Chapter 10
Heard Vivian was getting wasted at bars every night.]
Finally felt like I could breathe.
Then this elegant lady showed up.[]
Designer everything–Chanel from head to toe–except for the ugly scar running across her forehead.]
Caught me staring. She smiled bitterly
“My son did that.”
Another one here to heg.
She told me all about Blake’s years in psychiatric facilities.[]
Senior year, they found him bleeding out in his study.
Computer screen frozen on footage of my assault.[]
Legal documents scattered on his desk.
But since I’d vanished, nothing came of 11.
But those three guys? Found them in pieces a month later.]
Every classmate who’d tormented me got destroyed–Blake used every dirty trick in the book.
Weaker ones dropped out, the rest got blacklisted everywhere.[]
“I knew what he was doing. But I didn’t stop him. Just wanted him alive.“]
“But he still married Vivian, right? If he loved me so much, why marry the ringleader?“[]
Mrs. Ashworth sighed heavily.
“She’d dress up like you, style her hair like yours–anything to get his attention. Blake was so messed up he couldn’t tell the difference. They slept together, she got pregnant. When he finally came to and realized, he went apeshit on her. None of us knew about the baby.”
“So he married her because…“||
“Guilt.”
I finished for her.
She nodded.
ually laughed.
Ashworth, he doesn’t love me. It’s just guilt, same as with her. You want someone to play nursemaid? Get Vivian to do he’s the one who’s actually in love.”
to
couldn’t even respond to that.
parted on bad terms.]
days later, his buddies started calling. Even his shrink somehow got my number, lecturing me about moral responsibility.
patience finally snapped.[
they did everyone think I could save him?[]
They were way overestimating whatever Blake felt for me.
I was so pissed I grabbed my coat and stormed to the hospital.]
Ture to end this circus.[]
The second he saw me, his dead eyes lit up.[]
Zara….“]
“Don’t say my name.“[]
I cut him off cold.
I’m here to tell you to cut the dramatic bullshit. Your wife, your mom, your friends are losing their minds worrying about you. and I’m sick of them harassing me!]]
Pain flickered across Blake’s face.
His cracked lips barely moved: “Sorry… I’ll make them leave you alone.“[
“How? With empty threats? More suicide attempts? Blake, the more you spiral, the crazier they get–and the more they fuck up my life.”
His eyes went redder, hands trembling.
Instead of feeling sorry for him. I laughed.]
“You think you’re some romantic tragedy, huh? Poor Blake, suffering for love while heartless Zara ignores you.“[]
But you know what my ten years looked like? Got raped over lipstick. Pregnant. Tried to drown myself. Finally wanted to live bur no school would touch me–those videos were everywhere. Every porn pop–up had my fucking face.”
“Couldn’t get an education, fine–poor kids don’t get nice things anyway. So I tried working. But every crew had seen ine get gang–banged. They’d lock me in rooms, grope me, fire me when I fought back. Got so desperate I was eating leftover burgers from McDonald’s dumpsters.”
“Remember what you asked me back then? Well here’s your answer, Blake–I’ve had a shit decade. But I didn’t want to die when you expelled me. I wanted to die every goddamn day for ten straight years!“]
I
about
“So please. I’m begging you–let me go! I finally have something good, and you‘ to destroy it again!”
My voice was raw by the end.
Blake started screaming, completely losing it. Doctors rushed in to restrain him, jabbing a sedative into his arm.
rth flew in and cracked me across the face.
Mrs. Ashworth
“If you won’t help him, fine–but why torture him!]]
I wiped blood from my lip and walked out without looking back.