**

Some scenes in this chapter may be harsh for the reader.

———

I giggled at Mrs Hayes trying to blow the hair strands out of her face cause they frustrated her as she mixed the ingredients in the bowl she held. I sat on the counter beside Mrs Hayes as my legs prodded up and down in a steady beat.

I gazed at the cake batter as it swirled each time Mrs Hayes stirred. It was vanilla flavored and my mouth was watering at the sight. All I wanted to do was taste the delicious cake mix. Without another thought, I dipped my tiny fingers into the vanilla batter and then licked my fingers.

Mrs Hayes gasped and placed the bowl and the spoon within her hand down on the counter top, trying to look angry but it wasn't working much."You cheeky little girl." I giggled again.

I was usually alone when I went to Mr and Mrs Hayes' house from school, I have no one to talk to. But I liked spending time with Mrs Hayes. She was my friend.

I hopped off the counter top and sprinted out of the kitchen, laughing. I could hear the chuckles of Mrs Hayes as I walked down the long corridor which led up to my bedroom.

Because I came here most days after school with Christy, Mr and Mrs Hayes thought that we both should get a room each. And since their house was large, it wasn't a hassle.

My little braids bounced as I opened the door to my room and entered inside. Closing the door behind me, I turned around to the darkness of my room only to come in contact with something pushing forcefully onto my face. I was lunged down to the ground. Something was straddling me as a firm pillow blocked my breathing.

I knew exactly who was doing this. I was used to it. "Christy!" I yelled but my yells turned into muffles.

"Take that!" I felt her crushing the pillow onto my face, only for my head to go numb as it was squashed to the smooth and rough carpet ground.

I screamed and cried, but no one was here to help me.

Only Addie would help me and stop Christy, even though he was like her sidekick. Like Christy's dog, for whom she commanded to and Addie would of oblige.

"Please, leave me alone." I chocked on my breath as the pillow was eliminating my breathing completely. All I could do now was to hope for someone to save me from this monster.

"You don't deserve to be let go of that easily. You'll suffer!" Christy shouted and I began to feel her squeezing the life out of me. Maybe I'll die today. Maybe I'll be finally united with my dada.

As if I were right, I sucked in as much air as I could and closed my eyes. I could see red everywhere. And then a soft yellow color before dawning into pitch black.

I squinted my eyes open when the pillow was pulled off my face, catching me off guard. A grunt emerged from Christy as she pulled the collar of my dress up so that I was in level with her enraged eyes. I felt as if I provoked a devil.

"I'll make you suffer a terrible death!"

———

I jolted up with a scream. My heart was pounding as my entire body shook like a leaf. I clutched onto my chest trying to calm myself down but my sobs and cries were proving differently.

My hair was scattered all over my face. I leaped out from the bed and rushed to the bathroom. I splashed freezing water over my face to calm my nerves down. But all I did was shake more.

I leaned on the walls of the bathroom and slid down until I reached the hard tiled ground. I felt sweat dribble down my forehead, I was beyond horrified from the terrors of my nightmare.

That day Adrian stopped Christy. He protected me from her abuse but he never said a word about it to anyone. Adrian never dared to complain on Christy, instead he just kept quiet, protected me from Christy but also became a coward when he were to tell the truth about everything. He protected me but didn't save me from those demons.

I could've said something but if I said something to Mr or Mrs Hayes, then I would've got in deep trouble with my parents as Christy would start a tantrum, claiming that I was a fake liar.

If only he told someone, I wouldn't be like this.

If only he told someone, he would of saved me from that terrible night that I called my birthday.

———

I brushed my hair softly with my fingers as I packed up my belongings. I could hear the laughter of the children since they finished their school day and headed towards their dorms as it Christmas Eve today.

It was almost 12 in the afternoon and the sun was faintly shining in the sky, behind the large clouds that blocked it's daylight.

I sighed and pulled my bag over my shoulder. I locked the library as today we had a half day to relax and enjoy Christmas Eve. However, I had to be collected by Adrian in a few minutes as we need to make preparations for the wedding, which wasn't joyous.

I didn't want to get married to Adrian, he will never help me rid of the evil in my life.

He would never love me and I vow to never love him.

I stepped out of the building then found an empty bench in front of the building and sat on it. Darcy had to attend an important meeting with Ms Anally which he notified me earlier that he wouldn't be here for most of the day.

I clutched onto my coat a little tighter as the wind was got heavier and stronger that my hair flew out in different directions. I leaned myself on the side of the bench as I got lost within my own thoughts.

Would dada be happy with me for agreeing to marry Adrian?

Does he think that I shouldn't marry a monster?

Would he watch over me and save me from the hazards of life?

I couldn't answer these questions cause I didn't know if my dada was actually watching over me.

But, I had this strong feeling and connection that dada was there, supporting my every step from heaven.

"Violet?"

Huh?

I felt a warm palm pat my cheek. I flickered my eyes repeatedly, falling out of my deep daze.

It was only then when I realised that it was snowing, heavily. My surroundings were covered entirely with snow.

How long did I sit through the snow?

I looked up straight ahead as I met my eyes with the familiar blue ones. I gasped. His face was so close to mine. "Violet?... Are you alright?" Adrian asked me in a concerned whisper which made me feel warm.

I just stared into his eyes without fear. Usually, I would back away when situations like this come my way but I couldn't seem to hold myself from staring into his enchanting eyes and trying to figure out the sea of emotions that swirled around them.

"Let's get you in the car and then head to my house, okay?" I nodded my head slowly responding to him. Adrian stood up from his knees and interlocked my hand with his, making me stand up. He held onto our interlocked hands as he walked me to his car.

After we got into the car and buckled in our seatbelts, I realized that my clothes which consisted of a white shirt and black jeans, were dripping wet from the snow that melted in contact with the warmth of my skin. I sat on the edge of the passenger seat hesitantly, scared that I would ruin Adrian's car.

I heard shuffling beside me before I was pulled back to the seat gently. I looked to my side and was passed a towel from Adrian. He presented me a smile that had my heart melt. "Dry your hair off before you catch a cold." Again, I stared at him in confusion as tears pricked my eyes.

Why did he care?

Shouldn't he care about his car, whether it's getting wet by a hideous person like me?

I broke my stare after a few seconds and I rubbed my hair, trying to get the water out of it. Then I dried off most of the droplets of water that stood on my skin.

About a half an hour later, the car came to a smooth halt. I gazed out of the window and at the building that I was scared to even look at. My breath hitched as I kept my eyes trained on the building that brought back my memories of fun and horrid times.

It was the childhood house that Adrian lived in before they moved out of town years ago. It didn't change in design. The house was enormous as Mr and Mrs Hayes were rich, but it did look a little fainter in color from dark gray bricks to light gray ones. I supposed that the Hayes moved back into this house as they had pretty much owned it all their lives and also since they decided to return here.

Adrian and I departed the car as I slowly dragged my feet to follow him. The snow had stopped by now but, it was getting dark. When I stood a few centimetres away from him and glued my eyes at the building again. Not believing that I was here after many years.

Before I could stare at the building any longer, I felt Adrian's hand caress my hand. My eyes dubiously wandered over to him. He was watching my every move carefully with his intense eyes. I gulped and looked away, feeling discomforted. I couldn't do anything to stop him anyway.

Adrian sighed beside me heavily. "Come on, let's get in." He said and grabbed my hand in his, taking me inside his house. I obliged as I ignored the tingles that spread throughout my hand.

Memories swarmed around my mind with every step I took towards the house. Memories of playing hide and seek with Mrs Hayes, watching movies with both Mr and Mrs Hayes, laughing. Happiness was the word to describe what I felt around the Hayes, but not Adrian.

Then the bad memories made their way into my mind to once again ruin me. But I didn't need to remember them since I bear the bad memories in my nightmares, which I am very much used to by now.

Mrs Hayes sat near the grand fireplace, sipping a cup of coffee and munching on a cookie whilst her eyes were glued to the tv screen that stood above the mantle of the fireplace. I was too busy watching my surroundings in astonishment as how much this house hasn't changed since those years, it looked the exact same.

Even the cinnamon scent that lingered before still hadn't worn off at all. Mrs Hayes didn't even notice us approaching her until Adrian decided to speak up.

Adrian cleared his throat. "Mom..." he said as he let go of my hand and wandered over to his mother, nudging her shoulder. I suddenly felt vulnerable to all my memories as I was standing still on my own, occupied by my thick haze of thoughts.

Mrs Hayes removed her gaze from the tv as her eyes fell on Adrian, a smile broke out on her face. "Sweetheart, you are finally here. I was getting tired of watching the tv." She laughed softly as her eyes averted on me. "Oh sweetie, Violet." She jumped towards me from her seat on the couch and engulfed me in a warm hug.

Mrs Hayes cupped my face in her palms and looked at me adoringly. "Finally, after so long, I can design your wedding dress." I smiled weakly and looked away trying hard not to cry again. "And your clothes," she paused and pursed her lips in a thin line, glancing at my wet clothes then nodding her head.

"Come on, let's get you changed into some comfy clothes, okay? So that you don't catch a cold and then we can start preparing the wedding dress and everything else." I peeked at Adrian over her shoulder to see him staring straight at me.

———

Mrs Hayes wrapped a measuring tape around my waist and height to measure the length and width of the wedding dress that she was designing for the wedding.

After getting changed into a pair of lose gray coloured sweatpants and a teal t-shirt, Mrs Hayes and I made ourselves comfortable in the living couches as she showed me a few of her beautiful dress designs from her sketchbook that she thought would look graceful on me.

Mr Hayes apparently was out on a small get together party with his close friends and Adrian sort of disappeared somewhere as I didn't see him since the time I got changed.

I sat back on the couch watching Mrs Hayes calculate the measurements of the dress. I honestly didn't think that I deserved her kindness.

The room was met with silence as the yellow and orange flames rose upon the dark coal of the fireplace. "I believe that this should be just right... Don't you think so too?" I turned my head around and saw Mrs Hayes holding her sketchbook in her hands and her pencil captured in between her teeth.

I looked at the design she drew of a gorgeous gown with roses covering the v-shaped cut near the chest area with a perfect train that was embroidered by ribbon in all sorts of sizes. I bet that once the dress if completed would look flawless.

Mrs Hayes waited for my answer with sparkling eyes. "You would look like an angel in this." I smiled at Mrs Hayes. This was the only thing I could do, and I felt ashamed. Mrs Hayes tried to converse with me but I would either smile or nod at her. I was too scared to speak to her. I could tell that she was getting impatient but she was controlling it with her calm demeanor.

I heard her sigh beside me and I felt my heart clench. "You know you can talk to me about anything, sweetie..." I felt her arms wrap around me in a heartfelt hug.

It was only then when I felt safe in her arms and I finally cried in her arms and let my tears out while she rubbed my back comfortingly. "It's okay, you can let it out." She cooed in my ear as she kissed my forehead.

I buried my face into her shoulder and hugged her to me tightly. I missed Mrs Hayes and I was too selfish to realize it. I was doomed to suffer in my own, difficult problems.

I suddenly heard footsteps emerge from the corridor and to the living room. I hurriedly removed my arms which were bound around Mrs Hayes' shoulders and wiped my tears. I felt her hand on mine as I constricted my eyes shut. All I felt was pain and misery which just make me feel weak and tired. Tired of living.

A shadow loomed over me and I heard his voice. "Mom, have you finished up with the dress yet?" I slowly tilted my face up to his and connected his eyes with mine. I felt myself getting lost in his magnificent blue swirls.

"We have Adrian. How was your photoshoot?" Mrs Hayes asked Adrian in caring manner. "It was alright, I'm just a little flattered with all the lights." He replied sighing under his breath.

Photoshoot?

I frowned in confusion and I occupied myself by fidgeting with my hair. "I see... well Violet and I were just discussing the dress ." Mrs Hayes stated. Adrian took in a sharp breath before sitting on 1 of the other couches. "Then are you finished with it? It's almost 5 pm."

Mrs Hayes nodded and stood up, grabbing her sketchbook and pouch of pencils filled in. "If you'll both excuse me, I'll cook something for you both as it's almost dinner time." She walked to the door of the living room and just as she was about to exit it, she turned her head towards us.

"Darling, I presume that it's the right time to maybe, you know..." She shrugged her shoulders and walked away, but not before gifting me a warm smile.

Maybe I should go help her.

I stood up and began to walk in small steps towards the door but stopped when I heard him. "I need to talk to you." I turned around questionably and stumbled back as Adrian's tall frame towered over me.

How did he get here this fast?

While I was left in my trail of lingering thoughts, Adrian chose this as a sign to hold my hand firmly and pull me out of the living room and then he took me up the staircase and then to the rooftop.

I knew the rooftop very well as it used to be my favourite spot to hang out in this house. It consisted of a wonderful view over a mountainous region.

We stopped at the edge of the rooftop and stood there as Adrian let go of my arm. I closed my eyes as I inhaled the fresh air that soothed my mind, getting rid of my thoughts. "Violet, I don't know how to do this but I think it's the right time." I opened my eyes at the sound of his voice and twirled around to see him on his knee while holding my hands lightly. I gasped at the unexpected sight.

Adrian produced something out of his pocket in front of me and then opened it. It was a small box with a stunningly beautiful looking ring with rich red velvet cloth cushioning the ring that kept it in place. I didn't realise that I was staring at it so much that my eyes started welling up. I shut my eyes and shook my head. I couldn't do this.

I hunched down onto my knees and cupped my mouth with both of my hands. I kept shaking my head frantically, trying to make Adrian understand that I was unhappy and was not standing by the decision.

But I felt his hands on either side of my face. I opened my eyes and removed my hands from my mouth.

I witnessed emotions of sadness and guilt lie within his eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I can't do anything." He mumbled. His blond hair flew in several directions because of the wind.

A tear cascaded down my cheeks. I didn't want this and I will never want this. Adrian lowered his head to mine, so that his face was centimetres away from mine. I could feel his breath on my cheek.

But like last time, I didn't flinch or turn away from him. I was rather frozen this time by both my situation that I was enduring and the emotions that I was feeling.

Adrian watched me carefully as he spoke.

"I'm sorry."

And his lips touched mine.