Chapter 02

Elizabeth 

I had a dog and I had forgotten all about her.  I had left her at my house in the morning, and now it is 4 pm. 

  Quickly, I rushed out of the building and then flagged down a cab.

  Half an hour later, I arrived at my house and guess what? My Ex boyfriend was sitting on the stairway with his hands tugging his hair.

  This was why I didn't want to come home, dealing with him was exhilarating.

  He raised his head when he heard footsteps approaching. He looked haggard and drunk.

  "Lizzy! My love,"He staggered towards me, and I didn't notice the rope in his hand. 

  Gosh!

  He stank!

  I had to cover my nose with the back of my hand."Get out of here! You're polluting the air !" 

  He attempted to grab me, but I dodged just in time. "That video happened a year ago, why did you lie ?" 

  " I would rather not look like the villain, besides, I was telling the truth." I shrugged, at least he keeps track of social media. I just ruined his social life with that video and I don't regret it. 

  I rushed to the door and tried opening it before that psycho would stagger near me, but the door wouldn't budge. Just when it finally opened, he grabbed my hand." You will say yes...you will marry me! I have to take over the company,Liz. You have to marry me." 

  I understood he was desperate because he still hadn't found a wife at his age and he won't be able to produce an heir if he doesn't find a wife. 

And his father wants a grandchild before he completely hands over his business to his son. He's an only child,to continue his lineage,he has to produce a child and I was supposed to be the baby making machine.

I can't ruin my life like that. I know Felix,the moment I have his child, he'll dump me and take the baby.

I can't let that happen. 

  His grip on my hand tightened such that I couldn't escape, he moved closer to me and attempted to kiss me, but I slapped him hard across the face. 

  The stench coming from him was enough to make any living creature die, even his hands were clammy.

  " If you don't get out of here right now, I'll call the cops." I threatened,my hands trembled as cold sweat broke out on my face.

  I was feeling a mixture of fear and anger. The streets were empty, and I didn't think any person or car would pass by anytime soon. 

I thought about screaming to get some attention.

  " Let me go," I said this time more calmly.

  He grabbed my other hand and pushed me against the door. "I'm going to propose again and make a video then you'll upload it on your page ... I won't let you turn me into a laughingstock." He growled in my ear.

Pain ripped through my face as he slammed my face on the door. I didn't want him to feel my fear or he would take advantage of it so I struggled to keep my composure. 

   "Don't worry, I'll make sure to upload that video of you sleeping with your uncle's wife on the net." My voice cracked as I struggled to free myself. 

  He tightened his grip; I was beginning to feel pain in my arms and on my face pressed against the not-so-smooth door. 

Panic set in as his hands rummaged through my body. 

God help me, he would get arrested for this.

  He licked my ears from behind. " Oh...no, not with that filthy tongue."  A quiet sob escaped my lips. 

I'm strong ,I shouldn't cry.

I'm not weak so why won't my body stop trembling? 

Why won't my heart stop racing? 

  Felix was one of those bad boys in college, funny how we still kept in touch after so many years, but that was all because my parents wanted me to marry him. 

Only I know the kind of man he is and only I can bring him down but I don't have the power to do so at least not currently. 

  He had raped a girl once but gotten away with it because his dad had connections with the police, he also did drugs and all sorts of evil things you could think of. I took it upon myself to make him pay for hurting Avery.

  "If you don't do as I say then I'll strip you, tie you to the bed and have fun playing with this nice ass." His hands went to my backside. Then he wrapped the rope around my neck, choking me. 

I gagged,the tears finally flowing freely.

  " You'll marry me, Elizabeth. You have no choice." His grip tightened.

  I couldn't breathe as tears trickled down my eyes. 

 I coughed, fighting for breath.

  "Let me go…You'll end up in jail if you don't let me go, me go." I cried, my voice shaking.

  I bucked and trashed, trying to free myself as I let out screams. 

  How come no one could hear me? We were right outside for Christ sake. I felt my lungs collapsing as he pressed my face to the door, and for a moment, I thought this was the end for me. 

  "We'll see about that."He started tracing his hands around my body, he was about to squeeze my boobs when I heard a loud crashing sound. The strong metallic smell of blood filled my nostrils.

  At first, I thought it was my blood until Felix slowly let go of me and landed flat on the floor unconscious.

  The first thing I did was gasp for breath as I coughed out spit and snort. This was one of the reasons I broke up with him, he wouldn't think twice about hurting me if I got him angry.

 He was violent and abusive. 

  Breathing heavily with both eyes red from crying, I turned around and saw the last person that had broken me emotionally. 

  "Are you okay?"He asked, reaching for me. 

I blinked the tears away rapidly, trying to find composure as I nodded. 

 “ Thank you.” I whispered as  I stepped away from him as soon as I started hearing the police siren.

  His voice was cool. " You're welcome, I just thought I'd check up on you today."

My muscles tensed as he spoke.  " Thanks for calling the cops” 

  " I didn't call the cops, that old lady did."He said, pointing at a frowning white-haired lady standing across the flower pot that separated our houses. She hissed at me, adjusted her glasses and turned away.

  As usual, she gave me cold shoulders, but that's Mrs. Hamilton of all people; I never knew she was capable of such good things. I should thank her later.

  The cops pulled over and took Felix into their car. One of them came up to Dwain asking their usual interrogative questions.

  When they finally left with Felix,I took a five minute breather and then  I cleaned up the mess at my front door, trying my very best to ignore his presence. 

His presence still made me quiver till now,but I have to be stern. I'm not that girl before. I'm not that same Elizabeth that trembled at his feet. 

  "Elizabeth, can we talk ?" He said in a low voice.

  I sighed. " Thank you for your help ,Dwain but I'm in no mood to talk.Not now,not ever.Now if you'll excuse me, I need to feed my dog." 

  My hands were shaking and I did my best to hide it. This man had broken me beyond repair. He made me his whore,he destroyed my self dignity ,he used me ,then took away my sanity and dumped me.

  I'm just a girl trying to fix her life back but he still won't let me go. 

  "Wait ...just ..." I didn't let him finish and slammed the door. That wasn't a nice way to treat someone who just saved my ass, but I couldn't help it, he deserved it.

  I ran into my bedroom searching for pixy and there she was on my bed, lying weakly with her eyes closed.

I got pixy after my therapist said I needed emotional support and it turns out she was right. 

 

  " Oh dear ... Pixy, I'm so sorry." I had forgotten to fill her plate before I left, the only thing she had since morning was a few pieces of potato chips.

  I had starved my beloved dog and roommate for hours all because of Felix.

  Speaking of which, surely he would spend some time in prison if his dad didn't get him out.

  I went to the kitchen to make some cookies. I was going to take it to Mrs. Hamilton as a token of my gratitude. 

  When it was ready, I wrapped them in a nice plastic bag and hopped off to her house.

  I rang the doorbell twice, this was the first time I was going to speak with Mrs. Hamilton directly. Our encounters had been mostly indirect and fierce eye battles but now it was face to face.

  I'm only going to her place to avoid Dwain,he was still outside my door and I knew what he could do to me if I were alone in my house. 

All those actions he pulled off earlier were just Facades. 

  I swallowed, plastered a massive smile on my face as I heard soft footsteps and soon the door flew open.

  My hands were still trembling because I could still feel his eyes on me. 

  He knows where I live now,I'm not safe anymore.