Venom's Alliance: Loyalty's Fracture

Chapter 07

Kalia's POV

A few weeks had slipped by since my escape from the UK. Right now, I was living the kind of life I had only dreamt. I turned 24 last week and a genuine feeling of happiness coursed through me. Over the past four weeks, I had travelled through at least five different countries, and now, I had found my haven in the Maldives. There might have been places better suited for hiding, but there was something about this place that felt like a dream come true.

I had secured a room at a lavish five-star hotel perched above the water. It was as if I had stepped into a dreamland – with its serene blue waters, the captivating sky, the warmth of the weather, the cozy sand beneath my feet, and the tranquil silence that enveloped the area. Honestly, life couldn't possibly offer anything more perfect than this.

I left my room as soon as I arrived and went for a swim in the crystal-clear water. Then I took my time to explore the local areas.

I had done everything I could to erase my tracks, even going as far as changing my name again to Maria Fernando since something about last name wasn't feeling right. This time, I chose a very common Spanish name, just to make it harder for anyone to trace me. I had gone to Mexico specifically for that reason. Sure, I was enjoying my time there, but there was also the practical side. I couldn't take any risks with Oscar knowing my name. Trusting people fully was something I just couldn't bring myself to do. Oscar might have been a good friend over the years, but that didn't mean I could fully trust anyone.

I walked through the crowd, basking in the sun and the aroma of street food, and eventually made my way to the waterfront restaurant I'd reserved this morning. Locals swore it had the best seafood, and since seafood was one of my absolute favorites, I just had to give it a try. The anticipation for the food was making me giddy. After a few minutes, my Mas Huni was brought to the table. The scent of smoked tuna filled the air, making my mouth water. Food had a way of making me blissfully happy.

As I savored my meal, accompanied by a nice Raa on the side, I took a moment to look around.

There were numerous adorable couples around, all soaking up the sun and the atmosphere. Some were sharing kisses, others locked in embraces, and a few were even engaged in animated discussions. They all seemed so content. But I wasn't envious of them; I'm not someone who aspires to be part of a couple. I genuinely enjoy being on my own, savouring my own company.

Love often blinds people, and I've been there before. I was blinded by love when I was eighteen and ran away from my parents. I fell for a stranger's fleeting affection, latching onto it like a lost puppy. Whenever attention came my way, I seized it, no matter who was offering it. I used to think that's how love worked – good sometimes, but mostly bad. My experience of love was a series of yelling, fighting, cursing, and a bunch of other things that I wished I can wipe out of my memory, like his painful touch.

When it comes to love, romance books and movies are probably the closest I'll ever get. Reading became a habit for mine; it helped keep my mind occupied. At night, I watch movies, and during the day, I read or listen to books. Through this, I've also come to realize how little I know about sex or love. I used to believe that sex was solely for a man's pleasure, and women were meant to just comply. That's what my ex, Sebastian, told in me over and over again.

I could still hear his words as I lay under him numb to all the pain, he caused me. Years passed and I still felt him on my skin.

Before Easton, I had zero interest in anything related to love or sex. Any conversation about it would make me leave the room. The memories of my time with Sebastian were too much to take, both day and night, and they're one of the reasons I struggle to sleep I was never safe to sleep. After a while I stopped labelling as rape since I chose to stay, it was far from pleasurable – just pain devoid of emotion, but he was the only person I knew and by the time I manged to get the courage to escape him I was already 21 and three years of my life passed in full agony. I worked day and night to not see him and when we did, he would use me and then take all my money.