Page 10 of Twisted Betrayal

Riley stood and crept to the bathroom door.Her body felt like it was eighty years old.She was glad the bedroom was empty.She didn’t want to see the look of disgust on his face.She wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Riley quickly dressed in the first outfit she found, pulled a bag from the closet, and started packing some things she would need for a couple of days.She planned on staying at a hotel until she figured out what to do next.

“What are you doing, Wife?”Rick said behind her.

She jumped but didn’t turn to see him.“I’ll get out of your hair as soon as I can.I won’t bother you.”

She heard him sigh.She flinched when his hands grasped her arms and tried to turn her.

She shook her head violently.“No ...please.I can’t see you right now.”

“Why?”

“I can’t see the look of disgust or hatred on your face.”

She tried to get away from him, but he was so much stronger than her.He pulled her over to the large chair, sat, and lifted her on his lap.It didn’t take him long to subdue her.

Rick cupped her face and turned it toward him.“Look at me.”

She shook her head and tried to push his hand away.

“Wife, I want you to look at me right now.”

He called her wife, and it confused her.Riley blinked a few times and then slowly raised her head.She braced herself to see an angry expression, but all she saw was love and concern.That made her start crying again.How could he still love her?

He hugged her tightly against his chest.“Everything’s going to be okay, Wife.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because this is not your fault at all.”

“But the man...”

“Came here because of Gloria, but you wouldn’t let him near you.”

She thought about that for a moment.“I get sick at the thought of another man touching me.”

She felt his lips press against her forehead.Her eyes were so swollen from crying, she could barely see anything.But she felt his warmth and strength ease her enough that she could breathe without it hurting, and her shaking lessened a bit.

They sat in silence for a bit with his hand running up and down her back.

“Are you sure you’re not mad at me?”she asked.

“Not at all.”

She was so confused.She never expected Rick not to blame her or be angry, and she was at a loss on what to do.

“Why would she do something so horrible?”Riley asked finally.

“She’s a shellfish, horrid, entitled bitch.She always has been, but you saw some good in her.You try to do that with everyone.”

“I’m pathetic,” she whispered.

“No, Wife, you are wonderful.I love everything about you.”

Her chest felt like it would burst, but instead of the pain, it was from the love and support of her husband.The two extreme opposite emotions she’d felt in the last fifteen minutes left her numb.

“W-what are we going to do?”she asked.

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