Chapter 135

Chapter 135
Lily’s POV

The black SUV idles outside Manchester School, its tinted windows a dark omen, my father’s driver standing beside it, his face is calm but his presence is like a chain pulling me back to a prison I’ve fought to escape. My heart pounds, my palms are sweaty, as I clutch my duffel bag, the campus fading behind me, Crew’s fierce promise—“I’m seeing you in the city”—a fragile hope against the terror swallowing me. Dad knows about us, my lie about Vermont exposed by my iCloud photos—Crew’s bare chest, my lip-gloss kisses, our sleepy selfie after I gave him my virginity. His call yesterday, his voice venomous—“You’re a slut, just like your mother”—promised punishment, and now I’m being summoned home, a place of shadows and screams. I’m terrified, my body is trembling, as I slide into the backseat, the leather cold, the driver's cold silent, and as the SUV pulls away, each mile tightening the noose of my fear.

The drive is long as my mind is racing with memories of Dad’s rage—his fists, his slaps, his voice calling me worthless. I lied to him, told him I was volunteering, but he knows the truth now, he has seen me with Crew, saw my love, my rebellion. The necklace—my grandmother’s engagement ring, his precious heirloom—is gone, Crew’s now, a symbol of my defiance, and the thought of Dad noticing its absence sends panic surging, my breath shallow, tears pricking. What will he do? Beat me? Worse? Mom’s warnings echo—“Stay quiet, or he’ll hurt us both”—and I dread what awaits her, her fragile frame no match for his cruelty. I’m scared for us both, my heart aching for Crew, his love a fire I’m clinging to, but it feels distant, powerless against the monster I’m returning to.

The estate looms, its iron gates a cage, and my dad's driver pulls into the driveway, my stomach churning as I step out terrified, the cold biting my skin. The front door opens, and Dad’s there, his face a mask of rage, his eyes dark, dangerous. “Inside,” he snaps, his voice low, cold, and I obey, my legs shaking, my bag dropping as I enter the foyer, the house silent but heavy with threat. Mom’s in the living room, her eyes wide, her hands twisting, and I want to run to her, but Dad’s hand grips my arm, his fingers bruising, dragging me towards her.

“You lied,” he snarls,as he shoves me onto the couch, my body trembling, tears spilling. “You fucked that boy, shared a bed, took photos like a whore.” His voice rises, like a whip, and I flinch, my heart racing, my fear a living thing. “Where’s the necklace?” he demands, his eyes narrowing, noticing its absence, and my breath catches, terror choking me.

“I… lost it,” I whisper, a half-truth, Crew’s claim—“You’re mine”—a secret I can’t reveal. Dad’s face twists, fury exploding, as his hand cracks across my face, the sting sharp as my lip is spilt, my cheek burning, a sob tearing from me.

“Lost it?” he roars, grabbing my shoulders, shaking me, his spit flecking my face. “That was your grandmother’s! You’re worthless, Lily, a disgrace!” Another blow lands, his fist to my jaw, pain bursting, my vision is blurring, and I crumple, my body losing its balance as I fall to the ground, my arms shielding my head as he rains down hits, his kicks to my ribs stealing my breath. I scream, the pain searing, my mind on Crew, his love, my only anchor, but it’s not enough, not against this.

Mom cries out, “Stop, please!” and rushes forward, her frail hands pulling at him, her voice sounding desperate. Dad turns, his rage going crazy, as he backhands her,sending her body as she hits the floor, sending a sickening thud, her whimper breaking my heart. “You raised her to be a slut!” he bellows, kicking her, her gasps ragged as she cries, and I see red, my fear shaping into a desperate need to save her.

“Stop!” I scream, scrambling up despite the pain, my ribs aching, my face throbbing. I throw myself at his back, my hands clawing his arm, dragging him back and biting his bald head, my voice shaking. “Leave her alone! You’ll kill her!” He stumbles as he yells “Get off me you bitch.” his bulk heavy, but I bite his head harder, dragging blood, my nails digging, my strength fueled by terror and love for Mom, who’s curled on the floor, blood trickling from her lip.

Dad shakes me off his body eventually as he touches his head and looks at me with terror in his eyes as I wipe blood from my mouth. “You crazy bitch!!” he yelled as he charged towards me with mad rage with his fist raised, but I duck, shoving him, my body trembling, with so much rage and anger. “You’re a monster!” I yell out loud, tears streaming, my voice breaking. “I hate you!” His eyes widened, shock flickering, and I seized the moment, grabbing Mom’s arm, pulling her up, her weight is heavy but my resolve fiercer. “Run,” I whisper, pushing her toward the hall, her sobs echoing as she stumbles away.

“Get back here.” He yells.

He charges again, but I'm quick to grab a knife on the table as I put it to him,my heart pounding, my fear absolute but my defiance alive. “You won’t touch her again,” I hiss, my voice trembling as he looks at me with shock.

His breath is ragged now, his rage a storm, but he hesitates, my rebellion is a shock, my mother’s escape a loss of control. “You’re making a huge mistake,” he snarls, but I back away, my eyes locked on him with the knife still pointing at him, my body bruised, my soul battered but unbroken.

“We're leaving and if you think of coming to us now. I'll kill you.” My voice is low and dangerous as I glare at him with hate. He knows I'll stab him if he tries anything as he looks lost.

I turn, running after Mom, finding her in the kitchen, her face pale, her hands shaking. “We have to leave,” I whisper, my voice urgent, my ribs screaming, my cheek swollen. She nods, tears falling, and I know we’re not safe, not here, not with him.

Crew’s face flashes—his fierce kisses, his vow to protect me—and I cling to it, needing his strength, his love, to survive this. Dad’s voice echoed through the house, threatening, but I’m done being his victim, done letting him break us. I grab Mom’s hand, my heart racing, my body aching, and we move toward the back door, the promise of freedom a flicker in the dark, Crew’s love my guide, my fight just beginning.

“Run!” I yelled as my mom and I ran away from the mansion with speed.