Meryl's POV
That afternoon I barricaded myself in my bedroom and wept until my eyes burned.
Later, when darkness had settled over the house and everyone had retreated to their rooms, I heard soft tapping against my door. My stomach clenched because I recognized who it had to be.
I refused to respond.
I couldn't bear to hear his voice again. I couldn't face the man who had made me no promises yet somehow managed to shatter every piece of my soul.
"Meryl," his deep voice called through the wood.
I remained motionless on my bed.
"Open this door."
"Go away!" I yelled, trying to mask the anguish in my tone.
"I need you, Meryl. Please... before I completely lose it." His words carried a tremor of raw desperation that made my chest tighten.
"I told you to go away!" I screamed louder.
Silence stretched between us and I assumed he had finally left. But then the doorknob turned and my door swung open, proving he had never departed.
"Andre. Please just leave," I whispered hoarsely. "Please just go."
He entered my room and moved directly toward me. I scrambled off my bed and used every ounce of remaining strength to shove him away, but his solid frame barely budged.
"Don't you dare," I breathed as I pushed against his chest again.
"Don't you dare come any closer."
He seized my wrists and pulled me against him with a gentle thump, then crushed his mouth to mine.
I drew in a sharp breath. This was wrong. This couldn't happen.
I struggled against him but his hold only tightened as he intensified the kiss before finally releasing me and resting his forehead against mine.
I jerked away and jabbed my finger toward him furiously.
"You're engaged to someone else, Andre!" I shrieked. "How can you kiss me like that?!"
I shoved him backward.
"Get out! Get out of my room!"
He didn't move. Instead, he walked to my bed.
He stripped off his shirt. Then unbuckled his belt. Then stepped out of his pants, leaving only his underwear.
I spun around quickly, my pulse racing as I glimpsed his arousal straining against the fabric. My fingers gripped my nightgown tightly.
"What are you doing? This is wrong."
He said nothing in response.
"You're getting married. You brought her to our home. Dad and Mom have given their blessing to your engagement. She's flawless. She's gorgeous. Why are you doing this to me? Why do you keep coming back? Didn't you tell me last time was an error?"
I couldn't bring myself to look at him. My body trembled with unwanted desire. My mind screamed in protest, but my flesh was betraying me completely.
"I'm still so young... I'm nineteen, Andre. It was wrong, I've accepted that truth. I'm trying to heal. I've met someone new. Someone I'm beginning to care about."
He snarled and dragged me to him. I could see fury and jealousy blazing in his eyes. His jaw was locked tight with tension.
"You will never belong to anyone else," he growled. "Do you understand me? You are mine. You'll always be mine."
I laughed bitterly, shoving him away from me.
"You're insane. You have a bride-to-be and I can't move forward? What else do you want from me? Haven't I already surrendered everything?! Why won't you just leave me alone?!"
He stared at me intensely. I could see conflicting emotions dancing in his gaze. Then he grabbed my hand and pressed it against his hardness.
"This. This is what you create in me. No one else. Only you."
I yanked my hand back. "Let your fiancée handle that for you. Not me. Leave!"
I rushed toward the door to escape, but he caught me and threw me onto the mattress.
Before I could react, he climbed over me. The look on his face was unlike anything I had witnessed before. I could see raw hunger. Obsession.
Complete possession.
He pinned my arms and began ripping my nightgown. My heart hammered with terror and desperate need. His fingers discovered my wetness.
He froze. "See? Only I can affect you like this. Your body recognizes its owner."
"Stop. Please," I whimpered, even as my body responded to his touch.
His fingers tormented me. Explored. Circled while my legs trembled and my body pleaded to be claimed by him.
"Say it," he whispered against my throat. "Say you want me."
"Yes..." I cried out, breathless and aching.
Then he entered me. One powerful, possessive thrust that stole my air.
He moved with intensity and urgency and roughness. His gaze remained locked on mine as he claimed me. I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to watch him.
"Open your eyes," he demanded.
I shook my head and turned away.
"Meryl. Open your eyes. Look at me while I take you," he commanded again, and when I refused, he gripped my chin and drove deeper, making my eyes snap open in shock as I gasped.
"Perfect," he said, then captured my lips and kissed me until I couldn't think.
"Weeks," he grunted. "Weeks without you. Without this. You have no idea what that did to me."
He thrust harder. I clawed at the bedsheets.
"This belongs to me," he growled. "Say it."
"It's yours..." I sobbed.
"Say my name."
"Andre. Please. Andre."
My climax tore through me like lightning and I cried out. My walls squeezed around him.
"Quiet... don't let them hear." He covered my mouth with his and kissed me fiercely while he drove deeper.
He groaned. Lost himself, and released inside me once more. He remained buried deep. Savoring every moment.
Then it was over.
He collapsed beside me and pulled me close, pressing his lips to my hair.
"You're perfect," he murmured, nuzzling my hair and inhaling my scent.
"Don't marry her," I heard myself whisper as I held him tight and kissed his bare chest softly.
"Please. Be with me instead. I'll be whatever you need. Your secret. Your hidden lover. Just... just don't marry her."
He remained silent.
"Andre. I need to tell you something..." I started, wanting to reveal the pregnancy.
But before I could speak, he stood and pulled on his clothes. Perspiration gleamed on his skin.
"Andre-"
"Don't," he interrupted. "Don't say anything else."
"It's... it's crucial-"
"Nothing is more crucial right now than this marriage," he stated flatly.
"Why?" I asked, my voice breaking.
He looked at me coldly. His expression had become ice.
No hint remained of what had just occurred.
"Don't ask me why. You wouldn't want to hear the answer."
Then he departed, slamming the door behind him. I remained there. My legs spread. My body used. My heart destroyed.
Tears flowed down my cheeks.
He had taken advantage of me. Again.
Why had I allowed it?
Why? Just why?
I dragged myself to the bathroom and scrubbed until my skin was raw, but the ache between my thighs lingered.
I stared at my reflection. My eyes were bloodshot. My hands were trembling. I placed a shaking palm on my belly. On the gentle curve that wasn't visible yet... but would be soon.
His child.
"I'm sorry, little one," I whispered, my voice shattering. "Your mother is such a fool."
More tears cascaded down my face, but this time I wiped them away firmly.
No. I refused to let this pattern continue.
I wouldn't allow him to use me whenever his desires struck.
If I remained, I would let him destroy me completely.
But if I disappeared, if I vanished, he couldn't find me.
I dried myself and returned to my room.
My body ached. My heart felt hollow, but I forced myself to move.
I opened my closet, grabbed a travel bag and began packing. I stuffed in some clothing, my savings and every essential item I needed.
I had to escape. I had to disappear.
Andre didn't love me. He was obsessed with my body, with controlling me, but not with me as a person.
He didn't want me.
And he certainly didn't want this baby.
How could I face Dad when my pregnancy became obvious?
How could I meet Mom's eyes?
How would I explain that I was carrying Andre's child?
This family would be torn apart because of our forbidden relationship.
Dad would feel responsible. Mom would resent her son. The life they had built... would collapse.
And I couldn't inflict that pain on them.
No. I couldn't remain here any longer. Not under these circumstances.
I had to leave.
For my unborn child.
For our future.
So I did exactly that.
I didn't say farewell.
I didn't write a note.
I simply disappeared into the night.