I held her frail body and soul in my arms while her lifeless tired eyes looked up at me and I fell weak to my knees. What had they done to her? I wanted to kill my father.

Within her blue green eyes that I had grown to cherish I couldn't see the light as I bore witness to immense pain painted in every corner. They broke her.

And I was damned for this. Because it was the blood of my blood that put her through the suffering. I've never been more ashamed of being my father's son than in that moment. Betty deserved justice and I wouldn't stop until I gave it to her. And if it meant going against my father and making him accountable for the cruelty he inflicted upon an innocent girl then I'd do everything to bring him to court. Nobody asked for this. He used his power and authority to punish a person who couldn't even defend herself. Words can't explain how much I want him to pay for this and I'll make sure he does.

He hurt the woman I love, the most important person in my life, the only person I'd bleed for, he has no idea how much I'd put my life on the line for her and he'll find out.

Soon enough.

I looked at Elisabeth and I wasn't sure what I was to say to her. I didn't know where to start. She was trembling in my embrace and I couldn't decide whether it was her body's way of reacting to the shock of seeing me here or it was her body shaking from starvation. They weren't feeding her, her body was worn out and she had lost so much. Why would my father do something like this to her? I hated him for it. And I hated myself. She was trapped here because of me and I couldn't bare the overwhelming guilt.

I'd already caused her so much pain before and even in my sleep I was still adding flame to the fire.

I'm the reason this wonderful woman could not have any peace. My existence in her life had done more damage than it ever did any good. I ruined this girl's life and I might never forgive myself for it.

I felt her soft fingers on my cheeks, she mapped my face and observed me closely. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears and I ached inside by every touch. I could practical feel her pain radiating from her body and it was a heart breaking sight.

She was drenched in sorrow.

The type of sorrow you'd see from someone who had lost something precious.

"I'm sorry." My own words punched my chest as my tears fell. I was so ashamed of the damage I caused upon her. I looked into her eyes and begged her to forgive me. "I'm sorry."

Betty buried her face against my chest and said nothing...... I embraced her closer to my soul. Wrapping my arms around her gently, careful not to hurt her.

I wish that I woke up sooner. What was merely a second to me was an eternity to her and that made me want to die. She has been feeling the loss, time passing her by, and I wasn't there to make the torment stop.

I failed her, once again.

Something that won't ever happen again.

I carried her in my arms, shielding her from the burning sun and toke her to my car. I sat with her glued to my chest and sited on my lap. I kept her close to me and didn't let go. Her head lay on my chest as we looked at each other. The untold emotions that wedged between couldn't be numbered. My heart was heavy that it hurt underneath my chest.

I palmed her pale cheek, the love that I had for her urging me to connect our lips but my mind knew better. She was still so delicate, emotional she was shuttered and I couldn't be selfish though I wanted to taste those tender soft lips again. She was drawing me in with every glance and I was critically aware of how hopeless I truly was when it came to her.

So instead I touched them. I used my thumb to feel the softness. Betty slowly closed her eyes, leaning into my touch and my heart flickered.

Could she possibly still love or ever want me again after everything? I put her through hell and I won't ever forgive myself.

She let me touch her skin, her beautiful face and I trembled to the core. How I've always wished for a moment where I have her in my arms like this, where she wouldn't push me away.

I wanted her to say anything but she didn't say a word. And that scared me. What did they do to her that she wouldn't talk? I was afraid. I was scared of learning what they had done.

I felt Elisabeth's fingers wipe my tears that I wasn't aware were falling. I pulled her hand in mine and kissed it deeply.

"Nobody will hurt you ever again, I promise you this." I assured her with all my heart. "And those who have, will pay for it."

I was desperate to hide her from the world and never let anything hurt her again. I promised myself to make sure that nothing ever comes close enough to hurt her.

I wanted to take Betty out of Georgia, someplace she wouldn't be reminded of the things we all went through. I used my mother's plane to fly us to Malibu, I owned a bungalow there, it was one of the properties my mother had left to me. God rest her soul.

Betty was silent and remained that way until we arrived to our Destination. Not once did she say anything during the flight. She slept soundly next to me in the plane and when she woke up, she had a clean shower and wore the clothes I got for her. Betty never had motion sickness before, but she threw up anything I'd feed her throughout the journey. She was worn out to the point I had to just let her sleep. Not once did she complain. She didn't speak and that troubled me. It was painful, so painful to see her that way. She looked so empty, so shuttered and I worried she'll never be the same again.

It wasn't easy being strong when I was witnessing her that way. She wasn't the same, the light of her life wasn't their. The glow was all gone and I felt responsible. I would do anything in my power to make it up to her. I'll help build her life up again.

Help her start over.

Make it easier for her because that's what she deserves after everything she's been through..

When we got to my house in Malibu, the first thing I try to do is have her eat. I know she's hungry and it bothers me that nothing sits in her stomach.

I thought it was the plane but when she throws up again at home, I realize it's the side effects of being starved for long periods of time. Her stomach is now used to the emptiness.

The anger towards my father only intensifies by the hour. He really wanted Elisabeth to die in that jail cell and I'll never forgive him for that. What kind of monster is he? I never thought he was capable of something like this but what if I never woke up? Was he going to end her? Was Elisabeth about to lose her life because me?

God!

I've never been more grateful for life because then Betty got to keep hers. But I'm also condemned because her life was never suppose to depend on mine in the first place. I brought us into this mess and she has spent two years of her life paying for it and I can't bare the knowledge of that.

I hold her hair back as she empties her belly in the toilet sink. Hot tears ran her eyes and eventually she leans backward on my chest when done and we sit on the floor.

I need to take her to the hospital.

I place her head on the crock of my neck and watch her struggle while holding her belly. I hate to see her suffer this way. I'd do anything to take this pain away.

A few minutes pass and I decide to carry her out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. I lay her slowly on the bed and turn the side lamp on. She stares at me with gentle eyes as I tuck her in. I take a mental note to get her checked first thing in the morning. I can't let her stay hungry this way.

Our eyes meet and I can't look away from her. Not when she was looking at me like that. As hard as I try to make sense of the flickering in her eyes I come to a dead end. I'm trapped within her stare and I have no escape.

"Please say something." I plead with her. "I can't bare your silence any longer."

She signs, tears forming in her eyes.

"Don't cry, please......don't cry." I hold her cheeks within my hands as I sit next to her laying body on the bed. I lean into her and connect our foreheads.

She cries and I shutter. The sounds of her silent cries are daggers to my chest and I can't help but bleed inside. The absolute agony can be witness within each tear and I'm imprisoner of my own drowning guilt.

"I'm so sorry I hurt you, Betty, if I could take it all back I would. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you and shield you from the pain I and my family has caused you. I'm sorry you had to endure two years of torture for my own mistake. I'm sorry that once again you had to carry the weight of my doing. Every moment I curse myself for coming after you and causing all this chaos. I shouldn't have been so selfish. I should've put you first despite my needs but I failed you. I'm sorry for letting you down , I ruined your life and I won't ever be able to forgive myself for everything I put you through and I'm so deeply sorry. You deserve so much better and all I've done is break you apart........ I was...."

Betty placed her finger against my lip to silence me, "You have no idea how I've been praying every single night that ... That.." she took a deep breath as her own tears flowed and I wiped them, "That you don't die."

I kissed her lips, I couldn't hold back any longer I just had to feel her. A wave of intense electricity coursed through my veins the instant I connected our lips. My heart pounded when I felt her kiss me back. It was like anything I'd ever felt before, she tasted like the medicine I was being deprived of for my whole life.

She kissed me harder. So hard as though she was waiting her entire life for it. Like she would die with out it and I surrendered. The feeling of her plumb wet lips moving on mine sent me to overdrive.

Betty opened her mouth to let me in and I dived my tongue to taste the warmth of her virgin tongue. She tasted like the purest thing I'd touched and I was ready to serve, with all my gold and with all my love laid down.

"I love you," I gave her my truth. "So much, Betty." I kiss her deeper and she tolerates it willingly. Her fingers grabbing my hair to draw me closer, her lips tremble against my own and I shiver as I feel the heat rising.

I quickly move away from her, standing up and turning the other way.

My self control is in ambush and I'm losing my mind because of just how badly I want her. I want her heart, her soul, her body....that gorgeous body, her innocence.... Everything.

"James....." Her voice is so soft and I can't help but turn to look at her. Those eyes are my weakness and I gaze down on the floor in shame.

"I don't think I'm strong enough to resist you." I confess my sins in a pitiful attempt.

The tension was already rising between us, she has always been my biggest temptation. The sweetest addiction and just thinking about how it feels to be against her naked body has me losing all sense.

She's still to delicate.

It feels like a crime wanting her this way.

Betty gets out of bed and walks to me and I already see myself losing the fight against my better judgement. She hold my hands in her and stares at me.

"Don't run away from me, please." She says those words and I already feel like a monster. I feel her body leaning into mine and my morals get tested. Even with that dress hanging her body I can still feel the heat of her skin and it melts me. It triggers something inside me and I wrap my arm around her slender waist, drawing her closer and connecting our bodies.

As I join our bodies together Betty buries her head on my chest. "I've missed you so much." She tells me words I've always wanted to hear and I draw her body even closer that I can feel every inch of her plastered on mine. I kiss her temple and run my finger over her short hair. She had changed so much, even her voice was slightly different, but I've never loved her more than I do now.

And I'd gladly claim each corner and every angle of her body if she'd let me have her. And I'd spend every single night exploring her sweetest parts, her softest parts, her delicate parts, parts of her that she never lets anyone see, sacred parts of her and parts of her that when I'd touch she would never stop screaming for more.

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