Shattered_An Innocent Wife

Her Crushed Hopes

Noah's POV.

I started looking at her without blinking but that made her hide her face on her knees as she keeps on crying.

I turn and lay on my back just to realize that I was too underdress for a company. I looked at my rod that was too hard and all erected even my grey Calvin Klein were not enough to hide the fact. I felt beyond frustrated as I sat up brushing my hairs back with my right hand and looked for my leather bag to find some black shorts to put on.

When I felt a little sober I looked at her just to find her head still rested on her knees and her naked back heaving as she sobbed. But her auburn hairs were thick enough to hide her skin on the back. I looked at my cell phone for any emails and time. It shows its 5 am and there were 22 emails. I looked at redhead again.

Do I need to get her back? I think I gotta do that plus I gotta pick up Albert too. And leave this town forever.

I step towards her to tell her that we must leave now but she may sense something else. I was still two steps away from her when she flinched back. Her hands hold that coat to her neck as she looked at me and though two big locks of her hairs were hiding her face I could see her face all smeared with tears and more fat tears were spilling from the rim of her eyes. The swelling on her cheek was more now, her lips were trembling badly and her eye was swollen shut.

Looking at her made me all still. She looked too broken. Too scared. I saw her both hands slowly coming forward and clasping as she moved her head in no. Her state. Her state tugged my heart. For a moment I feel like burning the whole world for her. I wanted to destroy each and every person who ever hurt her but.....I shut my eyes to contain the urge to comfort her. To help her. I get back to my leather back and found a large t-shirt for her.

"Nothing happened last night. I found you drowning." I tried to be kind enough to explain. But when she didn't budge I continued. "I-I gotta wrap all of this you just can't sit here. Just wore this one until I wrap outside." I informed her while forwarding my t-shirt to her face. Some seconds passed but she never made a move. Looking away I just drop the t-shirt on her legs and left.

The rods and a lot of other things were left outside the very same way I left there. It was still a little dark but I was hoping that light will be here in half an hour. I started loading things in my car but the redhead was the only thing I was thinking about. I keep telling myself that it's not my problem. For God's sake, I don't even know her. Maybe she is some vixen and deserves all of this. Or if not She is suffering what's in her fate.

And fate bought her to you. You left her. You choose not to help her but fate bought her to you. Isn't it magical? A thought echoed in my brain.

Fate? I have f****d that thing a long time ago and this girl? She is nothing but a pathetic creature. I got no reason to help her. What possibly she is capable of. I tried to reason with that voice. But recalling her scars deep down I know my restraints were breaking.

And if I do it will make things very complicated. If I am to help her I can destroy all of this town in a matter of seconds. They sell their every product to Miller enterprise. I can starve them. No matter how beautiful and the gigantic Blake estate is, it was nothing in comparison to any of the Miller estates. They have big estates here in this village where land is cheap while Miller enterprise has its properties in the world's most expansive places. Finishing them only requires a call and BAM!! But why I would do that.

Then just take her with you. Protect her. Hug her and tell her she will never be harmed.

Oh shut up, don't you dare to speak. I snapped on my own thoughts. I gotta contain them. She might be living in hell here. But I am not a good option too. And I don't have any use of her.

The second I finished packing I turned to find redhead coming out of the camp. She looked at me. And my throat went dry with desire. I couldn't look away. She looks so fragile. I have seen so many beautiful things in this world and always had the soft corner for fragile things. I fisted my right hand to contain myself. She was holding her blue dress and I guess she collected her panties too. She was looking so afraid but so tempting at the same time.

And I knew I was tempted for all the wrong reasons. It was her fear that was tempting me. Her long hairs were disheveled. My t-shirt was too big for her thin frame that it was hanging down from her shoulders. I wish I could see her perfectly carved blossoms once again. The thought made me lick my lips. And because her height is not much, my shirt was enough to cover her knees. When her head went down it made me realized that my stare made her uncomfortable. But I still couldn't help and wonder how it would feel to f**k her. To corrupt her. To be inside her. I might be too aged for her but she will be legal in two weeks. But then I recalled Ben's conversation with that nurse. She is engaged.

Come on, Noah. She might have a good life here, after her marriage. She will get a man to protect her. Yes, a man. And why the hell on the earth I want to be that man. A man who protects her from all the evil. and no one could hurt her if its not me. Have some mercy, Noah. Her life is already miserable. She doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve you. I made my way to her with these antagonistic thoughts. 

Each step that took me near her was testing my patience. And I am anything but patient. "You can wait in the car. I gotta wrap this." I tried to sound nonchalant. The moment I said the words she looked at me while pressing her lips. The moment I noticed her swollen eye again it took everything in me not to destroy the person who did this. Killing that person might not be enough who destroyed this innocent face. I might cut him into pieces until his bones are the only things that are left.

She nodded her head in yes and made her way to the car without a word. I started wrapping the camp but my anger was not dissipating.

I knew those men don't have good intentions. I could have saved her. But at that moment I knew I never need to hear about any of this. I can turn my eye blind and pretend nothing happened. But things are changed now as life bought her right before my eyes and made me see what my decision did to her.

Wrapping all the things I head towards the car. I sense her cowering a little when I settled in my seatbelt but didn't spare her a glance and started the engine. We were not so far from the lake when I heard her breathing getting labored. I turn to look at her just to find that she is having a panic attack. I don't know what instigated it but I hope I am not the reason. I kept on driving until Blake's estate was in the view. I didn't head towards the entrance. I stopped the car where the fields started. I looked at her just to find that she is sweating profusely. Her hands were in her lap as she chews on her lower lip.

"Do you have anywhere else to go? I mean any parents, sibling or relative?" I asked because whatever happened here last night I was reluctant to drop her here.

She didn't budge for a minute or two but then shook her head in no. I couldn't believe her words. How is it possible that she doesn't have anyone?

"Look, I don't know if you know this or not but you shouldn't let your employers treat you like this. Do you wanna report them? I can drop you to the station." I tried to put a little sense in her. This was the least I could do for her so I tried. This made her look at me with confusion in her eyes but she didn't say a word. I tried to wait for her response but she didn't react and this made me lose my patience and I snapped.

"Listen, you pathetic creature if you can't fight back or stand for yourself at least try asking for help, Tell the cops or your dumb fiance or anyone who you could trust because when you don't talk and suffers silently it makes you look nothing but more pathetic." This made her flinch back and her eyes look like they will start leaking salt anytime. I know my voice was loud and it was no way to talk to some girl who I don't pay. But she bought this on her.

"Open the door so I could go." She said with panic and made me realize that I never opened the lock for her to leave. And before this creature makes me lose my mind I opened the door and let her go.

The moment I saw her getting two feet away from the car I didn't wait and took my car to the main entrance. I pulled over near the barn house and texted Albert to leave the place as early as he could manage. Getting out of the car I started checking my emails. Some were from my secretary and many of them require checking the whole drafts. I got a response from Albert after half an hour telling me that he will be out in 20 mins. I ignored his message and start checking the documents. It was after more 15 mins when I heard footsteps approaching me. Thinking its Albert I turn around still focused on my phone. But looking up I saw redhead.

She was still 5 or more steps away when I snapped. "What?" This made her flinch a little. I know I look visibly frustrated but I can't care any less. She was wearing some worn out jeans and a light green t-shirt. That t-shirt was again full sleeve. just like yesterday. But now I know they serve the purpose to hide her lashes. Unlike yesterday her hairs were not wrapped in a headcloth.

She came forward and placed a sandwich on the bonnet of my car and looked at me for a moment before leaving. Is this her way to thank me or what? It wasn't like I was not mad at her now but she was the reason that I never get to have my dinner. I took a step and grab that sandwich which was wrapped in the plastic and looked delicious. The moment I grab the sandwich I noticed a piece of paper wrapped with that sandwich. A letter?

Don't read it, Noah. Don't.

So, it was not for thanking me. I didn't feel like eating anymore. But the moment I opened the paper I was beyond shocked. There was only one word written on it.

Help!!

Is this girl for real? I told her to ask for help from cops or someone she trusts. Does she trust me? Omfg!! Does she have no one she trusts? There was no way in million years that I am gonna help her. I get to the car without wasting a single minute and took it to the entrance where Albert was standing with the rest of the Blake family seeing him off. Getting out of the car I grab the suitcases and loaded them in the car. The moment I closed the trunk I noticed redhead standing at the very same spot. At that window where I noticed her the very first time. I looked at her and I could clearly see the hope her eyes held and it made me all still. It was after too long that I felt like saving someone. Someone other than me. And only I know that it's not a good sign. Only if she knows what kind of monster I am.

The moment Albert reached the car I too looked away and get into my car. I got the car out of the entrance and when I looked at the window she was still there looking at my car and I knew what I need to do. I caught the sandwich and made sure she sees that when I threw it out before driving away.

Author's POV:

She looked silently when that car got away. It wasn't the first time when she hoped for the light, hoped for a way out and got nothing instead but it still hurt.

She still remembers when Addison chooses not to help her. In front of her, he was just some stranger. A stranger who only knew how to be or sound righteous but do nothing about it. She saw all the Blake family except Mariah getting into the mansion. Whatever happened last night and even in the morning was too much for her to take but she can't risk ignoring the chores and annoy Isabella to get into more trouble. She walked out of her room and made her way to the kitchen. Her head was feeling heavy but she started working anyways. She knew she was far behind her schedule. She was sweeping the floors when she saw Isabella coming into the kitchen.

"Where the hell were you in the morning? You know"...She trailed off looking at her state. But then she continued. "Oh God, You look like s**t. Was it Mariah?" Saying that she looks here and there. "Look you, psycho kid, Just because you are here for only a few days now don't you dare to think you can avoid your chores. Just look at the place. Living in this luxurious house demands some payback. I want everything under control until Abigail comes." She kept on saying a lot of things showing off her manicured nails while Sydney nod on a few things or stayed silent on others.

The moment she served breakfast only Isabella and Rose were on the dining table. The rest of the day went like any other day. Ben came in the afternoon. She avoided going to the barn and didn't get to talk to Ben on any other matter too. At night when all the members went into the deep slumber, she was sitting on the bathroom floor crying her eyes out as she was trying to clean her wounds with so much difficulty. She was afraid that those bad people will come back. It was also the reason that she never left the house premises the whole day. And even if they don't come back it is just the matter of a few days that she will be given to the worst person on the earth who will give her pain she doesn't even want to imagine.

With that, she also wonders if he would cane her like Isabella or Mariah do or would use his belt like he did that day. The day she lost her father. Somehow she was convinced that there was no one who was listening to her prays. As for that man Michael, her only regret was that she ever believed that someone will help her. After cleaning up her wounds she tried to sleep on her bed. But a thought that what horrors tomorrow would bring never left her mind.

After two more days a morning rolled in and apparently, nothing was out of the routine until she saw someone in the living room with Mrs. Isabella. She was passing by when she heard that the man was the new recruit. The man looked like in his 40's but she heard Isabella mention that he was in his 60's. He was tall and had a white beard. He introduced himself as Jasper. The strange thing is the way he talks. Whenever he converse with Isabella he would call her my lady. Isabella was beyond impressed by his etiquettes. The way he would talk to the Blakes made them feel like royalty. Ben was asked to show him around. Sydney was about to start making lunch when she saw that man coming from the service door and she startled.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. I never meant to startle you." Jasper said while bowing a little. And this made Sydney knit her brows.

"I-I am not family. Just a maid." Sydney replied as she tried to ignore him and started to cut the vegetables.

"I was asked by Mrs. Isabella to make lunch for Blake's today," Jasper informed Sydney. And this made Sydney a little bit awkward because he was a stranger and she doesn't want him standing along with her more than necessary.

"I-I got it. You don't need to..."

"I insist." She got cut off by him. And this really put Sydney off. She left the knife there and went to her bedroom. The moment she looked at her bed she noticed a stone wrapped with a paper. She remembers locking her bedroom so it was obvious someone threw it outside the window. With her shaking hands, she unfolded the paper. A tear escaped her eye when she read what was written in there. Somehow she knew God will help her and sure he did send this person to help him.

Dear Redhead. Be Ready. I will come to collect you soon.

She knew that it was from Michael because it was the same paper on which she asked for help. She did notice that his handwriting was far better than hers. He advised her to be ready. She knew it means that she should pack her clothes and belongings he might come at any time. So, she should be ready.

Recalling that she doesn't have to worry about lunch she started packing her clothes. Her old suitcase was taken by Abigail for her trip but she took a small suitcase that Abigail owned and put her all belonging in that bag. Her hands were shaking with excitement. A part of her kept on warning her that it is too bad and all too risky to trust someone she barely knows but marrying that person is far worse than anything she might have to face later on. Plus that Michael guy could have hurt her but he never did anything to hurt her. This thing made him more reliable.

The moment she packed her bag she noticed someone standing in her door frame. It was Jasper. She looked at him and then on her packed suitcase. She could only hope that he won't tell anyone. "Oh, Your Highness. I bought you lunch." Saying that he placed the tray on the table and left.

She waited until the late night for Michael to come and get her but no one came. At night she noticed Jasper roaming around in the hallways. Everything about this person screamed that something is really wrong but Isabella couldn't help and praise him all day. Three more days passed and Michael never came. But her hopes never faltered. She knew he will come.

Making breakfast she start dreaming about the life she will have once she leave this town. She will get a job. Working here in Blake's she learned cooking, cleaning, stitching and even how to give facials, manicures, and massage. She had some hope that she will land some jobs with this expertise. She dreams about a life where she might save up some money and buy her own place. She also packed 200 dollars that she saved up in the last 6 six years. This money might help to buy food until she lands some job. Her breathing became less labored. Somehow for the past three days, she was living out of her fears.

And these were not the only good things. With Jasper making Lunch and Dinner every day her workload reduced a little bit. And also she didn't get any beatings.

Mariah was not talkative nowadays and Isabella seems happy all the time. And Jasper was in the hallways every night. It made her wonder how she would leave once Michael came if Jasper is gonna roam around like this every night. Only if Michael had told her about the time he would come. But still, she didn't mind waiting.

She was cleaning the girl's room when she heard them talking about some man Sarah was dating. For the first time, she wonders how good it would be to live a life where you don't have to be cautious all the time to avoid beatings. She remembers that Addison started to date guys when she was 16. A phase that will never come in her life but with that her mind drifted to the fact that Michael might be coming to help her. And with this, she recalled the morning she woke up beside Michael. She recalled how his hand was wrapped to her breasts and it made her cheeks go beet red. How afraid she was at that moment but now thinking about it made her uneasy about going with Michael alone. She recalled the way his body looked when he was wrapping the camp. The wing tattoos his shoulders had. It might have hurt a lot. Addison told her how much it stings to get the ink.

Nowadays Michael was the only thing on her mind. But unlike these girls, Sydney knew she will never dream about a man. Because whatever she's been through she knew she can't trust anyone.

After some more days Isabella called her into her room and ordered Sydney to pack her things as her wedding is in five days. This made Sydney hold her breath. For the first time in days, her faith shook. Though Michael promised to come and take her away he never came. What if he never came. What if he lied just to take the revenge on her for lying and accusing him.

"No, it can't be," Sydney said aloud making Isabella lost her mind. She was still in her state when she felt a sting on her cheek. Isabella slapped her but she couldn't feel a thing as she was so busy in collecting her thoughts. A tear came to wet her cheek. Isabella went into her closet and came out with a cane. She was about to land the cane on her when the door was knocked.

"Come in," Isabella ordered. 

Jasper came in. Sydney didn't look at him but heard him say.

"My lady, I am afraid but we need to talk about something right away." His voice had some panic.

A moment of silence passed. "You wait outside," Isabella ordered Sydney.

"I believe all the dishes are still dirty," Jasper commented.

"You useless psycho! Get the hell out of here and complete your chores." Isabella tried to say in a compose tone but was losing it at the same time.

Sydney left and start doing the dishes. Somehow her hope was still there that he will come but now doubts were digging their claws in her faith and tearing it apart. She finished the dishes and knew she had to get back to Isabella to get her punishment.

The moment she got to the door she saw something she was never ready for.

"Ahh, yes Jasper right there. Oh, God." She saw Jasper and Isabella in a very inappropriate act. Isabella's moans were all too clear.

Sydney's eyes almost came out. Keeping her right hand on her mouth she muffled her gasp and ran from there.

She still waited for Michael but the evening she was told that tomorrow she is going to chapel at 12 in the noon as she got to be ready for the ceremony that is being held at 2 pm, her hopes were crushed completely. He was not coming. He was never coming to get her. She forgets about Michael altogether as once again her all thoughts were occupied by the possibilities of what that ugly man will do to her.

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I hope you like this chapter.

Thank you so much for finally giving me some comments on my previous chapter. Love you all, 

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