C21 They're gone

Sofia's POV

"Mmm, it's okay," I said, "I'll take care of myself," I said strongly.

"Are you sure... I mean..." I'm fine Zack, I need to brace myself for whatever is coming right?" I asked and he nodded, his eyes still on me.

"Then let me," I said, almost angrily.

"Right, I will," He said, taking his hands off mine.

"I'll take a nap again, and can you be gone before I wake up, it'd be better to not watch as you leave," I said.

He stilled in the chair before nodding wordlessly, his eyes were filled with pity I didn't want.

I laid back on the bed, pulling the sheets over my body, forcing myself to keep my eyes clenched tight as I fought the tears that were brimming in my eyes.

A few minutes later, I heard him stand up from the chair, heaving a heavy resigned sigh, before dragging his feet out of the room.

And the god-damned loads of tears I had came rushing down like a hurricane.

The thoughts of being strangled, beaten, and disgraced by that devil were eating me out from the inside, but there was nothing I could do, but resign to my fate.

My head fuzzed and I slurried back to sleep, hoping that it wasn't going to be the last time I had a good one.

********

Hours later

The door was kicked open by Alex, making me jolt awake harshly on the bed.

I stared wordlessly as he walked towards the hospital bed, bracing myself for what was to come.

"They're gone," He said, his face brimming with smiles.

"W—who?" I replied, acting oblivious to what was happening.

"The ones you rely on to make my life miserable, bitch!" He snapped, his face filled with malice as he grabbed my face, his fingers clenching my jaws, so tight that I could feel my cheek aching.

"What did you say before? As long as they're here, I won't be able to touch you?" He asked again, gripping tighter.

"I—I didn't say that, p—ple..."

"Of course, you did, you stupid bitch," He yelled, gripping my jaws tighter.

"You made me ridiculed, and beaten in front of those who cannot hold even a single breath beside me, I became a disgraced man, because of you!" Alex snapped, hitting his palms on my face sideways.

My eyes burned with tears and the sting of his palms stung sharply on my cheeks.

"Let me tell you Sofia or whatever it is that your father gave you, I'll make your life miserable, day and night, you will face the hell you made me go through and you know very well, there's no one to save you this time around," He said, and I nodded, hoping it'd make him leave.

It didn't...it called his vixen instead.

"Darling," She drawled, walking closer. "You're finally giving this bitch what she deserves," She said, wrapping her hands around his waist.

"I'm just trying to teach her to know who the boss in the house is," He barely said, when her palms rammed into mine, throwing my face sideways.

"W—wha—why," I muttered incoherently, my eyes wide in horror as he kissed her instead of saying anything about what she just did.

"Are...are you just going to watch her hit me..." I barely completed it when another slap hit my face again.

"You had better shut your stupid mouth up, or I'll make sure you're battered before you even get to leave this place," she snapped, her eyes red with loathe.

Alex chuckled darkly beside her, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. His hand caressed my bruised cheek almost mockingly before gripping my face again, his nails digging into my skin as if he already hadn't done that.

"You hear that, Sofia? You're nothing. No one. And now, you’re all mine." "There's no fuckin one who's goin' to stand up to me, even if I strangle you to death," he growled, his face brimming with hatred.

His words dripped with venom, and I could do nothing but let the tears slide down my swollen face. My body trembled, not just from the pain but from the helplessness that threatened to consume me whole.

The vixen—his mistress—laughed, the sound cruel and full of triumph. "She looks so pathetic," she sneered, her sharp nails trailing down my arm, her touch sending waves of revulsion through me. "I can’t wait to see her beg."

Alex smirked. "She will."

He grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward, forcing my already weakened body to struggle to stay upright. The hospital gown I wore felt like paper against my skin, offering no protection from the nightmare unfolding in front of me.

"Get dressed," he ordered coldly. "You're coming with us."

I opened my mouth to protest, but his glare cut through me like a blade. My throat closed, and I forced myself to swallow my pride. There was no one left to save me. No one to stop him.

As I shakily moved to obey, my mind screamed at me, the truth sinking in like a slow, suffocating poison.

"I cannot leave now, Alex, the doctor..." "I said, shut the stupid fuck up and walk after me!"He yelled, his voice sending a shiver down my spine.

"Mr Holmes..." The doctor said, knocking on the room door.

The doctor's stare lingered on my face as I wiped tears off them.

"I'm afraid she'd still have to stay behind, her panic attack is still on the rise and I think that's why her body is reacting harshly to it," The doctor said, and Alex turned to her with a death glare.

"How long is it going to take for all that swelling to reduce?" Alex asked.

"A week or even more, it depends on her..."

"What? Do you think I'm a fool, trying to make her stay behind?" He yelled, dragging the doctor by his collar to the wall.