Broken not Defeated

03.

Leila raised her head to lock Julian's cold gaze, "I don't know what games you played with my father, but he's dead and you're free now", he continued like she should be grateful to him or something.

Beckoning on the thugs with a raise of hand, they rushed to pick her up. Looking around, he drew the wheelchair close and placed the file he came with on it. From within, he drew out a document and a pen. The thugs took her closer.

"Sign here", Julian commanded.

In her weakness, she loathed him even more. As they let go of her, she fell to the ground, shakily grabbing the pen and giving her signature. Her blood stained it but she was done with them for good.

Julian picked the document, his face twitched with disgust at her blood yet he shrugged it off, placing it back neatly into the file. "Leave", he commanded the thugs, they took a bow and retreated, leaving just Julian and Leila.

He squatted to her level, "I know dad must have paid for this. Well unless, you're repaying him a debt, but I guess you're glad his dead. You don't have to keep up with this", Julian said, his eyes running through her entire figure.

He remembered the first day she was presented to him. His dad had called him for dinner at a fancy restaurant. He noticed her figure the moment he walked in, and he scoffed.

His old man wouldn't give up on setting blind dates for him and it irked him how each one of them ladies were over the moon each time. Golddiggers! That's what they were, they cared less about the human! It was all about the money and he thought this was one of it. But no! He was wrong.

"Get to know her. She's your wife!", Mr. Ronan stated after random chats. The old man stood to his feet, "two options son...Accept her and live happily ever after or you could as well send her on her way and be on your way too, because you'd cease to be my son". He dumped the largest bomb and left them to themselves.

Julian had loathed her from that moment.

Leila's weak cough drew him back to present. She chuckled painfully at the full bloom of disdain that was present in his gaze. She too was reminded of their first meeting and even now, the look was the same as the first time. "You're the worst of your family Julian Styles", she smiled with pain. "We were both strangers but I made an effort! I tried to know and please a complete stranger but you?"

"No one ever asked you to do that. I know you're type and they are the pathetic kind. What were you thinking? I'd be wrapped so much around your fingers and then sign you a chunk of wealth when you kill me off?",

Julian stood to his full height not wanting to hear anymore. He tossed another envelope he'd gotten from his inner jacket. "We're done here. You should atleast take care of your bruises", he voiced and turned to leave.

She threw it back in rage and it met with his back causing him to halt and turn with a glare, "I don't need your f*****g money!!!" Leila yelled with sheer hatred and resentment, anger coursing through her veins that popped visibly on her neck and forehead, "just do not forget. Y'all would pay for this!"

Julian exhaled sharply. He ignored her and left. Her tears fell. She wanted this. She wanted to be done with them. But why did it hurt so much? Why was she in so much pain?

She gathered her last strength and rose to her feet, dusting herself. Her eyes caught the face cap they'd used on her, she limped towards it and put it on. She left with her face bowed. In the sea of people that littered the streets, she felt alone.

Flagging down a cab, she headed straight for the Styles mansion. It was late now. Possibly two in the morning. Leila shut her eyes as she winded the windows down, allowing the wind hit her face. The little happy girl she knew was gone. That innocent princess that was as free as the wind, she was gone. A lone tear trickled down.

It was funny how one's happy days could fade away in a second, like it never existed. Those happy days were now memories. Just memories. She remembered her mom. A lump formed in her throat.

The cab driver's voice reached her, stating their arrival at her destination. Her eye lids peeled open. She gazed out at the tall structure of the Styles residence. She must have been a fool to be happy at her meeting with Mr. Ronan. How could she have been so naive to think their contract was her mom looking out for her from above. She paid and alighted.

Passing through the gate, she could see the night workers stare disgusted at her. No one gave her the respect she deserved. Not even the family's dogs. Yet she kept her head high and walked in, straight into the little room she'd been forced into after Mr. Ronan had fallen ill. They had pushed her out of Julian's room and into this one but it had become her safe haven.

She rushed into the bathroom to wash up and when she was out, Leila picked her little stuffs and packed it all into a little bag. She grabbed the card which Ronan had handed her. This was her start. At first she wanted to leave it behind, but no! This was her sweat. She worked for it! And besides, compared to the torment she'd received from them, this was an underpayment.

She glanced at her room one last time and she left. Without looking back.

Making her first stop at a pharmacy, she got ointment for her bruises before making another stop at a little restaurant to eat. "Where to sleep?" She whispered to herself whilst digesting her meal.

From her exit at the mansion to her first stop at the pharmacy, she had already consoled herself, giving herself all the pep talk she would need. She had no one but herself. She was her own cheerleader and right now, crying and begging was a disgusting thing to do. Leila Smith would hold her head high and stand for herself. She'd work until she can look back and call this her past! If she needed no one trampling over her, this what she needed to do!

She paid for her meal and left the restaurant. She'd already realized that her phone had been broken badly as the thugs roughed her up, so she'd thrown it away. She had already asked the lady at the restaurant for any nearby motel she could pass the night and there she was headed.

Leila had only walked a pole away from the restaurant when she sighted him up front. Her eyes widened and her heart thumped in fear. Jason! - Her abusive ex!

"s**t!", she cussed, taking a sharp bend into an alley and running down not minding where it led. She can't possibly leave hell and walk into another. Jason would do worse things to her.

She slowed down to catch her breathe when she felt she had gotten farther away. "Gosh! That was close!", she swallowed, regulating her breathing.

She looked around at the unfamiliar place, she couldn't run back to where she came from, she just had to find another route out of here.

"Are you lost?", a hoarse voice sounded in the dark and she turned alarm. Her eyes darting to every corner but he snickered at her fear, a tall silhouette forming at her right. Leila peered closer, "who... Who are you?" She squinted her eyes, trying to capture his frame and he didn't hide, he stepped out fully into the light, causing Leila to stagger back in fear.

He had a scar on his cheek, seemed like a knife cut. A little knife in his hand, it's sharp blades glittering in the moonlight and streetlamps, a cigarette dangling between his two fingers as he drew a smoke.

"I asked if you're lost?" His eyes glazed over her figure. Leila was quick to shake her head in the negative, her brain seeming to shut down on her as she tried thinking of different escapes.

"No? But you seem lost to me. I can help. Just tell me where you're headed", he smiled devilishly at her and Leila began with a pace backward. A red light backed by a deafening siren going off in her head.

"Come closer", he beckoned like she was two or something. Even a year old would know to avoid his kind. Leila blinked and built courage in that split second, the moment he took the first step forward, she took to her heels, running into the next street and onto an incoming vehicle.

The loud screech drew a shrill cry from her as she fell on her butt in fear. Her breathing was skyrocketed, her heartbeat louder than ever. It was happening again. This time louder. Her airways constricted. She couldn't breathe. It reminded her again. The bright headlights! Her mother's scream intertwined in hers! Slowly, she couldn't grasp it.

Oxygen we were told surrounded us, but Leila couldn't seem to get any into her system, "mom", her mouth seemed to mutter as her eyes closed, her body grew limp falling sideways, she passed out.