"I know you are awake, Bella," his voice loud and clear sent a thousand volts of current down her spine.
Underneath the velvety cover, Ara was sheathed in a thick layer of cold sweat. She clamped her hand firmly on her mouth to suppress the sobs that threatened to rip through her throat as she cried silently. Her jaw ached and her eyes pricked. She felt sick with fear.
"I know you saw me, Sweetheart," Raw panic jarred her bone when she heard him say that. The terror doubled when she heard his footsteps nearing her bed. Why was he coming towards her?
She instantly, clasped her eyes shut and pretended to sleep. She thought he would leave if she wouldn't respond
She breathed a moan and stirred slightly before her eyes fluttered open. Sheblinked sleepily at the ceiling oblivious of a pair of eyes trained on her."You are awake," his strong deep voice resonated in the dimly lit room, jolting her awake from her groggy state. Her head whipped in his direction before they grew wide in terror. He was sitting in the chair steps away from her. His one arm draped around the back of the chair as he sat with a leg crossed. His face was a dark silhoutte but the masculine outline of his body was apparant to her eyes. The memories rushed back bringing along the momentarily forgotten fear that struck her hard like a lightning. She whimpered and tried to pull her arms to cover her clothed front but met with resistance and it was then she realized her hands were tied by the bedpost.
Her stomach was in knots the whole day. The entire day, Ara kept to herself. She cried her eyes out but only in the bathroom. However, her swollen eyes gave her away the moment she faced Jenna. Jenna inquired about her wretched appearanceand Ara felt tempted to tell her everything but every time she opened her mouth his words rang in her ear, making her go silent. She didn't want anything to happen with Jenna so she made up a lie. She told her that she was missing her orphanage. Jenna wasn't convinced but accepted her words.Ara didn't want the day to end. She didn't want the repeat of what had happened last night. Her hearttrembled with terror and disgustevery time the memories of last night flashed across her eyes. She had always appreciated hisgorgeous lookbut after last night, all she felt for him was pure disgust. No
She wanted to scream 'no' but the look in his eyes was enough to make her swallow her tongue.His jaw was set and his eyes were pouring fury. She pleaded with her eyes but he ignored it.Ara silently asked for forgiveness from Godbefore she reached up on her toe and craned her neck to reach him but he was still a few inches away from her. She strained her tiptoe to close the distance but only reached his chin. He peered down at her through his heavy-lidded eyes. His facewas devoid of any emotion. Ara made a silent plea to him to help her but he made no attempt and continued to watch her struggling.From tip to toe she was completely stretched and still, she wasn't able to touch his lips. Killian would have laughed if he weren't this angry. S
Ara felt sleepy the whole day. It had been two days since she had slept properly. Sleep felt like a far-fetched dream now as her mind was never at ease. She never felt safe enough to drop her guards and let sleep take over her, especially at nights. Within these two days, Ara had become distant and quiet as a mouse. She would speak only when spoken to. Angela had to shout in her ear to get her attention. Her strange behavior has started to worry Jenna.Ara had not only become reticent but secretive too."Did I do something wrong, Ary?' Angela stuck her lower lipout as tears started to gather in her eyes. Ara blinked out of her thoughtswhen Angela shook her with all her strength."Ary?" she grabbed Ara's face in her tiny hands to get her attention. "Are you mad at me?" her lips started to quiver&nb
"No, please...I..let me sleep here tonight," she pleaded miserably as a tear rolled down her left cheek."Get. Up. Now," he growled, irritated by her constant resistance."No, please..no," she begged again whilestrugglingto get her arm free from his grip. Anger stirred within him not liking the fact she was tryingto get rid of him. He fixed her with a vehementglare, causing her heartbeat to stagger. She stopped at once. "Please,' she squeaked.Not a moment later, he leanedover and pushed his arms under her waist and neck.Before she could understandwhat was happening, he had scooped her small frame up in his strong arms. It took her a moment to regist
Her senses started to wake up when she feltsomething moving up her shoulder.Ara swatted the stickyinsect away which had now begun to crawl up her neck. She sighed in comfort when the insect stopped troubling her. But a moment later, the insect started creeping up her neck again. She moanedin annoyance and lifted her hand to strike the insect away but this time something restrained her hand. Something closed around her wrist and forced it down towards the bedspread. Her brows creased in confusion before her senses jolted awake. The realization crashed into her like sea waves. Her eyes flung open almost immediately and the first thing that caught her sight was the dark golden drapes that were curtaining a window. The sun-soaked drape looked more light golden than dark.&nbs
"I...I didn't want to but he forced me. He said he will kill me if I wouldn't let him. I..I feel very bad, very filthy, since then," she felt the need to defend herself. Ara broke down in sobs when she finished her sentence."He forced you?" the priest now sounded concerned and very serious."Yes," she managed between her sobs."Can I see you?" he asked"No..no, please," she sputtered instantly. How would she face the person to whom she had just made her darkest, filthiestconfession? She was already very embarrassed."Alright. Listen to me, you need to report this. It's abuse, harassment. File a complaint against the pe
Mr. Serrano.Her mouth went dry.Killian, clad in his formal suit, turned his face to look at her. He was wearing a cold dark expression."Mr. Serrano," she whispered in horror as she clutched hard at the handle to keep herself from falling. Her eyes turned wet both with fear and anxiety.Killian, in all his elegance, rose to his feet and pushedhis hands inside his pants pocket. He squared his shoulder and started taking calculative strides towards her.Ara swallowed down a rock and clamped hard on the handle. His expression betrayed no emotions but the storm brewing in those gray-green eyes was too evident. She wanted to scurryaway like a mouse but her feet had frozen to the spot.In a few strides, he was standing right in front of her. He towered over her by more than afoot.She peered up at him as he stared down ather. His furious gazemade her shrink back in fear.