A Fresh Ending

Chapter 7

I spent days listening to Steve yell, plead, and demand I see him. I knew this wouldn't bode well for me when Steve fully healed. As scared as I was, I couldn't see him. Too many emotions would surface, and being vulnerable in front of that man was not an option. The second I looked into his eyes, he would have control, and I wasn't ready to let that happen.

Today, I didn't wake up to Steve calling for me, but to the sound of Ms. White putting away things in my room. I slowly sat up in my bed, finding her hanging up clean clothes in my closet. I gazed around, noticing a bunch of new things, including a television, a stack of books, and a journal, to name a few new things.

"Good morning, sweetie. How did you sleep?" the woman asked, exiting my closet carrying a new white gown for me to wear for the day.

"What is going on?" I asked, getting out of bed peering at all the new items.

"Mr. Kemp wanted you to have all this. He picked every item out himself," she responded, helping me out of my sleep clothes and into my gown.

"I don't want any from him," I mumbled, collapsing into my chair.

"What's going on, sweetie?" the woman asked, sitting on the arm of my chair.

"It doesn't matter. I don't want anything to do with Steve. He doesn't care about me, and if he does, he shouldn't," I expressed, keeping my eyes focused on the world outside my window.

Ms. White hugged me a bit before rising to her feet. She picked up around my room, finding a place for all the new gifts from Steve.

"Today, you will be on your own, sweetheart. The staff has the day off, so please behave yourself," she pleaded, leaving me alone.

I sighed, slumping down into my chair. I watched the trees blow in the wind, more leaves falling from the branches. I waited to hear Steve call for me, but maybe the silence meant he was gone too. I chewed on my lower lip, rising to my feet, shuffling cautiously out of my room. Silence echoed through the house as I moved from room to room, trying to find another person. A few guards moved around outside the home, but besides those men, I was alone.

I found some food waiting for me in the kitchen. I picked out what I wanted before moving into the living room. Fire heated the room, allowing me to relax. I hadn't felt relaxed in days knowing there would be consequences for ignoring Sreve for days.

I settled in front of the fireplace, watching the flames dance inside. I grabbed the blanket off the ottoman behind me, wrapping it around my body. I leaned against the piece offurniture, taking in the quiet of the day.

"There's my sweet girl," a voice echoed behind me.

I jumped, turning to find Steve gazing down at me from the opposite side of the ottoman. I quickly rose to my feet, retreating quickly to my room. I gotten only a few steps when Steve caught me by the wrist.

"Let go," I begged, trying to tear from his grip.

He yanked me towards him, knocking the air from my lungs.  He gazed down at my lips before returning to my eyes. I struggled against him, but Steve seemed to have fully recovered over the last few days.  I didn't stand a chance.

"Y/N, stop fighting me!" he demanded, shaking me hard.

"No, you lied.  You don't care about me," I screamed, continuing to try to get away from him.

"Stop! Now!" he yelled, taking my face in his hands. "I never fucking lied. I do fucking care about you, why do you think I never took anything from you,"

"You have a wife!" I cried, allowing my emotion to fly.

"What?" he questioned, loosening his grip.

"I saw your wife," I replied, pulling myself free.