9
358words
Tears fell as she smashed four of my glasses.
"I came for you!You're humiliating me!"
Ethan rubbed his brow."Can you stop being childish?Look at Lily—she handles everything,inside and out,no fuss."
"Childish?!Didn't you say you'd spoil me,treat me like a princess?"
Their argument turned into a fight.
The villa was isolated,but I feared things might escalate and disturb the neighbors.Hesitating,I called the police.
As they took Ethan,he still turned to me."Lily."
But Noah,boldly changing clothes,blocked him.
"Worried?"
He made a funny face."Stay at my place.Bodyguards on call."
I glanced."No guards now?"
Noah really treated me like treasure.
It eased me.
I sipped cooled water,asking,"Why were you undressing back there inside my bedroom?"
"...You locked the door.You didn't know?"
Noah's face darkened,indignant."I was ready to pry the window,to climb out and save you."
Hearing that, the anger in my chest was suddenly gone.
His eyes made me laugh inexplicably.
Noah exhaled,he reached out to pat my head,but stopped.
He grabbed my cup."Water’s cold."
His voice,over the kettle,distorted."Ethan hates me because I killed his dog."
"Starved down to skin and bones.Freed from its cage,it bit my thigh."
I'd seen the scar,now only faint pink stitches were keft.
"So I fought it hard."
"Ethan wanted me to be his new dog,cursed to misery forever.I refused,so he called me a mad dog,wanted me dead."
"What're you saying?"My throat rasped.
"I want you to trust me,to rely on me."
Noah pondered,bringing warm water."If that's too much to ask,pity me."
When the doctor said it was too late foir an abortiomn,I felt relieved.
Noah bought the house next door,finding excuses to help me every day.
Finally,insisted that Ethan was tracking me,he took me to his home overseas.
Forced to rest three years,I snuck back with little Tim,craving good food for a growing kid.
Unlocking the door,Tim asked,"Mom,who's that man over there?"
By my phone's dim light,I saw Ethan,slouched against the wall.
He squinted as the light was turned on,gripping my wrist."Lily,Lily!"
He'd been waiting?
I shielded Tim,urging him inside.
Ethan wouldn’t let me go.
"He's my kid,right?"
