If I Fall In Love

Chapter Four

Marley was happy in her relationship. They were perfect. They would spend every free time together, although this wasn't a lot. Marley would spend most nights a week studying but they always made time to hit the gym together or go out for dinner or even just sit with each other and talk.

Her mother was barely home but on the rare occasions that she saw Brian, she respected him enough to let him continue seeing her daughter. Although she watched Marley's grades like a hawk, one bad grade and she was reading to make her kiss this relationship goodbye. Yet this never happened. Brian pushed Marley to keep her head in the books whilst he lived the lifestyle he had to so Marley would never understand his hardships.

Marley found this attractive.

Brian working hard, chasing his money to secure all the promises he made to her.

Yes that's right.

A house. A ring. A beautiful family.

All of these promises left the mouth of the young man and made Marley's eyes sparkle with glee. Marley's graduation day came too soon but she couldn't have been happier. She finished with a university offer for nursing and was ecstatic. Brian gifted her with a formal dinner out in the city to celebrate his woman. Marley couldn't have been happier. 

One night the two were out to celebrate Brian's birthday with a dinner out in the central at an amazing seafood restaurant. Brian excused himself to take a phonecall leaving Marley inside. Ten minutes later a group of brown boys walked inside and noticed Marley sitting alone. One cheekily decided to slip into the seat once occupied by Brian.

"Sorry that's my boyfriends seat" Marley looked to the door to see any sign of Brian returning. 

"Why's he leaving you alone. He'd be stupid to let a girl as beautiful as you wait on him" The brown guy smirked but this only made Marley more afraid and uncomfortable.

"My boyfriend will be here any minute. I'm sorry but you need to leave, please" Marley shrugged scanning around the restaurant for Brian.

The brown stranger kept brushing Marley off saying that she was just making excuses and that she shouldn't be afraid. This made Marleys head spin and stomach turn. Marley watched the brown guys smile fade as Brian approached the table. He began apologising and getting up off the seat, saying he had no idea that he was Marley's boyfriend. Brian let out a small chuckle before knocking the guy to the ground and kicking him while he was down. Marley screamed in horror, attempting to stop Brian yet her small frame was no match for Brian. 

She had never seen him in this state. His eyes turned red with anger, showing no mercy to the poor stranger that couldn't take a hint. It took a few moments for the security guards and a bystander to come and stop Brian from killing the man. Marley guessed that the bystanders wife was beside her making sure she was okay. The guards threw out Brian with Marley following. Marley stayed a few steps from Brian, she was terrified and had never seen this side of him before. 

Brian ordered Marley to wait in the car whilst he again made a few calls.

She was upset but she was also angry at the fact that they couldn't properly enjoy dinner. She didn't know how to react around seeing Brian like this and it made her confused. She didn't know what  to say though. It wasn't a smart move if she was going to talk to him and try to reason because it was clear that he was angry and still furious. 

Marley didn't even notice the tears rushing down from her face. It took a whole half an hour before Brian returned.

"Why are you crying?" Brian sighed taking Marleys hand into his.

"It's nothing... I'm sorry" she avoided eye contact, staring at the ground. 

"You invited him to the table didn't you" Brian began laughing. Marley replied by shaking her head, saying no.

"You wanted him, right? I left for a few minutes and because you couldn't control yourself... you went for the first guy you saw. Right?" He let go of her hand and stared at her with such bitterness.

This only made Marley more scared and urged more tears to fall down her face.

"That's not what happened. I told him I had a boyfriend" Marley tried defending herself but it was no use because Brian was not going to listen to her.

"You're a slut... no guy wants a slut. No one wants to marry one. You think another guy is going to love you after me? They won't love you, Mar."

He wasn't drunk. He wasn't drunk so this was the real him. This was the real him and Marley had never seen this behaviour before. She remained quiet because now the tears rushed down her face continuously. And if she was going to speak, her voice would break and she wouldn't be able to choke out a proper sentence. 

And he did nothing. She sat there crying in the carpark unable to speak yet he continued to hit her with bullets of words. And then she felt the sharp pain across her face. 

Marley held onto her cheek, trying to recollect what had just happened. 

Did.... did he just hit me?

This only made Marley ache to cry out more but she chose to silence herself. Crying wasn't going to do anything. The man she loves believed she was a skank and there was nothing she could do about it. Marley just nodded in agreement, putting on her seatbelt and shifting to the window, hoping she was anywhere but here. 

The entire drive home was silent. Marley refused to utter a word or even look at Brian as her body filled with shock. It was 9pm and she hadn't had dinner, her mascara ran down her face in trails and her cheek was filled with pain. Brian pulled up in front of Marleys house, with the doors remained locked.

"Mar..." Brian turned off the engine and reached over to Marleys hand that was rested on her lap.

"Marley please look at me" He lifted her chin trying to make their eyes meet yet her eyes was focused on the ground. 

She had been crying the entire way and now her eye's were red and puffy. 

"I'm sorry, baby. It won't happen again, I promise." He reached over and gave her a hug, pressing her into his chest lightly.

(SISS After the first time. Please leave ! When he says he won't do it again, HE IS LYING)

"No, It's my fault. I'm sorry" She gently whispered. 

"Sometimes you just make me so angry, Mar. You need to stop that" He gently kissed her hand and then moved to kiss her red cheek.

"I'm tired... Good night" Marley gave a half-smile, opening her car door and walking away. Had she walked away from the relationship entirely then she would've been saved from years of a toxic and draining relationship. Yet maybe staying in this relationship created her life path, and without it then she maybe wouldn't have found the love of her life.

After her shower she observed her cheek in the mirror. It was still painful to touch. She planned to hide this, no one was going to know this because it was embarassing.

Just don't make him angry, Mar.

Right?

Because if he isn't angry then he won't hit her. So if her actions made him mad then she would know what to expect. 

Hi babygirl.  I love you. You're mine and I can't let any other guy have you. I'd kill him. I love you and you're mine forever, okay? Goodnight Mar

It was already into the early hours of the morning and she couldn't sleep. Laying flat on her back and looking at the ceiling because she was afraid to close her eyes. She still hadn't properly registered the events of tonight. Thankfully her mother was asleep because no one should've seen the state in which Marley was in when she walked through the front door. 

She was in love with a man who would destroy her in every way possible.