"Linda, I'm leaving first. I’m just going to buy something at Dreame Café," I said softly to our maid while holding my shoulder bag. I was already at the door, ready to leave. I wore thick shades to cover the puffy eyes and cap, not to be recognized immediately if anyone could see me.
"Ma'am. Sir may suddenly come home, and you are not here. He will surely fire me," she said, begging with a broom in her hand. She was cleaning the house when I interrupted her.
I sighed heavily.
The truth was that I was not allowed to leave the house. Since the death of our baby, I felt like I had been a prisoner in our own home.
He always wanted me to be at home. He wanted to see me greeting him when he came home. I just had to follow everything that he wanted. That no matter who the woman he brought to our house, I have no right to complain.
This was the payment for the death of our baby.
He blamed me for what had happened. That I planned everything because I wanted to leave him. Because the truth was, I was just forced to marry him. Because he just trapped me to marry him by making me pregnant.
He didn't even ask me if I was fine when I was in the hospital bed, lying while mourning for our lost baby. He didn't even care that I almost died in the accident. He only cared for the baby, nothing else.
But why was that? Why did he blame me for everything?
I also lost my child. It hurts me more because it was still in my womb when the accident happened. It left a deep scar in me. It was like I’m asking myself, why didn't I die too? I’m alive, but I’m barely living. Because it was as if he killed me, killed me in pain.
And now he was making my life miserable. How long am I going to pay for something that I didn't do in the first place?
I smiled bitterly.
You’re married to him, Denima. You vowed in front of the altar that for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, that you will love and cherish your husband until death.
But how could I love him? When in the first place, he just drugged me and got me pregnant to marry him? God knew how I tried to love him. But how could I do that if he always hurt me? Not just physically but also emotionally and mentally.
“I got you, Linda. Don’t worry. He will not fire you. Besides, the Café is just near the South Ridge Village. I’ll be back before he knows it,” I said. Then I hurriedly left the house using the car that my husband bought for me.
I was really going to the Café, but not just to buy something. I was going there to talk to my friend, Cheni.
My heart was beating so fast while driving towards the Café. I was planning to tell her about my situation. About what my husband was doing to me. I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to end it with him. Because if not, I would be dead before others know it.
I texted her that I was already in front of the cafe. I parked my car in the parking lot and got out of the vehicle. My eyes turned to the Café logo at the top. Suddenly I looked at it. Confused. Why the unicorn logo. I just shrugged it off and got inside the cafe.
I immediately smelled the aroma of coffee when I entered the cafe. There were only a few people because it was still early. It was still the eighth in the morning. Usually, at night there were more people here.
I looked for a table that was secluded and was far away from the others. When I saw a vacant seat at the corner covered with plants outside, I immediately walked over there and sat down on the chair.
I tried to relax while waiting for Cheni. I tried to call her, but she did not answer. About a few minutes passed. I felt twice as nervous as a while ago. I couldn’t stay here for long. I was about to try to call Cheni again when suddenly a man sat on the seat in front of me.
I was looking at him with a confused expression. I did not know him. But I couldn’t deny that he was good-looking. With a smile, he held out his hand to me.
“I’m Hale. You’re Denima, right?” My forehead creased even more at what he said. You could see in his smile that he was a playful man. That anyone who looked beautiful, he would not let it pass.
"How did you know my name?" I asked while my brows furrowed. For some unknown reason, the beating of my heart doubled. Not from excitement because of the man in front of me, but from nervousness. Where was Cheni now?
His smile faded, and he looked at me while his brows furrowed.
"What—" he was suddenly interrupted when my phone rang. "Answer it first," he said, looking at me intently while playing with his lower lip. I stared at his gaze. I looked away and answered the call. It was Cheni.
“Hey. Where are you?”
[Sorry, dosh. Something came up. It’s very important. I can not go. How about tonight? I’ll visit you. Okay? Bye! Mwah!] she said in a hurry and dropped the call. She didn’t even let me talk after.
I sighed and bit my lower lip. I better go home right now.
I got up and hurriedly walked out of the Café. The man a while ago called me, but I ignored him and walked straight to my car and got inside.
My phone rang again, and I almost dropped it when I saw who was calling.
It was Nicholai. My husband.
Fear crept inside me, making my body tremble. If earlier I was twice as nervous, now it was doubled even more.
I did not answer the call. I immediately started the car’s engine with a trembling hand and drove it back home.
Blood drained from my face when I saw Nicholai’s car in the garage.
Why was he here? He was supposed to be in the office, working.
I parked my car beside his car and hurriedly got out and went inside our house.
I immediately saw Nicholai sitting on the couch while looking at his phone as soon as I entered the house.
“N-nic? You are early.” I stuttered. I held my bag tightly to stop my hands from trembling.
He turned in my direction and looked at me with an angry expression. I swallowed hard. He was mad. And I knew what would happen next.
“Who told you to get out of the house?!” he growled, making me flinch.
"I-I'm just in the Dreame Café to buy something—"
"To buy something ?!" he shouted angrily. “Where is it?! You didn’t even bring anything! Stop lying to me, Denima!”I flinched again.
“Who are you with?” He stood up and started walking towards me.
My eyes widened as I looked at him. My body began to tremble with fear again.
Please! Not again.
"I-I'm alone," I said, trembling. My eyes started to water when I saw his expression. He looked like a devil ready to kill me.
"You, liar!" He fumed.
“I-I swear! I'm really on my own, Nicholai. I am not lying!" I explained. But I know he would never believe me as always.
"Come here," he said while smiling. That smile that said danger. And I knew what was going to happen if I went near him.
I would be hurt again.
I stepped back and shook my head.
No! I couldn’t take this anymore! Please! Someone help me!
“Don’t make me more furious, Denima Cris!” He shouted again.
"I do not want to. Please, Nicholai. Believe me. I am not lying. I wouldn’t do that to you. ” One by one, my tears welled up, which I had been holding back.
“Okay. Okay. I believe you. Just come here. Hmm?” Suddenly his tone changed and suddenly softened. As well as the expression on his face.
Even if I was hesitant, I stepped forward and walked towards his direction, trembling.
When he reached for my hand, he grabbed my arm and held it tightly.
“Nicholai! You are hurting me, ”I shouted in pain.
"It hurts?" He laughed out loud. "You deserved it, you, slut!" he shouted angrily. His melodic tone, as well as his gentle face, were gone. It was replaced with anger, and he smiled like a demon.
"W-What are you talking about?" I asked, confused. Did he just say slut? Me? What was he saying?
He let go of my arm abruptly and took his phone. I looked at my arm. It would bruise again for sure. I bit my lower lip while looking into it.
I screamed when he suddenly grabbed my neck and made me face his cellphone. He almost slapped the device in my face.
"Now lie to me and tell me that you're alone at the Café while looking at this picture of you and your fucking man!" he furiously said in gritted teeth.
I stared at the picture he was saying. My eyes widened upon seeing the picture. It was me in the Café sitting in front of a man. The man who introduced himself to me earlier at the Cafe.
How —- Did he follow me? Did he hire someone to stalk me wherever I go? Shit! How could I forget what he was capable of doing?
“I-I don't know that man, Nicholai. You have to believe me. Suddenly —- Ahh! You’re hurting me, Nicholai. Stop!” I shouted when he suddenly pulled my hair hard.
I winced from the pain. It looked like all my hair would be removed from the pain.
“You slut! Stop lying to me!” He let go of my hair and slapped me hard.
I slumped on the cold floor while my cheek was numb. I could still taste the blood on the side of my lip.
“You dare to go out and meet your man! Let's see if you can get out of the house with what I'm going to do to you!” My eyes widened at what he said.
No! Help me!
Even if I felt dizzy, I forced myself to crawl away from him.
"Where are you going?!" he shouted and crossed the distance between us. He pulled my feet, and I almost broke a bone as he gripped my leg tightly.
"Let me go!" I shouted at him while crying.
"Not until I'm done with you!" he growled and pulled me closer to him with one hand. His other hand was on his belt, taking it off.
I cried more. I tried to get rid of him. I squirmed and tried to kick him. Since he only used one hand because one was busy removing his belt, he accidentally let go of my foot.
I hurriedly stood up and ran towards the kitchen.
Where is Linda now?
I was looking around the kitchen, hoping that Linda would appear and help me, but she was out of sight.
“If you’re looking for Linda, bad news. I made her leave before you arrive,” he said while smiling like a demon. "Do you think you can run away from me?" He looked at me with a devilish smile.
He slowly approached me while holding his belt.
“I haven’t tried tying you with this belt while fucking you senselessly. Let me try it now, honey, and I will forgive you in an instant.” He was looking at me with lust while licking his lower lip.
My eyes widened from what he said.
No! No! No! My body trembled with fear.
"D-Don't come near me!" trembling, I shouted at him.
“Don’t make me furious, Denima. Just come here,” he said while smiling like a devil again. He stepped closer to me again, and I backed away until I was leaning on the side of the fridge.
My eye saw the knife next to it, and I quickly picked it up and aimed it at him.
“G-Go ahead. Don’t you dare, or I will stab you,” I shouted, holding the knife while my hands were shaking.
He looked at me and laughed as if I was saying ridiculous things.
"Do you think you can do that to me?" He stepped closer to me again. My eyes widened in fear.
"I told you, don't come near me!" I pointed the knife to him again.
He laughed again and retook another step. “Go ahead. Stab me if you can. ” He moved and launched towards me, and I didn’t know what happened next.
I just saw my hands with the knife full of blood while Nicholas was on the floor lying. Blood was visible on his shirt on the chest part, and he was unconscious.