Page 116 of Gorgeous Prince

My lower lip trembles, sorrow trickling through my veins, and I spring out of bed. I scramble around the room, appearing lost while also on a mission. My brain is scattered, so many emotions slicing through me, and the only one I can keep up with is,I need to get out of here.

“I need to go see my parents,” I say, finally able to form words. “My sisters.” I shove open the closet door and attempt to tear a shirt down. Clothing falls, and hangers bend during my struggle.

It’s like I have no control over my motor functions.

My body locks up when Benny’s arms wrap around me from behind.

“Relax, baby,” he says, his voice the softest I’ve ever heard.

I gulp, my insides shaking. “Let me go, Benny.”

He doesn’t listen.

I squirm, attempting to escape, but he doesn’t loosen his hold.

I kick at his shins.

Elbow his stomach.

The longer he holds me, the harder I fight.

“Please, calm down.” He whips me around to face him while maintaining his grip. “It’s late. I can’t let you leave right now. We’ll go to your parents’ in the morning.”

“No!” I scream, turning my head away from him and kneading my knuckles into his chest. “Let me go!”

He grabs my chin, forcing me to stare at him while I struggle. My eyes grow wet, and tears threaten their appearance.

I have to get out of here.

And finally, because I don’t know any other way to convince him to let me go, I grit out the words, “Please let me go, Benny. I don’t want you to see me like this.”

I don’t cry in front of people.

I’m the only witness to my sadness.

My father taught us that early.

We display anger and happiness. Nothing more.

If we wanted to cry, we had to leave the room and couldn’t return until every trace of a tear was gone. I want to be strong and go to my family, but first, I need to be alone to release my pain. I want to shove myself in a room alone and cry until another tear cannot come.

Benny doesn’t allow that.

He only holds me tighter.

“Let it out, baby,” he says, dragging me into his chest and massaging my back. “Fall apart in my arms, so I can put you back together.”

With my face shoved in his shirt, I shake my head but stop fighting.

It’s useless.

He won’t allow me to hide.

Even if I were to escape his arms, he’d kick down the door to hold me.

To comfort me.

Benny’s voice turns scratchy, as if my pain is bleeding into him. “Let me be your husband—your real husband—and hold you while you fall apart.”

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