39. Survive

Issac nibbled on her soft skin and then he sucked on that same spot easing the pain as she frantically thrashed beneath him. She was twisting her body abnormally just to get away from him not caring that she was hurting herself. Her constant struggle caused her shirt to hitch up to her stomach revealing her panties. 

He lowered his weight down onto her body, restricting her movements and stopping her struggling. He didn't put a whole of his weight on her but it was enough to immobilize her. 

She breathed heavily still trying to move but it was of no use, one of his legs was nestled between her thighs as he kissed her neck. His kisses trailed up to her ear as he breathed. Her body was burning hot with fever under his touch. 

Innessa flinched away, his hot ragged breathing on her ear forced her to close her eyes as she chewed on her bottom lip hard enough to stop any noise from coming out. 

Tears kept streaming down her temples as she gave up fighting. Her body went slack under him and she lay there bracing herself for the worst. He was going to show her what a true monster he was. 

Her body was trembling and was feverish. Her head spun but she didn't dare stop the beast anymore. 

Issac noticed how she gave up fighting as he rested his forehead on her shoulder inhaling her gardenia scent deeply to calm his f*cking nerves. 

Pulling back his eyes darted to the beautiful birthmark on her chest. He kissed it gently and watched how she shuddered. 

Issac let go of her wrists. His eyes darted to her bandaged palms. No matter how much she provoked him, he would never hurt her like that. He gently pecked the bandages on her palm and moved back sitting on the edge of the bed as he raked his fingers through his hair. 

"Rest, Innessa. All I want for you is to be happy," he rasped, glancing at her. 

Her wrists were still on the bed on either side of her head where he had held them. She didn't move, nor did she try to pull her shirt down. He did it for her. His gaze flickered to the purplish hickey on her neck. His claim on her. 

"Happy?" Her voice was shaky as she slowly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. 

He noticed her tears and immense guilt washed over him. He just wanted to surprise her with their new home. He wanted to make her happy. Why the f*ck things were going down the drain for no Goddamn reason. 

"I'm so happy," she whispered in that detached tone again making him face her properly as he rested his hand on the bed beside her waist leaning close to her. 

He gently wiped her tears but more poured out. 

"You're sick. Just rest. We'll talk later," he said trying to get up but she grabbed his wrist stopping him from leaving. 

She sat up straight and faced him. He was still leaning closer because she held his hand that was on the bed beside her thigh. 

"Let's talk now. I'm perfectly fine so let's talk," she said, wiping her tears and sniffling as she met his eyes. Her eyes were red because of crying and fever, her eyelids were swelling. 

"You're not fine-" 

"You didn't care about it before pinning me down so let's drop it and talk. What do you want from me, Issac?" She asked, facing him. Her eyes looked for any fragment of hope for herself in his dark cognac eyes but there was none as he sighed and closed his eyes for a brief second as if searching for the right words. 

"I want you, Innessa. Only you. I want your love. I want you right beside me as my wife for the rest of our lives. I love you, precious. I... I can't live without you," he rasped. His deep voice sounded so gentle as he softly tucked her strands behind her ear. 

"And I can't live with you." She said but seeing that cold look swarming in his eyes she quickly shook her head. 

"I loved you, Issac. I did but the person I fell in love with wasn't real. If lying to me wasn't enough. You proceeded to forcefully marry me and shackled me in your claws with those absurd clauses in the marriage contract. This is not right. This is inhuman. It's a violation of basic human rights." She inhaled deeply to keep her tone gentle and continued. 

"I don't believe in this marriage. I don't want to live with you and I don't love you anymore. Love is so pure, Issac. If you love someone you will never hurt them but just look at me. What you've made of me. My mental health is deteriorating. I feel caged. I couldn't breathe and if that wasn't enough you brought me to this place claiming it to be our home when it's nothing but a cage for me," she sniffled, wiping her tears furiously. 

"I'd request you to please let me go. Leave me alone for some time. I... I'm not going anywhere but please free me. Let me heal; let me think. Give me space. I'm dying right now please don't do this to me, Issac," she pleaded so brokenly but all he could hear was her trying to leave him once again. He couldn't afford that. 

"Stay here in this place. I'll not bother you. Take your space. Think. And then choose me again because I'm not letting you go," he said in a deadly serious tone. 

His words made her want to scream and pull her hair out. She was on the verge of having an anxiety attack and her fingers shook. The girl had to breathe deeply a couple of times as she let go of his hand and rubbed her chest to ease down the erupting panic. 

"You're killing me," she whispered, still rubbing her chest to ease the pain. 

"I told you I won't let death take you away from me." He rasped softly grabbing the side of her neck before wrapping his hand around her throat. Pulling her closer he gently pecked her shivering lips and pulled back. His eyes dropped to his hand wrapped around her throat and he felt satisfied with the tattoo. 

The glint in his eyes as he stared at his hand around her throat explained everything she needed to know about his new tattoo. 

Issac was sinister. 

Crazy. 

Ominous. 

It felt like she was talking to a wall. He didn't understand her nor did he agree to give her any space. He was crazy and the more he was locking her in those invisible chains the more she wanted to run away from him. 

She pressed her temple feeling the throbbing pain in her head. There was no way out for her. 

Innessa was done. If she continued like this. She might end up losing her mind. 

"I need to sleep," she whispered, lowering her gaze and he was quick to nod. Pulling to his feet he grabbed the back of her head and kissed the crown of her head. She lay down as Issac put a blanket over her tucking her in it properly. 

"Shall I switch off all the lights?" He asked. Instead of answering him, she switched on the lamp on the side table as he switched off the rest of the lights and closed the door behind him. 

Stepping into the hall he raked his fingers through his hair before rubbing a hand down his face as he breathed deeply. 

"F*ck!" He cussed clenching his jaw. Why the f*ck their relationship was declining every f*cking day. All he wanted was to keep her happy by his side and nothing else. He wanted their love back. He knew he f*cked up but why was she behaving like she didn't love him anymore? Seeing that anger and coldness in her eyes was hurting him. 

Grabbing a new shirt, he wore it and left the penthouse. Later that night he was back with all of her stuff that was at the dormitory. 

When he got back home Innessa was sitting in the lounge wide awake staring out of the glass wall. 

He walked over to their room and put all the boxes there before he came to her side and kissed the crown of her head. 

"You want to go out or shall we order something?" He asked, sitting on the single sofa in front of her. 

"Order," she whispered. 

"What do you want to eat? Chicken soup and some porridge would do for you now. I'll make you a special breakfast in the morning." He said and ordered the food. 

"I brought all your stuff from your dorm. I'll help you assemble it after dinner," he said and she silently offered him a single nod. 

At least she was responding. Walking to the main door he grabbed the small bouquet he had placed at the table there because he didn't know how to give it to her and how her mood was. He grabbed those flowers and walked over to her. Sitting at the table in front of her he handed her the flowers. 

She blinked at him a little surprised before she quietly took them from him. There was a small card in the flowers that said sorry as she stared at it. 

Issac came to sit beside her, very close to her, he placed his arm on the headrest of the sofa behind her and after a couple of minutes he sneaked closer and gently grabbed her shoulder making her lean on his side and she did without any protest. 

He gently rubbed her arm. Her fever has gone down a little. They sat there silently as after some time their food arrived. 

Issac offered to feed her but she refused saying she'd eat on her own and he let her. After dinner, he gave her medicines for fever which she swallowed silently. 

Innessa went to the room and began opening the boxes to place the stuff in the walk-in closet. 

Issac watched her stunned. There was a change in her. She wasn't fighting anymore and was doing what he wanted. 

Innessa placed the things on her side of the walk-in closet. She placed her books on the study table. She was tired but working was the best way to divert her mind. 

She had concluded. It was certain that she couldn't change the situation no matter how hard she tried to do so. Now she was left with a couple of options. To accept fate. Give up on a happy life and a loving partner and family. For the sake of her sanity, she must find solace in the things that trigger her the most. She couldn't control the situation so she must change her reaction to it. Expect nothing from life and just survive so as not to go insane. 

If Innessa pondered on Issac and what he was doing to her she was sure she'd go crazy. So, it was better to just exist and find peace in small things. She should try to accept the fact that she was married to him and this golden cage was her life now and there was no way out. Either she could die in this cage or find solace within herself and survive for as long as she could. 

When it felt like she was only talking to the wall because Issac wasn't ready to understand anything then it was better to talk to herself and find a way of surviving and that was what she'd exactly do. 

There wasn't much of her stuff so she got done with her work rather quickly. Issac tried to help her but she told him she'll do it on her own. 

Innessa stared at the bed. Though she agreed to do as he pleased. There were certain things she needed to set boundaries for. It could be little things but he had to listen to at least something from her side and let her breathe a little. 

She stepped out of the room to find him placing a pillow and a comforter on the huge sofa in the hall. 

Their eyes met and he tried to pass her a tight-lipped smile. "You can take the bed. I'll sleep here." He said as she blinked at him quietly. A small nod and she walked back into the room and closed the door. 

Innessa couldn't sleep as she kept tossing and turning for hours. She got out of bed and ambled into the hall to find Issac sleeping soundly. 

Walking over to the hall she sat on the sofa near the glass wall. She could see Issac from there as well and she kept staring at him. Trying to find the man she fell in love with. 

From what she had observed about him. He has serious anger issues. He was frustratingly stubborn. Possessive and dangerously obsessive. He was also a liar and actor of some sort because he fooled her so effortlessly. Apart from all that he was an excellent charmer, his charming personality veiled his red flags but now there was no veil anymore. 

But despite all this, she still wished that the Issac she fell in love with was still there within him. Somewhere. 

She didn't know for how long she stayed there watching him as slowly sleep engulfed her. Innessa woke up with a groan. She found herself on the same sofa but there was a comforter on her. 

She heard a groan and her eyes snapped to the half-naked man doing pushups in the hall. His whole upper body was sweaty as his muscles flexed. His tattoos shining. 

His shiny cognac brown hues snapped in her direction upon feeling her gaze and she abruptly looked away trying to stand up. 

Innessa bunched the comforter in her hands and glanced at the clock. 

Jesus. 

She missed her first class. 

The girl quickly hurried into the room. She tidied the bed, grabbed her clothes, and hopped into the shower. She took off the bandage from her knees and palms. Changed into new sets of clothes. Her hair was still wet and she had no time to dry it. She grabbed her bag, books, and phone and hurried out of the room to find him fully dressed and showered. 

"Where are you going?" He asked. His eyes darted to her cute high-waist jeans and loose shirt tucked in at the front. 

"I'm late for the academy," she said. 

"You're not well. You should rest today," he said walking over to her as he gently checked her temperature by placing the back of his fingers on her forehead. 

"I'm fine. I need to attend the classes. Please," she said in a small voice on the brink of tearing up thinking that he might not even let her study now. 

"Let's go," he said and her eyes shot up to meet his gaze but he was already walking to the door. She followed behind him. 

He put the car to drive as they drove to the academy. "When is your last class?" He asked. 

"I'll be going to the arcade with my friends after classes. I've already agreed to go so I can't back out now," she said and prayed that he wouldn't stop her from going. 

"I'll pick you up after that," he said as she exhaled a breath of relief. 

"I'll be going to my part-time job after that." She said and he nodded, a couple of seconds passed in silence before he spoke up. 

"You don't have to work anymore, Innessa. I'll take care of you. I'll provide for you. Name it and it'll be yours-" 

"Can you give me freedom?" She asked and silence befell upon them. 

"I will not leave my part-time job," she said. 

Despite not wanting that. He agreed to her. "Alright. I'll pick you up. Ring me up ten minutes prior you clock off," he said. 

"You should give me the address. I'll take the bus-" 

"I'll pick you up and that's final." He said and they both fell into silence. 

Her phone dinged with a message as she checked the secret chamber group chat. 

Scarlett: If I end up in jail. Try your level best to get me the f*ck out of there. 

Darla: What in the world, Scarlett? 

Scarlett: That f*cking Maddox is dead. 

Elena: What did you do to him? 

Scarlett: Messed up with his bike. He met with a sweet accident... 

Innessa: Scarlett! 

At the same time, Issac's phone rang. He answered the call and it was from Maddox. 

"What? The f*ck! Where are you? Fine. I'll be there," he said and tossed the phone on his lap. 

"What happened?" She asked. 

"Maddox crashed. That idiot is saying it's nothing serious but I know better," Issac grumbled as he sped down the car and they got to the academy rather quickly. 

Dropping her off, Issac left from there. 

Scarlett: He's not dead so please guys chill. Thank God that your friend hasn't become a murderer yet. 

Innessa: Scarlett, you took it too far. He could've died. 

Scarlett: But he didn't. Alas! 

Darla: This is dangerous, Scarlett. What if he wants to take revenge on you? Messing with the Knights is the worst idea ever. 

Innessa: I 100% agree. 

Elena: Agree. 

Scarlett: Y'all are pussies. 

Elena: Logically speaking, we are. 

After her classes, she called Issac who answered the call on the first ring. "How is Maddox?" She asked. 

"Nothing serious. A few road rashes, a cut on the brow, and a busted lip. He's fine though but I can't say the same for his bike. Don't worry," Issac assured her as she breathed in deeply and sighed as she said her goodbyes and dropped the call. 

Darla and Elena sighed as well upon hearing that and Scarlett frowned. They were in the arcade but Scarlett seemed mad because Maddox didn't get hurt enough while the girls were terrified of Scarlett's crazy potential. 

"We should enjoy it while we are here." Elena tried to cheer them up and Innessa agreed with her. The girls decided to grab a snack before the games because food with friends always makes you feel better.