Narrowly Escaped


    His clothes were off, and he pressed himself against me. I fought back by biting and kicking as hard as


    possible and screaming for help. Matthew looked like a crazed panther as he let out a chillingugh.


    You were never like this before. Weren’t you the one who loved me the most? Today, I’ll make sure you


    enjoy it! Haha!”


    “Let go of me, Matthew!” I was in despair. Nausea overwhelmed me again. I’d rather die than have him


    touch me.


    When he hit me again, the world started to spin.


    “You don’t know what’s good for you. I’ll love you like I used to. Chlo, I don’t want it to be like this either.


    I don’t want to hurt you. After being apart for so long, I’ve missed you terribly. I want to be with you!”


    Crash!


    With a booming sound, the door burst open from outside. I yelled, “Help me! Let go of me!”


    The instinct to survive made me fight even harder. Suddenly, I felt lighter. I heard a muffled sound


    followed by a furious roar.


    “How dare you touch her?!”


    It was As’s voice. I quickly grabbed the dusty nket on the bed and wrapped myself in it, sobbing. I


    saw As relentlessly punching with his fists and Matthew’s wails of agony.


    I buried myself even deeper in the nket, humiliated and vited. The pain in my heart intensified.


    This man had trampled my entire life, and even after leaving, I couldn’t escape his torment.


    The sounds of Matthew’s cries grew weaker. I softly called out, “Stop!”


    I feared As might beat Matthew to death, and he’d have to pay with his life. Matthew wasn’t worth it.


    As stopped and looked at me. His once handsome face was now dark, resembling the devil


    emerging


    from hell.


    Those narrow, profound eyes gleamed with an icy chill. Matthew struggled to get up, but As kicked


    him


    hard, and he fell unconscious.


    Then, As removed his coat and wrapped me in it, pulling me into his arms. He wiped away the blood


    under my nose, and Ipletely broke down.


    “I want to go home!” I gritted my teeth, my voice barely intelligible.


    He held me, standing up and carrying me downstairs. In the narrow living room, a crowd stood In the


    dark.


    Dn! Take care of it!” As gave the order, and the sounds of doors closing could be heard down the


    hallway


    I closed my eyes. I could never return here.


    As carried me back to Amethyst Apartments. He ced me by the bathroom door and gently said,


    “Go wash up. I be right outside”


    I nodded, watching him turn away. I turned on the shower and let the water flow over me. When I


    emerged, he was waiting outside with a bag of ice.


    Then, as he gently applied it to my face, he asked softly, “Does it still hurt?”


    I remained silent. The anger I felt toward him dissipated the moment he burst in. Yet, I still sensed an


    unspoken despair. I thanked him for rescuing me, but how long could he protect me?


    “I’m sorry! It’s my fault!” There was a trace of guilt in his eyes.


    I stared nkly at the ceiling, not speaking. I honestly didn’t know what to say or how to say it.


    “Are you angry with me? I shouldn’t have left you alone!” His eyes were full of regret and restraint.


    “You’ve done a lot. I have no reason to be angry with you.” I sounded distant as I said, “You should go


    back. I need to pick up my daughter.”


    “I want to be with you.” His gaze was filled with reluctance, and his tone was gentle.


    2 his urgency evident. “I can’t let you go alone. I’ll take you to pick up your daughter, and then you can


    spend some time with her. I’ll step out for a moment, but I’ll be back.”


    I stood up, gritting my teeth. Fear still ran through me, and my body shook. I got dressed, and he


    walked me downstairs to his car. We drove to Ivanna’s house to pick up my daughter.


    Ivanna seemed surprised. Her eyes locked onto my face, and she knew something had happened. She


    hesitated to ask in front of Ava.


    I put on a forced smile, took my daughter’s hand, and told Ivanna, “We’ll talk when there’s time.”


    She nodded, making a gesture indicating a phone call. I nodded, amusing Ava as we descended the


    stairs. Ava was already exhausted and fell asleep in my arms shortly after.


    When we exited the car, As picked her up and carried her back to her room. He kissed me gently


    and said, “Wait for me. I’ll be right back!”


    He swiftly went downstairs and disappeared into the night.


    I sat by my daughter’s bedside, looking at her lovely, smiling face. Even in her dreams, she smiled. My


    love for her ran deep. I gently held her tiny hand, a tear falling onto the back of it.


    The journey ahead was still long, and we relied on each other as mother and daughter.


    I switched on the nightlight and quietly left Ava’s room. Only then did I realize my bag was nowhere to


    be


    found, and I was unable to make a call.


    I sat on the couch, clutching my head. Sure enough, As returned in no time, holding my handbag.


    He pulled me into his arms, gently patting my back. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”


    “It’s not your fault. You’ve done so much for me.” I spoke wearily, “How’d you know he took me?”


    “I told Dn… Oh! He’s my assistant. I had him take Ste back first. But when he came out, he saw


    Matthew storming out in a rage. You had just gotten into a cab. Matthew got into his car and went


    straight in your direction.


    “He was worried, so he followed while calling me. I happened to be on my way out.” He exined


    briefly.


    “He got footage of us, right?” I inquired.


    “Yes!” As nodded. “I was too careless. As soon as I let you go, I realized something was wrong and


    had


    Dn take his phone, deleting everything from it.”


    closed my eyes weakly, feeling exhausted. If he had been a few minuteste, I might have fallen into a


    temble situation.


    He stayed with me for the night, and I must have been both frightened and tired because I ran a fever


    in the middle of the night. He wanted to take me to the hospital, but I just gritted my teeth and took a


    couple


    of ibuprofen.


    By morning, the fever had subsided. However, As had already left. The store–bought breakfast on


    the table was still warm. It seemed he hadn’t been gone for long.


    Ava said the pancakes this morning were delicious. I nced at thebel on the pancakes, and it was


    from the Imperial Kitchen, known for its expensive breakfasts. No wonder she said it was good.


    I noticed my car had already been brought back and parked outside. I had no idea what he had done


    all night. Mnie and the others did not cause a scene like I thought they would.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    This surprised me a bit. I had nced at Matthew’s battered body, and he took quite a beating. He was


    injured in the house we were in before so Mnie must have suspected me. Somehow, she hadn’t


    shown up. There had to be a reason for this.