As my body tried to gain stability to no avail, I instinctively used my elbow to break the fall. Blinding pain shut up and down my arm. Riley had tried to catch me but he wasn't fast enough. He bent beside me and tried to help me up. Shock was clearly written all over his face. His hands were even trembling.
On my end, I was shocked but somehow calm. It was as if the fear encroaching on my heart since afternoon was slapped out of my head. I brushed his hands off my body and stood up without his help. The fear that had me in its grapes when we made our way to the study was suddenly gone. My mind was blank for the second time that night. My heart was beating hard and I focused on bringing it down.
"The next time you embarrass me like that, you will get more than a slap." Mum snared at me.
I scoffed involuntarily. I honestly don't know what came over me. But soon, my eyes were filled with disdain and I knew she saw it too. I simply stopped being afraid of her. She squinted her eyes at me and I raised my left brow just like she does when she wants to be sarcastic.
"Is that all? I would like to retire for the night." I snorted.
She tried to slap me again and I quickly covered my face but the slap never came. I peeped through my hands and saw her bring her raised hand down. I wondered what made her change her mind.
"Riley, she is your woman. Be a man and handle her. You have my permission" I heard her say. I looked at her in shock. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I do not want to hear anything about canceling your wedding again. You will do well to stay down else you will see the other side if me "
"Oh, there is more to see?" I sneered "Caitlin shut up!" Riley snapped at me.
What?! How dare he yell at me? When did that start? I turned on him but before I could say anything, he grabbed my hand and pinched hard.
"Sorry Ma'am, we will take our leave now." He then dragged me to the door.
"Remember what we discussed. There must be no mistakes." She threw to our backs.
"Yes ma'am."
As I let him drag me back to my bedroom, I kept wondering about her last statement but once we got to my room, I threw that thought out of my mind and turned on Riley.
"I don't care what agreement you have with that witch, I am not going to marry you. It will be over my dead body. Did you hear me? Over my dead body. Now get out of my room!" I yelled at him.
"Your mum ordered me to stay here till after the party." He casually walked to the wardrobe, opened it only to find what used to be his space, empty.
"Where are my things?"
" In your house. Riley get out of my room."
"You are really serious ain't you?" He scoffed. "Whatever." he shrugged and started removing his shirt.
"Not here. Go to the guest room. You can't sleep here." I grabbed his hand and tugged at it frantically. He snatched his hand from me, pushing me back a little in the process. I staggered backward and couldn't stop until I hit the bedframe and fell on it.
"Riley!" I shouted in panic. He had never been violent with me before so I never thought he could push me like that.
"Stop it Caitlin. You are pushing me." He said with very dark and angry eyes. I knew I had pissed him off but I didn't want him in my room so I put off the alarms at the back of my mind and sprung out of bed.
"This is my room. Not yours! I decide who stays in my room. Get out!" I screamed and pounced on him hysterically.
He grabbed me and pushed me to the bed then started kissing me aggressively.
I was first knocked out with shock then I became more enraged. I attacked his face aiming for his eyes but he was so strong. He turned his face away, then buried his head in my neck before grabbing my two hands and pinning them down over my head. He then started kissing me, aggressively smashing my mouth to his. I struggled to break free and when he came up for air, I hit him with my forehead with all the strength I could muster. Hot, blinding pain shut into my brain but I ignored it and did it again. He was stunned and quickly grabbed his forehead. I pushed him off me and instantly got off the bed and ran to the door, ready to bolt once he tried anything funny again.
"Consider yourself dead. I am going to tell everyone you tried to rape me." I heaved hard.
"Hahahahah!" He laughed.
"Who would believe you? Plus do you think I don't know what you have been doing while I was away?"
"What do you mean?" I snorted.
"I can even smell him on you. You just came from having sex with Sylvester right? His scent is all over you."
"What?!" I was so shocked, my eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"If I should tell your Mum what you have been doing with that stupid boy, what do you think will happen to him?" He sneered.
"Hahahahahaha." I gave him my own sarcastic laugh too. "Very funny. You have been cheating on me for God knows how long and everyone knew about it. Your Dad and my Mum are sleeping with each other. What makes you think she would give a fuck about who I slept with in your absent? Stop giving yourself relevance. In this house, you have none. You are just a means to an end. A parasite." He stared hard at me. His chest started rising faster than normal breathing. I knew instantly that I had won. A sense of satisfaction engulfed me. It was as if i just had the best sex of my life. But then, warning bells also started clanging earnestly in my head. I opened the door and dashed out of the room.