When I stepped outof the shower, I towel dried my hair and went to my vanity to beginthe cover-up process, butwhen I raised my eyes to my reflection, I almost broke down intears. Dark purple, green, and red smudged the side of my face in amassive bruise the size of a baseball, and I could see the exactspot where Darren’s knuckles had made contact. They had broken theskin. I almost wanted to leave it uncovered just to spite him, toshow him the damage he had done, hoping he might display a humanside and express a little fucking guilt foronce.
But unfortunately,I couldn’t stand the sight of myself. I layered on the concealer,covering it up as best I could, but the dark shadow of purple stilllingered under it all. I parted my wet hair so that my bangs wouldhang over the same side of my face that harbored the bruise inanother attempt to hide it. I dried my hair and styled itinto soft, loose curls,fanning them out around my shoulders and down my back. My hair wasgetting longer. It now reached well past my shoulder blades. Ididn’t typically grow it this long, preferring it to be only a fewinches below my collarbone. It was easier to manage that way andwas less annoying.
I chose a silkysoft silvery blue sundress to wear and the nude flats I had finallybroken in months before. I looked down at the diamond studdedinfinity ring from Tiffany’s that Darren had gifted me so long ago.I wanted to chuck it into his mouth so he’d choke on it, but thatwasn’t gruesome enough of a death for me.
At 8:55 a.m., Islowly made my way down the stairs and found Darren sitting at thetable with some paperwork in his hands. He was reading with afocused face when I finally sat down. When I scooted my chair in,he looked up from his work and smiled at me.
“Good morning,” hesaid.
“Morning,” Imumbled back and began to makemyself some tea.
I could feel hiseyes on me, scrutinizing me, but thankfully, my hair fell down theside of my face and blocked his vision from myeyes.
“Did you dosomething different with your hair?” he askedme.
I shrugged withoutlooking at him. “I switched the part.”
His eyes narrowedthen for a moment before he finally leaned forward, reaching outwith his hand and tucked my hair behind my ear to expose my bruisedcheek. I didn’t look at him. Not even when he gently gripped mychin and tilted my face up so he could get a better look at whathe’d done. I managed to catch a glimpse of his bruise on his cheek,and it was actually healing rather quickly. Darren was silent for amoment as he analyzed the damage, his thumb softly grazing theskin, causing me to reveal the tiniestwince. He released aheavy sigh as he stared at me, and for some reason, it sounded likeregret.
“I’m sorry,” hesaid gently. “But I warned you what could happen if you didn’tlisten to me.”
I scoffed at him.Like I actually gave a shit about his apology.
“I don’t want yoursorry. I want you to let me go.”
Darren released anirritated sigh as he sat back in his chair, glaring at me.
“And that littlerequest is exactly why I’m doing what I’mdoing.”
“I’m sorry,” Isaid, not sure I even understood him, “but you’re going to kill myentire family because I want you to let me go? The fuck kind oflogic is that?” I seethed.
“Watch yourmouth,” he warned with a serious glare in his eye. “And I alreadytold you. I’m eliminating the element that is causing you toregress from your life with me. I need you focused on the future,not the past.”
“And you thinkkilling my family will ensure that I give in to you? Again, thefuck kind of logic is that!”
“Cuss one moretime and your ass with match your cheek,” Darren growled, histhreat causing me to curl my fists in my lap until they shook. “Iexpect that once you’re over your mourning period, you’ll realizethere is nothing left for you to hold on to, no reason for you totry to escape me, and you will finally give up this senseless fightand give in to me.”
I shook my head athim, closing my eyes and fighting back tears while my fingersnearly broke from thetension in my fists.
“You have no ideahow wrong you are,” I said, staring straight into his eyes withconviction. “I would never forgive you for this. I will always have a reason to get awayfrom you, no matter what you do.”
“We’ll seeabout that.” Hesmirked.
“You can’thonestly expect me to just sit around and let you dothis.”
“I don’t imaginethere is much you can do about it,” he said taking a sip of hiscoffee before setting it back down on thetable.
“Don’tunderestimate me, Darren. That will be your biggest mistake,” Ireplied confidently.
His hand was on mythroat before I could even blink.
“And challengingme will be yours,” he snarled with absolutemalice.
His eyes blazedwith an intense anger as his grip on my throat quickly became avise. I didn’t even bother to try to stop him. I just scowled athim, holding back my tongue as I fought for oxygen, hoping he’d letgo.
After what feltlike hours, he finally released me and stood, putting his suitjacket on over his white dress shirt and black tie. My throatburned as I coughed and gasped for air, tears beginning to build inmy eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
“I have to go awayon a business trip tomorrow. I’ll be gone a fewdays.”
Bye,Felicia.
And then Darren’smouth dropped real low to my ear.
“Maybe if youbehave while I’m gone, I won’t make you watch,” he said, but Icould taste
