2nd Chance

Chapter 11: Wounds

Victoria had always feared she wasn't enough for Jake. Every moment was spent trying to prove her worth, sacrificing her own happiness for his fleeting approval. When Jake returned from his trip to China, a gnawing instinct urged her to check his phone. Heart racing, she scrolled through his messages, and her world shattered. There, captured in the glow of the screen, were intimate pictures of Jake with another woman."Who is she, Jake?" Victoria's voice trembled, each word heavy with betrayal.He turned, fury igniting in his eyes. "You're not enough for me!" he shouted, the venom in his words cutting deeper than any physical blow.Devastated, she gathered her courage and moved out, determined to reclaim her life. But just as she was about to close the door on their toxic relationship, Jake manipulated her with tears in his eyes and feigned sickness. "I'm so sick because of you leaving!" he croaked, his voice dripping with false vulnerability. Believing him, she returned, hoping to find solace in their shared space. Instead, she found herself drowning in a sea of sickness and nausea, her body revolting against the weight of his emotional manipulation. One afternoon, Jake sauntered into the kitchen with a mocking grin. "Aren't you pregnant?" he joked, but his words struck like a knife.

"I don't think so," she replied hesitantly, but a chill settled in her stomach. Her periods had been late, a gnawing anxiety building with each passing day. With trepidation, she decided to take a test. When the result flashed positive, her heart dropped.

"Jake!" she called, fear and hope mingling in her voice.

"What? Is it negative?" he replied, not bothering to look up from his phone.

"It's positive," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

His expression twisted from indifference to rage. "You betrayed me!" he screamed, the accusation echoing in her mind.

"Jake, you are the only one I've been with!" she pleaded, desperation clawing at her throat.

"Victoria, I'm not settled yet! I can't take responsibility! We're too young!" His words fell like stones, each one heavier than the last.

"Are you saying I should have an abortion?" Her heart raced, disbelief flooding her.

"Yes, babe! We can't do this now. None of us have good jobs to support a child! But if you want to keep it, I won't object," he said, dismissing her fears with a wave of his hand.

In that moment, Victoria felt her world collapse around her. Thoughts of keeping the baby flickered in her mind, but as memories of their chaotic life together flooded back, the idea of bringing a child into this broken home became unbearable. Tears streamed down her face as she realized she could not subject a child to this torment. With a heavy heart, she contacted a clinic, her hands shaking as she asked Jake to accompany her.

"Your problem. You handle it," he replied coldly, turning away as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience.

When she returned, the weight of her decision bore down on her like a mountain. Jake unleashed his fury. "You killed my child!" he roared, his voice dripping with rage and blame.

Each accusation stung like a whip, the guilt gnawing at her insides until she couldn't breathe.

As their argument escalated, his fists found their mark, and she was left battered and bruised, both physically and emotionally. The pain from the pills and his blows blurred into one unbearable ache.

Crying softly, she caught sight of him laughing with another woman, their shared joy stabbing at her heart. That laughter, once a comfort, became a haunting reminder of what she would never have. In that moment, a fire ignited within her. No longer could she endure this life; no more would she accept his twisted love.Determined, she made plans to leave him for good. Each time Jake sensed her resolve, he tried to manipulate her back into submission, but Victoria was no longer the same woman he had tormented. She had begun to rediscover her strength, inch by inch.With a quiet fierceness, she applied for jobs, each application a step toward freedom. She kept Jake in a state of uncertainty, allowing him to feel in control while she secretly plotted her escape.

 
Victoria never revealed to Jake the true nature of her job applications. It was a secret escape plan, a way to break free from the chains of their toxic relationship. One evening, as she sat at the dining table, her laptop open and cluttered with job listings, Jake strolled in, his expression dark and brooding.

"Applying again?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

"Yeah," she replied, forcing a casualness into her voice that didn't exist.

"You do have a job," he shot back, arms crossed over his chest.

"I work from home all the time, so I thought it'd be good to have a part-time job—just something to get me out. You know, apart from you, I don't know anyone." She offered a small smile, trying to mask the fear that clawed at her heart.

He leaned in closer, his brow furrowed. "You look sad. Is everything good?"

"Nothing. All good," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "Just don't leave me, okay?"

A flicker of guilt crossed his face, and for a moment, she dared to believe that maybe he still cared. But deep down, she knew the truth: he was still tangled up in the web of lies spun by the woman he had chosen over her. The same woman who had betrayed him, filing a complaint of abuse that would haunt him like a specter.Days turned into weeks, and with each job application she submitted, Victoria felt herself grow stronger, more resolute. Yet, every time Jake spoke, the echo of his earlier accusations rang in her ears. 

"You killed my child." The words were a constant reminder of the emotional battleground she navigated daily.