His Toxic Love

Chapter 9 I Am Luke

A neighbor whom I didn't have much contact with suddenly said that he wanted to take care of me. What a funny thing. The thought struck me, and I couldn't help but burst into laughter.

I looked at him, whom I wasn’t familiar with, and replied, “Lucas, I don’t have time to hear you joking with me. See you.” I attempted to close the door, but he slipped his arm through the c***k, blocking it. “Amy, maybe my proposal sounded abrupt, but I mean it,” he pleaded.

Ignoring his pleas, I still tried to close the door. Lucas didn't give up and asked, “Have you forgotten me?”

I started to look at him with confusion.

“Do you recall the boy who used to write you letters ten years ago?” Puzzled, surprised, and a bit uncertain, I looked at him and said, “Luke? Are you Luke?” He nodded with a smile, confirming, “Yes, it's me, Amy.”

Ten years ago, I met Luke （Lucas’s pen name） through a school activity. I never expected that he, who had once been a mere pen pal, would be standing in front of me now.

Lucas shared about his life after we lost contact: how he graduated from high school, got into a medical school in city A, and eventually became a doctor in a hospital. I listened to him quietly, and congratulated him genuinely, because I knew that his past wasn't easy.

As for me, I felt too embarrassed to say anything. When Lucas was about to leave, he suggested again, “Amy, let me take care of you, okay? You're alone and pregnant. You need someone to be with you.”

I smiled at him and kindly refused, “Lucas, thanks for your kindness, but I don't need it right now. When I need your help, I'll let you know, okay?”

Seeing me insisted to be alone, Lucas moved his hands away from the door frame. Still, he asked me to take care of myself before driving away.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, my phone rang nonstop while I was taking a shower. I ran out of the bathroom, feeling a little cold as my whole body was wet. Taking up the phone, the word “husband” was on the screen. It's Sebastian. How long had it been since he last called me? Was it when he assumed that I had abandoned his brother and left on my own, or was it after he woke up from that engagement party, finding out that the woman he held was me? It had been far too long ago.

I gently rubbed my lower abdomen and couldn't help but wryly smile before pressing the power-off button. In the past, even if I knew that he was only calling to insult and torment me, I would have eagerly answered the call. But now, I couldn't bear to love such a cruel man.

Later that night, I switched on my phone again to find over 30 missed calls, all from Sebastian. This showed me how much he wanted to abort my child.

Wrapped in a blanket and lying on the sofa, I felt the thrill of revenge. Even someone as formidable as Sebastian could be infuriated. He must be angry about me disappearing from his life. Maybe there was a tiny part of me that took some comfort in knowing that he still cared.

Baby, did you see it? Daddy loves mommy. The notification of the phone interrupted me picturing a happy family. It was a video request from Grace. I clicked on it before thinking about anything.

Instantly, Sebastian's furious voice echoed through the shaking camera, “Grace, show your face! Don't think you can escape forever!”

My eyelids twitched and my heart pounded in panic. Apart from grabbing the phone tightly, I dare not to do anything else.

Grace, what do you mean? You promised to hide me and my baby. I quickly typed out the words and sent the message to Grace. If Grace revealed my whereabouts to Sebastian, I couldn't imagine the consequences.

In the video, Sebastian was out of control, tossing things from my closet onto the floor. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his rage was palpable. I used to endure his temper and stay by his side, but now, I felt pity for him on the other end of the phone. My absence seemed to make him feel irritated.