His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Seventeen

Present day...

Chase has been so overprotective since I told him I'm pregnant. It was endearing at first but now it's just annoying. He freaks out if I lift anything that weighs more than the kettle and then berates me for it.
The pretense is really starting to get to me and I'm now left counting down the days until all of this is over and I can finally move on with my life.

"Did you book an appointment yet?" Chase asks me, stroking my hair back off my face.
"For what?" I ask him, struggling to remember what he's referring to.
"With the doctor. You said you would make one."
"I have one scheduled for next week." I assure him, smiling tightly.
"When is it though? I need to know so I can take some time off work for it."
"You really don't need to be there, Chase. It's just so they can confirm that I'm pregnant and put me on the system."
"I'm coming with you." He says firmly, refusing to take no for an answer. "I don't want to miss anything."
"That's sweet of you."
"We have so much to be grateful for." He says, taking hold of my left hand so he can admire my ring. "We're engaged and now we're expecting a baby. How did I get so lucky?"
"Not sure you'll be saying there when you're sleep deprived and smelling of baby sick." I joke playfully.
"I will." He insists, eager to convince me. "This is everything I ever wanted, April. You are all I ever wanted."
"You didn't used to think that way." I mumble quietly, remembering the days when Chase would treat me so badly.
"You know I despised myself for wanting you back then which is why I acted the way I did. There's no excuse for it but I always loved you, April. Don't ever think that I didn't."
He wraps his arms around my waist as he pulls me in close and our foreheads are touching. His lips are just a couple of centimetres away from my own and I can feel his breath against my skin, teasing and tormenting me at the same time.
"Which is why you'll never hurt me again, right?" I prompt him.
"That's right." He confirms softly, placing a delicate kiss against my neck which makes me tremble. "I love you and it's my job to protect you and our baby no matter what."

It's times like this when I really struggle to hold it all together, struggling to comprehend how Chase can be intimate with me and still not be honest. How does he do it?

I've managed to reach out to the majority of people that we know regarding Friday's party. I've instructed them all to keep quiet about it and not tell Chase anything about what I'm planning. They have no idea it's supposed to be an engagement party and they've promised to keep all the details to themselves.
I've also made arrangements to go and stay with Eric for a couple of weeks after all of this is over. I'll need to get away and take some time out to figure out what I'm going to do next. I'd love to be able to stay with my mum but she only lives around the corner and that's the first place Chase will go in an attempt to track me down.
There's no way he can find out where I am after I leave him. I need a fresh start and Eric has promised me I'll have as much space as I need while staying with him. I was a little concerned about his fiancé and how she might feel about me being there but he's promised me she's alright with everything. They don't live together yet but I'm still surprised she's ok with it. I guess she must trust Eric completely and it hurts that I can't say the same about Chase.

I'm still in contact with Finn on a daily basis and I'm debating whether I should tell him about Friday night and what I have in-store. Chase and Finn have always hated each other but things got even worse after Chase and I started dating. Finn couldn't understand our relationship whatsoever and Chase became even more paranoid and jealous about my friendship with Finn once he became my boyfriend.
I've been thinking an awful lot about the way Chase used to treat me back then. We both agreed to leave it in the past and move on from it and I actually thought I'd done that until I found out about Louise.
It's as though I suddenly remember every spiteful word he ever said to me and every malicious act of vengeance he carried out. All of my suppressed rage and anger has resurfaced and I'm determined to stand up for the vulnerable and frightened girl I used to be. I'm going to protect her from him this time and make sure I ruin him once and for all.

I've arranged to meet Finn at the same coffee shop as before. I don't have long though as I told Chase I'm only visiting my mum and need to get back before he gets suspicious. "I need to invite you to a party on Friday." I tell Finn, taking a seat at the table he's sitting at.
"What kind of party?"
"An engagement party."
"Are you serious?" He asks, staring at me incredulously.
"I've organised a surprise party for Chase. He's going to think it's to celebrate our engagement when it's actually for something else entirely." I inform him, hoping he'll support me with what I have planned.
"What are you up to, April?"
I fill him in on everything I've been working on and what I've told Chase about my pregnancy. I also tell him it's a complete lie and how Louise has convinced Chase she's pregnant as well.
"Wow... you've really got this figured out, haven't you?" Finn says, sounding impressed.
"Do you think it's too much?"
"After what they did to you? They deserve everything they get." He encourages me, placing his hand on top of mine.
"So will you help me?"
"Of course I will but it looks like you've got it all thought out anyway."
"Not everything. There's one last thing I need your help with."

It's Thursday night. The night before the party and I can't sleep. It’s hard to believe this is my last night with Chase and he’s completely oblivious.
His breathing is steady and there's a slight smile on his lips as though he's content and at ease with the world. I really thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with him and probably would have if he hadn't decided to betray me.

I reach out and stroke his forehead with my fingertips, delicately tracing them across his skin so I don't wake him up.
"Why did you do it?" I whisper softly. "Why did you hurt me?"
I'm not just referring to his betrayal with Louise. I'm talking about the way he treated me in the past. The countless times he was so cruel to me and made it his own personal mission to destroy me.
He ruined my life and I can't just let him get away with that. Tomorrow is the day I get my freedom back and all of his secrets will be exposed.

Tomorrow is the day I'll have my revenge.