Chapter 50 Never letting go
Ben first looks at me like I'm an alien from outer space, in total disbelief that I would utter those words.
"You're breaking off the engagement?"
I step closer to him to hug him or try to comfort him, or something. "Yes, I love you, but I don't think we have any spark left after high school, and I know we've been talking about getting married forever, but we shouldn't."
He takes a step back from my outstretched hand. "No, you're not breaking up with me. We're getting married."
Tears gather in my eyes. I knew it was going to be difficult to break up with him. I also didn't really know what to expect, but I certainly didn't think he would be in denial, especially since he's always been so straight forward.
I shake my head. "I can't get married to you, Ben. I don't have the feelings a fiance is supposed to have."
Then he does something completely uncharacteristic. He throws his head back and laughs. I almost join in, just out of pure confusion.
"That was hilarious." He wipes his eyes with the back of his hand like it's all one, big joke.
I must look very confused, because he smirks and walks over to me, taking my face in his hand in a punishing grip so I can look at him only.
What the hell is happening?
"You don't get to leave me." He whispers menacingly, the blue eyes I always thought were kind and sincere turning sinister.
"Ben, what are you doing?" I whisper when his hand tightens on my face and I grab his shirt to push him away. "Ben, you're hurting me!"
He angles his head sideways as he looks at me with narrowed eyes. Is this the boy I thought I was safe with? Because this man gripping my face is not the same Benedict Cargill that I've known for almost a decade.
"Listen to me and listen closely." His minty breath blows over my face, and my stomach is churning at this drastic change of events. "You don't get to leave. I handpicked you to be my wife, to bear my children, because you're just fucking perfect."
It feels like that word that has been my prison for so long echoes in the room and all around us.
Tears start streaming down my face at this stranger that I gave my virginity to on our prom night, in what I thought was the most romantic thing ever when he booked that posh hotel room. This man that I don't know who I spent hours with telling him my biggest dreams.
He knows everything there is about me, because I trusted him. I thought I knew him.
But it's like he's peeling the mask off right in front of me. Gone with the good, gentle, nice guy. And in with someone who is sly and malicious.
Oh God, what did he do to Katherine McDowell, and why?
He kisses my bunched up lips softly. "Just look at you. Utter perfection. I knew it from the moment that I saw you that I will have you, that I will break you until you're shattered into a tiny thousand porcelain pieces that only I know how to put together."
I start shivering at his cold words even though the temperature in my apartment is a comfortable temperature.
"And then I found out who you were. I decided right there and then that you would be my wife. Connected to one of the richest men in the world?" He chuckles and licks a nasty line up my cheek. "You don't get to leave me when I decided you are the one who will bear my last name."
The shivering stops and my body locks in on itself.
"And don't try anything with me, you have no idea how many things I have on you and your little mob family." He laughs again and I wonder if it always sounded so evil and I just never noticed because I chose not to. "So everytime I summon you, you will open your precious legs for me, and I will fuck you how I want, and I will cum inside you until you're pregnant with my child."
He shoves me backwards and I whimper as my hand go to my face that will definitely bruise.
"You can be lucky I've been fucking some slut the whole morning, and I'm tired now." He smiles like it's the most natural thing to do. "I will send some things over to your phone, and yes, it is a threat."
He lets himself out and I run to the door to frantically lock it, because at least he can't get in. I slide down the door in absolute horror as the stark truth settles over me.
Benedict Cargill is a monster.
And I've been trapped in his web ever since freshman year.
Now what the hell am I going to do?