Miia - Dynasty

They strutted up the steps of Clínica Cartagena Por El Mar where Chico - one of Luci's nurses - awaited them at the door step. Catalina Torres entered first, removing her sun hat as she stepped inside the building. Dark brown hair shaped into Victorian rolls, red lips and she wore navy coloured floral tea dress.

She was followed by her eldest daughter - Gabriela donning her usual pant suits and her dark hair tied back into high ponytail. Gideon trailed behind them, hands shoved into his pockets while Sebastian stomped on his cigarettes before following them inside.

The reception was sleek, kept cleaned and welcoming. He zoned in on Vivian Chua; the Singaporean caretaker hired to watch his sister from night to day since Luci had found comfort in her presences during her recovery time aboard.

In her pastel shirt and wide pants, Luci sat on the plush cream sofa on the terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Vivian hoovered over her, helping Luci support her newborn baby's head.

Gideon swallowed, recalling the baby's birth and how Luci cried and screamed as the child was ripped from her. She was deemed unfit to care for the baby in her condition; a state of severe depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Hence, Cielo was under their care. A shared custody among himself, Gabbie and Catalina.

As they neared, Luci eyes flickered to them and her hold on the baby tightened to point Cielo released an ear splitting wail.

"Luciana," Vivian cooed kneeling at her side. She remaining calm as she twisted Cielo from Luci's iron grip. "The baby wants to sleep, let me put her in her basket while you have lunch with your family, yes?"

Reluctantly, Luci's grip loosen and Cielo was pried from her arms in a careful manner. Vivian laid the baby into her woven basket and she settled immediately; her frighten cries softening into calm breathing.

Catalina's dark eyes grew glassy as tears welled and blurred her vision of her youngest daughter. How had it came to this? The Torres and Herrera family had a history of peace and cooperation; they were the loyalest family to them. And, all it took for that loyalty to break was greed.

They were lead to the terrace where a brown wooden canopy covered a neatly arranged table, hiding them from the afternoon sun. Gideon and Gabriela sat opposite their sister and mother; both wearing a blank expression. But, Gabbie being Gabbie was unable to hide her discomfort and annoyance at the situation.

Hence, Catalina kicked her shin under the table - a silent warning.

Once a week they gathered all together with each person visiting on a regular basis a couple of times a week.

Sebastian - who currently sat inside with Cielo - visited often even if it wasn't an order from Gideon. Because, Luci was important to him. She was the little girl he never noticed not until he was assigned to watch over her as the obsession she had with Cristian Herrera became a danger to her.

In the end, she became the little girl he couldn't protect. And, if was his fault for letting her slip away.

"How are you?" Catalina asked, breaking the long silence with a conversation.

"I'm good." Luci swallowed; focused trained on the lace covered table. "Didn't you get my doctor's report?"

Catalina shifted uncomfortably in her seat, sweaty palms soothing her dress from the non-existent wrinkles.

Of course, she received Luci's weekly doctor's note that detailed her routines, the medication she was administered and how she was responding to therapy. And, all seemed good.

Lunch came rolling out on a black trolley comprising of Luci's favourite dishes: an array of salads, stew, and rice. As usual, Gideon and Gabriela dug into their food without a word; their faces sullen and eyes wandering everywhere else. They didn't want to be here, that's was clear.

A long silence rolled on, crashing any hopes of reconnecting with Luci.

"Why are you here?" She finally asked, placing her cutlery on the napkin. "Why are you always here?"

"Because we're family." Catalina sighed, placing her hands over her daughter. "We stick together."

Luci released a crackling noise, her head thrown back. A laughter that lacked humour, that screamed murder and hatred. Her dark eyes blazed as they wandered around the table. They hardened and still once they landed on Gideon.

"Family?" She snickered, glaring at her brother, "Does family kill each other?"

"Papa betrayed us." Gabbie spat, leaning forward in her seat. "He tried to leave us with nothing. No money, no protection, no home." Exasperated, she leaned back. "If it weren't for Gideon we would have nothing."

Anger boiled under Luci's skin. Burning every inch of flesh until it itched annoyingly. She stood abruptly, forcing her chair to the ground. A cry of frustration and desperation erupted from the back of her throat as she swept the content of the table to the floor. Glasses and ceramic plates shattered, catching the attention of the nurses and other patients.

"If it weren't for him, Papa would still be alive and I would still be with Cristian!" Luci yelled. "Papa wouldn't have been taken away from me and, and Cristian won't hate me."

Slamming her palms against the table, she glanced back and forth between their faces, hatred swirling in her eyes.

"You all wanted Papa dead because his power and his money." She pointed, "Without him you all would've been poor and that isn't something you can live with."

"That's not true." Catalina swallowed. "Your Papa wasn't even a Torres in the beginning. He won my papa over and married me. That's how he gained all that power and money." She faced her daughter with teary eyes. "And, look what he did."

Another irritated screeched left Luci and she fisted her dark hair aggressively with her hands. Refusing to believe the stories of her father's wrongdoings. He fell in love with a woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and fathered two young sons with her.

It was not a crime.

"Cristian was right! You're all turning against me and you'll do the same to me as you did with Papa." Luci rasped as she paced the terrace.

The last thread that held onto her sanity had snapped; it was evident from the panic twist that flooded her face. Her mutters became slurred and the timeline of the events that occurred the last year seemed messed in her mind; even things that never occurred flew from her lips.

"I need to get back to him." She cried, "I need to take Cielo back to her Papa. Only he can protect us."

Chico and Vivian arrived on the terrace while another nurse prepared a sedative in case her episode worsened.

"Mi amor," Catalina murmured, her hand reaching out to soothe her daughter.

However, Luci only pushed her away. Her slippers crashing the debris on the ground. As she looked at her mother, hot tears fall from her eyes and, for a moment, she looked like a child that simply wanted to be held. At just 18, she had gone through too much.

Unrequited love; a toxic relationship and a pregnancy.

Catalina reached out, curling her arms around Luci's waist, feeling helpless. After her husband's death, over 6 years ago, she had been an absent mother. She could only blame herself for how everything turned out.

"Let me go back to him." She pleaded, "he's the only one that truly loves me."

He didn't. He only used her to gain an advantage against her brother. To pry information from her and to manipulate her and turn her against her own family. It wasn't love but it was a stepping stone to a higher ground; to gain back the power the Herrera's lost for aiding Emmanuel Torres. For shielding him and keeping his affair a secret; for betraying the family.

However, the Herrera had lost their way since Sebastian was named Gideon's second hand when it would've been Cristian. Ever since then they resented Gideon and did not support his rule.

Luci trembled; her knees wobbling as weakness overcame her. She collapsed to the ground, Catalina crying while holding tightly onto her daughter.

"Mi amor, it's okay." She sobbed. "It'll get better. You have family."

"No, I don't." Luci argued bitterly. "My family would want me to be happy but instead you have ripped me away from the love of my life."

She eyed the broke piece of glass sitting behind her mother. Anger and sadness, she want it all gone. Her palms curled around the shard, the edges biting her tendered skin, drawing blood.

"Cristian loved me in his own way. He wanted me despite what you have done to him and his family. That is the biggest devotion of love."

"Luciana." Catalina pushed back a strand of her hair behind her daughter's eyes. Her face softens as she wiped the fallen tears from Luci's cheeks. "We love you. The love of a family is will always be life's greatest bless-"

The shard sliced across Catalina's throat, creating a red waterfall that flooded out of her neck.

"Mama!"

Gideon tackled his sister, snatching the glass from her hands, cutting himself in the process. He restrained her, pulling her arms behind her back while she struggled with wrenching scream. He glanced over to his mother who laid on the ground while Gabbie pressed a tea towel against her throat, frighten tears poured from her eyes.

The nurses scrambled around them; 2 carrying a stretched over.

The moment Chico administered the sedative, he released a weaken Luci into Vivian's arms and hurried over to his mother. His chest raced from adrenaline but he felt no sense of alarm or worries. He merely stood over Catalina, watching with a distant expression.

Gideon felt nothing not since he murdered his father and his secret family. It made him wonder if he could even feel. Was there ever going to be anything that he would be afraid to lose?

~*~

In a simple pistachio coloured A-line gown, Rory stared at the city of Bogotá below her; the burner phone Luci gave her clutched tightly in her hands.

It will end tonight.

That was her message.

Goosebumps arose on her skin as her ears twitched, hearing the sounds of several footsteps against the tiles. Rory rushed to the king sized bed, shoving the burner phone under the mattress. She quickly stood just as Gideon appeared in the doorway; dressed in a black tuxedo, cleanly shaved and smelling so good she felt wetness pooled between her thighs.

She soothed down her dress that did little to hide her bump.

"I want you to meet some people." He smiled though, it didn't quite reached his dark eyes.

Taking her in his arms, Gideon gestured for the people to come inside and she gasped - instantly recognising the two women strutting in.

Gabriela flashed her a small and hesitant smile. She donned a light blue pant suit, her dark Bob cut falling in straight lines to her shoulders. Catalina appeared in front of her causing her to step back and used Gideon's big body as a shield. He chuckled; his palm pressed against the small of her back and ushered her forward.

"It's so lovely to meet you." Catalina smiled, embracing her.

Once she pulled her away, her eyes travelled to her middle and she gently caressed her protruding bump. Rory took a moment to observed her mother-in-law. She wore a cream coloured dress falling pass her knees and a navy silk scarf was tied around her neck.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your wedding." She apologised, that day was a difficult day since it was the 10th anniversary of Emmanuel Torres death. Catalina could on assume that her son was trying to make a new memory, a happier one, when he married the girl that day.

"But, I've seen the photos and it looked magical."

"Well, I did plan it." Gabriela chimed playfully. "In the last minute too." She rolled her eyes at Gideon who shot her an annoyed look. "Also planned this gala that you're holding, so let's go downstairs. The guests are waiting."

Riding the elevator to the ground floor of the Torres Hotel - the place their wedding was held - she felt the nostalgia; memories of her first time here. Rory swallowed the pained lump in her throat. No memories she had here were pleasant which only made her resent the man leading her towards the party even more.

She did resent him, right?

"Someone else is here to see you." He whispered in her ear. "I think she should be here for this."

Rory spotted the curly haired woman instantly; dressed in a cotton yellow gown. Her nurse - Chico - accompanying her.

"You brought her here."

Gideon nodded, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulled her against his body. He kissed her desperately like he had been starved for days.

"The things I would do for you." He rasped, "Just to have you forever."

Rory fisted her hands, heart galloping in her chest. He nuzzled his forehead against hers before planting a long kiss against it and ushering her towards her mother. Toss a surprised look over her shoulder, she saw him smiling gorgeously, hands shoved in the pockets of his slacks, as she trotted away.

She grinned widely, unknowingly; a giddy sensation pooling in the pit of her stomach.

"You look beautiful." Mandy said as Rory approached.

She twirled for her mother, the hem of her dress elegantly circled around her ankles, revealing her tanned heels.

Mandy clapped excitedly like a child seeing the world for the first time.

Rory spent sometime with her mother, catching up and hearing Chico's report about her condition. She was neither getting better or worse but, she was happy. It was all that mattered - for now.

Eventually, Sebastian in his black suit escorted her back to her husband; who was in the middle of a conversation with Anontella and Daniele - they came too. At first, Rory wasn't entirely sure what this party was for until she saw the pastel pink and blue decorations, the balloons and the bear cupcakes.

"I thought we were keeping it a secret." Rory murmured to Gideon.

He caressed her side and replied, "It's becoming hard when your stomach is getting bigger."

"It's not that big." She whined, covering her stomach with her arms. A pout a settled on her face.

She was 17 weeks along and they have an appointment to confirm the gender of their baby soon.

"It's because it's your baby." She scoffed, noticing her big she looked for a first trimester. "Enormous for no reason."

He howled with laughter looking beautiful with the grin plastered on his face. She never seen him this joyous; he was really excited for this baby.

Gideon lifted her off the floor and kissed her deeply that the room filled with Oos and Ahhs.

She circled her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss; meeting him with the same fierceness.

"I love you." Gideon confessed, once again tugging at her heart strings. "Not matter what. I intend to stay loyal to my vows that I made in this very room."

Rory feet touched the ground and she glanced away, averting her eyes from his because the guilty began biting at her skin - trying to eat her alive. However, she couldn't let it since there was nothing for her to feel guilty about. She was doing the right thing.

For the rest of the evening, she followed Gideon around feigning a smile that became harder as the time ticked by. She glanced at the entrance, expecting Luci to walk in with an army of officers. The tension tightens each time she looked over, curling around her throat and choking the air out of her.

Then, the door creaked opened and Rory whirled around with a wide and frighten eyes. Her breathe was lodged in her throat and her heart raced rapidly while her body quivered. But, everything dispersed as waiters with refills stride inside.

"Rory." Gideon tugged her against him and she jumped, startled at his voice. "Come, we have an announcement to make."

She blindly followed him up the low stage where a podium was placed in the centre. She clung to his arms to steady herself as the nausea flooded her body. Her eyes won't tear from the entrance no matter how hard she tried to pull away.

Gideon began talking, greeting his many guests, but his voice was drowned out by the thumping of her pulse. It grew louder and louder until she heard nothing, until that was the only thing she could feel.

Then, the guests turned their attention to the back where a commotion was occurring behind the doors. The men stood, hands on their guns hidden under their jackets. She felt herself being pushed behind Gideon's big structure protecting her what was coming.

The door bursted opened and she stilled.