My stomach still hurts but I'll try to work on another chapter. Thanks for reading!
Halle stayed up in her room for the rest of the day, only going downstairs to make a sandwich as she was too lazy to cook up anything extravagant.They had the ingredients and fuck they also had the best kitchen utensils, the types that looked like they were being polished but of if course it was just the quality’s natural gleam. Halle wished she could do more in that kitchen, turn it into hers but…it wasn’t hers and despite how many days she’d spent in the mansion, she still didn’t feel free enough to take such a big step and perhaps she never will.June, Collette, and Tabitha have tried their best to make her feel at home in the days they’ve spent with her but none of it really mattered when she thought about the way Xavier treated her. Like a non-existent employee.Damn it! It shouldn’t bother her this much!Halle stared blankly at the pages of the book she was reading or at least was supposed to be reading. She couldn’t focus, she couldn’t get the words properly in her head or
“You…want to drop me off?” Halle didn’t mean to sound so incredulous but seeing as the man who spoke was Xavier, she couldn’t help herself. In the past week, she hardly saw him and whenever she did, he hardly spared her a glance so she tried her best to stay out of his way just so things wouldn’t get weird between them and now here he was, faint warmth that she couldn’t understand in those brown eyes and his beautifully shaped brows raised in question. “Do you not want me to drop you off?” Did she not? “Oh!” Halle exclaimed and cleared her throat awkwardly, “ No!” She coughed, “Of course not!” She chuckled. “I would love it—I mean really appreciate it,” It took everything in her not to vomit the rest of the rubbish she wanted to. His eyes narrowed after she was done blubbering, his discerning gaze made her feel like he was peeling off layers from her skin and seeing what lay beneath. Like he could see through everything she said, like he could see her thoughts and that wasn’t som
Xavier drove like the wheels were on fire or rather like they were being chased by the cops or something, he took unexpected swerves and unapologetically stepped on the brakes whenever there was a sudden red light.All through the hell of a drive, Halle dug her teeth into her bottom lip and stayed silent while hoping that her blind trust in the man wouldn’t get her killed. She held on to the door handle for dear life but yet didn’t shut her eyes, she tried not to look at him either, she wondered if it was his attempt at getting her riled up or maybe he just wants to fuel his amusement.The thought of being just a form of amusement to him made Halle grit her teeth and her eyes narrowed with determination.‘Why not go faster?’ She wanted to say with an acidic tone that she hoped would burn through his clothes and leave a mark.The drive which was supposed to be at least two hours took just one hour, before she knew it, they had pulled up at the front entrance of the university.T
The sky was dark, clouds shielded the sun as they poured down on Halle’s skin, her bare skin. There she stood amid the rain in nothing but her underwear, the gashes she knew she had in her back had stopped burning, the coolness of the rain helped with it but, she was cold, so cold that her legs were shaking and her eyes could barely stay open. She wasn’t passing out, she was getting hypothermic and she knew another hour under the rain and she’d be past the point of no return. Just as she had given up, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, sharp nails digging into her flesh, and warm breath against her ear. “I think you’ve learned your lesson!” A high-pitched voice said harshly, the nails digging deeper and creating more holes in Halle’s skin. She was dragged back, pulled away from the rain, and into the shield of a porch, her porch. “Don’t you think so, Maria?” “Yes,” Halle replied weakly, “Mother…”… “Miss Dean?”Huh?“Miss Halle Dean?” This time the voice became more persisten
Halle’s hands shook as she used them the steady herself against the wall, sharp pains shot up from her back as she stretched her legs and stood to full height.She couldn’t see, she felt lost and confused. The rain fell heavily on her already battered body showing no mercy, the skies had darkened with thick clouds or was it just time that had passed?It was already dark… how long did she lay there on the ground lost in her own world of pain?In the darkness was a faint rectangular light, Halle couldn’t see anything but it, her shaky legs moved her body forward the best they could, she reached for the light and her legs gave out the second her fingers touched it.Her phone?Halle moaned as she tried to see through the blood and water covering her sight. She was in so much pain and couldn’t pinpoint where it came from.Everywhere, she decided as she heard the sound of the phone unlocking.A miracle that it was still working even after being battered just as heavily by the rain as
Xavier Stone fiddled with the silver dagger in his hand, flipping it from one finger to the other, a passive expression on his face, on the other hand, the man in front of him was on his knees, shivering from the cold wind of the deserted meadows of the capital. Cold but yet the man was soaked in sweat, his black hair matted to his forehead, and his palms rubbed together in front of him, begging. He had on a white shirt and blue pants before he was brought to the meadow, now half of it was soaked in blood and his pants were already a mess from his urine. The man kept his fear-filled eyes on the ground, his body shaking so much that Xavier wondered if the littlest wind would blow him away. “I don’t know anything, sir, please!” Xavier looked over his shoulder with a bored gaze, “You hear that?” He said to the men that stood behind him. They were sixteen in number, all dressed in black suits and leather shoes, businessmen, Xavier’s men. “He says he doesn’t know anything,” Xavier dead
Halle’s eyes opened abruptly and she woke up with a start.She gasped for air, chest heaving unsteadily as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes were wide with fear and her whole body shook from the intensity of the pain and sobs that racked through her.Pain. There was so much pain!“Halle!”He was next to her in an instant, his arms coming around her ad pulling her closer to his chest, his lavender and woodsy scent soaking through her skin, taking over her senses, it calmed her down immediately.Halle couldn’t find her voice but even as her body shook, she inhaled greedily, hands reaching out to grab him and pull him closer, fists clenching his shirt and hanging on for dear life.Her mind felt scattered, her feelings all over the place, and for the first time in years, she felt it. Her body’s coping mechanism, she became lightheaded and it soon felt like her body was slowly leaving the bed.Was she floating?“Don’t fall asleep Halle, keep eyes open for me!”His deep voice
When Halle left the bathroom, the bedroom was empty. She felt a pang of disappointment in her chest as she strode to the walk-in closet. She had expected Xavier to be there, beneath all that anger, she craved the warmth he provided and how calm it made her. Don’t do that shit you always do! Halle scolded herself as she rummaged through the closet in search of something decent yet, soft and comfortable. She didn’t want to put on clothes that would rub against her bruises the wrong way and add more to the pain she was feeling. She went deeper into the walk-in closet, exploring the clothes that they had supposedly ‘arranged’ for her. It came as no surprise that they knew her size and knew the right things to buy…Xavier said he’s been watching her for the past three years and damn it that brought back her hopes that she wanted to throw away. The closet was decorated with a blend of peach and cream colors, reminding her of how long it had been since she’s tasted ice cream on her tongu
“Do I really need to be blindfolded for this?” Halle asked with a warm chuckle. Xavier just grinned mysteriously in response, guiding her by the shoulders through what sounded like a set of heavy doors given the echo. “Patience, Flower. I promise, it’s worth the surprise,” he assured her, amusement and excitement dancing in his tone. Halle smiled and cooperated as he led her slowly ahead a few more steps. Her heart swelled, trusting Xavier so completely even when she couldn’t see. After everything they had endured, Halle knew without doubt he would never lead her anywhere dangerous again. “Just a little further,” Xavier coached. “Watch your step.” His sturdy hands on her waist aided Halle in navigating what felt like a small staircase. A few more shuffling paces forward and they finally halted. Halle quivered in anticipation. “Can I look now?” “One moment…” She heard the smile in Xavier’s voice just before he moved behind her and untied the blindfold at last. “Now you can open your
When Halle awoke late one night from another vivid episode of panic, Xavier recognized a shift had finally occurred. He gathered her quaking frame close while she wept, exhausted and heart sore. “Shh I have you, just breathe,” he soothed until the tension slowly left her muscles. Halle clung to him like an anchor amidst stormy waters even once fully awake. “I’m scared, Xavier,” she admitted in a small voice once sufficiently calmed. “Scared she’ll find us again.” Xavier steeled himself before answering gently. “Then it’s time I put real end to this. For your peace of mind, and our son’s future.” Halle’s arms tightened around him briefly at the implication. But she simply nodded bravely when she pulled back. “Just promise me you’ll come back safely. I can’t lose you.” Her palm cupped his bearded cheek with profound tenderness. Turning his head, Xavier pressed a kiss into her open palm. “I will always come back to you Halle,” he avowed passionately. His piercing gaze bore into hers,
Xavier paused in the open doorway, gazing at the scene before him – Halle curled protectively around their three week old son as he nursed, her expression tired but content, Damien was at the edge of the bed, curiously watching and asking questions, his wide eyes innocent and childlike, just like it ought to be. Xavier’s heart swelled at the simple domestic sight, still scarcely able to believe he had nearly lost them forever.Halle had begged for Damien to be close, so the second they left Halle’s birth country in Africa, he had Monty bring the young boy out from hiding and back with them, where he belonged. After Halle had been safely recovered and gave birth, Xavier wasted no time whisking her away to a secluded estate where they could focus solely on healing without fear of Martha’s lingering reach. And healing was no small feat after the trauma Halle had endured. Though her physical wounds were minimal, the psychological toll left lasting scars.She was plagued regularly by v
Halle drifted slowly up towards consciousness, clinging to the last visages of a dream where she was enveloped in tender warmth and comforting strength. Even semi-conscious, she instinctively recognized the sensations cocooning her now were real, not imagined. But after endless days and nights of torment, believing rescue could only manifest as a fantasy, Halle desperately avoided opening her eyes fully. What if this beautiful illusion shattered the instant she woke up? The possibility made her heart seize with renewed panic.No - the arms cradling her were solid, the scent of juniper and fresh rain surrounding her unmistakably Xavier’s. This precious peace was real, it had to be. Halle focused on steadying her breaths, mentally grasping for fragments of memory through the haze still clouding her thoughts. Flashes filtered back now – the frantic escape attempt, searing contractions hitting, Xavier appearing through her delirium of pain like a saving vision…the sweet sound of her chi
A FEW HOURS EARLIER… The scorching sun beat down as Xavier surveyed the sprawling, dusty streets from the backseat of the nondescript sedan. It had taken tremendous resources and calling in more favors than he could count to get boots on the ground in this remote country so quickly. But nothing could deter him from his mission – finding Martha and making her pay for taking Halle.Taking the woman he loved and then sending him papers to sign while at it. Xavier gritted his testy as he thought about the phone call he had gotten from his aunt, she’d sent papers to his mail…asking him to sign over everything to her, that was her endgame. If she couldn’t get it from Damien as she’d originally intended, she’d get it directly from the man himself. Xavier had agreed to her deal but…he wasn’t really going to sign those paper. Stone was his legacy and he’ll be damned if he let’s and overly ambitious bitch take over and ruin everything he’s built. His mind wandered inevitably to images of h
Too spent to argue, Halle permitted him to gently help her ease down onto the padded nest now warming her chilled legs. Though hardly ideal accommodations, at least she was off the frigid concrete floor. Monty seemed satisfied with his efforts.“I must inform the Don that you have been found before he burns the brothel down,” he announced. Before Halle could wrap her mind around the significance of his deliberate phrasing, Monty had disappeared back down the cellar corridor with a final instruction tossed over his shoulder – “Try to focus your energies, I will be back as fast as I can.”Xavier…was here, for her. Halle couldn’t hold back her relieve tears but of course that feeling was short lived. Then Halle was alone again with her body’s urgent demands. She closed her eyes, trying futilely to center her wild thoughts through the intensifying contractions. But it was impossible to find any inner calm or fortitude. Not with her heart pounding anew wondering how much longer until
Halle’s heart hammered violently in her chest as the first contraction seized her swollen belly. There was no denying it now – the terror and physical exertion of her escape attempt had triggered full blown labor. Her child was coming, ready or not, even as Martha’s henchmen battered viciously to break in.“Shit!” Halle cursed under her breath as she held her belly, the pain hitting her unexpectedly and making her whole body sway and her legs shake. Leaning heavily on the dusty desk, Halle fought to stay upright and quiet through the painful tightening. But despite clenching her jaw, a low moan still escaped through her gritted teeth. The dampness soaking her dress kept spreading. “Why are you so impatient…” Halle cursed through gritted teeth, trying her best to stay up right so as to prevent any complications. From down the cellar corridor came another resounding crack – the stubborn old door’s hinges were splintering rapidly under the men’s force. In mere minutes they would be
Halle awoke with a gasp, her heart already racing. Today was the day – the day she would finally attempt her escape from this nightmare. She lay still for a moment, focusing on slowing her breathing and gathering her courage. The gloom shrouded the cramped room, but Halle’s eyes discerned the packed bag hidden beneath her cot containing the supplies she had managed to secretly squirrel away over the past week. The last week had been utter torment, forcing herself to endure her mother’s assaults and the groping hands of repulsive men trying to lay claim to her while pretending total resignation. More than once she had nearly faltered, the will to fight slowly being crushed out of her. But she would gently caress the swell of her belly. She could not – would not – let this place and its monsters claim another child if there was any hope of escape.Moving slowly to avoid any sounds of creaking, Halle eased herself up to sit on the edge of the mattress. Her heavy, cumbersome belly m
The days dragged by in agonizing torture as Halle remained trapped in her personal hell. Time ceased to hold meaning within the dingy confines of the small room that had been hers as a teenager under her mother’s cruel control. The peeling walls oozed with memories of past suffering, the very air thick with hopelessness.And now, heavy with her unborn child, Halle felt more trapped than ever. Her mother’s daily visits always ended with fresh bruises blossoming on her skin, dark reminders of her powerlessness. When not enduring her mother’s rage, Halle spent the empty hours curled miserably on the cot, arms wrapped around her belly as if to shield the precious life within from the darkness pressing in around them.On the fifth night, Halle lay tense and sleepless, every creak of the old brothel putting her nerves on edge. She stared dry-eyed into the gloom, too weary even for tears. The baby’s steady kicks were her only comfort.When the familiar scrape of the main door opening reached