Padgett Eve:

2 Months later:

It's been two months already, it feels so long but just two months have passed. Colton is good to me he never forced me for something I didn't want, we meet up mostly everyday,but somedays we can't because Colton is very busy, and caught up in his company affairs. I know he loves me but I don't. Yet. I try my best to accept him, in fact I slowly am, brcause he takes care of me and showers me with love unlike others, who just use me as a pawn in the game of chess.

Today when I woke up, I recieved a message from one of my college classmates saying there will be a reunion held this Saturday, which is day after tomorrow. I really want to go but my father will not allow me because he still doesn't let me out of this house,exept when I have to meet up with Colton. Whenever I ask him hoping he would let me go he declines saying, " You can't, after your marrige go wherever you want." And about marrige, Colton is still finding a perfect time to get married which I internally wish he doesn't find one yet, because, I am not ready yet.

I really wanted to attend the reunion so I decided to ask my father once again hoping he would not beat me up this time. Yes, he still beats me but a fewer tines than before because, Colton once saw my bruise and asked me about it infront of my father, my father quickly made up an excuse, then later when Colton left, my father slapped me hard and forced me to apply make-up to cover the bruises everytime he gave me some.

Shrugging all the thoughts in my mind I decided to go down and ask my father about the reunion. I shivering went to the living room where my father was. I looked down to the floor with sweaty palms, fidgiting with my fingers, when i called my father,"WHAT!?" He shouted making me flinch,"C-can I-I please a-attend m-m-my c-college reunion this S-saturday?" I questioned him hoping he would just allow me."No" he simply said and was about to walk away. When a voice from behind him stopped him.

"Why are you denying my belle, Mr.Eve?" I looked up to find the owner of the voice and it was Colton. My father stopped and had confused expression on his face but soon replaced it by a fake smile. "It's just something useless she is arguing about." My father said but soon came towards me and gave me a hug and a light light peck on my cheek. "Where do you want to go,belle?" He used to call me belle because it means beautiful in French. He thought I was beautiful. I hesitently answered his question," T-to my c-college reunion." I said he simply hummed in response. "I heard it's on Saturday, did I hear it right, belle?" And I simply nodded. "You will surely go to your reunion." I felt very happy listening to him, but my happiness quickly faded away thinking about what my father might do to me after this. "Let's go, I came here to pick you up, get ready" Colton said back-hugging me.

I nodded, he placed a peck on my right temple and released me. After reaching my room I took a shower and wore my clothes, it was a full sleeve sweater so I didn't need to apply make-up to cover my bruises. I took my phone wore my shoes and headed downstairs, I didn't apply make-up because I usually never did and preffered staying natural.

When I walked down my father had already left for some important business to the comapany. Colton smiled at me and offered me his hand, I hesitently took his hand and then we exited the mansion.

When I came back home, my father was sitting on the couch in the living room.

I was quietly going up to my room when he called me. "Padgett!!" His voice was filled with anger and venom. I slowly went down and stood infront of him. He pulled my hair and and spat on me saying, "You little bitch!! You dared to disrespect me infront of Colton Blake!?"

I couldn't answer back but just let out a whimper, "You are going to pay for it!" My father said with his mischievous and scary chuckle and dragged me up to my room pulling my hair.

He again did that, he again beat me up, took out his anger on me, and then simply left, he didn't even glance at me before leaving. I sat there being miserable, again, I sat there injured, again, I sat there alone, again, I sat there praying, again.

After sometime, I stopped crying, I sometimes wonder I literally cry everyday, but still I have tears left. Shooking my thoughts away I made my way towards the bathroom, cleaning myself, washing my face,treating the fresh wounds as well as the old wounds my father gave me,then I wore my nightwear which is a hoodie and a pair of shorts. I laid on my bed thinking about today, and tomorrow.

Tomorrow, tomorrow I am going to meet my old friends, some of the people I wish not to meet again will be there, I will also meet some of my friends whom I lost contact with. I hope tomorrow goes well not like other days.

Next Morning

I woke up, did my morning routine changed my clothes and headed downstairs for breakfast. As I reached the dining area I was schoked to see the person infront of me. It was Colton, he was having his breakfast with my father. As soon as my father saw me he put up a fake smile on his face and said," Finally, my princess woke up! Padgett dear, come have your breakfast please." I was shocked for a moment but soon realised it's just one of his drama that he puts up whenever Colton or any of his family members are present or whenever he took me to a business meeting with him.

I nodded and sat down besides Colton, he gave me a slight smile and mouthed,'Good Morning' and I returned the smile and did the same to him, soon my plate was infront of me and I started eating. Everybody was eating in silence when suddenly my father asked me,"Padgett dear, what time do you have to reach at your reunion?" As soon as I heard this, I choked the food I was eating. Colton was kind enough to patt my back and help me while my father was busy shooting me a glare, after I was fine I replied to my father,"A-at 2-2 p-pm for l-lunch." While my father simply nodded Colton was busy thinking something and then said,"Perfect,belle. We can hang out till then, and then I can drop you off." I said,"O-okay" and in my mind I was somewhere happy because I will not have to face my father, and I can spend some time for Colton.

As Amelda said, I slowly am accepting my fate and somewhat happy that I am getting married to Colton, because he was good and caring, he was not what I thought he would be, cold and aggresive, old and arrogant. Suprisingly, Colton and I have 1 year of age difference he is 26 and I am 25 which was fine by me.

As I was finished with breakfast I got ready to leave with Colton, and soon I saw Colton waiting for me by his car. As soon as he saw me coming towards the car, he smiled pecked my cheeks, which he usually does and to my surprise hugged me tight. "You look so beautifull, belle. I just can't wait to make you mine." With that he started placing kisses on my neck, which were making me slightly uncomfortable. I kept my hands on his biceps thinking he would stop but he didn't which was just making me more uncomfortable. Suddenly he stopped, making a confused face looking slightly angry. "What is this!? Did someone try to hurt you!?"

I soon understood, he said that regarding the red marks on my neck, which were given by my father, who tried to choke me beacause I dared to look in his eyes. I had a mini panick attack but I quickly made a cover story, terrified of the consequences I will have to face later when Colton finds out my father abuses, and also my father who will get to know that I told Colton that my father has been abusing me.

"Maybe I s-scrubbed m-my s-skin t-too ha-hard." I said biting my lips and looking down hoping he would believe and luckily he did, but he still had a slight hint of confusion on his face. "L-let's g-go we are g-getting l-late!" I said stoping him from interrogating me further. He nodded placing a peck on my cheek, took my hand, walked me to the door of the car, and opened it for me. These small gestures which I have not recieved before from anyone in my life are the things which make me think good of Cole, which I hope is true.

After we enjoyed our time in the café had walk in the garden and lastly stopped by Colton's office, which was huge and classy, we returned home for me to get ready for the reunion. As I came back back Colton got a call,he excused himself and walked away. I decided to wait for him outside while he was busy with his call, soon Colton came back and said,"I have something important to do at work,.... You can go get ready for your reunion while I finish some business and come back to pick you up." He said and waited for my response." It's fine, you must probably be tired by now, I can manage to reach there you just finish your business, go home and take some rest." I said with a smile. He argued for a while but after I insisted a bit more he agreed giving me a peck on my lips for a surprise now. I couldn't react to what just happened right now, by the time I processed everything he had already left.

Blushing, I went up to my room, took a shower, took a nap. By the time I woke up it was already time to get ready for the reunion. I washed my face, did my hair and just put the dress on

The dress:

I let my hair open, and it was a turtle-neck dress so I didn't have to apply make-up, so I just applied sone gloss, took my bag, my phone and walked downstairs.

On reaching the enterance the driver came and told me,"Mr. Eve asked me to drop you to your reunion. This way Ma'am." He said gesturing towards the car that was standing right infront of the house. I was shocked on how father had ordered the driver to drop me off to the venue for my reunion. As soon as I sat in the car I recoeved a text from Colton, it said," Sorry belle, I couldn't drop you personally so I made your work quick by asking your father to send you off beforehand. But I will surely be there to pick you up, bye. Love you." That's when all the pieces started fitting in so Colton asked my father to drop me off, and surely how could father rehect Colton's idea. I simply texted him back a thank you. I couldn't return the I love you because I wanted to stay honest with Colton and I didn't really love him. Yet.