Mutinous

Chapter 22

Growing up I always thought I knew, which direction my life would take. I would finish college. I would go to UNI and become a doctor. I'd find a man, we would get married and end up having children together. Included in this was wealth, and love would most likely be excluded in any of it. All my life my father, especially, had forced the idea of love not being important and taught me how important wealth was. But since I had met Harry everything that I once believed in seemed to have disappeared out the window.

I no longer cared about wealth. I didn't need that to make me happy however if I did end up marrying Harry one day, I was certain money would be the last thing on our minds. Love was the most important thing and I cared more about waking up to the love of my life every day. My father could take his stupid rules and himself and disappear far out of my life.

It was sad that I had the father I did, but not because of me. I didn't mind that I got him. But I didn't understand why I should even have one when he was such a dick, when so many people deserved a father including Harry. So many children were born without a father, and I would happily give mine away so they could have had theirs. Life had a weird way of working. I used to wish my parents would be around more, but at least I was lucky enough to even have them. I never had to worry about food, or school or a roof over my head. I was lucky. I knew that. Some might have thought I was luckier than Harry. But despite the fact that I hadn't even met his sister; I knew he was the lucky one. He had a family who loved him even his dad loved him. Their home was warm and welcoming where as mine was anything but. Hopefully my own children would have what Harry had while growing up. Because the thought of them going through what I did sent shivers down my spine even if I knew how much worse it could get.

The house was quiet, as I left it that morning. I knew I should most likely feel bad for the fact that I liked it that way. Just me and no one else, but in all honesty I didn't. I liked that my footsteps almost sent an echo throughout the apartment, as I walked on the tile floors. And I liked that father wasn't around to tell me what I could and could not wear. Not that I was sure I cared anymore. This was my life and I got to live it how I wanted it, right?

I locked the door behind me with a smile on my face before heading downstairs to the lobby.

My eyes caught Martin's and I didn't need a genius to tell me what he was thinking. He was staring at me with a certain look - the exact same look Mia had given me when she overheard Maggie and I's conversation, letting them know a boy held interest in me. It was the look of disappointment - a look that made me feel nothing but uncomfortable.

Mum and dad would have told him I couldn't have any guys over and either he would have to tell on me or he would have to lie to my parents, which meant in some way he would lose either way.

The panic within me thinking he would tell had my eyes well up with tears. I couldn't lose Harry. I simply couldn't. "Please don't say anything," I stuttered with a lump in my throat.

My confident was suddenly gone and the thought of living my life the way I wanted seemed to have disappeared in thin air and left was my fear of disappointment. I wanted the fact that I was seeing Harry not to matter to them, but I knew that it did. It mattered so so much and I still feared what would happen when they found out.

"El.." He sounded sympathetic, yet I was sure he was lacking empathy and I would have to cut Harry out of my life. And I feared that I would have to choose between them sooner rather than later, which was a choice I didn't want to make.

"Please, Martin. I know what you're thinking, but you know me. I'm a good girl. A good person. I'm not doing anything irrational. Please don't tell them."

"I can't lie to them."

"Please. They won't let me see him again. They'll do anything they can to split us up. To hurt me, even to hurt him. I'm begging you. They can't know. It's better that way." I felt tears running down my cheeks and I just begged I sounded convincing. If I lost him now I was not sure what I would do with myself.