10
I woke up in a villa I’d never seen before.
Jackson was sitting next to my bed.
He was wearing the scarf I knit him.
He looked at me. “You’re awake. Are you
hungry?”
<
“How did you find me?”
He sighed and touched my head. “There’s
always a way.”
I scooted back. “Why? To torture me?”
He paused, frowning. “Why would you think
that? Have I ever been rough with you?”
“Then let me leave.”
“Never.”
He hugged me. “I’m not letting you go.”
Jackson kept me in the villa.
I went on a hunger strike.
He sat in front of me with a bowl. “I know I
messed up. Don’t hurt yourself.”
I said, “I want to leave.”
“Leave? To where?”
“Anywhere without you.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I can give you everything you want. Spoil
you. Did you fall for Hayden?”
“You’re both scum.”
“Don’t make me choose between chocolate-
flavored sht and sht-flavored chocolate.”
He was hurt. He said, “I wanted to marry
L
you.”
“I told Hayden not to listen to Ashley. Just
marry you. I won’t let him near you.”
I scoffed. “You sent me to your brother’s
bed.”
He paled. “I never wanted that. We had rules.
I didn’t know he’d do that.”
“I know you’re upset.”
“I’ll get you doctors and nurses. I’ll let you
abort this baby without any pain.”
“I’ll make it up to you. What do you want?”
I slapped him.
<
“Dream on. I can’t just forget.”
He turned his face.
He wiped the blood off his mouth. “Feel
better? Do it again.”
“Get out.’
He stood up. “I’ll come back tomorrow.”
That night, I dreamed of crying on my dorm
bed.
I had never told anyone.
I cried when I broke up with Jackson in
college.
I had hidden my scars.
Г
Did I like Jackson?
I did.
My heart had hurt.
I spent the night regretting asking for a gift.
I knew he didn’t like me.
In my dream, someone covered my eyes.
He said, “Don’t cry, baby.”
I woke up.
Hayden was standing there.
Hayden had broken me out.
く
He was bruised.
0%
His eyes were bloodshot.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I was numb.
Too many apologies.
“Did he hurt you?” he asked.
“Isn’t that twisted?” I said.
They had both hurt me.
He bit his lip.
He wanted to ask why I hadn’t told him.
He couldn’t.
They had said they’d dump me if I got
pregnant.
He had no right to ask.
“You knew it was a game. Everything we did
was fake?”
I wanted to say yes.
I sighed. “I’m not a pro actress. You can’t
fake liking someone. When you kissed me, I
was happy. I wanted to be good to you. I
wanted your baby.”
His face changed.
I said, “I liked the fireworks and you waking
く
me up. I liked you saying you’d marry me.
Before I heard that tape, I believed you. I even
picked out baby names.”
“I risked everything, braving the rain to tell
you.”
“But I’m not trash. No one can handle being
swapped by the person they like. I hate you.”
His eyes teared up. He wanted to touch me,
but he held back. “What can I do?”
I said, “Let me go.”
He struggled.
He said, “Okay. I’ll let you go.”
