Chapter 6

I squeezed my eyes shut and kept my head down but to my surprise the only impact that came was from his thumb trailing down my face softly. Quietly, and he gets my hand, look at my bruise, making me wince slightly.

Was he trying to be nice to me? Gentle for the first time? This can't be right.

"We wouldn't want your father to see that ugly bruise today now would we? Cover it well with some makeup and text me when you are done! I added my number to your phone." He said emotionlessly before leaving me alone YET AGAIN.

To think I actually thought he was being nice... reality is he just can't leave another mark on me just yet or someone will catch him out.

No one puts concealer on the wrist, so I'm pretty sure that people will notice a change with it to cover up his abuse.

Oh well I guess it's Carter s orders...

I pulled out a tube of concealer and began trying to cover the hideous site on my arm. This suck. Majorly sucks.

The bruise was barely noticeable. I mean I could still see it but only because I knew it was there.

I went into my closet and put on a baggy sweater and some jeans. I guess I need to text Carter now because if I don't soon then he might get pissed off.

I sent a brief text saying "I'm done." Nothing too extreme and moments later I heard the thumping of feet on the steps leading up to my room.

The door was swung open and there stood Carter . He studied and snarled at me. Why can't he just give me a break? I already feel close to having a break down.

"It will have to do... We are going to see your father and you will tell him that we are engaged... You'd better be happy, after all, if you don't marry me, who else can you marry?" He told me sternly, glaring deeply into my eyes. “You don't want to be married to a rich old man, do you?”

I gulp harshly at his threat and nod my head in understanding. He wastes no time in taking my hand roughly and leading me out of the room in a rush.

Oh crap!! Now I will have to act all excited and happy about the engagement or else Carter will carry out his threats.

The thought of lying to my father terrifies me...

"Remember what I said!" Carter grits out as we approach the large doors leading into my father's office.

I freeze as Carter waits for me to enter first. I can't do this... this isn't right...

"Move it!" He snaps lowly, causing me to knock on the door suddenly without hesitation.

"Come in!" I hear my father's voice boom from the opposite side of the door.

I place my small hand on the handle as I twist it carefully to enter.

As my parents see that it's us their face lights up into a grin and they instantly stand from their chair. Mum rushes at me.

"Leoni ! I haven't seen you since your party... is everything alright?" She asks me warily and I can't help but notice the heavy presence of Carter who is behind me.

"Y-Yes I'm fine Mum... just wasn't feeling so great recently... but I'm better... ugh... the good news is that C-Carter and I are...engaged..." I slur out, trying desperately to sound excited about it.

I stuttered quite a lot which I know Carter won't be happy about but I couldn't help it. I feel terrible for having to go along with this.

"Oh, my beautiful daughter! This is amazing! I'm so happy that this is working out! So, when will the wedding be?" My father asks excitedly, completely ignoring the fact that I was a stuttering mess.

He has probably just assumed that I'm nervous because I have a new mate but boy was, he was soooo wrong.

"2 weeks." I hear this sudden unfamiliar chirpy voice say from behind me. Of course, he's putting on the 'luckiest man in the world' act right now. Well played Carter .

"Excellent my boy!" My father exclaims.

Did he just call Carter his "boy”? Oh god my life couldn't get any worse right now could it?

I look up at my father, realizing that I had in fact been looking at the ground since the minute I got in here.

I look up to see his excited, overwhelmed facial expression and it breaks my heart that he is supporting this monster behind me.

Mother happily grabbed my hand and held it tightly in her own. Mother happily grabbed my hand and held it tightly in her own. But the position she grabbed is exactly the position of my bruise. I couldn't help but groaned out of the pain.

Shit she's noticed it!!

“My baby girl, what's wrong with your hands?” She took my hand to her eyes and looked at it carefully.

"Leoni , what is that on your arm!" James asks, now taking his eyes from me and moving them to Carter .

"What is it? what's happened?" I hear Carter say as he grabs me by my shoulders turning me to face him now.

I study his face which looks sad and worried- obviously an act in attempts to fool my father and save his own ass. What a great actor this man is.

This is all becoming way too much to handle and I feel my body start to shake. The room around me spins violently and I look to Carter who looks as if he has now grown four extra heads.

I feel my eyes glaze over and my body go limp as I hear the faint echoes of my name being called.

I try to fight to stay awake but it's too late as I feel my body hit the floor and the room falls into complete, painful silence.