All Chapters of The Pensive Gentleman: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

AngelicaNo matter how hard I tried, coming to terms with what Nadine did to me proved difficult.I promised myself I wouldn’t dwell on it, that I wouldn’t let it bother me, but I couldn’t keep my promise.It makes me wonder just what would’ve happened to me in Brown Hill if I had never left, how easily they could have killed me and made it seem like an accident.That’s why in a way I’m not surprised that it’s been two days yet Nicolas has remained quiet, and there’s no doubt he already knows about the situation. I haven’t heard from Nadine either, and no one will tell me what was done or where she is. Especially Marciano.It’s almost like he made it his life’s mission to ignore me. When I asked him yesterday he took a slow drag of his cigar and puffed the air out before saying; “She won’t bother you anymore.”A frustrated sigh escapes my lips as I drop the dress I’m holding to the ground, letting my arms hang limply at my sides.Lifting my eyes, I catch my reflection in the mirror.

AngelicaI pace back and forth in my room, my thumb between my teeth, my heart pounding loudly in my ears.I didn’t sleep a wink. Couldn’t.Anxiety, shortness of breath, a mini panic attack… I had them all last night, and I’m not any better this morning.Nicolas wants to see me, and he told me to pack an overnight bag.That can only mean one thing. I’m in deep trouble. I tried to reach him countless times days ago, and he was unavailable, but now he wants to see me?Pulling my thumb from between my teeth, I clutch at my chest.Why couldn’t I have told him it’d be impossible before he hung up? I was too frozen to speak, that’s why. And now I have to suffer the humiliation of going to ask for Marciano’s permission after lat night…I can already imagine he’ll say no if I tell him I’m sleeping over, but knowing Nicolas, he will make sure I sleep over with or without an overnight bag.I pause and sink into my bed. What do I do?Grabbing my phone without putting much thought into it, I m

MarcianoMy wife bothers me.It’s the only explanation for why I finished half a pack of cigarettes last night when I don’t even smoke cigarettes.I’m not entirely sure when it began, but if I am to choose I’ll say it started that night when she found out what her sister had done.Even when I made a mental note about it, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I just stood there like a schoolboy with a crush, drinking in all her reactions.Until she began to cry.Right in that moment something in me snapped, and before I could stop myself I was standing right in front of her, holding her face and claiming her tears.A fucking schoolboy move.There’s no way to explain it other than seeing those tears fall from her eyes annoyed the hell out of me. And knowing those tears were because of her cowardly sister only pissed me off more.I don’t hit women, but that night I wrestled with the urge to hit her sister.It was bad she did that shit before Angelica and I got married, but to also do it after

Angelica When Nicolas told me this morning that I would accompany him somewhere since Nadine is not here to go with him, I knew something was up. But I was so focused on the fact that he wanted me to petition for Nadine’s return that I didn’t read much into it.He kept insisting and wouldn’t let me even return home to change my outfit, saying he’d buy me a dress. Staring at Marciano’s very annoyed face now feels very planned. Like it’s why Nicolas brought me here.My chest tightens and releases as though the impending panic attack has subsided.“Come here,” he says with an arm stretched out, and I waste no time. I lunge at him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I inhale his familiar scent to ground me. Suddenly, it feels like the noisy hall has gone quiet, and there’s no one in here but us. Pressing my head on his chest, I can faintly hear the sound of his heart beating fast, but I know it’s because he’s annoyed. Still, I let out a sigh of relief.‘I’m fine. I’m fine now.’ I ch

Angelica I shake my head violently. But only after I’ve done it do I see how disbelieving it seems. “No, he didn’t,” I add, folding my lower lip into my mouth right after.“Don’t lie to me, Angie. This is serious,” she says with a peek at me and a straight face.“I’m serious, Marina. Marciano didn’t hit me. He-he doesn’t.”She takes in a deep breath, squeezing the wheel slightly, then releases it. And I’m left wondering why I came to her in the first place.If I had just gone home this would’ve been avoided.Silence sits with us for a few seconds, maybe up to a minute before she breaks it again.“Then who did it?” “What?” “Who did it, Angie? Someone is clearly hurting you, and they shouldn’t be. You’re a D’amato.”Lord. How do I get out of this situation?“N-no one is hurting me,” I say and swallow hard. “So what? You just woke up with bruises all over your body?”A sick heaviness settles low in my gut.This is the worst situation for me to be in as someone who isn’t good at ly