mean for us?