"You have lifted Henry in your arms. That sweet and innocent life. So no, Christopher. No. It hurts."She replied as if she was certain."It must hurt so badly that your body has accepted that pain as normal."‘Ugh...I can't stand people who just hurt others like that! There is a justice system in place for a reason. Gangs are just monsters.'Blair's words played in his ears.She had said them before she knew who he was, and even after she died, she never really knew the extent of the ‘monster’ that he was; that was why it was hard for him to believe that Blair truly loved him.'Can't you just kill them? They messed up my nails on purpose and talked shit about me.’Victoria's words followed.She was easier to please than anyone.But in his arms was someone he’d shown his worst, and yet still…His heart, which was silent, began to beat loudly.No…no, it can't.Christopher panicked.It was a betrayal to Blair that his heart was racing because of the brown-eyed, clumsy woman in his arms.
Christopher's hands hesitate before they wrap around Henry.For some reason, he looks deep in thought."How is my little cutie?"Henry giggles at my question and grabs a fistful of Christopher’s shirt."Where did mummy go? I missed mummy."Henry asks.Video calls would have been fine, but Henry cried so much on the first one and demanded that we return, so Olivia thought the best way to handle his separation anxiety would be distance. It seemed to have worked, but I didn’t think he’d cry just because he couldn’t reach the door handle.So cute.My hands itch to steal him from Christopher's lap, but he is curled so comfortably that I can't bring myself to."We should head inside. Mum is going to drop by soon, and Teo volunteered to cook for us, so…something to look forward to."I flinch at the mention of Mum; considering how we left things at the wedding, I didn't expect to see her this soon.“Great.”I say with a sigh.**The dinner is noisier than expected.Because of the kids, food k
"Hey, hey...what are you doing?"A harsh hand grabs my own with such force when I try to turn the SUV's alarm off that I almost scream.For some reason, I expect Christopher, but instead, it's the brown-haired bodyguard."I need...I need to go."I stammer the words, but at least they are out of my mouth."Go where? you and the boss just arrived."He asks, his expression desperate.To some extent, I understand him. It is deep in the night, and I am standing outside Christopher’s car with his keys and no Christopher in sight, despite clear signs that I want to leave. It’s almost like I am running away."Hospi- I need to get to the hospital."He furrows his brows and sighs at my breathy response."Fine, let me confirm with-""I'll just drive myself.""Do you want me to die?"He asks."You won't die; he said he doesn't kill his family. ""Hah, yeah, he'll just post me somewhere where I'm most likely to die.""Then...when I'm caught, I won't say that you saw me leave."I urge, but to that,
Juniper stiffens at my change of tone."You don't care about anyone else, do you? There are children working under your husband, children as young as eight being explo-""They need to make a living somehow. Do you hate him for creating employment? What has yours done besides putting him in a hospital? ""Yeah..."I answer with a chuckle."Right? My husband is the worst, but I know he wouldn’t ‘create employment opportunities’ amongst kids who should be in school. I know he wouldn’t exploit them for cheap labour and steal their chances at literacy. There is free public education in Devnia, darling; your argument isn’t fooling anyone.""Do you think I hate your husband? I don’t.”I ask, and answer my own question with a sigh.“Especially since mine shot his dominant hand, so there is no way Benjamin, or whatever his name is, could have laid a hand on you. Even if he is ambidextrous, a woman in true fear would use any opportunity to escape danger. But how would you know? You’ve never bee
"Let's go-"I say as I pull away from Christopher’s warmth."Go? Go where? What kind of answer is that?”“It's ‘an answer’?”I shrug.“That I am asking for too much?"I don't nod to his question or respond verbally; instead, I tug his arm towards the elevator, but he withdraws it."Say it.""I have already said it.”"Say it so that I can understand; ‘say that the father of my child is asking too much when he says he wants me to depend on him’.""Christopher.""Say it!"Why is he angry?I don’t…understand this. Why is he changing things? Why can’t we stop now? I don’t want this; I don’t want to put my heart on the line for someone like him.With a sigh, I turn to face him fully."Tell me, Christopher, when did you last compare me to Blair?”"What?"He frowns."Are you deaf?""Elizabeth."He calls warningly, so I try softening my words.“I’m not as outgoing as her, I’m not as smart as her, I am not even as funny as she is, and yet you had to get rid of the person living in your house th
"I'll take the couch."I say, pointing to the cosy loveseat in his spacious room."You'll sleep on the bed.""Gladly, if you open my room, I'll sleep on the bed, or rather, if you give me an axe-""Elizabeth..."Christopher calls, so I groan and focus on something else to fuss about."I can't sleep without pyjamas, and I want to shower.""Use the clothes from my closet.""I have good ones in my room.""I'm not opening it, so get used to this.""What even is ‘this’?"I ask as I wave my hand around the room."Our new normal"At his casual answer, I rake my hair out of my face, while rushing to the hospital, I lost my hairband somewhere."You really have lost your mind."I mumble to myself, but it seems he hears me."Maybe, but Elizabeth, if you don't choose to rely on me, I'll make you."“Ahaha, you should have been a poet.”I say sarcastically to his words."If all else fails."How does this crazy bastard always have a reply?**My hand holding a towel ruffles my now damp hair as I re-
"Are you dumb or what? Just say you like me, or you like that I remind you of something Blair has."I snap, finally sitting up from his arms.I washed the sea breeze scent off me only to have his gel covering me.I don’t even need his arms around me to feel his presence, his sheets, his gaze, the ticklish way he was brushing my hair, everything screams that I have invaded his territory, and he wouldn’t let me out.Hey…hey…can we stop? Do we have to get closer?"Just let me finish my story, and you'll get it.""Get what?"My heart is pounding; something is telling me that any more of this, and I-"I-...you are confusing me. Anyway, Blair’s-""How am I confusing you?"I ask, wanting to end this conversation in the best and most innocent way I know how: by interrupting."Fucks sake, Elizabeth! What do you want me to say for you to shut up and listen to what I have to say?"He yells, this time sitting up to match my height."I don’t want to hear how much you loved her, okay?""Why?"Why?
“You know, they always say ‘the worst she can say is no’, but then there is that cold answer.”Christopher says with a cold laugh.“What should I do, Elizabeth? I can’t let you go. You have to be mine. You have to fall in love with me and only me.”He says as if speaking to himself.“Wait, love?”“I was going to avoid you after we got back but when I saw you willing to drive alone agitated, I thought… ‘Ah, one of these days, I will lose her like I did Blair’, and that can’t happen, Elizabeth. I don’t want to lose you.”He says and leans back on the bed, joining me on my back. His hand falls on my waist, and he pulls me forcefully into his body.My breasts graze against his chest as his long hand cups the curve of my ass, I can feel his cock on my thighs, but as if I am the only one with perverse thoughts, he continues with his story as if my rejection never happened."Victoria toyed with Blair's emotions so much that she lost her glow. I thought divorce would be a perfect way out, but