Chapter 6

The drive home didn't feel long enough. I was tempted to turn the car around and go for a three hour long journey.

The beautiful landscape of my home no longer seemed appealing.

I didn't stop to admire the roses that lined the path to the entrance porch like I always did.

“Welcome back” Ethan sat bare chested and cross legged in the wide sitting room with his back to me, his tattooed skin gleaming with a thin layer of sweat.

The television blared loudly before him.

“I would have asked where you've been, but I already know”

He was the last person I wanted to see at that moment so I silently headed up the stairs to my bedroom.

His footsteps followed closely behind me.

“So you have nothing to say?”

“I'm tired Ethan. Can we talk later?”

His blue eyes held an intense hostility that I'd gotten used to.

The unsettling smirk on his face was new though.

In a flash I was stumbling back onto my bed from the force of his shove. He climbed over me, locking me in place with his hips and pinning my wrists together above my head.

His weight pressed me into the mattress.

Adrenaline surged through my body like a bolt of lightning.

“What are you doing?! Get off me!” I bucked my hips wildly, trying to push him off but he pressed down even further.

“What? Too tired for another round? Did he fuck you that hard? I can do it better.” 

He laughed smugly in my face. His hot breath merely inches from mine.

“Ethan, stop it!”

“Don't worry we'll try another position after this, okay baby? I'll take you from behind, and you'll love every moment of it. I'll fuck you till you scream my name”

I broke down into tears.

“No! Please I'm begging you!”

It seemed like my struggling fueled him even further. His free hand groped my breasts roughly, bruising them through my clothes. The buttons on my sleeveless silk top gave way as he hurriedly tugged at them, revealing my lace bra.

“Stop! Please!”

I jerked my wrists, frantically trying to free them from his iron grip. My legs kicked out in desperation.

It was no use.

He began pumping his hips against me, jamming our cores together. His wet mouth latched unto my right nipple tugging at the pink pebble and slurping loudly. His other hand fondled my left boob.

“Ethan stop you're hurting me!”

I could barely recognize my voice. It was hoarse from all the weeping and begging.

The tears streaming down my face blurred my vision.

“You don't get to say no to me Madeline, because you didn't say no to him. I saw the pictures. Maybe I need to remind you who you belong to”

Panic surged in my chest as Ethan's rough hand bunched my skirt up at my hips, revealing my smooth thighs and black lace undies.

“No! No! Please stop—”

“Calm down Madeline. You'll enjoy it I swear” Ethan mumbled against my breast, his voice hoarse with arousal.

“Help—!”

The bitter taste of alcohol flooded my mouth as he forced his tongue against mine, his relentless hand ripping my lace underwear and tossing it aside.

His fingers plunged into my pussy, eliciting a scream from me that was silenced by his mouth.

I thrashed helplessly as his fingers pumped into me with such force that shook my struggling legs.

His growing erection rubbed against my thigh as he rocked his hips in motion with his fingers.

The pain doubled when he forced in another finger. He picked up his pace, jamming them into my cunt even harder.

I let out another muffled scream of despair.

He grunted into my mouth, clearly enjoying his assault.

Desperate to end the cruelty, I sunk my teeth into his tongue as hard as I could.

The metallic taste of blood merged with alcohol.

Ethan pulled away instantly and let out a loud hiss.

“You stupid bitch!” 

His palm landed hard on my face.

Pain spread like wildfire on my cheek. A fresh bout of tears welled in my eyes and spilled out uncontrollably.

He looked down at my weeping form with no remorse.

“You asked for this Madeline, this is your fault! We're not done. I'll be back”

I struggled to pull my aching body off the bed after Ethan slammed the door on his way out.

Bruises slowly formed on the areas of my skin he'd grabbed and held.

The ache between my legs intensified as I stumbled around my room, deftly searching for my phone and keys with trembling fingers.

I slipped out through the backdoor as Ethan's loud footsteps thundered towards my room.

          ________________________

“Hey Maddie”

“Hey”

“How are you doing?”

“I've been better”

Wrapped in a thick blanket, I sat on the balcony of my studio apartment.

People bustled through the streets of Koreatown as usual.

I wished I was part of them.

“Any luck with the divorce?” Camille's calm voice came through.

The thought of meeting Ethan again brought a sickening feeling to my stomach.

“Not yet”

“Alright. When do you plan on finalizing it?”

“I'm not really sure. But I want it to be as soon as possible”

“You know, you can call me if you need support”

I let out a weak laugh.

Camille was always there for me. Always looking out for me like the big sister I didn't have.

“Sure Camille. Thanks a lot.”

“Oh, I forgot to ask. How did the meeting with Caleb Coleman go?”

It wasn't Caleb that came to my mind at that point.

It was Nathan.

“Camille, I'll call you back in some hours.”

I don't know where I got the surge of energy from, but suddenly I was fed up. 

What exactly was I doing?

My business and safety were at stake, no one was going to protect it except me.

And if I needed a contract marriage to do so, then so be it.