HAPTER052 OLIVIASPOV ThebrightroomlightabovemewasthefirstthingInoticedasIslowlyopenedmy eyes.
Thenafewsecondslaterthepainkickedin,myheadwasaching,mywholebodywasfullofbruisesandithurtalot.
Still,Imanagedtositup,Iwasbackinthebedroom.ThelastplaceIrememberedwasthebasement.
IturnedaroundtoseeAdrianseatedonthechair,hisheadtiltedslightlyforward,eyes.closed.Hewasasleep.Hispresencealonemademystomachtwist.Iswallowedhardandslowlyliftedmyarms,inspectingtheminthesoftglowofthebedsidelamp.
Beltmarks.
Dark,angryweltscoveredmyskin,crisscrossingovermyarmslikeacruelreminderoflastnight.Iwincedasmyfingersbarelybrushedagainstoneoftheswollenmarks.Thepainwasstillfresh,burning,andunforgiving.
Myhandinstinctivelymovedtomystomach.Astrangefeelingsettledinmychest,andmythoughtsdriftedbacktoyesterday.
musthavepassedoutyesterdaywhenwewereinthebasement,butthatsnotwhatdisturbedmethemostbeforeI passedoutIcouldfeeltheroomspinning,myearswereringingand Icouldntfeelthepainfromthebeltanyone,itwaslikemywholebodywentnumbbeforeIpassedout.Thisleadsmetoanotherquestion… WhydidIpassout,itcouldntbebecauseAdrianwashittingmewiththebelt,itstartedattheparty,afterItooktheglassofchampagneIstartedfeelingdizzy butIignoredit, Thequestionnaggedatme.Ihadbeenfeelingoffforweekswavesofnausea,unexplaineddizziness,suddenf
atigue,andletsnotforgethow hungryIdbeen.Ihadignoredthesigns,brushingthemoffasstress,butnow… Now,Icouldntignorethemanylonger.
Adeepsenseofuneasesettledoverme.Ineededtogotothehospitalandseeadoctor,bothtocheckmybruisesandwhathadbeenwrongwithmeforawhile.Nomoreexcuses.Ihadtoknowifsomethingwaswrongwithme.

Asoftvibrationagainstthemattressdrewmyattention.Myphone.
Iturnedcarefully,tryingnottomaketoothasIreachedforit.Thescreenlitupwithseveralunreadmessages.MychesttightenedasIsawthenameflashing onthescreen.
Julian.
18 CHAPTER052 Ihesitated,bitingmylip.Mythumbhoveredoverthescreen,mymindbattlingagainstitself.Iwantedtotellhi IwantedtolethimknowwhatAdrianhaddonetome.Butwoulditevenmakeadifference?WouldtellingJulianchangeanything? Iinhaled shakily,myheartpoundinginmyears.Adrianhadbecomeunpredictable,moredangerousthanever.Everydayfeltlikewalkingonthinice,neverknowingwhen itwouldcrackbeneathmyfeet.
Iopenedthemessages.
Julian:Hey,areyouokay? Julian:Ihaventheardfromyousinceyesterday.Callmewhenyoucan.
Julian:Olivia,pleaseanswerme.Imworried.
MyfingerstrembledasItypeda Imfine.
dareply.
Itwasalie,butIdidntknowwhatelset Itwasalie,butIdidntknowwhatelsetosay.Whatcouldheevendo?IknewifJulian wouldnt foundoutwhathappened.dntsitbackanddonothing.Andthat terrified me.IfheconfrontedAdrian,itwouldntendwell.

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

IpressedsendbeforeIcouldoverthinkit andlockedmyphone, clutchingittightlyinmyhands.
Asoftgroancamefromthechair.Istiffened,turningmyheadslightly.Adrianstirred,shiftinginhisseatbeforehiseyesflutteredopen.Forabriefmoment,therewassomethingalmost humaninhisgazeconcern,maybe.Butitdisappearedjustasquicklyasitcame.
Heranahandthroughhishairandsatupstraighter,hissharpeyeslockingontomine.Youreawake.
Inodded,unsureofwhattosay.
Hisgazeflickeredtomyarms,wherethebeltmarkswerestillvisible.Forasecond,IthoughtIsawguiltflashacrosshisface,butIknewbetterthantobelieveit.Adriandidntregretthings.Heneverdid.
Youfaintedyesterday,hesaid,histoneneutral.Thedoctorsaiditmighthavebeen.exhaustion.
Exhaustion?Hecalledthedoctoryesterday?Soifthedoctorsaiditwasduetostresswasthereanyneedformetostillgoto thehospital? Somethingwasntright,adoctorcamehereyesterdayand hedidntbothertogetanytreatmentformybruises?WasAdrianlying? Wellifyoudlookatitfrommyperspectivehewouldntwanttolooklikeakidnapperoranabusivehusbandinfrontofanydoctor sothatmustbewhyhedidntcallformedicalcare.
Hethenhadtolie,hedidntwantmetoknow,IhopeditwouldntbeaproblemwhenI CHAPTER052 toldhimIwasgoingtothehospital.
Mygriponmyphonetightened,butIforcedmyselftostaycalm.Icouldntaffordtosethimoffagain.
Ineedtogoouttoday,Isaidquietly.Ineedtogetsomepainkillersandsomeotherthingsfromthenearbypharmacy.Yeah,Ihadtotellhimitwasapharmacyandnotthehospital.

Hisbrowsfurrowedslightly.pharmacy? Yes.
Alongsilencestretchedbetweenus.Hisjawclenched,buthedidntargue.Instead,hesimplynodded.Fine.Buttakethedriver.
Iswallowedhardandnodded.Therewasnopointinrefusing.Hewasntgoingtoletmegoanywherealone.
Hestoodup,stretchinghisarmsbeforeglancingatthetime.Ihavetoheadtowork.Stayhomeafteryourappointment.
Inoddedagain,mystomachtwistingwithunease.
Hewalkedtowardthe door,stoppingbrieflybeforelookingbackatme.Hisexpressionwasunreadable.Rest.Youneedit.
Withthat,hewalkedout,leavingmealonewithmythoughts.
Assoonasthedoorclickedshut,Iletoutashakybreath.Myfingersbrushedagainstmybruisedarmsoncemore,andIfeltthestingalloveragain.Butthepaininmybodywasnttheworstpart.
Theworstpartwasknowingthatthiswasntover.
Iglanceddownatmystomach,asinkingfeelingsettlingdeepinsideme.Ihadtofindoutwhatwasreallywrongwithme.
Subsorbed