Chapter 7: Leave This Hell

BEATRICE

He freezes when he sees us. Bailey tenses in my arms. “What the hell is this?”

“Please,” I say quickly. “Don’t blame her. Don’t punish her for this. She just wanted to see her mom. I’ll do anything. Just don’t hurt her.”

He glares at me. “Anything?”

I nod.

“Then drop the divorce.”

I hesitate, but only for a second. “Fine. I won’t bring it up again. Just let me see my daughter. Don’t lock me away.”

Enzo narrows his eyes. “Go back to your room, Bailey,” he finally says.

“No!” she clutches my hand tighter.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” I say gently. “Go now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She doesn’t want to let go. But eventually, she has to and walks out.

Enzo looks at me with those deep eyes—eyes I used to love so much. But now, all I feel is fear.

He lets out a cold chuckle. “I knew it. You were just playing games. You’re too impulsive.”

I swallow my anger and nod. “I’m sorry.”

“As long as you don’t bring up divorce again,” he says, “I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”

Before I can respond, he says, “I’ll give you one more night to think it over.” Then he shuts the door.

I sit back down on the bed, shaking. All I can do now is pray.

Moon Goddess, please end this nightmare. I want to be with Bailey. Protect her always.

…because if I’m kept from her any longer, I’m scared I’ll lose my mind completely.

The next day, I hear a key turn in the lock. The door creaks open, and Enzo steps in.

"Have you come to your senses?" he asks.

I swallow my pride, forcing myself to appear submissive. "Yes," I whisper. "I'm sorry. I was being impulsive. I don't want a divorce."

He studies me, suspicion in his eyes. "Really?"

"Yes," I say, nodding. "I understand my place now."

He smirks, clearly pleased. "Good. You can come out, but you're not to leave the house. Understood?"

"Understood."

He thinks I’ll forget. If I just keep my mouth shut, things will go back to normal. 

"You were just being emotional," he says. "Saying things without thinking. As long as you don’t bring it up again, I’ll pretend you didn’t mean it."

“Okay.”

He steps aside, allowing me to pass. I’m finally out of my prison.

Enzo thinks he won, but he’s wrong.

I’m not wasting another second pretending this is a marriage. He’s taken enough from me and Bailey.

So, for now, I play along. I smile when I have to. I make the tea. I keep my mouth shut. I pretend everything’s okay.

But every second, I am thinking of a plan.

*******************

Every breath I take inside this house feels like I’m choking on ashes.

Thalia and her daughter are still here.

Thalia is good at the act. The second Enzo walks through the door, she becomes this soft-voiced, sweet-smiling angel.

“Alpha, have you eaten today?”

“Alpha, let me help you with that.”

I want to vomit watching it.

But when he’s gone, her mask slips right off.

"Can you grab Celeste’s laundry?" she says one morning, tossing a wrinkled pile into my arms like I’m the maid. "And the tea was bitter, again. You might want to actually try this time."

I bite the inside of my cheek so hard I taste blood.

And Celeste? She’s just like her mom.

She’s made it her personal mission to get Bailey in trouble.

“She pushed me,” she sniffled the other day as soon as Enzo walked in. “She took my toy and threw it.”

Bailey didn’t even defend herself. Just stood there, staring at the floor, like she knew what was coming.

“Bailey,” Enzo snapped. “How many times do I have to tell you to behave?”

I stood there shaking. I wanted to grab his face and force him to look at Bailey. But what’s the point?

He doesn’t see us anymore. I don’t think he ever really did.

That’s our life now. Just getting through the day.

This morning, everything changes.

Bailey’s sitting on the edge of the bed while I braid her hair.

“Does it hurt?” I ask as I work through a tangle.

She shakes her head. “Nope.”

But when she leans forward, her shirt slips just a little. And I freeze.

There’s a bruise on her back. It’s faint but dark.

My chest tightens as I gently shift her collar.

There’s a bigger one on her side.

“Bailey,” I say softly, crouching to her level. “What happened?”

She pauses. “Huh?”

“These marks… did you fall? Did someone push you?”

She turns to me, her little face suddenly anxious. “It’s nothing, Mommy.”

“Bailey.” My voice cracks. “Tell me the truth.”

She looks down, twisting her fingers in her lap. Then, in a whisper so soft I almost miss it: “Celeste hit me.”

I blink.

“She told me I had to give her the swing,” Bailey adds. “And when I said no… she got mad.”

I feel the blood drain from my face. I hold my daughter’s face gently in my hands.

“She’s been hurting you?” I ask. “How long?”

Bailey hesitates, then says, “Only when you weren’t around. But don’t be mad. I didn’t want to make things worse. I didn’t want you to be sad.”

I clench my fists, reminding myself Celeste is just a kid. I swallow hard. ‘Was it only Celeste who did this to you?’”

Bailey looks down and doesn’t say anything. And suddenly, I can’t feel the ground beneath me. 

It wasn’t just Celeste. It was Thalia, too.

While I was locked in that damn bedroom, they were hurting my baby.

I pull her into my arms, “I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I’m so, so sorry.”

She sobs into my shoulder, shaking in my arms.

I failed her. I thought I was protecting her by staying quiet. But I was wrong.

I let this happen.

I'm too slow. I need to implement the plan as soon as possible.

I pull back, wiping her cheeks. “We’re leaving, Bailey. I swear. We’re getting out. Soon, okay?”

She looks up at me like she already knows. 

My brave, sweet girl. She’s been stronger than me this whole time.

I kiss her forehead and hold her close again. My heart aches so badly, I feel like I might pass out from it.

But I can’t fall apart now. I rise to my feet and look toward the door like I’m expecting Thalia to walk in with her fake smile and cruel games.

I will take Bailey and leave this hell forever.