Charlotte, a failed artist, finds herself stuck between the man she loves and her fiance who loves the power and control he has over her.
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Charlotte knew she had met the love of her life, Chase Sinclair, when she was only 20. Their relationship...
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Chapter 8
Charlotte looked at herself in the mirror and gently grazed her finger along the fading bruise on her neck. A month had passed she the bruise around her neck was still visible. The scars on her inner thighs had healed but were still raw and raised. Despite her external wounds healing the internal ones were still very much present. She remembered waking up cold and naked on the floor. All she could remember was the pain as she dragged her sore and broken body through the house and into the spare room, where she took some codeine and cried in the shower until she passed out.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she flinched as she looked behind her to see Landon standing over her. She felt him give her shoulder a gentle but firm squeeze as his other hand ran along the bruise still on her neck. He was dressed in a navy suit with a white shirt underneath. They were going out for dinner tonight and all she wanted to do was stay home.
The last 4 weeks he had avoided her than yesterday he came home from work saying they were going out for dinner. She knew it was his way to apologise, but no amounts of gifts would make her forgive for what he did.
"I'm sorry." He whispered as he dropped his hand and let her finish getting ready. She sighed and put her earnings in her ears.
"I know. I'm sorry. I know it was my fault." She watched as he nodded his head before giving her a kiss on the temple and left her to get ready. Landon was always like this. Every time he hit her he would apologise, promise it would never happen again and shower her with gifts, love and affection. She finished covering the bruise with some foundation and a fancy diamond necklace. Looking in the mirror she noticed her cheeks were hallowed, and she had lost weight these last few weeks. Her dress was too big on her body but it would have to do. The pink dress was simple with short sleeves and finished at her knees.
She smoothed over her dress and walked into her room and put on her heeled sandals and grabbed her wallet before leaving the room. She walked downstairs and saw Landon was on the phone, so she checked hers and saw a message from Chase. Over the last 4 weeks, Chase had tried to organise a time to see her, and she always found an excuse. He often texted her seeing if she wanted to go to dinner tonight and she replied that she already had plans with Landon and put her phone away. She waited for Landon to finish with his phone call before he offered her his arms and led her to the car.
The car ride into the city was silent and Landon drove in and out of traffic like a lunatic. When they finally pulled up to the restaurant Charlotte was glad to get out the car. She always hated Landon's driving he drove too quick and didn't care about anyone else on the road. The valet opened her door, and she walked around to Landon's side where he tossed the keys to the young bloke.
"If I find a single scratch on the car, you will wish you were never born." He threatened the young valet who went a shade of white she didn't know was possible.
