CHAPTER 1

ELLA'S POV

“Jason, no! Don't come any closer! Please… you said you loved me… you can't do this-” His hands were suddenly over my mouth to stop me from protesting as he ripped my clothes off my body while I struggled to break free from the ropes that bound me to the bed.

“Love?” He repeated mockingly as he pressed me deeper into the bed, his eyes glinting with a murderous intent that I'd never seen before. “You refused to give me what I wanted. Now I'm taking it by force. What has love got to do with this?”

“Jason… wait. You want us to have sex right? Fine, I'll do it! Just untie me, please.” I managed to scream out as tears rolled down my face but he let out a loud cackle before pulling away and taking off his clothes.

“Too late, my darling. No matter how much you scream, no one's coming for you.” He grinned wildly as he hovered over me and started to kiss me forcefully.

Struggling was no longer an option. He had totally overpowered me and I was completely weak against him. The pain of being defiled for the first time in the worst way seared through me like a bolt of lightning, and I wished my life would end at that very moment.

I had passed out from the pain and exhaustion when he refused to let me go no matter how hard I begged. I opened my eyes groggily to the now-empty room that reeked of my sweat and shame.

“How could you…” I said to the empty room as I curled up and cried, ignoring the pain that seared through my legs and bottom. After what felt like hours of crying, I managed to get myself off the bed and put on my already torn clothes.

I limped back to the main road and I could feel the pity in everyone's gaze as I passed by. It was like they knew what I had gone through, but no one offered to give me a helping hand.

I managed to get a taxi that dropped me at Sylvia's house because she was the only one I could trust. I didn't know how to tell Mom what happened. She would be so disappointed. I knocked on the door firmly while I waited for her to come open the door.

“Who's there?” I heard her voice call from inside, and I plastered a smile on my tear-filled face as she opened the door.

“Ella!” Her face brightened up as she saw me but the moment she took in my appearance, her expression changed into that of shock and terror.

“What the hell happened to you?” She asked in worry as she helped me inside and made me sit while she poured me a glass of water.

“It was Jason, right? Did he beat you up again? How many times have I told you that this man isn't for you? What kind of man beats his girlfriend up like an animal?” She babbled in anger and I let out a bitter chuckle as I played with my hands nervously.

“He didn't beat me up this time…” I started and she let out a sigh of relief as she sat down beside me and took my hands.

“Well, if he didn't beat you, what happened?”

“He…” My voice trembled as I spoke and I tried so hard to fight the tears that fell freely like raindrops.

“He raped me,” I whispered and she stared at me, dumbstruck, with her mouth open and her eyes widened.

The silence was so loud, it became deafening. She let go of my hands as she stood up and paced around, her expression changing every second.

“He did what?”

“He asked to have sex. I told him I wasn't ready, but he said he was tired of waiting so he knocked me unconscious and took me to his warehouse. I tried to reason with him but he wouldn't listen. I'm filthy now, Syl. I'm so filthy…” My voice broke as I started to sob and she came to my side, pulling me into a hug and whispering comforting words.

“You're not filthy, please stop saying that. Listen to me, we'll get that bastard arrested. And I don't care what you have to say, because you can't be in love with a damn rapist!”

“Have you forgotten who he is, Syl? He's Jason Kennedy. His father is the owner of one of the biggest fashion industries in Texas. He's practically invincible! Reporting him might not only ruin me, but it can also get you in trouble.” I reasoned but she wasn't listening to me anymore.

“Ella, I don't care anymore. We have to get justice for you. You can't keep living like this!” She lamented as she sat down and I let out a sigh of defeat. “Hold on, it's over between you guys now, right? You can't keep dating that animal!”

“But…”

“But what?”

“The only reason I can work to take care of myself and Mom is because Jason found me a spot at his father's company. He threatened that if I ever left him, he'd make sure that no other company ever takes me in. Breaking up with him would make me jobless. How then would I take care of Mom?”

“That fucking jerk… Ella, you're my best friend and you know I'll do anything for you, right?” She asked as she held my shoulders and I nodded. “I'll do my best to help you in any way that I can. First, you have to leave Jason. Please…”

I knew she was right. Staying with Jason would only ruin me more than I wanted. So I agreed, thinking everything was gonna be fine.

I couldn't bring myself to face him anymore so I sent him a breakup message over the phone and also sent my resignation letter to his email. He never replied even though I knew he read them. He probably thought I was useless now…

I started searching for jobs with other companies but just like he had promised, I kept getting rejected. I started to take on menial jobs and eventually got a job as a waitress in a small restaurant.

Just when I thought things were getting better, I fell abnormally sick. I tried taking medicine here and there but nothing was working. It got so bad that I passed out at work several times and my boss had to permit me to leave for a week to recover.

I had no idea what the source of my sickness was until I visited the hospital and then got the worst news of my life. News that left me feeling empty and broken.

I was three weeks pregnant for Jason.