His Obsession, My contract.

Kept For This Day

Chapter Two

By the time I got home, I was already tired—so tired I could barely remove my clothes before reaching for the bed. But Hudson and Bella had other plans.

"Eva! Eva!! Eva!!! You're back!"

If I didn't love them, I would have cursed so hard.

"Yes, darlings, I'm back. How was school today?"

"Eww, you say it like we are some kids, Eva," Bella said.

Right! Like, eleven- and twelve-year-olds aren't kids. "You're not kids anymore? Really? Now what if I just tickle you guys, then—"

"No, Eva, stop!" They laugh as we play around, and all of a sudden, I don't feel that tired anymore.

"Stop, Eva! Hahaha, not my legs!" Hudson says.

"Well, who are the big sis's strong kids?"

"We are!"

"That's very good."

"How are you feeling today, Eva? You look so down." Bella has always been the observant type, and I don't want such a burden for a child.

"I'm just tired, and when you're tired, you look down. That's all."

"Hmm, okay."

"So..."

Here we go. I knew this wasn't ordinary. "What is it, guys?"

"So we wanted to go to Jordan's house," Hudson says.

"Yes, Eva, it's the weekend," Bella follows up.

Honestly, any other day I would have argued, but Jordan's house is just a few blocks away, so I made a call to his mom, asking if she'd be home. She assured me they'd be fine, so I let them go, with a promise that they'd be back before 6 pm. They left. The tiredness engulfed me again, and I just slept.

...

I don't know what time it was, but still deep in my sleep, I felt a hand touch my thighs, making its way right to my panties. I felt my heart jump out of my skin as I woke up, turned the light on beside my bed with immediate speed, and right on my bed sat Derrick—Aunt May's husband.

"What are you doing?" I could barely hear myself speak.

He smiled at me—the kind of smile that sends chills down your spine—only instead of doing that, it just fueled my anger the most.

"Get out," I said again, inaudibly.

"Nobody is home. Just you and me. I promise you will enjoy this moment."

I felt like puking my intestines out.

"Get out," I repeated.

"Come on. It won't hurt, I promise." He advanced again to touch me. I flew out of the bed, stood beside my wardrobe, and with all the strength I could muster, shouted, "GET THE f**k AWAY FROM ME!"

"What, do you feel like you're untouchable? I can do anything I want with you, and you know your aunt won't support or believe you even if you told her. She loathes you and your siblings."

Yeah, breaking news.

"One more step towards me, Derrick, and you will regret it."

"Hahaha. What can a petite thing like you do?" He rushed towards me, seized me by the neck, and nearly choked me—or so he thought. Right next to the curtain of my wardrobe was an already-kept wine bottle for this day. I smashed it so quickly on his head before he could blink. He took two steps back, and without thinking, I grabbed the chair in my room and continued to hit him until he passed out. I didn't stop till I was sure the chair broke against his body. All the anger I'd felt this past two years, all the fear from knowing I was under the same roof as a groomer, led me not to leave him until I was sure he was injured for life.

When the adrenaline wore off, I checked the time and saw it was past 7 pm. I didn't have time to dwell on whether the person in my room was dead or not—I left immediately to look for my siblings.

On getting to Jordan's house, there they were, eating. I didn't know whether to be angry they hadn't come back at the time I told them to or be glad they were safe.

"Eva, darling, what's wrong? Are you "okay?"—coming from Jordan's mom, Mrs. Ethone.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I was just worried Hudson and Bella were running late."

"Oh, love, but I sent you a message saying they'd be staying for dinner, if you didn't mind, and I'd bring them back myself." Right—my phone. I hadn't had time to check it.

"Hmm, oh yeah, sorry, I didn't have the time to check. Sorry."

"No need to be. I insisted they stay—they really wanted to leave at the agreed time, so I apologize."

"No, it's fine, Mrs. Ethone. I'm glad you let them stay."

"Are you sure you're okay, darling?"

"Yeah, what—yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine, don't worry. I just panicked because I was sleeping."

"Alright, come with me to the kitchen." We walked toward her massive, exquisite-looking kitchen.

"Let me have your hands, dear." That was when I noticed my hands were bleeding.

"Oh, it's nothing, I just..."

"Shush. I didn't ask you to explain—you don't have to if you don't want to. Let me clean it up for you. You don't want the kids seeing you like this and getting worried, do you?"

"Thanks, Mrs. Ethone."

"No problem. We'll just get you cleaned up—catch your breath, and by then the kids will be done eating, and you can be on your way."

"Thanks, Mrs. Ethone."

"Isabella. You can call me Isabella, dear."

"Oh, thanks, Isabella." She smiled at me and then left me alone with my thoughts.

Actually, today wasn't the first time Derrick had made such approaches toward me—each time worse than the last. I'd always had difficulty sleeping, dreading the thought that this day would come, so I'd prepared in advance, mentally and physically, just in case it ever happened. I didn't want to be screaming for help. I have siblings to take care of. If I'm not mentally prepared for anything, how can I survive with them in this harsh world?

I know I still had a demon to face after him—May. Because he was right. She doesn't care about me. She'll always side with her husband, just because she hates me. And I know who'll be on the terrible receiving end of this ordeal. Me.

And honestly, do I give a flying f*ck? Not really.