Chapter 98: Slumber
Lily sat stiffly on the edge of the sofa at the foot of Zayn’s massive bed. The bathrobe Martha had given her after tending to her cuts felt too thin, too revealing. She tugged it tighter around herself, wincing as the movement aggravated the fresh cuts on her palms.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” Martha asked, hovering by the door. Her weathered face was creased with worry.
Lily shook her head firmly and pointed toward the darkened sky visible through the window. It was already well past midnight. Martha needed rest too.
‘I’ll be fine,’ she signed, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. ‘Go rest.’
Martha’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Alright...” She hesitated, then added in a whisper, “If anything happens, anything at all, you make as much noise as you can. I’ll get here as soon as I can.”
Lily nodded. Though she worried about what would happen, deep down, she knew she would be safe.
Martha, on the other hand, didn’t think the same way. Still, she respected Lily’s wishes and left, closing the door softly behind her.
As soon as she was alone, Lily’s shoulders sagged. She touched her bruised throat gingerly, remembering the feel of Zayn’s hand crushing her windpipe. The memory made her shudder.
Why had he offered his room? Was it guilt? Or did he expect something from her in return?
Her stomach knotted at the thought. Their first time together had been brutal, painful. She remembered how his scarred body pressed against hers, his eyes filled with hatred even as he claimed her.
The second time was different. For the first time, she felt loved. She felt safe. Just when she thought things between them were going to be good, everything came crashing down.
It was all her fault.