CHAPTER 71

CHAPTER 71
He immediately rushed to my side and peeled me off Crystal. “Archer,” she said in a breathless tone while looking at him. “She's crazy; she attacked me out of nowhere just because I came looking for you…”
“Shut up.” He cut her off sternly. He signalled Ric, and he began dragging her away. “What? She attacked me first. Are you that brainwashed by this charity case? Aaahhh.”
Archer walked closer to me, examining my body for any bruises. I pushed him away. “Go after your mistress; you don't need to worry about me.”
I said while walking out of him, or so I thought. he held me by the wrist, stopping me from going further and spinning me around to face him.
“You're my wife, El; your safety is my priority.”
“Spare me that crap. You're only this worried because you think your child might be in danger, right? Don't worry, Archer, I don't have plans on hurting my baby; in fact, I love this baby so much that I wanted to escape you so that he doesn't grow up under your cruel supervision.”
“El, get some rest. It's the hormones talking.” My brows furrowed as I stared at him with my blood boiling. I yanked my hand away aggressively.
“I hate you, I fucking hate you so much. You ruined my life, and I'll always hate you for that.” And with that, I walked away.
My chest felt so tight, and my eyes burned. All this while, I tried my best not to cry or show any emotions towards him, but I failed.
I regret ever stepping foot on this cursed land of his. I sat on my bed, angry and sad that I wasn't living the fairy tale life that I had dreamt of since I was a child. Instead, I was living a nightmare.
The door creaked open, and I could smell his cologne, but I didn't raise my head to look at him. The bed sank beside me, and he grabbed my hand gently and placed a pill in it. “You need to take your medicine.” He said while handing me a glass of water.
I took it without complaining, and he patted my back as I drank it. Sometimes, I just wonder, will this caring side of him seize once I deliver?

Archer pov
I was in Don's house and making my way to his office when I saw the reason why I came. She smiled when she saw me approaching her. I grabbed her by the throat and slammed her to the wall.
She started choking, and her nose suddenly started bleeding. “Ar…Archer.” She struggled to breathe, but all I saw was red, fucking red. I wanted to see her die, I wanted to see when the light left her eyes.
A guard immediately rushed over trying to peel me off her, but I was determined. She fucking put her hands on Elena, I don't play about my woman. And to make matters worse, she's also pregnant. “Mr Archer, what are you doing? Stop it.” Crystal was scratching my hand, trying to free herself.
At this point, I didn't see her as a woman, but one of the dogs I slaughtered. “Edward, what the hell are you doing? And what are you standing there for? Stop him.” Don instructed the other guards, and they all launched at me, but they weren’t strong enough to pull me off her, such weaklings.
“Edward!” Don screamed. He was scared. Crystal's movement lessened, and her face was red as hell. They were all on me, trying to pull me off.
BAAM!
I felt a stinging pain vibrate through my arm, and I finally let go; she fell on the floor with a loud thud, and I stumbled back while looking at my arm. Blood soaked my sleeves, and I realised that I was shot; Don shot me.
Well, he made the right decision because they weren’t going to stop with what they were doing earlier. I looked at Crystal. She was unconscious while her father panicked, calling the doctor.
I was satisfied, even if she didn't die, I gave her a fucking lesson never to touch my woman again. And with that, I turned around and left the house. My arm was still bleeding as I drove home.
Only God knows the amount of self-control I had when I saw her in my house. I wanted to kill her then and there, but I didn't want my El to witness that.
Maybe it would've caused her some shock or something, and I don't want that. I arrived home in no time and pulled off my jacket, throwing it away on the floor.
I made my way towards my office, I wanted to do this by myself without alerting Elena. Just as I was about to enter, her door flew open, and immediately, her eyes landed on me. They widened in shock, and her hand flew to her mouth.
“Edward!” She shrieked, but I didn't even mind; she finally called me Edward in 8 months, and I couldn't help but smile. How did I fall so hard for this woman to the extent that things like these excite me?
Elena pov
I walked to his side; he was bleeding from his arm; and it looked like he was shot. His eyes were red, and he had bruises all over his body. His eyes were drowsy; I think he was low on energy because of the blood loss.
“What happened?” I asked, my voice filled with concern. He was smiling. What the hell is he smiling? “Nothing serious,” he uttered nonchalantly.
“What do you mean? Have you seen your state?” I rolled my eyes and brought him to the room and grabbed a first aid box. After what felt like forever, I pulled the bullet out and immediately stopped the bleeding.
I applied some ointment to it and bandaged him up. Throughout the procedure, he was staring at me so intently that it felt like his gaze was going to burn my skin.
My eyes travelled to his toned abs, and I couldn't help but stare. They looked so perfect, almost like they were carved. “You can touch them, you know.”
He teased, and I immediately coughed a little and looked away while putting the first aid box away.
“What happened? Did you get into a fight?” I tried to change the topic. His eyes lingered on me for a second before opening his mouth to talk. “I thought you hated me and didn't care about me.” He shot back, his voice low and taunting.
I pursed my lips. “Well, unlike you, I have compassion and sympathy. I would do this for literally anyone.” I lied. I mean, I have to, I can't let him win this.
“You don't have to worry; I have everything under control.” He said calmly. This is the longest conversation we've had in months, and this is the only time we've been around each other apart from the doctor's visits.
I hate Archer for forcing me into this kind of life and giving me no choice but to decline, but I can't change the fact that I have feelings for him. I tried my best to kill that feeling, but I couldn't; the more I tried to do that, the more it felt I felt.
He is annoying, alright, but I like him. And I hate myself for falling in love with my captor. My body jerked upwards when I felt his hand caress my hand smoothly. What is happening?
“I'll always protect you, El.” His eyes held so many secrets and emotions, and I felt like breaking down because Archer never tried to hurt me like those other men. And I betrayed him, I betrayed him big time and I'm scared.
I don't want to cause him pain; he looks like he has endured so much already. Fuck, why am I feeling emotional all of a sudden? Is it the hormones?
My lips pressed into a thin line as I stared into his icy eyes. I didn't utter a word and just got up, walking towards the door, when I felt his hand around me.
He…he was hugging me from behind. Why is he acting like this all of a sudden? His hand circled my baby bump, and he buried his face in my neck and sniffed me. “It's been so long since I held you that I can barely remember your scent.
“Archer what…”
“Don't call me that.” I blinked, biting my lips nervously. “El, don't call me that.” He spun me around to face him. I looked up at him. It's been so long since I was this close to him that I almost forgot how beautiful this man looked.
He licked his lips slowly. He was staring at me so keenly that I felt like I was going to melt. His eyes went from my eyes to my lips, then to my eyes. He looked like he wanted to kiss me so badly.
“What do you mean? Isn't that your name?” I tried to be stubborn.
“Stop trying to be difficult, El.” His voice was raspy. “I'm not, I'm just curious why you don't want me to call you by your name.”
“Because I don't want to, so stick to it.” His face was so close to mine. His hand caressed my cheek, and it loved to my hair. His thumb brushed my lips softly, and I felt goosebumps all over my body. He leaned in, trying to kiss me but I moved away.
He looked at me with so much need. “I'm going to get some rest. You should also rest.”
“I agreed to let you sleep in another room because I thought it would be difficult for a pregnant woman to share the same bed with someone else, but I don't care anymore.
The maids will move your things back to my room; I want you back here, El, so go sleep on the bed, wife.” My face turned into a frown.
“You can't just move me up and down as you please.”
“Yes, I can, wife.”
“You're unbelievable.” Although I'm pissed at this, I can't help the giddy feeling inside of me.