But my words fell on deaf ears. He tightened his grip and shifted, forcing us to switch positions. Now, he was on top of me, his body heavy, trapping me beneath him. His fingers intertwined with mine, pinning me down. Then, our eyes locked, and though I tried to search for a trace of the man I once knew, all I saw was control.
"I missed the way you feel, Clara," He said, his voice laced with dominance. There was no warmth in his words, only possession.
I knew better than to resist.
The last time I had, the bruises had taken weeks to fade.
So I stayed still, allowing him to take what he wanted. As he kissed me again, I felt none of the tenderness we once shared. His lips moved against mine, but it was only driven by lust and the haze of alcohol, nothing more.
"I want you naked, my wife," He murmured, his voice thick with desire.
My wife.
Those words, slipping from Donovan's lips, stirred something in me. That despite everything—the pain and the cruelty he caused me—it still made my heart lift in a way I couldn't explain.
His touches grew more insistent, and against my better judgment, I found myself giving in. I melted into his kisses, completely losing myself in the moment.
Things escalated quickly, and before I knew it, we were both naked, tangled in sweat and desire, the night consuming us.
Yet, when morning came, the cold emptiness of the bed greeted me. Donovan was gone, just as he always was after nights like this. No note, no explanation, just his absence. A hollow feeling settled in my chest as I lay bare on the bed, replaying the events of the night before.
Disgust and regret occupied me.
How had I let it happen again?
Weeks passed and Donovan's temper flared more frequently, leaving me with more bruises and tear-streaked cheeks.
But beyond that, something else was happening to me. I had been feeling nauseous lately, especially in the mornings. There were times where I would even vomit and crave foods I had never really liked.
So, today, I decided to visit the doctor to confirm what's going on with my body. As I sat in the sterile, quiet hospital lobby, my stomach churned with sickness and anxiety.
After a few minutes, the doctor finally appeared, holding a folder with my results, her expression calm but with a hint of something more.