Chapter 13 Dare to Touch My Woman
Liam had seized Chloe’s wrist, pinning her arm against his chest.
“You dare lay a hand on my woman?” His voice was ice, cutting and low.
“Let me go!” Chloe yelped, twisting in pain. Olivia hurried forward in a panic.
Liam ignored them both. His gaze dropped to Emma, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
After a long moment, she reached out and tugged lightly at his hand. “She’s pregnant. Let it go.”
Only then did he release Chloe.
“L-Liam Hayes…” Recognising him, Chloe stumbled back a few steps, face drained of colour.
“Who were you calling promiscuous?” His gaze sharpened, sweeping over her like a knife.
Driven by anger and humiliation, Chloe snapped, “Emma’s a slut! She slept with another man before we even broke up!”
Smack.
His hand connected with her cheek.
The air froze solid.
Chloe clutched her face, stunned, and in that instant realised he was the man Emma had been with.
“Get out. I don’t want to hear your voice again,” he said coldly, before gently wiping the tears from the corner of Emma’s eyes.
Chloe covered her face and fled down the corridor, Olivia hurrying after her.
Emma stood there, completely at a loss.
“Does it hurt?” he asked quietly.
“…” She tried to pull back, but his hand at her waist held firm.
“Did you have the test done?” he asked, his tone softer now, gaze intent.
She lowered her head, heart pounding, cheeks burning.
“Let go of me first. People are staring…” she whispered.
Only then did Liam slowly release her.
They got into the car, leaving Ryan outside.
“How did you even know I was here?” Emma asked.
“My aunt, Amelia Clarke, called. She said she saw you at the OB/GYN,” he replied. Then, “If I hadn’t come, how long were you going to hide this from me?”
She gripped the test results more tightly, her usual sharp tongue gone.
“I took the pill. Without the test, there was no way to be sure…”
“What if you really are pregnant?” His Adam’s apple moved.
“That’s none of your business.”
She hesitated for a second, then pushed the door open and got out.
“That’s none of your business,” he repeated under his breath, watching her walk away.
It sounded uncomfortably familiar. He’d thrown the same words at her yesterday at the estate.
Ryan slid into the driver’s seat.
“She’s really stubborn,” Liam said, a faint mocking edge in his tone.
Ryan let out a quiet laugh.
Back at home, Emma collapsed onto the sofa and stared blankly at the ceiling.
She grabbed the test results and tossed them irritably onto the coffee table.
“Liam…” she murmured, exhaling softly.
What if I really am pregnant? Am I supposed to raise a child alone?
After a long moment, she opened her contacts and tapped on “Vampire Boss,” her mind blank.
“Emma! I know you’re in there. Open the door!” Ben’s voice thundered from outside.
She walked to the entryway, phone still in hand, and looked through the peephole.
He was swaying on his feet.
As soon as she unlocked the door, he stumbled inside, the sharp reek of alcohol flooding the air.
Before she could react, his arms closed around her, dragging her into a tight embrace.
The door slammed shut behind them.
“Let go!” Emma struggled, but his grip was iron.
“I miss you so much… Emma,” Ben choked out as he buried his face against her neck, kissing her frantically.
“Ben! You’re drunk! Don’t touch me!” she shouted.
“I heard you slept with Liam, huh?” he snarled, dragging her toward the sofa.
He forced her down and pinned her legs beneath his weight, kneeling between her knees.
“You blocked every way I could reach you, and you ran to him?” His eyes were bloodshot, filled with wounded rage. “That cold bastard?”
“Liam is cleaner, richer, and better built than you,” she snapped.
Smack.
His hand cracked across her face.
She went still, tears sliding silently down her cheeks.
He flinched, then hurriedly bent over her and stroked her burning cheek, his touch grotesquely gentle. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
“Get your filthy hands off me,” she ground out, teeth clenched as she quietly tapped on the “Vampire Boss” contact with one hand.
“Please forgive me…” he whispered.
“You don’t deserve it.”
His throat worked as he swallowed. His grip on her wrist tightened savagely.
She bit her lower lip, enduring the pain, refusing to cry out.
His fingers moved again, this time brushing away her tears with a sick parody of tenderness. “Don’t cry. Let me love you properly. A man like Liam, a tycoon, would never marry you. But I will. We can go abroad, somewhere no one knows us…”
She spat in his face. “You bastard. You delusional idiot!”
He stared at her, his expression turning cold, and wiped the spit from his cheek.
Then he snatched the phone from her hand.
“Give it back, Ben!” she screamed, voice hoarse.
“You want him to save you?” he scoffed. “If he finds out you’re pregnant with his child, he’ll make sure it’s gone by tomorrow.”
He hung up with a cold laugh and tossed the phone away.
“He wouldn’t. Not everyone is like you.”
“Everything I’ve done, I did for you, Emma. I love you. I really love you!” he shouted, breath thick with alcohol.
The stench of booze rolled over her.
“Let go of me, Ben. We can talk.” She forced her tone softer, afraid of provoking him further.
But he was already past reason.
He lunged down and tore at her clothes.
Cold air rushed over her exposed skin; a red welt rose on her shoulder.
“Are you insane?” she cried.
“Yes, I am!” he roared back.
Suddenly, a violent pounding shook the door.
“Help! Help—mh—!”
Ben clamped his palm over her mouth.
She couldn’t breathe. Panic roared in her ears as her vision began to blacken.
“Shut up!” he growled.
Her body grew lighter all at once. His weight disappeared. Air crashed into her lungs and she dragged it in, coughing.
“Cough… cough…”