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Chapter 32: Calling For Help
Last Updated:
2024-06-23 11:21:24
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Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 33: Pulling The Rug
โLani!โ A voice cheers in surprise.I finish cleaning the floor and rise to my feet, coming face to face โ kind of โ with Carter, all dressed in a black button-down with rolled-up sleeves and black slacks.โMr Chapman,โ I greet warmly. โItโs nice to see you again.โโIโve told you, please call me Carter.โ He steps closer, surprising me as he pulls me into a big hug, but he doesnโt immediately let me go, the hug lingers โ a bit too long for my liking โ but not wanting to offend him, I give him a gentle pat on the back.โYouโre right, you did. Sorry, formalities are just a habit from working here,โ I say placatingly.โThatโs alright,โ he smiles at me, his hazel eyes twinkling as he looks down at me. โIโm surprised to see you here; I donโt think Iโve seen you on a Thursday night.โ Just how often does he come here?โIt was a last-minute change of schedule. I thought you were hanging out with Julian tonightโฆโโOh, I am.โ The smile on his face as he says this is enough to send a chill down my
Last Updated : 2024-06-24Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 34: Rude Awakening
The sound of movement stirs me awake, immediately making me aware of the throbbing in my head and stinging of my eyes from crying myself to sleep. I slowly force my eyes open, only for them to widen in terror when I see a dark figure standing over me - eyes glinting in the darkness through the slits of a ski mask.I open my mouth to scream when a gloved hand clasps over my mouth. Ily's hisses fill my ears as I scream from my throat, hoping it makes a difference. I kick and punch, doing everything in my power to get away from my attacker. They pin me down, crushing me with their body weight as I try in vain to fight them off. Their hand slips slightly from my mouth in the struggle, and I take the opportunity to bite down hard. The stranger lets out a groan of pain and in response, backhands me hard, right across my face.My head whips to the side with shocking force, my head spinning as I taste blood in my mouth. I continue to fight and with my mouth now free, I let out the loudest scr
Last Updated : 2024-06-25Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 35: That's What Friends Are For
Irina unlocks the door to her apartment and ushers me in. โNow Iโm happy to take the couch; only fair that the patient gets the bed,โ she says playfully, turning on the light as she guides me in.โI donโt want to kick you out of your bed,โ I mumble in disapproval.โWeโre not arguing about this. You need your rest. Youโre taking the bed,โ she says adamantly.โHow about we share?โ I offer.She wiggles her eyebrows at me, โOh, I see. Trying to cop a feel. Well, I canโt say I blame you,โ she shrugs nonchalantly, making her way over to the kitchen and preparing some hot cocoa.I walk over to the bed and sit down, playing with the hem of the jacket Irina provided for me. Iโm glad to be out of the hospital and Iโm glad Iโm not back at my homeโฆbut Iโm not happy. Iโve never felt more broken in my life. Cheated on and assaulted in a single night. I went from the happiest Iโve ever been to the most miserable all in the blink of an eye.I cradle my head in my hands and sob, the nearly hysterical c
Last Updated : 2024-06-26Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 36: Bended Knee
I look into the bathroom mirror and see the face of a sullen, unfamiliar woman looking back at me. My usual latte skin is now pale and sickly, my eyes are puffy and bloody shot, only made worse by the intense bruising that instead of bruising around the gash across my stitched-up forehead, has chosen to travel down and bruise all over my right eye. I donโt think thereโs a cosmetic company around that makes this shade of purple. My lip is crusty, split and still a bit swollen along with the right side of my face. Itโs strange though. Itโs as though how Iโm feeling on the inside is perfectly reflected on my face: beaten, bruised, split open and drained.I leave the bathroom and patter to bed, slipping under the covers and returning to my ball of misery. I look at Ily as she dozes on the pillow beside mine, probably dreaming about tuna or banana or something. I wish I could sleep as easily as she can. Itโs been three days since the attack, three days with no update from the police and th
Last Updated : 2024-06-27Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 37: Safety's Gone
After a week of wallowing in self-pity, Iโve had enough. I could have kept going, but when would I have stopped? I canโt change anything that has happened, and I gave myself a week to cry and be an emotional mess with my bestie there to keep me sane, and now itโs time to return to the world of the living.Irina kept telling me to give it more time, that no one gets over trauma that fast and she is more than happy to have me around longer, and as tempting of an offer as that was, I just couldnโt do it. Iโm not over anything that happened to me and Iโm not sure when I will, but I know that Iโve spent my whole life being self-sufficient. Iโve never depended on others, and I donโt want to start now. Truthfully, I think the wallowing in bed was making me feel worse. At first, it helped, but then it was driving me stir-crazy. I donโt know how to sit around and do nothing all day and I envy the people who do. Itโs not that I want to get back to my life and working, itโs that I need it. I nee
Last Updated : 2024-06-28Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 38: "It Could Have All Been Different"
Yesterday was my first day back at the diner and it sucked coconuts. All day long people just looked at me with pity in their eyes. Some people can see through the makeup, and I can only imagine the stories they must be coming up with for my appearance, but I donโt care. What I do care about is all the other staff treating me like a fragile bubble that will burst at any moment. Thank goodness for Estaban for whipping everyone into shape and getting them to cut it out. Theyโre still giving me sad eyes, but at least theyโve stopped babying me or asking if I need help.Braced for another day of stares, I kiss Ily goodbye as she sleeps peacefully on the couch and head out. I halt in my tracks, my heart beating erratically and a clammy feeling coming over me when I see a bouquet of yellow roses in front of my door. I frantically look down both ends of the hall but see no one around. With trembling hands I grab my phone from my bag and take a picture of the flowers, doing my best to follow
Last Updated : 2024-06-29Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 39: All Alone
*TRIGGER WARNING: Please skip the final paragraph of this chapter if you are sensitive to animal cruelty*The rest of my shift only got more and more bizarre. Dylan proceeded to be nice to me for the entire day and was even acting nice towards the other women โ at least when I was watching. Iโm still on my guard, but I embraced it while it was happening. Iโm all for a pleasant work atmosphere, especially since my life is hell right now, so Iโll take the peace where I can find it.โHave a good night, Estaban!โ I say, waving to Estaban as I walk out of the kitchens.โYou have a safe journey home,โ he calls back as he finishes switching shifts with the night cook.I exit the diner and stop to make sure I have everything in my purse.โDo you need someone to walk you home?โI drop my purse, jumping in fright when I hear Dylanโs voice. I look over at him, clutching my chest as he walks up to me. โYou scared me half to death,โ I breathe out, bending down and collecting my bag and everything
Last Updated : 2024-06-30Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 40: The Offer
โI fucking hope youโre planning on finding this son of a bitch and bringing him to justice,โ Amber declares with authority from beside me. My body continues to shiver, the cold penetrating so deep I can feel it turning my insides to ice.โMiss, weโre doing everything we can but itโs not like anyone was hurt,โ the officer says quietly, as if somehow I wonโt hear.I pull the blanket tight around me, shutting my eyes tight as the tears fall from my eyes, the smell of death lingering in my nostrils while the image of my sweet Ily, mutilated and put on display torments my mind. How can he say no one was hurt? Because she wasnโt human?! She was my best friend and companion. She was the only thing keeping me sane and now sheโs gone.Amber wraps her arms around me while glaring daggers at the officer, โAccording to the California Penal Code 597(a), itโs a crime to intentionally maim, mutilate, torture, wound or kill a living animal, and based on the state of her apartment, I think every single
Last Updated : 2024-07-23
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Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย EPILOGUE
Three years LaterI continue to stir the pot on the stove while studying the textbook I have propped up on the counter like a recipe book. Next week is the week I go for my teaching license, and I am a bundle of nerves. I thought when I moved to the US I had to give up my dreams of being a teacher and that all my hard work and education were wasted, but since moving back to the Dominican Republic Iโve spent the last few years diving back into my studies and working hard to get my teaching license and get enough teaching experience to get a job as an educator.Ideally, I would love to teach children under the age of 9, but just being able to get a job anywhere as a teacher would be a dream come true. I thought Julian was insane when he suggested me moving back home, but when he said he wanted to move with me I was sure heโd lost his mind.I feared Julian would struggle to adjust to life here, but heโs taken to Dominican life like a fish to water and he is exceptionally good at the langu
Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 64: Starting Over
I burst into applause, cheering like an over-enthusiastic groupie as Irina finishes debuting the first song from her very first album. My cheeks hurt from smiling as she takes her bow and throws an excited wave our way that I eagerly return.โI knew sheโd make it here,โ รine declares, cheering beside me.I smile and nod in agreement, clapping with all the other guests. I quickly glance around, realising รine is now standing alone.โWhere did your guy vanish off to?โ I query.โBathroom,โ she answers, getting that same adorable flush in her freckled cheeks whenever I call her boyfriend โher guyโ.I canโt believe how much has changed in a year.My life has improved in ways I never expected. I absolutely love my job and as it turns out, I am really good at baking. I always liked to dabble, but it was never something I did outside of a sweet craving or wanting to do something for someoneโs birthday. In the past year, Iโve gone from working front of house at the bakery to being one of the b
Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 63: Progress Pt 2
Iโve been debating on this next question but avoiding it wonโt do any good so itโs best to just rip the band-aid off.โHave you heard from Carter?โ I ask apprehensively.His body tenses and I see him take in a deep breath through his nose.โIโve not heard from him, but someone else reached out recentlyโฆโ he responds evasively.The evidence against Carter was overwhelming, especially when police searched his home and found the evidence that he had been stalking me for months, including all the items heโd stolen from my apartment that I was completely unaware of. Iโve switched perfumes for that very reason. He was looking at up to thirty years in prison for a long list of charges from stalking to aggravated assault, attempting murder, sexual assault, holding someone against their will, animal cruelty, burglary and breaking and entering. He ended up pleading guilty - much to my relief - because it meant we didnโt have to go to trial. The only downside was that he agreed to a guilty plea
Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 62: Progress Pt 1
I sit patiently waiting, nursing my cup of coffee as I watch the pedestrians passing along the sidewalk going about their day. I glance down at my watch seeing itโs now 12:10 pm, making him ten minutes late. I take a slow sip of my coffee deciding to give it another five minutes, which was the right decision because a minute later, Julian rushes over.โIโm so sorry Iโm late, the traffic is insane today,โ he pants.I stand up, giving him a kind smile. โIt happens, but youโre here now.โHe relaxes and goes in to hug me. As I move in to return the gesture we freeze awkwardly with our arms raised in the same position. We each go to switch our positioning, resulting in the same problem. We let out an awkward chuckle at our miscommunication as Julian runs his fingers through his hair.โThis used to be easier,โ he muses.I take the opportunity and move in, wrapping my arms around him in a hug. I feel his body relax as he wraps his arms around me, giving me a comforting squeeze.โItโs good to
Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 62: Wake Up Call Pt 2
โMiss? Miss?โ a voice gently whispers. I open my eyes and see the nurse from earlier hovering over me. โMr Easton is out of surgery and recovering nicely. I thought youโd like to know,โ she says kindly.I spring up, immediately feeling my head spin and throb. โWhere is he? Can I see him?โ I ask in a rush.โHeโs in recovery, but yes, you can go and see him.โI throw back the covers and jump out of bed, instantly regretting it when my knees give way. Thankfully the nurse has quick reflexes and catches me, helping me back onto the bed.โYouโre not going to see anyone like that.โโPlease, I have to see him. I have to know heโs okay,โ I stress, starting to panic.โBreathe or youโll end up passing out,โ she warns. โNow stay put while I grab a wheelchair and then Iโll take you up to see him.โI let out a deep breath. โThank you so much,โ I say appreciatively.โYour boyfriend is very lucky to have such a concerned girlfriend,โ she teases.I frown, suddenly feeling awkward. โActually, heโs my
Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 61: Wake Up Call Pt 1
โIโm sorry if this hurts,โ the nurse gently apologises as she cleans and dresses my head wound.I mumble a reply, my eyes fixed on my hands in my lap. The nurse did her best to clean me up, but I can still see the dried blood embedded around my nails and cuticles. I pick at it, trying desperately to get rid of it but it wonโt go away.When I was admitted, the nurses took photos of my injuries. They did that the last time I was attacked too but this time it felt so much worse; so much more invasive. They took photos of my head, face, hands, wrists, ankles and chest. I guess there were marks there too but I donโt want to think about it. They did so many other things, but I just tried to tune it all out, even though they were being so kind and gentle the entire time and always asking if I was okay to continue. I wasnโt, but I just wanted to get it over with.โExcuse me, we were hoping to have a word with Miss Contreras,โ announces a masculine voice.I look up to see a male and female off
Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 60: Hold On
Suddenly I hear a knock at the door and my tears stop dead in their tracks. Hope floods my system when I realise someone might be able to save me from this hell.Carter is quickly up on his feet, retrieving the knife and pressing it to my throat as he leans in and whispers in my ears, โNot a fucking sound, do you understand me?โI stare at the door, hope and panic rolling through me. Help is just on the other side of the door and yet itโs never felt further away. Another couple knocks rap on the door, followed by a voice I never wanted to hear again but now couldnโt be more grateful for.โNalani? Itโs me, Julian,โ sounds his sorrowful voice. โI really hope youโre in there. Iโve been trying for days to reach you. I know you donโt ever want to see me again, I justโฆI just need you to know how sorry I am,โ he sighs.Carter fists the back of my hair painfully and as I look up I see the rage filling his eyes. If I donโt do something, heโs likely to kill me out of anger and I am not ready to
Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 59: Lifting The Mask
[TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter depicts mild moments of SA. This may be disturbing or triggering for some readers, for those people, please proceed to the following chapter. To those who choose to read on, please proceed with caution]As I start to wake up I feel a horrible and familiar throbbing ache in my head and the skin on the side of my face feels tight and crusty, like something has begun to set there. I try to open my eyes, but my vision is blurry. I blink a few times and with each action, my vision starts to clear a little more. I immediately realise Iโm in my apartment but I donโt remember coming inside. The courtyard lights shine through my window allowing me to see my room. I go to move but feel a sharp tug that makes me wince.Confusion and panic flood my system when I glance down and see that Iโm sitting in one of my kitchen chairs with duct tape binding my wrists and ankles to the arms and legs of the chair. My breath starts coming in fast bursts as I try to yank and pul
Treasured Yet Discardedย ย ย Chapter 58: Empty Pt 2
Immediately I feel dread wash over me and those unpleasant gut bubbles rising in my stomach. The urge to check behind me starts to creep in and quickly my head begins to spin.โYou couldnโt have phrased that another way?โ รine chastises Irina.โNothing terrible has happened,โ Irina quickly assures me, only easing my dread by a fraction.โThen why did you sound all foreboding like that?โ I prod, breathing through my anxiety as รine rubs soothing circles on my back.โOkay, so thatโs on me. I was just going to sayโฆJulianโs been calling me. Heโs shown up to my place and left voicemails and text messages, all of him looking for you. I havenโt told him where you are because itโs none of his fucking business. I just thought you should know heโs clearly desperate to talk to you,โ she informs me.Just hearing his name causes a pang in my chest. Since I left the penthouse I blocked and deleted his number. He came to the diner a couple times but each time someone covered for me and told him I was
