Chapter 121 Scars of Fear

Chapter 121 Scars of Fear
That week Elizabeth had a full schedule. She had to take care of some children who were changing orphanages and attended to a mother who was a victim of domestic violence. The woman cried in Elizabeth’s arms, saying that she only endured that situation for her children, but that she was tired of being beaten.

Elizabeth reported everything to the lawyer. He felt sorry for the woman and decided to go beyond his work. He managed to get a temporary home in another state. The woman would leave New York and move to Missouri with her children. She would have financial help until she found a job, and her husband would receive a protective order not to approach her or the children anymore.

It was late afternoon. The appointments had already ended and Elizabeth was just organizing the papers.

“Mrs. Larson, I’m leaving. I think we won’t be receiving anyone else today. My daughter got into Princeton to study. We’re going to have a farewell for her. Tomorrow she leaves for New Jersey.”

“Congratulations, doctor. It’s a competitive university. Send my regards to her and your wife.”

The lawyer left and Elizabeth continued working. She heard someone knock on the door and opened it. It was a bearded man. He was carrying a bottle of beer in one hand and smelled of alcohol. The beer had probably been the weakest thing he had drunk before showing up there.

“Sir, the service is already over. I ask that you come back another day.” Elizabeth said, frightened. She tried to close the door, but the man pushed it and entered. He took a swig from the bottle and addressed Elizabeth.

“Where is the bastard lawyer who took my wife from me?” The man spoke, and Elizabeth took two steps back.

“He’s not here. He already left!”

The man took a crumpled card from his pocket. He had probably found it among his wife’s forgotten belongings. He went to the address behind the name on the card.

The man took another sip of the beer and showed a depraved smile.

“What are you to the lawyer?”

“Nothing, sir. I’m just an employee. Please, get out of here!” Elizabeth begged and moved behind the desk. She wanted something to keep distance between them.

“Are you scared? I’m not the monster my wife described. I know how to give pleasure to a woman like no one else!”

Meanwhile, Jonathan was arriving at the law office where Elizabeth worked. He had come to pick her up after spending the day at his office with James.

Jonathan called Elizabeth to come down. That was what he did when he arrived at the building door.

In the office, Elizabeth saw the phone vibrate on the desk. She looked at the man and then at the device. She tried to grab it and so did the man. Elizabeth managed to answer the phone, but it fell under the desk after that.

In the car, Jonathan tried to talk to her. “Eliz, I’m here. I’m waiting for you in the car… Elizabeth?”

Jonathan heard no answer, but he heard a small argument.

“Little kitty, I’m not going to make the trip for nothing. If I can’t get my wife back, I’ll have you!”

“Please don’t come near me!” Elizabeth shouted, and Jonathan ran inside the office. He had never thought that place was dangerous for her. He had let Elizabeth work at the office because he had never heard reports that the lawyer had been in any danger.

The man broke the beer bottle on the table and pulled Elizabeth by the arm.

“You’re going to stay quiet, or I’ll cut you…”

Jonathan entered and saw the man holding the bottle near her neck.

“Get out, buddy! The doll and I are understanding each other here.”

“No way. This is my wife! You’d better let her go.”

Jonathan pulled out his gun and the man placed Elizabeth in front of him. He used her as a shield and held the broken bottle near her neck.

“Jonathan…” Elizabeth started to cry. She was trembling with fear and tried to pull away from the man.

“Let her go and I’ll let you leave alive.”

“I’m not an idiot. You’ll shoot me in the back as soon as I walk out the door. Drop the gun and I’ll think about whether I leave here with or without her.”

“If you try to take her, you’ll be a dead man.”

“This bitch and her boss sent my wife far away. I don’t know where she is or where my children are. I received a protective order. I can’t even approach her without being arrested.”

Elizabeth cried desperately. Fear ran through her body and she could barely move.

“Your husband looks young. I wonder if he knows what to do with such a beautiful woman?” Every time the man spoke, Elizabeth turned her face away. She felt her stomach turn with the smell of alcohol.

Jonathan was nervous. He didn’t want to shoot and risk hitting Elizabeth. He moved a little closer, taking only two steps toward them. The man got scared and slashed the broken bottle across her face.

Elizabeth jumped in pain and Jonathan fired. The small space she gave was enough for him to hit the man’s shoulder.

He fell backward and stayed on the floor moaning. Jonathan ran to Elizabeth, who was in the other corner of the room, frightened.

“Eliz, are you okay?”

“Jonathan, my face. I never hurt my face!”

Elizabeth was desperate. Jonathan quickly took her downstairs and put her in the car.

“We’re going to a hospital, and please don’t be mad at me for what I’m going to do.”

Elizabeth held one of Jonathan’s handkerchiefs to the cut. It was already red with blood. She still hadn’t understood what Jonathan had said. He dialed a number while driving and left the phone on speaker.

“Hello.” The person on the other end answered.

“Adam, do you know where Elizabeth works?”

“Yes, why?”

“There’s a drunk bastard shot there. He tried to grab Elizabeth… He made a cut on her face.”

“You don’t need to say anything else. I’ll take care of it!” Adam would be the American Torturer at that moment. He would use the worst in himself to finish off the man who had hurt his sister. Jonathan avoided giving him jobs. He did so at Elizabeth’s request. She said that with every job, his cruelty increased.

Jonathan took Elizabeth to the hospital and argued with the doctors for a plastic surgeon. He attended to Elizabeth and made a bandage without stitches on her face.

Elizabeth spent the night in the hospital and the next day Jonathan took her home.

He arrived with her sleeping in the car. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the apartment. James helped him get inside. Jonathan thanked him and placed Elizabeth on the bed.

He filled the bathtub and picked Elizabeth up again.

“My beautiful, wake up. You need to take a bath.”

“Jonathan, how long was I asleep?”

“You left the hospital sleeping. I carried you in my arms all the way up here.”

Elizabeth smiled shyly. Jonathan placed her in the bathtub and she woke up. Jonathan kissed her and caressed the cut on her face.

“It’s not big and not very deep. It didn’t even need stitches. Since it’s close to the ear, you can still hide it with your hair, and if you want, later we’ll go to an aesthetics clinic.”

“I’m fine, Jonathan! I just want to rest with you by my side.”

Elizabeth noticed that Jonathan was acting strange. He seemed restless or angry, but couldn’t get it out.

“Is everything okay with you?”

Jonathan sighed, closed his eyes, and kissed Elizabeth’s hand. “I was scared, Elizabeth. I was afraid that bastard would hurt you and that I would lose you. I couldn’t take my eyes off the bottle near your neck.”

“Jonathan, I was scared too. I only feel safe with you.”

“I kept thinking that I wasn’t a good husband, that I was cruel to you, that I ruined all your dreams, and that you couldn’t even have children because of me.”

“Jonathan, that doesn’t matter… I love you!”

Elizabeth kissed Jonathan. He was sitting on the floor outside the bathtub. He had the sleeves of his shirt rolled up and didn’t mind getting his clothes wet. Seeing the love in Elizabeth’s eyes was what calmed his heart.