A Woman's Empire

XXVII

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Audrielle felt used and dirty. It had been two weeks since Leo had hit her and she still couldn't sleep. Every night, she'd lie in bed, her eyes wide open and she'd stare up at the ceiling. She felt afraid. That when she would close her eyes for a second, Leo would hit her. His rough hand connecting with her cheek and the stinging sensation shortly afterward.

Audrielle spent most of her days inside the bedroom or in Leo's office in the city. But she barely saw Christian and she was happy about that. The only times she'd see Antonio is when they'd all have dinner in the dining room but the room would be deathly silent. The only noise being heard would be the clanking of cutlery and chinaware.

When it was night time, and Leo would emerge from the basement or the office, he would most of the time be angry or frustrated at someone or something and took it out on Audrielle in a sexual way.

She started to think that this was all her fault. That she'd never find love and just like what Christian had told her, she was just Leo's toy to play with and to carry his children so they could take over the business. She felt like she was no one. An object. Something for Leo to sleep with and toss away when he's finished.

This led Audrielle to a dark place. She didn't want her life to be like this. She doesn't want to live her life in such a toxic place. It was driving her insane. And then she thought about her future children. Would they become monsters just like their father so they can run a stupid business? Would they have to suffer in silence just like she was? Maybe it would've been a good thing if Christian shot her. She'd not only be saving herself but her future children and grandchildren and so on. They wouldn't have to grow up in a place full of hatred and monsters.

Audrielle's eyes suddenly opened when she heard Leo's alarm go off. He wanted her to go to the office today. Well, he didn't want her to, he was doing it for her own good so she couldn't get in trouble while he wasn't home.

She felt Leo roll out of bed and heard him stroll into the walk-in wardrobe to pick out a suit for the day.

Just as she placed her foot on the ground, she felt her stomach churn and quickly ran to the bathroom. As she leaned over the toilet, Audrielle brought up her dinner from last night. Tears pricked her eyes as the acid scolded her throat, causing her to gag.

As she vomited again, she felt a large hand rub her back and gently pull her hair away from her face. For once, he was finally showing her kindness after leaving her in the dark for so long.

"It is probably best that you stay home and get better today." Leo suggested and Audrielle shyly nodded.

————

Audrielle had spent the whole day in bed, wrapped up in blankets with the tv remote beside her. She had currently watched three movies but would occasionally fall asleep, only to wake up when the movie had five more minutes to go.

Leo called during his lunch break, checking in on her. It was the first time in the last two weeks that he showed emotion other than anger towards her. Audrielle felt butterflies flutter in her stomach but the second they were there, she squashed them. She knew that Leo was only being nice because she was sick. Any other day, he would avoid her.

Deciding to go freshen up a bit, she made her way to the bathroom but suddenly stopped when she realised something. Her period was supposed to come two weeks ago and it hadn't. The color on Audrielle's face was drained as she put the puzzle pieces together.

What if she's pregnant?

As if it was a natural instinct, Audrielle placed her hands on her stomach. She had gained a little weight after returning from the honeymoon in Italy but she just brushed it off, knowing that she was gaining weight because she wasn't working out as much as she used to and her mother wasn't there anymore to hassle her about her dietary.

Then Audrielle started to think of the times her and Leo had unprotected sex. There was only a couple of times but the next morning also always made sure Audrielle had taken the pill. But this is what they want. Audrielle thought to herself. The Amour's wanted to get Audrielle pregnant so they could take over the Harrington business. Maybe the pills were just fake ones to get her to believe she wouldn't be pregnant?

A tear fell down her cheek. What if this was Leo's sick and twisted plan? Have unprotected sex and then give her some fake pills so she ends up pregnant. If that was the case, Audrielle would have no clue how she could survive. From day one, when they got married, Audrielle had made it very clear that she wasn't ready to have children yet, and she thought Leo had her back, letting her relax into the marriage before even trying.

Rushing into the closet, Audrielle pulled out some boots and a coat. She needed to tell Leo. After getting changed, she rushed out of the room and bumped into Antonio.

"Audrielle, what's the rush?" He asked, raising his perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"I-I need to g-go see Leo at the o-office." She stuttered quietly.

"C-Could you take me please?"

Antonio thought about it for a second before nodding his head. He had a soft spot for Audrielle and tried his best to be kind to her, to let her know that she doesn't have to be afraid of him.

He pulled out some keys from his pocket and they walked down the stairs. When they got outside, Antonio led Audrielle to a white Maserati.

Once they had hopped in and the car started with a roar, Antonio drove out of the gated driveway and towards the city. There was an awkward silence until Antonio spoke up.

"So may I ask why you're wanting to go see Leo? I thought you would've stayed as far as possible away from him after he hit you when he got back from Japan." Antonio commented, a frown on his face when he mentioned what his older brother had done.

"Y-you know about that?" Audrielle asked, unfelt feeling small.

"I went out to the stable last week and Drew told me that he had seen Leo raise his hand at you." Audrielle couldn't help but flinch, images of Leo's deadly eyes burning holes into her skull on that day. How angry he was at her that he slapped her so hard across the face that she fell on the ground.

Antonio let out a sigh. "Shit, I'm sorry Audrielle h-"

"Don't be. It's not your fault." She whispered.

"Audrielle, you're stuck. You can't leave and everyone in that house is an asshole. They don't know how to treat one another nicely and my father taught us that women were there to cook, clean and bring us pleasure. Leo has no idea how to be nice to you, but I can see that he's trying to be. He's doing it to make our mama proud because she was always scared to see that the monster he'll become. He's following in my father's footsteps and he doesn't realise how much of a loving, beautiful woman you are, Audrielle." Antonio suddenly exploded like a bomb. His hands had a tight grip on the steering wheel that his knuckles were turning white.

"You deserve all the respect in the world." Antonio sighed, letting go of the steering wheel and running his fingers through his hair.

"A-Antonio, I think I'm pregnant!" Audrielle blurted out in a rush. Antonio slammed into the brakes and looked over at Audrielle with wide eyes.

"Wait... what?!"

"I-I think I'm p-pregnant."