Chapter 10

“Do you even know how repulsive she is? Her dad raped my mum, that’s the only reason she is here!! Or else, she shouldn’t walk amongst us. Such an abomination” she spat.

Everyone was murmuring.

Smack.

The sound echoed through the walls of the café.

I wasn’t the one that got smacked, but it got me out of whatever trance I was.

I looked to see Grace holding her cheeks while Stella stood in front of her.

“I would choose my next words very carefully if I were you” the fury in Stella’s eyes showed that she wasn’t playing.

I had enough of the drama. I ran to the dressing room to get a break from all the drama. As soon as my back hit the wall and I slid down the floor, sobs I didn’t know I had began to come out.

I felt as though the ground should open up and swallow me. I didn't want her anywhere near me.

"Allison..." Ben made an attempt to talk to me but I couldn't respond it was as if my body had a mind of its own.

It finally made sense. I always knew I was nothing like my parents. I was the ugly duckling.

It made sense why mum said that I was starting to look like him every year.

I never understood it, but it was finally clear.

I could not be anymore disgusted with my self than I was right now.

“Ally?” Ben’s deep and velvety voice called from the door, this time I was able to respond.

“Pl..please, just go away. You he..heard her” the hiccups were making my voice break. “I should’ve be here. I’m an abomination.

“you are not an abomination” he said coming a bit closer to me. You are you, and you are perfect”

“How can you say that. Can't you see my body? Can’t you see how disfigured it looks. I don’t even know why you look at me like you do now. Because I swear I don’t deserve it”

If Grace was right then I didn’t deserve someone like Ben. He was too perfect for me.

He came close to me and took my hands. He traced his fingers along my smallest visible scars.

“From this” he touched the bigger one on my upper arm “to this. I am ready to love all of them if you show them to me. I love you Allison. And that isn’t going to change over some scars. I’ll be here, waiting till you want to open up about them, but till then, I am willing to wait.

“but they are disgusting” I said pulling my hand away from his hold.

“No” he said pulling them back to his side. “they show your strength. You put up with them and all their shit. You are the strongest woman I know” he kissed the hand, each and every pronounced scar on my body, he kissed them. “come” he said pulling me to sit open his lap. “I told you I don’t like to see you cry” he said wiping the tears from my cheeks.

“Can you hold me please?” I said looking anywhere but at him.

“Of course, anything you want.” He held me tight, causing me to sniff his cologne, but I wasn’t going to have it any other way.

He was my happy place.

**

Ben’s p.o.v,

I held her as tightly as I could. I never knew the abuse was that bad. I was drowning in guilt. All these happened because I had not fired her In the first place. If I had followed my instincts and fired her, Ally would be safe.

“I’m sorry. I mumbled over and over, I promised that she wasn’t going to get to her, but I let her come near her.

“I promise, she won’t come near you” and this time, I meant it.

Allison’s p.o.v

“I don’t want to stay here” I knew I was being selfish because I had to work, just like everyone else, but I couldn’t bring myself to stay here another moment.

“Sure. I actually have somewhere in mind” I nodded following him blindly as he led the way.

“where are we going?” I said entering the car.

“You’ll see” He looked at Arnold through the review mirror and he nodded.

It was a jewellery store.

“Ben...” he shook his head as if to stop me from saying any word that would change his mind,

“Just let me take care of you” he said with pleading eyes.

I nodded. He help my hand as he went inside with me.

“I was actually planning to take you here when i was to propose but since this has already happened guess we had to come sooner

I froze.

Propose???????!!!!!

“what’s the issue?” he said noticing my freeze up.

“Don’t you think we’re going too fast? I just agreed to be your girlfriend “ I could feel my palms getting sweaty.

“love, I said propose, I never said when, I’ll wait for you as long as you want me too. But I’m sure I want you. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life”

The look in his eyes told me he meant every word. There were no lies

I had this warm feeling in my body.

“There is no need to spend money on me, really. You’ve given me enough gifts already”

My money is yours to spend, besides I’m not spending if its in my name” he said giving me a smug look.

“Huh?”

“You don’t pay attention to details, do you?”

“The name on the shop? Matching surnames?” I actually never bothered to ask about his surname since no one ever called him by it and there was no need to check the name of the store. Its not like I could afford anything here.

I looked to the name that was across the counter.

“d’lux” I read out loud. The name was familiar who wouldn’t know the name? It was one of the big brands in the UK.

“You’re... but..” of course. It made sense why he was that rich

I knew the café was doing okay, but it was not nearly enough to get a house as big as his, or the type of car he had.

“I am” I was speechless

“that’s besides the point. Pick anything you wish, if nothing is up to your taste, let me know. I’ll have the jeweller make yours.”

I looked at him with wide eyes. “what do you mean pick for me” he looked at me, and then his watch.

“I have somewhere to be, but I promise I would have Arnold pick you up when you’re done. I would be thirty minutes away from here.” I nodded not wanting to argue. I really would have picked something up and be fine with it.

He mumbled something to the jeweller and left.

I looked around for what felt like hours, I was tired. I didn’t know which one to pick. They all seemed gorgeous.

“This one” it was a beautiful necklace made from some red stones. It really did stand out.

“Excellent choice” he bagged the item and handed it to me.

It felt heavier that when i first picked it up. “Why does it weigh so much?” I looked at him before looking in the bag

“I.. I didn’t pick these ones.”

“Sir Benjamin said if you looked at anyone with, his words not mine, dreamy eyes, I should pick them. And add it”

“please, return them. I didn’t mean to. They just looked really pretty...”

“Please, have them. They have already been picked. To put them out would be so much trouble.

Everything was there. From the diamonds to the gold everything. I bit my lips so as not to get emotional.

I nodded “okay” I dialled Arnold’s number. It was already installed when I put the phone on the first time.

“are you done?” he asked saving me the stress of begging him to come pick me up.

“Yes please”

He came not long after, helping me to carry the things in the car.

“Thank you” he nodded

This was the first time I was ever alone, save for the time Ben had a break down. It was awkward.

“Hey Arnold? What’s Ben like? From your point of view?” i asked to get rid of the awkward air.

I might have been blinded by love, so i needed to know I wasn’t getting into something I could regret later.

“an ass hole” he said simply. My heart dropped to the puts of my stomach