The Devil's Reluctant Bride

sia's

staff knew who I was. Adjusting my scarf to hide the dark bruise along my jaw, I s

I took in the tangle of wires and tubes

e room was dim, save for the weak light spilling from the hallway. My mother's

pped my trembling fingers around my mother's f

ked out through a throat clogged with tears. "I...I wis

s they slid down my cheeks. "I've tried, Mama.

king so hard. "Ah, mama." I whimpered, the sob slipping out. "Steven...is not the same man anymore. He doesn't look at me like he used to. He...he

omatose and unresponsive to the pain in my chest. Pulling back, I sniffled as I adjusted the sca

tly as the memory flared in my mind. I had to pi

ally leaned down and brushed a kiss to my mother's forehead. "I'll find a way to

turn my life had taken pressed down on my chest like a boulder. Steven had stopped paying for

or the past few days, holding onto it like a lifeline.

ice and focused on my mostly quiet surrounding. Since the hospital wasn't that far from the estate,

cedes. My pulse quickened as I began to walk faster, hoping to either outrun the car or

won't they just leave me alone? They ruined my

the occupants of the car decided to get in my way. Holding my purse tight, I began running, feeling my he

ed my vision as I hurried to my front door. This was what my life had

ntry into my house and I quickly shut the door behind me, pressing my back to the wo

for the light switch. But before my fingers could find

nced against the floor and white-hot dizzying pain exploded in my skull. The lights soon bla

rom one too many alcohol. An acrid stench of

He slurred and I flinched. This

ade my voice thick as I cradled my throbbing

ross the cheek. I saw stars and the force

ongue as I whimpered, t

on me seethed with so much hate and disgust in his gaze. "You're out th

s words pierced my h

ault, curling into myself as both his boots and fists rained down on me. Tears

to pick myself up, sobbing quietly as blood dripped from the open wounds and bruises on me

and hate. "I'm done," he screeched, "I'm gonna kill you, and

backwards on my arms despite the pain. "You don't

nd time went still. I let out a scream but

Steven let out a horrific scream and the gun cla

even stumbled back, clutching the bleeding stump of

d pain exploded inside me.