Chapter 25-4

He had been her guardian angel come to rescue her from her own mind, but somewhere along the way, the guardian angel turned into the devil himself. "He asked me why someone so beautiful looked so sad. I remember telling him everything that day. I cried as I told him I didn't want to live, I cried as I told him about my baby girl Ava I lost. I told him everything and after all, was said and done he said he would be back tomorrow at the same time. I didn't expect him to come back. I had laid all my secrets out, but the next day he showed up and the day after that. He made me feel beautiful, he made it sound that what I was going through was normal. He told me that only crazy people were in psychiatric care and I didn't need it, so after a month I checked myself out and stopped taking my medication because Landon said I didn't need it." Charlotte looked down at her hands before continuing. "He made me feel safe. He would watch me for hours painting back at my apartment and tell me where I needed to fix something or change colours here. Often, I would disagree with him, but after taking on board his suggestions I found he was right. We were dating for 2 months before I moved in with him. I thought we were rushing it, but he told me he loved me, that I was special. He listened to me cry when I felt like I wanted to die when the grief of losing my child became too much. He listened to me talk about my fears and worries and never once laughed at a stupid idea. Then it all changed." Charlotte looked toward the officers with tears in her eyes and saw that they had stopped writing and were watching her intently. "When was the first time he hit you Charlotte?" They asked, and she wiped her eyes. "It would have been a year into our relationship. In May 2018 I had my first art show I was excited there were heaps of people but nothing sold. I remember crying after all my hard work for it to amount to nothing. By October I had sold not a single painting, even when they were being given away for next to nothing. I had just gotten off the phone to the lady looking after my artwork when Landon told me maybe it was a sign. He had been leaving hints for weeks that I should give up art and focus on something more meaningful and I turned around to told him to go fuck himself and the next thing I knew there was blood in my mouth and I was on the floor holding my cheek." "It shocked me, Landon quickly rushed to the floor apologising repeatedly promising it would never happen again. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the night. The next day I had a diamond Rolex, and I forgave him." She looked at her bare wrist and knew the other reason for the watch was so Landon didn't have to look at her ugly scar. "This is a hard question Charlotte, but you are doing so well. Did Mr Keating ever have sex with you without your consent?" Charlotte couldn't help the dry, emotionless laugh that escaped her. "I was gifted a 2-week holiday to the Bahamas the first time, but it was my job as his girlfriend and fiancée, that's all I was good for sex and having children." She recited in a distant tone as she heard Landon's voice in her head telling her it was his right as he thrust into her repeatedly as she begged him to stop. Charlotte couldn't look at Chase and see the disgusted look on his face so instead Charlotte starred at the wall behind the two officers. "Charlotte can you take us through what happened the night of the attack." Charlotte nodded her head and in a monotone voice walked through the events of the other night. She was shaking as tears ran down her face as she recalled Landon taking a bat to her hand. She felt her stomach churning as she recounted the way he kept hitting her repeatedly. "I hit him with a bat." She started laughing hysterically, which caused her ribs to throb in pain. "I hit him over the head. I'm a bad, bad girl." She giggled and soon the giggling turned into gut-wrenching sobs as Chase pulled her into his arms and shook her back a fourth. "I just wanted to get away, I didn't think I hit him that hard, but he fell to the floor and I ran. It's all my fault. I did this to myself, I deserved this to happen to me. It's my punishment for not knowing I was pregnant and losing the baby." Charlotte could hear Chase whispering soothing words that it wasn't her fault as she sobbed into his shoulder. She was sitting across his lap with her left hand clutching onto his shirt. "Charlotte, what happened to you wasn't your fault. He took advantage of you when you were in a vulnerable position. He manipulated you so you would believe only him. Now nothing I say will make you believe me, but this wasn't your fault none of it and we will make sure that Mr Keating will be locked away for a very long time. I don't care how powerful he is Charlotte I will make sure he never hurts you again." Charlotte turned her head to face officer Lucy Gram who was kneeling next to the couch looking at Charlotte. Charlotte saw the truth in her eyes that she would do everything in her power to make sure Landon never hurt her again and she believed her. Charlotte was suddenly overwhelmed with extreme exhaustion and felt her eyes slowly drop. She heard the officers say something, but her mind was already slowly starting to shut down. She felt herself being laid across the couch and before Chase could return; she passed out from emotional exhaustion. *** January 2016- Charlie turns 23 May 2018 age 25- first art show. October 2018 age 25- Landon makes her quiet painting. February 2020, age 28- move back to Australia and meets Chase again