Chapter 2
462 Words
Ivan must not have heard me clearly. He turned around with a questioning look.
I covered my face and roughly wiped away the tears I hadn't even realized were there.
The movement pulled at my injuries. My body swayed to one side. My collar slipped open.
Ivan suddenly froze. Then he walked back.
Squatting in front of me, he hooked a finger under my collar.
"Sabina, this is exactly why you'd make the perfect mistress. You're naturally seductive. Cora would never pull something like this."
My blood boiled. I raised my hand to slap him.
He caught my wrist effortlessly.
"Sabina, you'll never have Cora's innocence. We've already slept together so many times. What's with acting shy now? What are you pretending to be, pure?"
His eyes drifted to the marks scattered across my neck.
"I still remember your first time. No matter what I did, you stayed completely quiet. That's when I realized you weren't nearly as innocent as you acted. And later, you proved we were perfect together in bed."
My breathing stopped.
I looked at the face I'd seen every single day for years. For the first time, it felt like I was staring at a complete stranger.
Ivan suddenly lowered his head and smiled. "Cora was different. She cried the whole first time. Her tears soaked my chest. They almost broke my heart. I'd never felt that with you. It took her days to recover. That's when I knew I had to take responsibility for her."
The smile disappeared. For once, his expression turned serious.
"Sabina, you've always been able to handle everything on your own. But Cora can't. She cries easily. People bully her because she's an orphan. I have to give her a home. I want her to stop living in fear. Sabina... You understand that, don't you?"
Something surged violently inside my chest. I couldn't hold it back anymore.
Covering my mouth, I stumbled into the bathroom. Everything he'd just said came rushing back.
Along with my nausea. I threw it all up.
Disgusting.
For the first time, I wondered whether sacrificing so much for a man like him had ever been worth it.
Ivan was the one who said he liked quiet during s*x.
I loved him, so I stayed silent.
Year after year. Until all he remembered was my obedience.
Ivan leaned lazily against the bathroom door.
"Are you pregnant?"
Before I could answer, he spoke again, "If you are, get rid of it. My child can't be born a bastard."
My fingers clenched the edge of the toilet so hard my knuckles turned white.
Using the last bit of strength I had, I forced myself to stand.
I met his eyes. Word by word.
"My child... will never be some bastard's bastard."
- Writer
