6

         “ You're hurting me, let go of me,” I begged as he kept pulling me by the hand. Getting to his room, he nearly threw me ahead of him making me fall.

         “ This is a misunderstanding,” I tried explaining. “ I am the victim, not what you think,” I tried to reason with him.

         “ Of course you are. You always are,” he said taking off his shirt. “ Strip,” he ordered. I stood there in shock and confusion.

          “ Didn't you hear me? I said S-T-R-I-P, ” he broke it down. Before I could oppose his command, he helped me rip my clothes off before pinning me to the wall.

           “ You're my property and I'm not the type to share even if the property is scrap,” he said kissing my neck. “ Maybe I didn't mark out my territory. I should probably do it tonight,” his hands were everywhere as he bit my neck and sucked unto it making me gasp.

         “ From now on, whenever you're going out, put on the ring,” he instructed. “ But first, I need to teach you a lesson you won't forget soon,” he kissed me passionately as his life depended on it. I knew he wouldn't let me sleep tonight until he had exhausted every ounce of me.

* * * *

Months later

Mia's POV

    I woke up early in the morning to make breakfast for Azek, even getting his suit ready before he gets up. I wanted him to give me another chance even if I wasn't exactly sure of what I had done to him to make him hate me so much.

      “ Madam Mel, please don't tell Azek that I'm the one that made breakfast for him,” I pleaded with her. He wouldn't even bother looking at it if he knew.

“ I understand what you mean,” she agreed to help out. I let out a sigh, maybe everything would turn out right if I kept trying.

“ Maybe I should wake him up?” I asked nervously. I wasn't sure he would like me doing that but on the other hand, I wanted to do things with him that couples would do.

“ I'm not sure I remember asking you to or giving you the permission to,” Azek who I hadn't known was here said. His icy voice sent shivers down my spine, I shuddered in fear.

“ Erm... I just didn't want you to sleep in,” I mumbled.

“ Have I ever slept in before?” He scoffed as he came down the stairs and walked into the living room with his hands in his pocket. “ Just because you woke up a little bit earlier than I did doesn't mean I'm gonna sleep in,” he glared at me. I should have thought out what I said properly before saying anything. I knew Azek hated when anyone looked at him like he was incompetent and neglecting his duties. I didn't mean to imply that but I ended up doing just that.

“ Sir, that's not what she means at all. She obviously meant no harm so please don't take it to heart,” Madam Mel intervened seeing how broken I was.

“ The last thing that could occupy my mind is her,” he spat out and I shattered into a million pieces. Why was he always this cruel to me?

“ Erm... Why don't you have breakfast?” Madam Mel suggested. He looks at Madam Mel before glancing over at me and then back at her.

“ I made breakfast,” she assured and he sat down to eat. I heaved a sigh of relief as he ate the food, he had no complaints meaning he liked it.

Once he was done eating, he left the house as quietly as he came downstairs. He prioritized his work more than anything else.

 “ I better head out too,” I excused myself.

  “ Don't overwork yourself, you've been putting in a lot of effort,” she felt bad for me but I didn't think there was any need for that, I would rekindle the relationship between I and Azek no matter what, that I was sure of.

  “ I won't, I promise,” I beamed before heading upstairs to get ready.

Work was as monotic as usual and after that day lover boy as Lizzy would call him, was dragged out, he has never shown up again which was something I was grateful for.

“ Is it just me or are your sleep bags getting more intimidating?” Lizzy had been staring at me for half and hour now.

“ Tell me about it,” I grunted. Recently, I've been feeling a lot dizzier and nauseous. It was beginning to irritate me.

 “ Maybe you should take some time off. Something like a day off or mini vac,” she said.

“ I'm fine, Lizzy. We can consider that later on,” Azek would torment if I were to sit at home in the name of being sick. The last thing I wanted to face is his wrath.

“ You're such a kill joy,” she pouted.

“ Welcome to TessMart, how can I be of help?” I beamed at a customer who had come to the counter to inquire about a certain product. Minutes and hours flew by and my face had begun to ache from smiling too much.

“ Are you alright, Mia?” Lizzy scanned with a very  worried. I was holding on to my head as I felt a bit dizzy. Maybe I truly needed to rest a bit.

“ You don't have to worry about me,not even one bit and I promise  I'll be fine. It's just a mild headache,” I reassured.

“ I still think we should do something about this, like going to the doctor. You've acting strangely for the past few days now,” Lizzy was good at observation so it was hard to keep things a secret from her.

“ I told you already, I'm fine. I'm going to help out with the goods that need to be taken out of the storage,” I excused myself not giving her a chance to complain.

As I helped with the boxes from the storage, I felt my stomach tighten like a bad cramp making me flinch. I tried my best to suppress the pain but it was like the more I tried to suppress it, the more the pain tripled.

“ Ugh,” I grunted lowly in pain and then my vision became blurry making it hard for me to differentiate between things or be sure of what was happening.

“ Mia!” Lizzy's voice came alongside the sound of a poorly tuned mic, screeching through the air as I lost consciousness.

I woke up to the sound of quiet talks, my eyes flickering as I fought hard to open them. Once they were open, all I saw was white. Where was I?

“ Mia, you're awake?” Lizzy's voice came. She sounded relieved.

“ What happened?” I spoke in a soft voice.

“ Ms. Mendez, you fell unconscious but it's nothing to worry about. It's actually good news just that you should take care of yourself better by resting more. You also need to stop putting on heels that could strain you,” he advised.

“ What's going on with me, doc?” I inquired as I sat upright.

“ You're four months pregnant, Ms. Mendez. Congratulations,” he smiled as he announced. For a second my heart stopped as I got overwhelmed by the news and the excitement that came with it. I didn't know how to react.

“ Oh my gosh, Mia! You're going to be a mom?  I'm so happy for you, I think I might even be more excited,” she was hyperactive at this point. I covered my mouth with my hands as tears escaped my eyes. It was like everything was favouring me at this point, maybe this was all I needed to win Azek’s heart. I've heard that babies sometimes spark up the love between a couple after all, they are mostly the results of the couple love.

Looking down at my round belly that now carried Azek’s baby, I rubbed and caressed it. We were finally going to be a family like I've always dreamed. A time ago I thought this was never possible but here I am, joy would be an understatement. I lived for this moment, I would love him or her whole heartedly. I promise to protect you,my unborn baby.

Over my now alive or dead body would I allow any form of harm come close to you, i live to protect you, i breath to protect you , no matter who or what comes our way.