Did I accidentally repeat our past mistake? I dive into a hole, and no one will rescue me.
Lilia greeted her husband with a hug. Sean greeted me with a casual nod, and I felt a wave of conflicting emotions surge within me. How could he act as if everything was normal? He told me that no one would be mad, and I trusted him.
I couldn't help but steal glances at him when he wasn't looking. He looked so happy with his wife, so at ease.
I'm snitching on my best friend's husband, and I don't want to betray her trust again. I struggled to maintain my composure as I tried to push away the guilt and shame that threatened to consume me. This was a mistake that I couldn't afford to make again.
Mollie, keep it together, I urged myself silently. There's no use dwelling on the past. But it was hard to shake off the memories that flooded my mind, threatening to overwhelm me.
"Hey, Mollie," Sean said with a warm smile as if nothing had ever changed between us.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
I forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil inside me. "Yeah, it has," I replied, my voice sounding a bit too forced for my liking. I managed to respond, mustering a smile that felt as brittle as glass.
"How have you been?" he asked, a fake concern evident in his eyes, trying to tell me that I should not tell Lilia what we did and our contract. He put one of his arms around Lilia's shoulder.
I stole a glance at his wife, her eyes filled with adoration as she looked at him. Guilt gnawed at me from within. I was the intruder in their perfect world, the outsider who stumbled upon their happiness. She smiled like she had already forgiven our past—that same innocent smile that always made my heart ache.
"I've been... good," I replied, choosing my words carefully.
Lilia's smile faltered for a moment, her eyes darting between Sean and me, perhaps sensing the tension. But then, she masked it with her radiant smile once again, seemingly unaware of the storm raging within me.
"That's great to hear," Sean said, facing Lilia. He whispered something to her that made her nod.
"We were just heading to grab some coffee. Would you like to join us?" Lilia offered, her gaze sincere.
The invitation caught me off guard. Should I accept and pretend like everything is fine? Or should I make up an excuse and flee from this uncomfortable situation?
Before I could respond, Sean chimed in, her voice filled with warmth. "Yes, Mollie, it would be wonderful to catch up with you. What do you say?"
Caught between the weight of the past and the pressure of the present, I hesitated for a moment, my mind a jumble of conflicting thoughts. But then, realizing that there was no escape from the inevitable, I nodded slowly, plastering on a smile that felt more like a grimace.
"Sure, I'd love to catch up," I managed to say, my voice betraying none of the turmoil raging within.
As we walked towards the cafe, the air between us seemed heavy with unspoken words. Lilia chattered animatedly about their recent trip while Sean nodded along, his attention occasionally drifting towards me as if silently urging me to play along.
I stole glances at them, observing the intimacy between husband and wife, feeling like an outsider intruding upon their private bubble of happiness. The guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders, threatening to suffocate me with each step.
"So, Mollie, what have you been up to lately?" Lilia's voice broke through my reverie, pulling me back to the present.
"Oh, you know, just the usual," I replied, forcing nonchalance into my tone.
"Work keeps me pretty busy."
Sean nodded in understanding, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary before turning back to Lilia. It felt like he was trying to convey something to me through that glance, but I couldn't decipher its meaning amidst the chaos in my mind.
We sat down at the table, and I excused myself to go to the restroom, desperate for a moment alone to collect my thoughts. The walls seemed to close in around me as I splashed cold water on my face, trying to steady my racing heart.
Just as I was about to compose myself, the door creaked open, and Sean stepped inside, his presence sending a shiver down my spine.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered, panic rising within me. I looked at his back to see if Lilia was looking at us. Sean closed the door.
Sean's lips curled into a menacing smile as he advanced towards me, trapping me against the sink. He gripped my hand and leaned it against the mirror.
"Relax, darling," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear.
"We wouldn't want Lilia to find out about us, now would we?" My heart pounded in fear as I realized the dangerous game I had unintentionally become a part of.
"Listen carefully, Mollie," he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. He brought his face closer to mine. The distance between us vanished as he kissed me forcefully, leaving me breathless and terrified.
"You're going to do exactly as I say," I could feel the heat of his breath on my skin as he whispered. His hand roamed my hips as he entered my nightdress. I tried to push him away, but his grip tightened. His kisses went from my neck to my collarbone, igniting a sense of helplessness within me.
"You belong to me now," he declared, his eyes filled with possessiveness and malice. My mind raced with fear as I realized the depth of danger I was in.
"I bought you remember?"
"Please, Sean, I can't do this," I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh, but I can," he whispered back, his grip tightening on my arm. "And I will if you don't comply."
He cupped my face, forcing me to look into his eyes as he leaned in for another kiss.
"If you ever breathe a word about our contract to anyone, I'll make sure your life is ruined. Do you understand?"
My blood ran cold as the weight of his words sank in. He couldn't be serious, could he? But the steely determination in his gaze told me otherwise.
"You wouldn't dare," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh, wouldn't I?" Sean sneered, as he gently touched my wetness.
"You think you can just waltz back into our lives and ruin everything?
Think again, Mollie," he whispered to my ears, kissing my neck with fierce intensity. His grip on my wrists tightened, sending a shiver down my spine.
"You're mine now, Mollie, and I always get what I want," he growled, his breath hot against my skin. He turned me to the sink and grabbed my hair towards him. I felt a hardened sensation enter me.
"If you dare to breathe a word of our contract to Lilia, I'll make sure you will live in hell," he whispered between his teeth and breath, his eyes dark and menacing mirrored as I stared at him.