There was no way to approach Regina... Emma knew that the former queen was in terrible pain. She wanted to help her as well... but Regina wouldn't let Emma get closer. Every time the pain took over her she would just distance herself and build her walls up again.
There was nothing she could do for now. She had to give the brunette some time to open up and feel safe.
She put on her Mickey Mouse pajamas and laid on the king sized bed with her face facing the mattress. She closed her eyes and wished that sleep would take over her right away, but no.
Her thoughts kept flooding her brain not leaving her alone.
{Regina's dream:}
Tears... tears flooding her eyes making her vision blurry. She couldn't breath. She just wanted to cease existing. She wanted to pinch herself and wake up pretending that everything was a bad dream... but no. It was the ugly truth. She couldn't help but cover her mouth in an effort to stop her loud sobs as soon as they placed the white coffin in front of her. The sobs kept escaping her mouth non stop and her breathing was heavy. Her eyelids were heavy. She couldn't take it... there was nothing more horrible than a mother losing her child...
She held Robin's hand tight inside her own but he wouldn't move a muscle. He just stayed still staring at the coffin and the big grave stone at the front of it. "Ophelia, 8 months old, cause of death: lung cancer". His eyes were teary but the tears wouldn't dare escape. His hands were cold... and his eyes empty. She looked at him seeking for his love and compassion but every single feeling was gone. He was empty. He wouldn't even look at her. She looked around her not being able to stare at the coffin anymore and faced all these familiar faces.
Her boss, her coworkers, family friends, and friendly faces were all there to support them and show them their compassion. It wasn't enough... Even though these people were part of her life they weren't enough. The ceremony started and the minute that the priest started talking about their daughter Robin started walking away. She couldn't let him leave. Not now! She couldn't say goodbye to their bundle of joy all alone. She run behind him and held his hand pulling him back.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"None of your business."
He growled and looked inside her eyes filled up with anger. Her muscles started tensing up. Her head hurt, her palms were shaky and her eyes were blood shot. She could barely see him. She felt like someone had just ripped her heart outside of her chest.
"The least you can do as her father is to stay here and honor her!"
She said softly trying her best to empathize his pain.
Cold... empty eyes stared back inside her own dark orbs burning in pain and anger.
"You don't get to tell me how to grieve my daughter's death. I lost a son because of you.. and now I'm losing another child because you can't do something right for once in your god damn life!"
Her jaw dropped. No.. no no no! He put the blame on her! He actually put the blame on her! Ophelia was born with cancer.. it was inevitable! During her pregnancy she followed the doctor's orders and made sure to eat healthily and remain healthy! She did nothing wrong! SHE DID NOTHING WRONG! But still... Deep inside her she felt like it was her own fault after all.
Maybe she did something wrong. Maybe there was something that she hadn't noticed. Maybe she should have been even more careful... maybe it was just life taking a revenge on her for replacing Henry. The guilts... oh the guilts! Her guilts were hunting her down.
She had no idea how to escape herself this time! She had no idea how to escape her worst punishment (her guilts).
"What did you say?"
Her voice soft, she was almost whispering.
"I'm tired Regina! I'm tired of you taking away from me what I love the most! Back then it was Ronald and now it's Ophelia! At least show some mercy!"
She looked at him and couldn't help but break down in tears. The pain was too much... there was too much pain to handle alone. He grabbed her wrist tight and pulled her closer. She could feel his hot breath warming her left ear. He stuck his mouth closer to her ear and tightened his grip on her wrist.
"Stay away from me murderer!"
"It was inevitable! The doctors warned us about that before she was even born! There was nothing I could do! YOU WERE THERE! I was following orders! I tried my best to make it happen! IT WASN'T MY FAULT!"
"Yeah... like it wasn't your fault that Henry never loved you! Like it wasn't your fault that you ruined an entire land because of your hatred. LIKE IT WASN'T YOUR FUCKING FAULT THAT YOU TOOK MY SON AWAY!"
He screamed at the top of his lungs and his hands moved to her throat. He grabbed her throat tight and pushed her on the tree behind her. Her face turned red, hot tears were spreading all over her face, while she was struggling to breathe.
"Kill me. Put me out of my misery."
She spelled in discomfort.
"I'm gonna do something worse than kill you Regina. I'm gonna force you to experience a life in misery a pain. It's time that you pay for your crimes. I've had enough."
He slapped her face and she held her cheek in terrible pain. She sat down on the cold grass holding her head inside her palms crying while robin walked away. She was helpless... she felt lonelier than ever... maybe it was time to pay. Maybe it was destiny...
{End of Regina's dream}
She turned around on the bed sweating like crazy when she finally opened her eyes widely and looked around her. She was back in the hotel room. The sun was up already but she felt like she hadn't gotten any sleep at all.
She squeezed the white sheets of inside her fists and breathed deeply. There were tears all over her pillow and eyes. The nightmares were back. You know what that means.. the guilts were back as well.
She rubbed her eyes wiping away the tears and stood up carefully in order not to wake up Emma.
She walked towards the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Big dark circles were forming underneath her eyes while her face looked extremely tired and weak.
She threw some water on her face and rushed we teeth. She had to leave the past behind... she held the heart shaped necklace inside her hand tight and forced a miserable smile. She missed her... she hadn't gotten the chance to meet that tiny lady that much but the pain was tremendously painful.
She swallowed hard and walked outside of the bathroom preparing herself for the new day.
"You're up!"
She heard Emma's voice in excitement and turned around in annoyance.
"So?"
"I was planning to order breakfast in our room today but I wanted it to be a surprise. Well I guess I can't surprise you when you're awake."
She force a charming smile and Regina rolled her eyes.
"I don't need breakfast Emma. I got work to do. I'm gonna go find Vanessa and ask her a couple of questions. You better go search Rodolfo Bianchi's and Alessandro Russo's room. Text me as soon as you're done so we can meet in the couple therapy classes."
She put on her black buttoned up shirt and applied red lipstick on her juicy lips.
"Ugh... okay Karen."
Emma joker and that only led at Regina looking at her pissed.
She decided to ignore Emma's comment and left the room. Emma laid down back on the bed and placed her pillow onto her face. How exactly she was supposed to work with that woman when all Regina did was to behave bossy?
She took a deep breath and decided to call Henry before she would decide to start the day and go work. In the meantime Regina walked downstairs and approached the receptionist ready to ask where Vanessa's room was.
Before she even got the time to open her mouth she heard a squeaky voice cheering at the back.
"Hey girlfriend!"
She turned around and narrowed her eyes to focus on Vanessa's sexy figure approaching her cheerfully.
"Vanessa... what a surprise!"
"I loveeee your earrings! Where did you get them?"
Regina swallowed hard and pulled Vanessa at the corner of the vast entrance of the hotel.
"Can I have a word with you?"
"Ugh... I'm actually late for my facial."
The blonde woman replied and Regina rolled her eyes losing her temper slowly.
"It's gonna take a minute only. I just wanna ask you a couple of more questions."
She admitted.
"But I thought that you already asked me about my family and life."
She made her voice sound even more squeaky and annoying. Regina bit her tongue and swallowed hard in order to keep the cursing words in. Vanessa didn't have to try much to piss her off... she had a horrible night... her patience was eliminating today.
"I came up with more creative ones dear."
She replied ironically and sat down on the black velvet sofa behind her. She crossed her legs and signaled Vanessa to come and sit down next to her.
Vanessa couldn't help but obey. She knew Regina an agent. She couldn't run away cause that would make her look suspicious. She sat down and cracked her knuckles nervously. Regina looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Wha-what is it?"
Vanessa asked hesitantly.
"You got something to hide Vanessa?"
Regina asked in low voice and crossed her hands under her chest.
"No..."
"You don't seem that sure dear."
"No no I am!"
She argued and fixed her hair in an effort to remain sweet and calm. Of course Regina wasn't biting any of that shit. She knew there was something. She knew there was something Ophelia hadn't told them since the very first moment they met. She was way too dumb and selfless to be true.
"Oh really? I got a very interesting theory for you to hear."
"Oh yeah?"
"Aha... you're gonna be thrilled to hear it."
"I thought you were gonna ask questions..."
Regina smirked evilly and cleared her throat. Silence followed for a couple of seconds and then she answered.
"I know... but let's just say that I love stories."
Vanessa looked around her and suddenly the entire room was empty. Only the receptionist was there but she wouldn't even bother to look. Every single resident of the hotel was now in the dinning room not giving a shit about Regina's and Vanessa's little conversation.
"Go on."
Vanessa ended up saying helplessly. She was aware that there was no way out of this room unless she told Regina everything.
"I studied this case really hard Vanessa... I know how to read people. That's my trait! That's why I'm working as an agent on the behavior analysis department after all. I'm the best in the USA. You don't really wanna mess with me..."
She winked and continued.
"You should know that every case has a small window... a small window that always reveals the truth. The answer to every single case is the case itself. There's no murderer that is always careful and perfectionist. There's always a mistake... I call that mistake a window... I read about your father... about your family in general. You went through a lot to be honest... your father suffered for many years! You must be proud for this big heritage... but tell me really... where's that Jack anyway?"
Vanessa swallowed hard and looked at Regina in fear. Her eyes were filling up with tears. She couldn't help it... sooner or later she would have to tell this story... she would have to open her mouth and admit everything after so many years of silence. Even thought Vanessa's eyes were screaming for help now she would remain silent.
"He has been always out of the picture Vanessa but I doubt he's a stranger for you. Your father Justin loves him so much... it's so unfair to believe that he just run away because he was a whoosh."
Vanessa opened her eyes broadly at Reginas final words and wiped a couple of tears that managed to escape her eyes.
"I haven't seen him... ever."
Regina narrowed her eyes looking at the blonde woman.
"I doubt that dear."
"Well... He run away. I've only seen pictures. My father Justin never talked about him. I found out about them by myself. My father kept boxes of his things up in the attic and I found them. He has to explain to me afterwards..."
"You know what I hate the most Vanessa? When I'm trying to help people and they keep pushing me back when they know that I'm their only chance!"
Vanessa swallowed hard looking at Regina's eyes darkening.
The look on her face was getting serious but her eyes were soft. Vanessa didn't have to say much for Regina to realize that Vanessa had promised to never tell...
She took a deep breath and held Vanessa's hand inside her own.
"There's something else that I hate as well... domestic violence, and man who are making women like you suffer for the rest of their lives. Talk to me Vanessa. There are many possibilities that this man is behind all this in order to take his revenge on you and your family. In case you don't talk to me I won't be able to help you."
She couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Vanessa broke down in sobs. Her blue eyes were now blood shot and puffy. It hurt... it hurt to even recall all these memories of him abusing her.
"He visited us a couple of times. I was around 15 years old... I had just found out about him but I never expected that he would come back. My father and Jack broke up a couple of days before the orphanage transfer me over their house... my father never told me the entire story. He just claimed that Jack was an arrogant asshole that tried to steal our money multiple times. My father was an honorable man. He would never lie. Especially to me! He had no reason to lie... The first time I saw Jack it was in house at California. He was extremely nice and sweet to me. He told my father that he regretted leaving us and that he wanted to meet me and approach me... my father gave him a chance... and it turned out horrifying for all of us! When I told my father what happened... he called the cops and tried to get him in prison but Jack had terrific lawyers that got him out... the second time was a when I was 17... he came over my school... he tried to put me inside his car by force but thank the god the teachers helped me... he disappeared before we got the chance to find him... haven't seen him since then."
She sobbed as soon as she finished her phrase and tightened her grip on Regina's hand. The brunette remained calm... she was used to watch people reacting like that to terrible incidents that happened to them... her job was to remain calm and help them get over it after all.. the least she could do for Vanessa was to soothe her pain by punishing that monster Jack.
"In case Jack is behind all this... I'm gonna make him pay for everything."
"Do you promise?"
The blonde woman asked in tears.
"Cross my heart and hope to die..."
—-12 chapter is over! You guys got the chance to find out who is Ophelia! Stay tuned cause things are going to get messy.
