Chapter 41

I slid down to the floor, my back against the door, and let the tears consume me. I couldn't take it anymore - Marco's threats, Xavier's concern, the constant fear.

As I cried, my mind started to clear. I knew I had to do something, anything, to get rid of Marco. I couldn't keep living like this.

I thought about going to the police, but Marco had connections. He'd find a way to silence me.

I thought about running, leaving everything behind, but Marco would find me and it would break Xavier.

I needed a plan, a way to take control. And then it hit me - I would use Xavier's to get to Marco. I would gather evidence, build a case, and take him down. I would give everything to Marci and when he feels like he has won, ilk take him down .

A sense of determination washed over me. I wiped away my tears and stood up, looking at myself in the mirror. I was done being a victim. I was done being afraid.

I took a deep breath and opened the door, ready to face Xavier and start my plan. But as I saw his concerned face, I knew I had to keep it a secret. For now.

"Hey," I said, trying to sound calm. "I'm okay. Just needed a minute."

Xavier's eyes searched mine, but he didn't push the issue. "Okay," he said. "I'm here for you."

I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. He had no idea what I was planning, but he would soon. And together, we would take down Marco.

I stepped out of the bathroom, a sense of resolve washing over me. I knew what I had to do. I had to betray Xavier's trust to get rid of Marco once and for all.

My heart ached at the thought, but I pushed it aside. I had to be strong, for myself, for my freedom.

Xavier looked up at me, concern etched on his face. "Hey, are you okay?"

I forced a smile, trying to appear calm. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed a minute."

He nodded, but his eyes lingered on mine, searching for something. I knew he didn't believe me, but I didn't care. I had to keep up the charade.

I walked over to him, my heart heavy with the weight of my secret. I knew I was using him, manipulating him. But I had no choice.

"Xavier, I need your help with something," I said, trying to sound casual.

He nodded, eager to assist. "Anything, babe. What do you need?"

I took a deep breath, knowing I was crossing a line. "Where do you keep your documents? The house's company stuffs etc."

Xavier's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in. "What is it, babe? Why are you asking?"

I hesitated, knowing I couldn't reveal the truth. Not yet. "Nothing. I just want to know."

Xavier's gaze lingered on mine, but he nodded. "Everything's with my lawyer."

My heart twisted at his words. I was betraying that trust, using him for my own gain. But I pushed the guilt aside. I had to see this through.

I stared at my phone, my heart racing as I saw my father's name flash on the screen. I hesitated for a moment before answering, a mix of emotions swirling inside me.

"Dad?" I said, trying to sound calm.

"Avery, sweetie, I did it!" my father exclaimed, his voice booming with excitement. "I won the primary election! I'm one step closer to becoming mayor!"

I felt a surge of happiness for my father, maybe this time he'll let Xavier and I off the hook but it was quickly overshadowed by anxiety and dread. What did this mean for me? For my plan to take down Marco?

"Avery, I need your help," my father continued, his voice serious. "I need Xavier's help, too. I want him to join my campaign. He's the best, and I know he'll help me win."

My mind raced as I tried to process this new development. Xavier, helping my father's campaign? It was the worst thing that could happen. What's wrong with my father? Why's he treating me like this?

I felt a pang of guilt and unease, knowing I would be manipulating Xavier, using his connections to further my own agenda. But I pushed it aside, focusing on the end goal: taking down Marco and freeing myself from his grasp.

"Congratulations, Dad," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "I'll talk to Xavier, see what he says."

My father's voice was filled with excitement and anticipation. "Great, sweetie! I knew I could count on you. Let's celebrate tonight, okay?"

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Okay, Dad. I'll see you tonight."

As I hung up the phone, I felt a mix of emotions: anxiety, guilt, determination. I knew what I had to do, but it wouldn't be easy. I would have to use Xavier, manipulate him, to get what I wanted. But I was willing to do whatever it took to take down Marco and free myself from his grasp.

I threw my phone onto the couch cushion, frustration coursing through my veins. Why now? Why did my father have to win the primary election now, of all times? It would be difficult trying to help my father and trying to take Marco down.

But no, my father had to come along and complicate everything. He needed Xavier's help, and I knew Xavier would agree. He would do anything to help me, to help my father.

I felt a surge of anger towards my father, towards his timing, towards his obliviousness. Didn't he know what I was going through? Didn't he know about Marco, about the danger I was in?

But of course, he didn't. I had kept it a secret, hidden it from him, from everyone. And now, he was stressing me out, adding to my anxiety.

I stood up, pacing back and forth across the room. I couldn't think straight, couldn't focus. My mind was a jumble of emotions, of worries.

Why did this have to happen now? Why did my father have to win now, of all times? I felt like screaming, like yelling at the universe to just give me a break.

But I didn't. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I had to think, had to focus. I had to find a way to take down Marco, no matter what.

And if that meant using my father's campaign, using Xavier's connections, then so be it. I would do whatever it took to finally be free.

Xavier's arms wrapped around me, holding me close. I felt a sense of comfort, of security, but I knew I couldn't indulge in it. I gently pushed him away, trying not to hurt him.

But Xavier's eyes welled up with tears. "Babe why are you pushing me away?" he asked, his voice cracking. "I'm trying to help you, to support you. But you're hurting me."

I felt a pang of sadness, seeing Xavier cry. I didn't want to hurt him, but I had to. I had to keep him at arm's length if I was going to take down Marco.

"Xavier, I'm sorry," I said, trying to sound calm. "I just need some space right now. Please understand."

But Xavier's tears only fell harder. "You're always pushing me away, Lilith. You're always hiding from me. It hurts me, my love. It hurts me so much."

I felt my heart ache, seeing Xavier like this. But I knew I couldn't give in. I had to be strong, for myself, for my freedom.

"Xavier, I'm doing this for us," I said, trying to convince him. "I'm doing this to protect us, to keep us safe."

But Xavier just shook his head, his eyes filled with tears. "You're not protecting me, babe. You're hurting me. And I don't know how much more I can take."

Xavier tried to hold me again, his arms reaching out for me. But I pushed him away, gently but firmly. I couldn't let him in, not now, not when I was so close to taking down Marco.

Xavier's face fell, his eyes filling with sadness. He recoiled, his arms dropping to his sides. "Babe, please," he whispered. "Don't push me away. I'm trying to help you."

But I just shook my head, feeling a pang of guilt. I couldn't let him in, not now. I had to see this through, no matter how much it hurt him.

I turned and walked away, leaving Xavier standing alone in the room. I could feel his eyes on me, could sense his sadness and confusion. But I didn't look back. I kept walking, out of the room, out of his sight.

I knew I was hurting him, but I had to. I had to take down Marco, no matter what the cost. And if that meant pushing Xavier away, then so be it. I would do it, for myself, for my freedom.

I closed the door behind me, taking a deep breath. I could do this. I had to do this. I would see it through, no matter what.

I hadn't even reached the end of the stairs when I heard the first crash. I froze, my heart skipping a beat. What was that?

Another crash followed, and another, each one louder and more intense than the last. I felt a surge of fear and rushed back up the stairs, my heart racing.

I burst into the room, and my eyes widened in shock. Xavier was standing in the middle of the room, his face twisted in anger and sadness. The room was scattered, furniture overturned, objects broken and shattered on the floor.

Xavier's eyes met mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. I saw the pain and hurt in his eyes, and my heart ached.

"What are you doing?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

Xavier didn't answer. He just turned away and picked up a vase, hurling it against the wall. It shattered into a hundred pieces, and I felt a pang of fear.

"Xavier, stop!" I cried, rushing towards him. "Please, stop!"

But he didn't listen. He kept breaking things, kept destroying the room. I tried to grab him, to hold him, but he pushed me away.

"Leave me alone!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Just leave me alone!"

I stumbled back, tears streaming down my face. I didn't know what to do. I had never seen Xavier like this since the last few months. He was always so calm, so collected. But now, he was broken, shattered like the objects on the floor and it hurts that I did this to him.

I rushed to Xavier, wrapping my arms around him, holding him tight. "I'm here for you," I whispered into his ear. "I'm not going anywhere."

But Xavier just shook his head, his body trembling with sobs. "You're going to abandon me again," he cried, his voice cracking. "You're going to leave me like you always do."

I held him closer, feeling his tears soak into my skin. "No, Xavier, I'm not going anywhere," I repeated. "I'm here for you. I promise."

But Xavier just cried harder, his body shivering in my arms. I held him tight, trying to absorb his pain, trying to calm him down.

Slowly, his sobs began to subside, his body relaxing into mine. I stroked his hair, whispering softly into his ear. "I'm here, Xavier. I'm not going anywhere. You're safe."

As he calmed down, Xavier's grip on me tightened. He held me like he was afraid to let me go, like he was afraid I would disappear. I held him just as tight, trying to reassure him that I was here to stay.

Eventually, Xavier's tears stopped, and he just lay in my arms, his body shivering occasionally. I held him for a long time, trying to comfort him, trying to make him feel safe.

As we stood there, I realized that I had been so focused on my own pain, my own fear, that I had neglected Xavier's. I had neglected his feelings, his needs. And now, he was paying the price.

I vowed to do better, to be there for Xavier like he had always been there for me. I vowed to support him, to comfort him, to love him.