Chapter 4 Divorce!
1143 Words
Eric's silhouette crept closer, his features obscured by the moon's glow behind him.
Caroline's pulse raced, but she feigned composure, brandishing the contract at him. "Eric, why on earth did you keep this from me?"
She had seen him as her husband, been seduced into his arms...
Recalling how close they had been just moments ago heated her cheeks with embarrassment.
"Caroline, despite our contractual marriage, I truly love you." Eric's words carried a deceptive sweetness tinged with danger.
Realizing his deliberate manipulation to engage in intimacy, Caroline gritted her teeth in anger.
"It appears I didn't harbor any love for you before my memory loss, or we never would've resorted to a contractual marriage."
Her sharp words pricked Eric's tender spot, plunging him into silence.
"Yes, you don't love me. Your reasons for marrying me were different. But it never mattered to me. I agreed to it willingly," he murmured, the words heavy with a mix of self-pity and heartfelt anguish—a portrayal of a man deeply wounded by love.
Had Caroline not experienced these revelations, she might have believed his words.
However, the bruises on her wrist served as a reminder that his affection stemmed from possession rather than genuine love. Yet, she was her own person, not some tamed pet to be leashed and kept close!
She must get rid of this dreadful man. Rather than being a pampered captive canary, she would prefer her former life of poverty, where she was self-sufficient with her own two hands!
She had to break free from this terrifying man's grip!
"Eric, I'm sorry," she raised her head, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve. "I don't think I can stay with you. I need a divorce."
Eric's complexion turned deathly white in an instant, devoid of any trace of color.
As he moved a step closer, Caroline recoiled almost reflexively, her features etched with fear.
The same fear she'd felt towards him before her memory had slipped away.
She was so petrified that she would fight against his hold, risking injury just to break free.
Eric's heart constricted.
No, he finally managed to turn things around. He couldn't mess up and let her go!
"Okay," he relented, leaving Caroline stunned by his agreement.
His demeanor softened, his deep blue eyes shimmering with tears as he spoke, "I love you, so I won't force you."
"Thank you," Caroline said, bowing her head to avoid softening.
"Even if we divorce, we can still be friends, right?" Eric reached for her hand, noticing her instinctive attempt to withdraw when he touched the palm where the brooch had pricked her.
Quickly prying open her hand, he spotted the bleeding wound, his expression shifting. "What happened?"
Before she could respond, he guided her to the bed, retrieving iodine and cotton swabs to tend to her injury, squatting before her with gentle care.
Feeling Eric's concern, Caroline experienced a whirlwind of emotions. Despite his proclamation of love, he had confined her to the house since she woke up. Yet, after agreeing to divorce, he displayed genuine worry over her minor injury.
At such proximity, witnessing tears welling in his eyes intensified Caroline's guilt.
"Does it hurt?" he inquired tenderly as he finished dressing her wound.
"It's okay," she murmured, withdrawing her hand from his gentle grasp.
"Then rest well." Eric's visage betrayed his sorrow and dismay as he rose slowly, departing the room with a heavy heart.
As the door closed, the sadness etched on Eric's face vanished.
Once again, Caroline contemplated fleeing. She was on the cusp of leaving him alone in his vast loneliness. That thought sent Eric's heart tumbling down a cliff of terror as he gripped his hands tight.
No, he must keep her for himself at all costs!
Caroline tossed and turned, unable to find solace in sleep until the sky began to brighten slightly.
Her dreams were fragmented and tumultuous. She dreamed of her mother, the boy next door, and herself as a child, running and crying, succumbing to scraped and bloodied knees.
A figure with indistinct features lifted her tenderly, whispering in her ear, "Why do you persist in leaving me? Look, you've hurt yourself again."
She didn't awaken until the afternoon.
When Caroline finally roused, she felt utterly drained and ravenous, as though she had weathered a profound disaster.
Eric had prepared a substantial lunch, patiently awaiting her company once she had freshened up.
Faced with his kindness, she experienced a tumult of emotions. Few individuals in the world offered such generosity without expecting reciprocation.
Since she couldn't repay him, she instinctively resisted his benevolence.
The pair finished their meal in silence before venturing outside together.
It was only then that Caroline realized they resided in a sprawling manor. A six-story villa dominated the grounds, its tightly sealed doors and windows resembling a colossal cage, suffocating even from a distance.
The weathered walls hinted at the manor's storied past.
"This manor was acquired when my mother was alive. It belonged to her father, my grandfather."
Eric explained as he settled into the driver's seat, fastening Caroline's seat belt with care.
She remained silent. With the divorce proceedings looming, their paths would soon diverge. She had no desire to delve deeper into his past.
His face shadowed by her aloofness, Eric grimly drove out of the villa.
Despite the dazzling afternoon sunshine, Caroline couldn't resist greedily drinking in the golden scenery beyond the window.
What could rival the exhilaration of reclaiming freedom?
Eric couldn't overlook the subtle smile gracing her lips.
With a tight grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turned slightly white.
Was she so eager to leave him?
Answering his question, he bore down on the gas pedal, and the car streaked ahead.
Abruptly, Eric wrenched the steering wheel, the brakes shrieking, as the vehicle screeched to a halt against an imposing roadside tree.
The piercing screech of the brakes abruptly ceased.
Stunned by the impact, Caroline was fortunate to suffer only a mild shock.
As she turned to face Eric, a figure clad in black, brandishing a gun, materialized outside the driver's window.
The gun was aimed directly at Caroline!
Eric's gaze also fell upon the menacing figure.
Before Caroline could even utter a scream, he pulled her into his protective embrace.
Bang! The bullet tore through the glass, embedding itself with a dull thud into the flesh.
Caroline felt Eric's chest convulse abruptly, his groans mingling with the rush of warm, viscous liquid.
Death's scent filled the car, overwhelming her senses.
She couldn't contain her scream.
The gunman, alerted by the commotion and the halting of other vehicles, fled hastily.
"Eric! Eric!" Caroline cradled Eric's face, her voice quivering with fear.
Beads of sweat dotted Eric's brow, his eyes narrowed in agony.
The bullet meant for her was now part of Eric.
Someone wanted her dead?
- Writer
