The Billionaire's Abused Bride

CHAPTER 1: 

The time Kieran Blake hurt me he said sorry.

Tonight he did not.

My back hit the cold marble wall hard. It hurt a lot. The glass I was holding broke on the floor. The red wine spread all over the white tiles like blood.

I just stood there.

Not because I was hurt.

Because of the way Kieran Blake looked at me.

There was no sorry in his eyes.

No feeling bad.

Just anger and it was really scary.

"Kieran Blackwood..." My voice was shaking, even though I tried to sound calm. "Please listen to me."

"Listen?" He sounded mean. He ran his hand through his hair, which always looked perfect. "Were you listening when you were smiling with him?"

My heart skipped a beat. "He is someone I work with"

"Do not lie to me!" His voice was really loud in the big living room.

Then it was quiet.

Really quiet.

It felt heavy like something was pushing down on me.

I swallowed hard. My fingers curled into my dress. This was not new, him getting angry and jealous.. Tonight felt different.

It felt scary.

"I was not lying, " I said softly. "You do not understand"

Before I could finish Kieran Blake grabbed my wrist. Pulled me close.

Too close.

I could feel how angry he was and his grip hurt.

"You are mine, Amara " he said, his voice low and calm but really scary. "Every smile every word, every breath."

I felt a chill go down my spine.

There was that word again.

Belong.

Not love.

Not care.

Like I was something he owned.

"I am your wife " I whispered, my eyes burning. "Not something you own."

For a second I thought I saw something in his face.

It went away fast.

His grip got tighter.

"You are what I say you are."

My wrist hurt,. I did not cry out. I learned that it only makes things worse.

"Crying only makes it worse " I thought to myself remembering all the times I had cried in front of Kieran Blackwood.

"I have given you everything, " he said, his voice getting louder. "This house, this life and this is how you thank me?"

My chest felt tight.

This house.

It felt like a prison.

I used to love it the big windows, the nice furniture, the soft lights.

Now it felt like a cage.

"I did not do anything " I said, trying to sound strong. "You are hurting me for no reason."

"For no reason?" He. He smiled, but it was not a nice smile.

Then he let go of my wrist. Only to push me backward.

 My heel slipped on the spilled wine. I hit the edge of the table. Then I fell to the floor.

It hurt a lot.

For a moment I could not breathe.

"Kieran Blackwood..." I gasped.

He just stood there watching me.

Like I was nothing.

Like I was not important.

Something inside me broke.

Not loudly.

Quietly like glass breaking under pressure.

"You are hurting me " I said again. My voice sounded far away even to myself.

"And you are testing my patience " he said, his voice cold.

It was quiet again.

This time it felt final.

Slowly I got up from the floor trying to ignore the pain. My hands were shaking,. I tried to make them stop.

I had told myself for months that things would get better.

That Kieran Blake would change.

That the man I fell in love with was still somewhere inside him.

As I looked at him now...

I realized the truth.

He was not changing.

He was getting worse.

If I stayed...

I might not survive.

My heart was beating fast.

I was scared.

Under the fear something else was growing.

Something new.

Something strong.

I was getting angry.

"I am going to bed " I said quietly turning away from him before he could see the change in my eyes.

"Do not walk away from me " he warned.

I stopped for a second.

Then I kept walking.

Each step felt harder than the last. I did not stop. I did not turn back. I did not speak.

Because if I did...

I might lose the courage that was growing inside me.

When I got to the bedroom I closed the door. Locked it.

My hands were shaking as I leaned against it listening.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Coming closer.

My breath caught.

He stopped outside the door.

For a moment there was nothing.

No sound.

No movement.

Just silence.

Then...

His voice.

Low.

Calm.

Scary.

"Amara " he said softly his knuckles brushing against the door. "Open the door."

I did not move.

"Open it " he said again a little louder.

My heart was beating fast.

I knew that tone.

I knew what came after it.

I backed away slowly my eyes looking around the room.

Window.

Too high.

Phone.

On the nightstand.

Door.

Locked,. Not strong enough.

My breathing was fast.

"Amara " he said again his patience running out. "Do not make me do this."

Tears were, in my eyes.

Not because I was weak.

Because I was really scared.

If I opened that door...

Everything would get worse.

If I did not...

Something even worse might happen.

The handle suddenly rattled.

Hard.

My body froze.

Then...

BANG!

The door shook violently under the force of his fist.

"Open. The. Door."

Another bang.

Louder.

Stronger.

The lock creaked.

My chest felt tight as panic grew inside me.

This was it.

The moment everything changed.

My eyes fell on the phone.

Then the window.

Then the door.

Three choices.

All scary.

Another loud bang echoed through the room...

The lock started to break.

I took a breath my heart racing as one scary thought filled my mind:

If I do not leave tonight... I might not make it out alive.

The door burst open.

I had exactly one second to decide.

Run...

Stay.