Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

My shoes slapped against the pavement as I ran, the laces loose, my work shirt clinging to my skin. The night air burned in my lungs, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. My phone had died halfway through my shift, and that meant he’d been calling, probably texting, probably stewing in silence.

And now I was late.

It had been my first shift at Fredbear’s Family Diner. I’d done everything right—kept smiling, kept busy, kept my head down. The manager even said I did well. But none of that mattered now. Not to Nicholas. My phone died and I had missed the bus. I knew that even if I was a few minutes late, I would be in trouble. 

But I was a whole whopping 45 minutes late. 

When I finally reached the apartment, my hand trembled as I shoved the key into the lock. The door creaked open. Dark. Silent. Not even the television was on. My stomach twisted.

He was sitting on the edge of the couch, elbows on his knees, head bowed. The second the door clicked shut behind me, his eyes met mine. Still and flat.

That was always the most terrifying version of him—the quiet one. The calm before the storm.

“Where the fuck were you?” he asked, voice low, almost too soft.

I opened my mouth. “My phone died and I missed the bus—”

“Don’t lie to me.”

His voice didn’t rise, but the shift was there. He stood slowly, and I instinctively took a step back.

“I’m not lying,” I whispered. “My shift ran late and I completely missed it. I am so sorry—”

“You think I don’t know when you’re lying to me?” His words cracked through the air like a whip. “You think I’m stupid, Reese? You think I don’t know when you’re out fucking around?”

“I wasn’t—Nicholas, I swear, I came straight home. Please, just—”

His hand shot out. Not a slap—no, not yet. He grabbed me by the jaw, fingers digging into my cheeks until I could feel the skin bruising beneath them.

He brought his face close, the stink of cigarettes and stale coffee on his breath. “You wanna act like a little whore? Huh?” His voice was trembling now with fury, but he was smiling. That sick grin that always made my blood run cold.

I shook my head as best I could with his hand crushing my face. “No—no, I wasn’t—”

His grip tightened. “Don’t fucking talk.” 

And then he kissed me. Hard. Brutal. His mouth crashed into mine, more force than affection, his teeth cutting my lip. It wasn’t a kiss—it was a warning.

When he pulled back, a thin trail of saliva still connected us. His breath was shallow, his fingers still holding me like a trophy he owned.

“You’re mine,” he growled. “Say it.” I couldn’t speak, not through the pain. Tears burned behind my eyes. He slapped me. Once. Sharp and loud. My head snapped to the side, and the sting bloomed across my cheek instantly. “I said,” he hissed, yanking me closer, “ Say it .”

“I’m yours,” I whispered, voice breaking.

He nodded slowly, like he was proud. Like I’d passed some sick test. Then he dragged me into his arms, crushing me against his chest as if he hadn’t just hurt me, hadn’t just made me feel like nothing.

He kissed the top of my head, his lips pressed firmly against my hair.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured, his voice suddenly gentle, falsely warm. “But you make me. You make me.”

I didn’t respond.

I just let him hold me there, frozen in his arms. 

***

Steam clung to the bathroom walls. 

My body ached. Not just from the slap. From everything. The pressure of his grip still throbbed in my jaw. I knew there would be bruises. There always were.

When I finally stepped out, I dried off slowly. I avoided the mirror at first. I always did. But I caught a glimpse of myself anyway—because I always did that too.

Purple. Yellow. Faint green along my ribs. A fresh fingerprint stain on my arm.

I stared at my reflection. I was disgusted. 

I tightened the towel around myself and stepped into the bedroom.

Nicholas was already there. Reclining on the bed—shirtless, legs sprawled, only a pair of black boxers covering him. The soft glow from the lamp caught the smug tilt of his mouth.

His eyes dragged over me.

“Damn,” he muttered, voice thick with that sick sweetness he used when he thought he was being charming. “You always look so good after a shower, baby.”

I didn’t say anything.

He patted the empty space beside him. “C’mere.” I froze. His smirk widened. “What, you shy now?” he teased. And when I still didn’t move, his eyes narrowed just slightly. “I said come here ,” he said again, this time lower. Not a suggestion.

I stepped forward, towel clenched in both hands, my heart sinking with every step toward him.

“You know I don’t like repeating myself, baby,” he added as I reached the edge of the bed.

His hand reached for my hips and I straddled him slowly, towel still wrapped around me, though it barely mattered anymore. His hands rested on my thighs, warm, firm—but for once, not rough. He looked up at me with that smirk softened into something that tried to resemble affection. He leaned up to kiss the skin just beneath my collarbone.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured. “You know that?”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t know what to say to things like that anymore.

Still, for a moment, he was sweet. He touched me carefully, rubbed circles into my back. I almost let myself believe that maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad. But when he shifted beneath me and tugged at the edge of the towel, I tensed.

His lips moved to my neck. “ I need to fuck you .”

“Nicholas…” I said softly, pulling back just a little. “I’m really tired. Work wore me out. My feet are killing me.”

His hands stilled on my body.

I saw the change immediately. The warmth drained from his eyes. “What?”

“I just…” I swallowed. “I don’t really feel like it.”

He scoffed and sat up with me still on his lap. “You serious?”

“I’m not saying no forever,” I whispered. “Just not tonight. Please.”

He grabbed the back of my neck—not hard, but not soft either. His face was right in mine now, his breath hot, heavy. “Why do you think you get to pick and choose when you give me what I need?”

“I’m just asking for—”

“No,” he snapped. “You don’t get to ask for shit. I work my ass off every goddamn day, and all I want is to come home to my girlfriend who actually gives a fuck about me. But you—you just want to play tired little victim . Every time.”

I tried to push off his chest, to climb off his lap. He didn’t let me. The towel was ripped away, and I froze. I knew what would happen if I fought him. I turned my head to the side, numb as he flipped me over and forced himself onto me. The ceiling blurred above me.

It was always like this.

“You’re just so fucking beautiful,” he murmured in my ear as he stroked his cock, tugging his boxers down his thighs, “I love you so much, Reese…” 

He forced himself inside me, pinning my wrists down with a bruising grip—as usual—and used me. I disassociated from my body, just watching myself get violated by the man I thought I loved. By the man who I thought loved me. 

It never felt good. Usually it hurt, because it was never about me, it was always about him. 

“Don’t cry, please don’t cry,” he mumbled between grunts, “I love you, baby. I love you so much, don’t—don’t cry. It ruins it.” 

I always sucked it up, held back my tears, and pretended I was somewhere else. There was a familiar crack on the ceiling, something I always stared at whenever this happened. I just focused on it—the blackness, the crookedness, the thought of what’s inside it. Maybe I could disappear into that crack on the ceiling if I tried hard enough. 

But I never did. 

Not once. 

He finished with a grunt, pulling me against him like it was some twisted form of love. Afterward, he cradled me. He always did. Like he hadn’t just violated me. Like he expected me to say thank you.

And I just lay there, quiet, cold, my eyes wide open in the dark—listening to the sound of his breathing slow and steady beside me as he fell asleep.

Nicholas always fell asleep so easily. 

***

I woke to the weight of his arm across my ribs and the heavy press of his hand on my chest. Fingers squeezing like they owned me. A low chuckle warmed my ear.

“Good morning, baby,” Nicholas murmured, voice sticky-sweet like syrup over something rotting. His breath curled against my neck as he pulled me closer. “Mm. You feel good in the mornings. All soft and warm.”

I kept my eyes closed, hoping maybe if I stayed still long enough, he’d stop. But his hand didn’t move. Just kept fondling, casually, like I was a thing. 

His lips brushed the top of my shoulder. “You gonna make me something?” he asked softly. “I’m starving.” 

I hesitated. “I… I don’t know yet.”

He chuckled against my neck. “Of course you don’t,” he said lightly. “You’d forget your own head if it wasn’t attached. So helpless sometimes.”

That stung. More than I’d admit out loud.

He pulled away from me, rolling onto his back with a long sigh like he was the one exhausted by me.

“I guess I’ll go make my own damn coffee,” he mumbled, sitting up and dragging his legs off the bed. “Don’t worry, baby. I got it. Like always.”

I sat up too, clutching the sheet to my chest, guilt biting at me like a bruise I couldn’t see yet. “I’ll come make something in a sec—”

“Nah,” he said, already halfway to the door. “You’re good.”

His voice was calm, almost pleasant. Not angry. Not loud. But when he reached the door and opened it, he hesitated just long enough to let the moment hang heavy in the air.

Then— slam .

The door cracked shut behind him, harder than it needed to. Not quite a tantrum. But not normal either.

It was just enough to remind me: he could be worse

***

The apartment was quiet.

Nicholas was gone.

No note, no text. 

I stood in front of the mirror in the dim bathroom light, towel clutched around me, staring at the newest damage blooming across my skin.

My wrists were ringed with faint purples and deep thumb-prints, ugly and raw. Souvenirs from last night when I told him no—and he didn’t care.

I didn’t cry.

I just reached for my makeup bag.

The bruises along my neck weren’t as dark yet, just fresh enough to be hidden under foundation. I blended carefully, tapping the sponge until the angry redness disappeared into beige. Then came the concealer. Dot, dot, swipe.

One more layer.

Gone. For now.

I kept my eyes down as I slid on my work polo, making sure the collar hit just right. Then I moved to the dresser and opened the top drawer, pulling out the handful of chunky bracelets and fabric bands I’d worn since high school—back when they were just an aesthetic.

Now they had a purpose.

I slipped them over my wrists, one after another. Leather, beads, metal clasps. Covered every mark.

When I finally looked at myself in the mirror again, I almost looked normal.

I forced a smile. It didn’t reach my eyes, but I’d learned to fake that too.

Grabbing my bag, I stepped out into the quiet apartment. Nicholas’s shoes were gone. His keys too.

Fredbear’s Family Diner sat on the corner of a tired strip mall. The parking lot was half-full when I got there, morning sunlight bouncing off the pavement.

The bells above it jingled as I stepped inside, the scent of syrup and fryer oil thick in the air already. Kids’ laughter echoed from the far side of the restaurant, where the animatronics blinked and jerked onstage in their unsettling little dance.

“Reese! Morning!” called Janine, the front-end shift manager. She was in her twenties like me, sharp-voiced but kind in a distracted way, always juggling too much at once. “Clock in, babe. We’re short again, and there’s already a birthday party rolling in.”

“Got it,” I said, forcing a smile as I headed toward the back.

The employee room was cramped. I shoved my bag into a cubby and clocked in on the busted touchscreen, then pulled on my apron, checked the collar of my shirt again, tugged at my bracelets just to make sure nothing had shifted. 

Don’t think about last night. Don’t think about him.

I took a deep breath and stepped back out onto the floor, into the noise and chaos of the day

The kitchen was hot, louder than usual—the sink was jammed again, and the sprayer kept sputtering like it was trying to spit at me. My hands were deep in suds, scrubbing a tray of sticky plates from the morning rush, when I heard something behind me. Footsteps.

And when I turned around, I flinched. 

A tall man was standing in the doorway.

Lean build. Crisp black slacks. Dress shirt with the sleeves rolled just enough to show his forearms. His hair was dark, neatly parted, and his smile was… unsettling. Not kind. Not warm.

“Well now,” he chuckled, folding his arms. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

I forced a laugh. “I did not hear you come in.”

He stepped into the room casually. “I’m William,” he said smoothly, eyeing me with a slow once-over that made my skin prickle beneath my apron. 

My stomach dropped a little.

I’d heard the name. Henry mentioned him yesterday in passing, something vague about “William working behind the scenes more.” But I hadn’t expected this. He was nothing like Henry.

William’s eyes lingered on me too long, and his grin never faltered. Sharp and smug.

“I don’t believe we met yesterday,” he went on. “You’re the new girl, right? Reese?”

I nodded. Yep. Second day.”

“Mmm.” He took another step closer. “Henry spoke highly of you. Said you worked hard and kept quiet. That’s a rare combo.”

I swallowed hard, unsure what to say. All I could think of was how angry Nicholas would be if he saw a man talking to me like this. With those eyes and that smile. 

He stopped a few feet away, hands still casually tucked in his pockets. “You look very tense,” he said, “You alright?” 

The question should’ve sounded kind. Maybe even concerned.

But coming from him—with that cool, unreadable stare and the slow way he walked toward me—it felt more like a test. Like he already knew I wasn’t okay and wanted to see if I’d admit it.

I tightened my grip on the soapy plate in my hand and gave the smallest nod I could manage. “Totally fine.” My voice cracked a little. I hated that. “It’s great to meet you.” 

He arched a brow, amused again. “You sure?”

I forced a smile. “Of course.”

My heart was already pounding and I could feel the ghost of Nicholas’s voice behind my ears, accusing me, warning me, punishing me. My wrists still ached under the bracelets. My neck itched beneath the foundation.

And William—he wasn’t doing anything wrong, not really. But I couldn’t help but be cautious. 

He didn’t look away. “Okay then,” he said softly, almost playfully, as if he could read my thoughts. “Whatever you say. Your 15 is next, so I’d finish those dishes up soon. A few of our employees use dishes as an excuse to escape the mess out there,” he chuckled. 

My stomach twisted.

“I swear that’s not—”

He smiled again. “I’m just messing with you,” he said, “Take your time, Reese.” And then he walked out like nothing happened. 

I stood there, heart pounding, water dripping from my fingers onto the floor.

That was my boss.

Chapter Text

The apartment was dark again when I got home.

Nicholas wasn’t back yet—his keys weren’t on the counter, and the living room was exactly how I’d left it: messy, cold, silent.

Part of me was relieved.

Part of me was scared of when he would come back.

I dropped my bag near the door, kicked off my shoes, and headed straight for the shower. 

Even under the hot stream of water, I couldn’t shake the way William looked at me. Like he saw too much. Like he knew something.

And I hated that it was lingering in my mind. That I kept replaying the way he stood over me, calm and controlled, not yelling like Nicholas did when he was mad—but still commanding. Still in charge.

That should’ve scared me.

But it didn’t.

It made me… nervous, yes. Uneasy. But not in the way Nicholas made me feel. Not in the way that made me want to disappear.

It was a different kind of nervous.

A flutter.

God.

I scrubbed harder at my skin.

William Afton was my boss. And I barely knew him. I shouldn’t be thinking about the way his voice dipped when he teased me. Or how sharp his cheekbones looked in the light. Or how he smelled—cleaner than Nicholas, smoother.  I would never admit it. Not out loud. Not even to myself, really. But he was more attractive than Nicholas. More everything than Nicholas. And that made me feel sick.

When I climbed into bed that night, Nicholas still wasn’t home, and all I could think about was the way William said my name.

***

I was asleep.

At least, I was trying to be.

The apartment door slammed open hard enough to rattle the walls, and I flinched before I even opened my eyes.

“ Reese !” Nicholas’s voice boomed through the hallway, thick and slurred with alcohol. “ Reeeeeese , baby!”

I didn’t move.

If I just stayed still, if I kept my eyes closed, maybe he’d stumble into bed and pass out before things got bad.

But he didn’t.

I heard his keys hit the floor, his belt jangling as he kicked off his shoes. He was laughing—laughing at nothing—his voice echoing off the walls like a ghost who didn’t know how to leave.

“ Baaaaby ,” he sing-songed again, closer now. “You sleeping? Huh? Don’t be like that. Come on…”

The bedroom door creaked open. I held my breath. Nicholas shuffled in, the light from the hallway casting him in a yellow haze. His shirt was already half off, pants undone, stumbling barefoot across the carpet. 

He was a mess. 

He stood at the edge of the bed, looking down at me, swaying slightly. “Reese,” he said again, almost sweet. “Why’re you pretending, huh?”

I stayed still. Silent.

He leaned over me. “C’mon,” he whispered, breath reeking of whiskey, “don’t ignore me…”

I opened my eyes slowly. My heart was pounding, but I kept my face calm.

“Hey,” he grinned, and leaned in to kiss me, sloppy and wet. “There she is. My girl. You wanna fuck?”

I turned my head away, recoiling slightly. “You’re drunk,” I mumbled.

“So?” He laughed, still trying to touch me. “You’re hot. And I’m horny.”

He pulled at the blankets.

“I don’t want to,” I whispered, voice shaking. “Not tonight…”

He groaned, like I was being difficult for no reason. “Fine,” he slurred. “You don’t gotta do anything. Just suck me off. You’re good at that, remember?”

I shook my head.

“Come on, Reese…” 

“I don’t want to, Nicholas. You’re—you’re drunk. You smell like alcohol, and I’m tired, please—”

“You always say no to me,” he grumbled, groping me anyways, “You don’t love me anymore? Is that what this is?” 

“I never said that—” I squirmed when his hand reached under my shorts, and I kicked him away. He stumbled back, and I watched as he slowly looked back at me. 

My heart dropped. I shouldn’t have done that. 

“ Bitch !” he roared, grabbing the edge of the blanket and yanking it off me.

I gasped, reaching to pull it back, and that’s when he lunged.

I screamed and scrambled off the bed, running toward the hallway—but he was fast. Too fast. He grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me backward, my feet sliding against the hardwood.

He threw me down.

Hard.

The floor cracked against my hip, my shoulder, my skull.

“Stop running from me!” he shouted, grabbing my wrist and twisting it. “You wanna act like a slut, but you don’t want to put out?”

“I didn’t do anything,” I cried. “Please, stop—”

He didn’t stop.

He dragged me across the floor like I weighed nothing, shoved me into the wall, and when I tried to scramble to my feet, he slammed me back down with both hands.

The last thing I saw was the ceiling spinning.

And then black.

***

The world came back in pieces—slow, muffled, sharp.

My head throbbed with a deep, pulsing ache, and my mouth tasted like metal. I could hear someone calling my name, low and frantic.

“Reese. Reese—baby, come on. Wake up.”

I blinked.

Everything was blurry at first. Too bright. Too loud. I tried to sit up, but my whole body screamed in protest.

Nicholas’s face swam into view above me, pale and tight with worry.

“There you are,” he said softly, a shaky smile tugging at his lips. “Jesus… I thought you were out cold for good.”

I blinked again, my vision steadying enough to take him in. His shirt was wrinkled. His hair a mess. His breathing fast.

I tried to speak, but all that came out was a rasp.

“You took a nasty fall,” he said quickly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Scared the shit outta me. You were running and just… slipped.”

Fell? My brow furrowed. I remembered running. I remembered fear. I remembered—his hands on me. 

But he smiled at me like it was already settled.

“Baby,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing, “you gotta be more careful when you panic like that. You tripped over the rug in the hallway. Hit your head hard. It wasn’t… it wasn’t that bad. But I’ve been trying to wake you up. I was freaking out. But I did it, baby. I saved you.” 

My throat tightened.

Something was wrong. I knew it was wrong. But the way he looked at me—worried, soft, innocent—it made me question myself.

Had I really just fallen?

But he was already pulling me up slowly, supporting me like I was some delicate thing that had broken all on its own.

“You’re okay now,” he whispered. “You’re alright.”

I didn’t say anything.

He kissed the side of my head, holding me against his chest.

“I’ll get you some water,” he said, helping me to the couch like it was all part of some accident I’d caused. “Just sit. Don’t move too fast. You’re probably still dizzy from the fall.”

I nodded numbly.

He disappeared into the kitchen, and I curled up on the couch, arms around my knees, pressing my forehead to them.

It hadn’t been a fall.

But if I said that, he’d say I was confused. Overreacting. Making shit up.

And maybe I was.

Maybe I just… panicked.

I sat curled on the couch, the blanket pulled tight around me even though I felt feverish, cold sweat clinging to my skin. My head throbbed with every heartbeat, and a strange nausea rolled in my gut that wouldn’t go away.

Nicholas came back from the kitchen and handed me a glass of water like nothing had happened.

I took it, hands trembling.

“I… I might have a concussion,” I said quietly, staring at the ripples in the water. “Maybe I should go to urgent care.”

The words hung in the air like smoke.

Nicholas froze.

Just for a second.

Then he scoffed gently and sat beside me, his arm stretching along the back of the couch like this was any normal night. “Babe… you’re fine,” he said, voice dipped in something warm and patronizing. “You’re awake. You’re talking. If you had a concussion, you’d be slurring or puking or, like, passed out still.”

I didn’t respond. The water was shaking in my grip.

He leaned in a little closer, tone soft, like he was reasoning with a child. “Going to urgent care over a little fall? Come on. They’re just gonna overcharge you to tell you to rest and drink fluids.”

I nodded slowly, but the pressure in my skull was building. “Still… I hit my head. I blacked out. That’s not nothing.”

He smiled at me like I’d said something silly.

“Yeah, and you panicked. You always panic when things get intense. You took off running, tripped, boom—hit the wall. That’s not my fault, Reese. I didn’t do anything.”

My stomach turned.

He gently tugged the glass from my hands and set it on the table.

“You’re okay,” he said again, brushing his fingers over my knee. “You don’t need a doctor. You need sleep.”

And that was that.

The conversation was over.

***

The back room was quiet. I was wiping down the counter, trying to make myself invisible again, when the door creaked open behind me.

I didn’t need to look to know it was him.

“Reese,” William’s voice drawled, smooth and low like always, with that ever-present undercurrent of amusement. “Janine’s got you back here scrubbing again?”

I looked up with a polite smile, trying not to let my nerves show. “I volunteered.”

He stepped inside, letting the door swing shut behind him. The room instantly felt smaller. 

“Things seem to be running smoother when you’re here,” he said, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall. “Henry’s been singing your praises.”

I chuckled weakly, pretending to be flattered. “I just like keeping busy.”

William’s eyes flicked over me as he nodded. Something about the way he was studying me made my spine stiffen. His gaze lingered—not in a creepy, leering way—but like he was trying to solve a puzzle I didn’t want solved.

And then, suddenly, he tilted his head. His brow furrowed just slightly.

“Hm. What’s that on your head?”

My stomach dropped.

I blinked. “What?”

He motioned vaguely toward my forehead. “Right there, on your forehead. Is that a bruise?”

Shit.

I reached up quickly, brushing my hair back into place with a nervous laugh.

“Oh—yeah. That. I, um… hit it on a cabinet,” I said, forcing my voice to stay light. “At home. It’s nothing.”

William’s expression didn’t change, but there was a pause.

A little too long.

Then he smiled, slow and smooth. “Clumsy?”

“Yeah,” I said quickly. “ Really clumsy.”

He gave a short, thoughtful nod. “Well, maybe be more careful. Wouldn’t want you to hurt that pretty face.”

I blushed, looking down to smile. 

He was almost at the door when he paused—hand on the frame, head tilted like he’d just remembered something.

“And one more thing,” William said, glancing back at me.

I froze mid-wipe, the rag going still in my hand.

His eyes settled on mine, steady, unreadable.

“If you ever do need a break,” he said slowly, “or space… or someone to talk to who doesn’t work the grill—my office is upstairs.”

“Oh,” I said, “uhm…Thanks.” 

Then he nodded once and stepped out, letting the door click quietly behind him.

I stood there, my fingers clenched around the rag, heart stuttering in my chest. Maybe I was paranoid, or maybe he suspected something. 

Chapter Text

The kitchen smelled like garlic and butter. Nicholas stood by the stove, stirring the pasta sauce like he was proud of himself, and I was chopping parsley beside him, enjoying the rare peace between us.

He was smiling. Relaxed. Playful, even. And for once, I wasn’t afraid.

“You smell good,” he said suddenly, glancing over at me with a grin. “Like… like a little chef.”

I laughed lightly, brushing hair from my face. “Thanks. I think that’s the garlic.”

He chuckled, nudging my hip with his. “So,” he said, “how’s work been? Still liking it?”

“Yeah,” I said honestly. “It’s nice. Busy, but not in a bad way.”

He nodded slowly. “Who do you work with?”

I shrugged. “A few girls mostly. Janine’s cool. Kinda intense, but she’s fair. I like her.”

“Mmhmm. And guys?”

I kept my tone light. “There’s a couple, but not many. Kitchen staff’s mostly girls. You’d hate the animatronics, though. Creepy as hell,” I giggled. 

He didn’t laugh.

“What about your bosses?” he asked. “They around much?”

I nodded, stirring the noodles. “Yeah, they’re around. Henry Emily’s the one I see more. He’s older. Nice. Kind of like a grandpa type.”

Nicholas kept stirring. Slower.

“And the other one?”

I hesitated. His eyes flicked toward me. “William. William Afton.”

“And?”

I shrugged. “He’s fine. I barely talk to him. He’s not around much.”

Nicholas was quiet for a moment, his silence sinking into the room like a drop of ink in water. Then, carefully: “You paused.”

I swallowed. “What?”

“When I asked about him. You paused,” he said, his voice low and suddenly not so playful. “Why?”

“I didn’t—” I turned slightly to face him. “It wasn’t on purpose. I just—I forgot his last name for a second.”

He stared at me, eyes narrowing just slightly. “You like him?”

The question was so blunt, so absurd, that I actually laughed. “Nicholas. No. I barely know him. He’s my boss.”

He didn’t laugh back.

“Uh huh,” he said under his breath, tossing the spoon into the sink. “Well maybe don’t get too friendly, yeah? Don’t need some asshole at work thinking he can take what’s mine.”

“I wasn’t—no one’s—” I exhaled. “Nicholas, no one’s flirting with me. No one’s doing anything.”

He looked at me long and hard. Then he smiled. But it wasn’t a nice smile. It was tight. Possessive.

“You’re right,” he said softly. “They better not be.”

Then he walked past me, brushing a hand over my lower back, casual. Like everything was fine. But dinner didn’t taste as good after that.

***

The dishes were done. The apartment was dim and quiet, save for the faint hum of the television in the background and the occasional clink of ice in Nicholas’s glass. He was sprawled on the couch now, socks half-off, one arm lazily thrown over the backrest, the other nursing his third beer of the night.

He tilted the bottle back, drank the last drop, and looked into it like it had betrayed him.

“Damn,” he muttered. “That was the last one.”

I was curled up next to him, legs tucked under me, pretending to watch whatever was on TV. My shoulders tensed the moment he said it.

“I should run to the store,” he said, sitting up like he was about to stand. “Just grab a six-pack.”

“You’ve been drinking,” I said quickly, turning to face him. “Don’t.”

He raised a brow. “It’s just around the corner.”

“Nicholas, seriously. You’re buzzed.”

“I’m fine, Reese.”

“I’ll go,” I said gently, brushing a hand against his shoulder to keep the moment calm. “It’s fine. You can relax.”

He paused for a second—just a second—before slumping back into the cushions with a sigh. “Yeah?” he said, eyes glinting with something that wasn’t gratitude so much as satisfaction. “Thanks, baby. You’re sweet.”

He patted my thigh like I’d done something good.

“Just get the usual, yeah?” he added. “And grab yourself something too. Maybe some of those little cookies you like.”

The way he said it almost sounded like a reward.

So I stood, grabbed his keys and slipped on my shoes.

The night air was cool against my skin as I stepped outside, and for the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe.

Driving to the store, the silence in the car felt too good to be real. Like I was escaping something I’d have to return to too soon.

The harsh white lights of the grocery store buzzed overhead. I kept my head low, the six-pack cold and damp in my hands as I scanned the shelves for those stupid cookies Nicholas liked—store-brand chocolate chips.

As I looked for them, I heard a voice behind me.

“Didn’t expect to see you out this late, Reese.”

I turned fast, heart leaping into my throat.

William stood there with a small basket in hand, sleeves rolled up, collar undone. He looked out of place in a grocery store at night. Too put together. Too confident.

His eyes dropped briefly. Not to the beer.

To my wrist.

The bruise was visible—dark, faintly yellow around the edges now, blooming out from beneath the beads of my bracelet. I snatched my hand back, yanked the bracelet up quickly and gave a nervous, almost frantic smile.

“Mr. Afton—William,” I corrected myself quickly. “Hi. I was just, uh… grabbing a few things.”

Still, he smiled. Easy. Like I hadn’t just been exposed.

“Huh,” he said with a quiet chuckle, tilting his head as he looked at what I held. “Didn’t take you for a beer girl.”

I tried to laugh. “It’s not for me.”

“No?” he asked, stepping a little closer, his voice dipping just slightly. “Then who’s it for?”

“My… boyfriend,” I said.

The word felt heavy coming out of my mouth.

William blinked. “Ah. Boyfriend .” Something unreadable passed across his face before he smiled again, slower this time. “And he sends you out to get beer for him this late at night?” He gave me a look, playful but pointed. “Very gentlemanly of him.”

“He didn’t ask,” I said too fast. “I offered.”

William raised a brow. “Did you?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Yeah. I mean, I was already up. And he’s been drinking. I didn’t want him to drive.”

He hummed, like he wasn’t quite buying it. “That’s thoughtful of you. Most people wouldn’t bother. Not unless they had to.”

I shrugged, feeling hot under my coat. “It’s no big deal.”

“Sure,” he said, gaze lingering for just a second too long. “No big deal.”

“I should probably—” I started, but he cut me off, casually stepping to the side to block the aisle just slightly. Not enough to trap me. Just enough to slow me down.

“Are you always this jumpy, Reese?” he asked, tone teasing.

I gave a nervous laugh. “It’s just been a long day.”

William leaned one shoulder against the shelf beside me, his basket dangling loosely from his hand. He had that look again—like he knew too much and was thoroughly entertained by all of it.

“You know,” he said, “if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get away from me.”

“I’m not ,” I said, but it came out flustered, and definitely not convincing.

He smirked. “You sure? Because every time I walk into a room, you get this look you’re scared of me or something.”

I snorted before I could stop myself, surprised by the laugh that escaped. “I do not.”

“You do,” he said confidently. “And I shouldn’t say this but, it’s kind of cute, actually.”

I looked down at the cookies, trying to hide my smile, and I could feel the warmth blooming in my cheeks. “Shut up.” I hadn’t been flirted with in years. I didn’t know how to flirt back. 

He chuckled, low and pleased. There it is.”

“What?”

“A smile,” he said, tilting his head like he was trying to memorize it. “I never see you smile. You’re always so serious.”  

“Oh,” I shrugged, “yeah, I don’t know…” 

“Well,” he said, voice a little softer now, “you look good when you smile.”

That silenced me. Not because it was inappropriate—but because it was honest. And I wasn’t used to honesty that wasn’t trying to hurt me. I reached for the cookies I was originally supposed to get and tucked them under my arm, still unsure how to reply. 

“But now I’m questioning your choice in cookies.”

I smiled again, shaking my head. “They’re not for me either.”

“Right,” he said. “Your boyfriend. Who makes you run his errands while he drinks at home. Real catch, that one.”

There was no venom in his tone, just a lightness that made the dig seem almost casual.

Still, I felt the need to defend. “It’s not like that. He just didn’t want to risk driving after a few. I offered, really.”

William gave me a look—tilted, unreadable—but didn’t push.

Instead, he simply said, “You deserve someone who brings you cookies.”

That stunned me into silence.

“I…” I cleared my throat. “I should probably get going.”

He nodded, his smile never leaving, but his eyes softening just slightly. “Be safe, Reese.”

And as I turned down the aisle, I felt him watching me—but not like Nicholas did.

Not with control.

Just… curiosity.

***

Nicholas was asleep beside me, his arm flung over the edge of the bed, breathing deep and uneven. And I couldn’t stop thinking about William.

His voice. That little half-smile when he teased me. The way he looked at me—not through me, not past me—but at me.

He made me laugh. Actually laugh. And it hadn’t felt forced. Not like the way I fake a smile when Nicholas is in one of his moods. It felt easy. Natural. Like I could breathe around him.

God, I felt awful for even thinking it.

I turned my head to look at Nicholas.

His brow was furrowed even in sleep, his mouth slightly open, chest rising and falling heavily. He looked peaceful—almost boyish like this.

Guilt gnawed at me.

I shouldn’t be thinking about someone else. Not while I was lying next to the man who says he loves me. Who cries when he thinks I might leave. Who swears every time that it’ll never happen again.

I shifted closer to him, gently resting my hand on his chest, trying to find some sense of comfort. Some connection.

He groaned.

Then, without even waking, he rolled away from me, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. Like my touch was something to reject. My heart ached.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered into the dark, voice barely audible. I wasn’t even sure who I was apologizing to. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I curled in on myself, tucking my knees up to my chest, wrapping the blanket tight.

I closed my eyes, tried to breathe evenly. Tried to forget. But all I could see was the way William looked at me.

Chapter Text

The sky was already dimming by the time I clocked out. I hadn’t realized how late it was—how long the afternoon lull had stretched into evening. The lights inside Fredbear’s buzzed faintly, and the staff had mostly cleared out. I tucked my jacket tighter around myself as I stepped into the hallway near the back exit, my fingers fumbling for my phone.

The door opened and I turned my head. It was William, locking up. He smiled at me when he saw me, and I looked away, blushing to myself. 

“Got a ride?” He asked. 

“Uh, the bus,” I laughed with a shrug. 

“Seriously?” He lifted his eyebrows, coming closer to me, “You want a ride?” 

I quickly shook my head. “No, no trust me I’m fine,” I said, “I always take the bus.” 

“No car?” He asked. 

I cringed. “Uhm, Nick and I share,” I said, “Uhm…my boyfriend.” 

William grinned a little. “C’mon, let me drive you,” he said, “It’s late. You don’t know who’s going to be on that bus.” 

“Oh, come on,” I forced a laugh. 

William shrugged, the movement slow and easy. “Just saying. There are some real creeps out there.” His eyes dropped to my throat, lingering for a beat too long before meeting my eyes again. “You’re a pretty girl. Pretty girls attract the wrong kind of attention.

I rolled my eyes playfully, shaking my head again. “I’ll be fine,” I said, “Plus…” I hesitated, my smile fading, “I don’t think that’s a good idea…considering I have a boyfriend.” 

William chuckled lightly, cocking his brow. “I’m just offering a ride to my employee. I don’t see how having a boyfriend interferes with any of that. Are you implying that it does ?” 

My eyes widened. “No! No—“ I cleared my throat, “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant…”

He laughed a little more. Now he was only inches away from me. “Calm down, Reese,” he said, “I’m just teasing you. You wanna take the bus? Suit yourself,” he said, “But I had to offer.” 

My pulse quickened, and I swallowed hard. “Thanks. I can handle myself.”

“Yeah?” William’s smile widened. He opened his mouth to say something else, but then his eyes slid past me.

“ Oh ,” he said, his voice dropping to a taunting whisper. “Oops.”

I frowned, turning to look over my shoulder just in time to see the bus pulling away from the curb, its headlights slicing through the dark as it sped off. My heart plummeted.

“No,” I breathed, taking a step forward as if I could chase it down. “No, no, no.”

William chuckled softly behind me. “Looks like you missed your ride,” he said, his tone dripping with feigned sympathy.

“No, no, no,” I continued to mutter under my breath, pacing a back and forth. “Nick is gonna freak out. He’s gonna kill me.”

“Kill you?” William echoed, his voice dripping with mock concern. “That doesn’t sound very boyfriend-like, does it?”

I ignored him, biting my thumbnail as I glanced down the empty street again. The bus was gone, its taillights already swallowed by the darkness. My heart hammered against my ribs.

“He’s gonna be so pissed,” I whispered, more to myself than to William. “He told me to be home by eight. I promised. He’s gonna—”

“Reese.”

I flinched, my head snapping toward William. He was closer now. The way he was looking at me—so calm, so infuriatingly calm—only made my panic spike.

“You’re shaking,” he said softly, eyes trailing over me in a way that felt too intimate. “I can drive you,” he offered. “It’s no trouble.”

I froze.

His car. His presence. Me. Alone with him.

I shook my head quickly. “No. No, I can’t. It’s—he’ll see. I mean, it’s too much. I just—I need to call him.” William didn’t argue. But the look in his eyes shifted again. Concern? Curiosity? Maybe both. I dialed Nicholas' number with shaking hands, and he picked up on the first ring. 

"Reese, where the fuck are you?" 

"Nick I'm so sorry I missed--" 

"Who are you with right now?" He snapped, not even waiting for me to explain myself, "I swear to god Reese, don't fucking lie to me." 

"I'm just at work!" I told him, my breathing too rapid, "My shift ran late and I missed my bus, I just need you to come pick me up," I explained, heart racing, praying to god that he wouldn't hurt me---but i knew it, deep down, that it was hopeless. I had already angered him, there was no going back now. I knew it. "Is that okay?" I added. 

I heard Nicholas' sigh over the phone, but it wasn't a sigh of defeat or forgiveness. It was frustration. "I'll come get you. You're so fucking lucky, Reese," he said before hanging up. 

I knew I was screwed.

I tucked my phone into my back pocket and held back the tears that had started to form in my eyes. William was still standing there, just watching me, hands in pockets. "That boyfriend of yours seems very high maintenance.  A man who loves you shouldn't drive you to tears, Reese." 

"We just have issues sometimes," I answered, shrugging and avoiding eye contact. "It's really none of your business, actually..."

William chuckled a little. "You've got a little sass to you now," he smirked, then stepped closer, tilting my chin up to meet his stare. "I like that." We held eye contact for what felt like forever, but was only about a few seconds. His smirk, his half-lidded gaze, the cold touch of his fingers gripping my chin ever-so-softly made me feel things I knew I shouldn't feel. He finally let go, placing his hand back in his pocket, and by then I had completely forgotten that i had a boyfriend, and that that boyfriend was on his way to pick me up. 

"Oh, uhm," I cleared my throat, shaking head and forcing out a nervous chuckle, "You-you should probably go before Nicholas gets here," I said. 

William's eyes twinkled with amusement when he answered with, "Too late for that." 

My heart dropped to my stomach. I turned my head to see bright headlights pulling into the Fredbear's parking lot. Nick's car. I knew immediately how this would go; assumptions, accusations, yelling, hitting. I shouldn't of let this happen, I knew it, but there was just something about William. He had an affect on me like no other. 

Nicholas stepped out the car once parked, jaw tight, movements sharp. He slammed the door harder than necessary and stalked toward me with that heavy, familiar energy. His eyes shifted between William and I, and I instinctively took a step away from William. 

“You couldn’t call sooner?” he snapped, voice low but lethal. “I’ve been sitting at home wondering where the hell you were.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t realize how late it was—”

"Who the hell is this?" He asked, which I knew he would. 

Before I could explain, William stepped forward, reaching out to shake Nicholas' hand, but being the stubborn man he is, Nicholas refused. William grinned to himself, shoving his hand back into his pocket. "I'm William. Reese's boss." 

Nicholas scoffed, shifting his gaze between William and I. "So this is William, huh? You always creep around your employees after hours?” he asked him, tone flat but laced with challenge.

William kept his calm demeanor and a polite smile. “Just making sure she gets home.”

“Well I’m here now,” Nicholas said, “And we’re going home.”

"Terrific," William said, and then looked at me. "You okay?" 

I clenched my jaw. "Don't worry--" 

"She's fine," Nick answered for me,  reaching out and grabbing my arm—not enough to leave a mark, but enough to make me stumble a little toward him. “Get in the car," he muttered to me through gritted teeth.  I winced, and avoided eye contact with William, who just watched as Nick manhandled me. I didn't expect him to do anything. I didn't know what he'd even do. Call the cops? He didn't seem like the type. 

"Be safe," William said, but by then I was already being shoved into the car. 

 ***

The silence was suffocating.

Nicholas’s grip on the steering wheel was tight—white-knuckle tight. His jaw was clenched, lips pressed into a flat line. The low hum of the engine was the only sound for miles, but it felt deafening.

I sat perfectly still in the passenger seat, hands clasped in my lap, eyes fixed out the window. The streetlights streaked past in blurred amber lines, but all I could feel was the heat of his rage brewing beside me.

He didn’t speak until we were halfway home.

“I don’t like that guy,” he said suddenly, voice low and biting. “Your boss.”

I didn’t respond.

He glanced at me sharply. “You gonna say something?”

“I—I don’t know what you want me to say.”

Nicholas laughed once, bitter and humorless. “You know what I’m talking about. That man wants to fuck you.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “What? No! He just—he was making sure I got picked up, that’s all.”

He slammed his hand against the steering wheel.

I flinched.

“Now you’re defending him?” He snapped, “Don’t fucking play dumb with me, Reese.” 

“No!” I said quickly. “No, I’m not—he just—he’s always like that with all the employees!” 

He shook his head, muttering under his breath. “Nah. Not buying it. That man has a thing for you. He was looking at you like you were his next m

eal.”

“No he wasn’t—”

Nicholas stepped on the gas, eyes narrowing as he stared at the road. “ Stop fucking defending him! ” 

My stomach twisted. “I didn’t—I wasn’t trying to upset you! Just…just please, Nick, slow down .” 

“You weren’t trying to upset me,” he repeated, pressing down harder, now going 70 in a 35. “You act like a fucking whore around your 40 year old boss but won’t let your own boyfriend fuck you.”

I went silent, biting my cheek. “…I wasn't.” 

“Mhm,” he muttered, finally slowing down. “You see that smug look on his face? He thinks he knows you. Like you’re some little project. But you’re mine .” 

He exhaled sharply, knuckles flexing around the wheel again.

“You’re quitting,” he said flatly. “Tomorrow.”

My breath caught. “What?”

“You heard me. I don’t want you working there anymore. Not with him around.”

“I need that job,” I said, voice shaking. “I finally found something steady. I—Nicholas, please—”

“I don’t give a shit,” he snapped. “If you care about us at all, you’ll walk in tomorrow and quit. I won’t ask twice, Reese.”

I swallowed hard, eyes stinging.

He didn’t say another word the rest of the drive.

And I didn’t ask him to.

We didn’t speak the rest of the drive.

He parked the car in the driveway and got out without a word, slamming the door so hard the frame rattled. I followed slowly, carefully, locking the passenger door behind me.

By the time I stepped inside, he was already pacing the living room.

His jacket was off. His fists were clenched. And I could see it in the way his chest rose and fell—he was teetering.

As soon as the door shut behind us, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Please, Nicholas,” I said, voice already cracking. “Don’t make me quit. Please. I’ll do anything.”

He didn’t answer—just tossed his keys on the counter and moved past me like I wasn’t even there.

“I need that job,” I kept going, trailing after him. “You know I do. I’m not even around anyone—he barely talks to me. You’re overthinking it.”

He opened the fridge, grabbed a beer, popped the cap, and took a long drink without looking at me.

I stepped closer, more frantic now. “Please. I’m begging you. Just let me stay. I’ve been good. I come home right after. I don’t do anything.”

His head snapped toward me then. His eyes sharp. “Been good?”

I froze.

“You think doing the bare minimum gives you something to bargain with?” He laughed under his breath, taking another sip. 

My voice shook. “‘I’m sorry.”

He slammed the bottle down on the counter so hard the glass rattled.

“I know what you’re doing, Reese,” he snapped, voice too loud. 

“I’m doing anything!” I shouted, the words ripping out before I could stop them. “You’re making shit up in your head!”

The room went silent.

Dead quiet.

His eyes narrowed, slowly, like a fuse was burning behind them.

“What did you just say to me?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m saying you’re wrong.” 

“You raised your voice at me.” His voice dropped to something low. Tight. Dangerous.

I backed up a step. “I didn’t mean to, I just—”

His fist hit me so hard I didn’t even feel it at first.

Just a flash.

Then the floor slammed into me.

The side of my face stung with a pain so deep and dizzying it felt like it split me open. My ears rang. My mouth filled with the taste of blood. And everything was shaking—my hands, my chest, my breath.

I curled up without meaning to. Just instinct. Just survival.

He was pacing now, hands on his head like he was the victim.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “ Fuck . Why’d you have to push me, Reese?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

“You always do this,” he said, voice hard but shaking. “You get in my head, you twist shit around, make me look like the fucking monster.”

I was still on the floor, one hand clutched over my cheek. The skin there felt hot and tight, already swelling.

And then he dropped down in front of me.

His hands were suddenly gentle. Too gentle.

“I didn’t mean that,” he whispered, cupping the back of my neck, forehead resting against mine. “You know I didn’t mean that. I just… I lose it when I think about you with someone else. I can’t help it. I can’t lose you.”

His voice cracked. “You know I love you, right?”

I didn’t respond.

“I love you,” he said again, more forcefully this time. “It’s you and me. It always has been. I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”

He kissed my forehead. The side of my mouth. The place he’d just hit.

“I’ll make it up to you,” he whispered. “You don’t have to quit. You can stay. I trust you.”

He rocked me a little, arms around me like a shell.

And I just let him.

Because I didn’t know how to move.

Chapter Text

The next morning, the cold fluorescent lights of Fredbear’s made everything look worse.

Especially me.

I’d spent nearly twenty minutes in the bathroom trying to cover the bruise. Concealer, foundation, powder. More concealer. I dabbed it, blended, dabbed again. But nothing could hide the swelling. The angry purple and green were already blooming beneath my eye.

It looked like what it was.

A punch.

A mark meant to teach me something.

When I walked in through the side employee entrance, I kept my head down, hair pulled forward, sleeves long. I moved quickly to the back, hoping no one would say anything—praying no one would look too close.

But I should’ve known better.

William spotted me before I even made it to the breakroom.

“Reese.” I froze. His voice wasn’t sharp. But it had weight. I turned slowly. His eyes were already locked on my face. He didn’t say anything for a second, then he gestured with a slight nod. “Come with me.”

I didn’t argue. I followed him past the breakroom, past the staff lockers, to his office. The door clicked shut behind me and the walls felt like they pressed inward. William turned to face me fully now.

“What happened?” he asked.

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

He pointed gently at his own cheek, mirroring mine. “That.”

“Oh.” I reached up like I’d forgotten it was there. “It’s nothing. I hit the cabinet door. I wasn’t paying attention and—”

“ No .” His voice was quiet but firm. I blinked, opening my mouth to protest, before I could get the words out, he said, “He hit you.”

The words hung there—simple, steady, and my pulse roared in my ears. “ No , he didn’t,” I said quickly, my voice too sharp, too defensive.

William’s expression didn’t change. “Reese.”

I took a step back. “It’s not what you think.”

He didn’t move. “Then what is it?”

“I told you—I hit the cabinet. It was stupid. I wasn’t paying attention.”

His eyes flicked to the bruise beneath my eye, still dark and angry despite the makeup. “ That did not come from a cabinet , Reese. I know when someone is lying to me.” 

I clenched my jaw. “No. You don’t know. I’m just telling the truth.”

“Liar,” he said, calm as ever. “I’ve seen the way he treats you. The way you act around him. And now you come into work with a black eye, and I’m supposed to pretend it’s an accident?” I looked away, heart hammering. “I know it’s him. I’m not a fool , Reese.”

“He’s not like that,” I snapped. William didn’t flinch. “He’s not ,” I repeated, louder now. “And like I’ve said before, it’s none of your business.” 

William sighed quietly through his nose, then stepped closer—too close. “I’ve seen the way he treats you,” he said, voice low but edged with something sharp. “And the way you shrink around him.” His hand lifted, fingers brushing a fleck of dirt—or maybe flint—off my shoulder, but it lingered just a second too long. I had a feeling it was just an excuse to touch me.  “So yeah ,” he murmured, eyes steady on mine, “It is my business now. Whether you like it or not.”

“That’s not for you to decide. You’re my boss. This…this is inappropriate and—“ 

William chuckled a little. “ Inappropriate ,” he said as if testing the world, “I don’t care about titles. Just because I’m your boss and you have a boyfriend doesn’t mean you're off-limits to worry about.” He lifted his eyebrows. “You know what I mean, don’t you?” He questioned, his lips barely twitching upwards. 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, but even to me, it sounded weak. “You hardly even know me. Just… stay out of my business.”

I tried to move past him, to push this whole moment away—but he stepped in front of me, cutting me off with a slow, measured ease. No force. Just presence.

His gaze dropped to mine, quiet and steady. “That’s the thing,” he said, voice almost soft. “I don’t need to know every detail to see what’s right in front of me.” He leaned in, and I could feel the heat of him now. “You wear fear like perfume.” I looked away, but he gently touched my chin, coaxing—not demanding—until I met his eyes again “I’m not trying to scare you. I just want you to wake up.” 

My chest tightened. I hated that part of me wanted to cry. Hated even more that part of me wanted to stay there, in that awful, quiet moment with his hand on my face. 

“You don’t have to keep living like this,” he said. “But if you keep pushing everyone away… especially the one person willing to stand between you and him—then maybe you don’t want help at all.”

He let the words sink in, then leaned in just slightly, voice no louder than a breath. “Do you?”

I was speechless, just staring at him like an idiot, heat flooding my face and chest. I hated how close he was. I hated how part of me didn’t want him to move.

Then I finally found the strength to pull back, his hand falling from my chin like it had never been there.

“No,” I said, shaking my head, stepping back even though my legs felt unsteady. “No, you… you don’t know what you’re saying. You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to… to weasel your way into me and my boyfriend’s life like this.”

I could hear how my voice cracked near the end, could feel the way my throat tightened—but I refused to cry. Not in front of him.

William didn’t flinch. If anything, that damn smirk curved just slightly at the corner of his mouth, like my little outburst had only confirmed something for him.

“You really think I’m the one doing the weaseling?” he said quietly. “Sweetheart, he’s the one who’s inside your head. I’m just trying to show you the door.” He took a step forward. Just one. But I felt it deep in my spine. “You don’t have to like me,” he said. “Hell, you can hate me if it helps you sleep. But don’t lie to yourself.” 

I shook my head, but it was weak, useless. I had no real argument. 

William’s eyes softened, just a little, and his voice turned low, coaxing. “You know I’m right.” He took one last step toward me. “Tell me I’m wrong. Look me in the eye and say it.” 

I looked him in the eye, and forced out the words. 

“You’re wrong.” 

***

When I got home, the apartment smelled like garlic and roasted vegetables—warm, inviting. For a second, I wondered if I’d walked into the wrong place. The scent was too gentle. The lights were dimmed, soft. 

Nicholas turned from the stove when he heard the door click.

“There she is,” he said with a smile that was all teeth and warmth. “Perfect timing.”

I blinked, unsure.

He wiped his hands on a dish towel and crossed the room in a few quick steps, leaning down to kiss me softly. 

“You look beautiful,” he murmured against my skin. “Even after a long day.”

I smiled because I was supposed to. “Thanks,” I whispered.

He smiled wider, clearly pleased. “Dinner’s almost done. Go shower—I want you to relax. You deserve it.”

I nodded. “Okay. Just ten minutes.”

“Take your time, baby,” he called as I slipped down the hall. “I’ll keep everything warm.”

The second the bathroom door shut, my breath left me like a wave.

I leaned against the sink, staring at myself in the mirror. The bruise was still there, faint under the makeup. My eyes looked tired. Not tired like a long shift. Tired. Hollow.

I peeled off my clothes slowly and stepped into the shower. The water was hot. Too hot. I let it sting. Let it wash over me. And all I could think about was William. I pressed my forehead to the wall of the shower and closed my eyes. William was right; I was scared. 

But Nicholas was being so sweet. Maybe this time he’s finally changed. 

***

The sheets were still warm from where we’d laid after dinner. Nicholas had been in a good mood all night—laughing, touching, kissing me like we were a couple in some cliché romance movie. And now he was pressed against me in the dark, skin on skin, his breath hot on my neck.

He kissed behind my ear, slow and deliberate, his voice soft.

“You’re so good to me, baby,” he whispered. “So fucking beautiful.”

I didn’t say anything. I just let my body stay still. I let him interpret that however he wanted. His hand slid along my side, then lower. His lips moved across my shoulder, lazy and familiar.

“You feel so good,” he murmured. “Always do.” My eyes stared at the ceiling, unblinking. His weight settled over me, and I parted my legs because I was supposed to. Because saying no meant something far worse. “I love you,” he said, his voice thick, almost emotional. “No one’s ever made me feel like this. No one but you.”

I let out a soft sound—half sigh, half breath—something that sounded like agreement.

“You’re mine,” he whispered against my neck. “My perfect girl. No one else gets you like this.”

I closed my eyes, and in my mind, I wasn’t in that room anymore. I was somewhere far away. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere no one could touch me.

“ Yeah ,” he groaned, kissing my cheek. “That’s my girl. Do you feel that? That’s love.”

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, forcing a sound from my throat that sounded like pleasure. Because that’s what he needed. And I gave it to him, like I always did.

When it was over, he kissed my temple and pulled me into his chest, still breathing heavy.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he whispered.

“Me neither,” I replied, but my voice was small. 

Not even I believed it. 

***

The morning light spilled through the curtains in soft, pale streaks, warming the edge of the bed and the tops of my feet. I stirred slowly, blinking against the sun, my mind heavy with the haze of half-sleep and fragile quiet.

That’s when I realized—

Nicholas’s arm was wrapped around me.

Not rough or demanding. Just there. His chest pressed against my back, his breath steady and warm at the curve of my neck. One leg tangled gently with mine beneath the sheets.

And for a moment it actually felt nice. His fingers rested lightly against my stomach, unmoving, like he had fallen asleep trying to hold me close. And something about it—about the way he exhaled against my skin—made my chest ache.

Because it reminded me of before. Before the first time he raised his voice, before the slamming doors, befored the hitting, the rape, the emotional torture. Back when he used to make me breakfast and kiss the tip of my nose and call me “angel” without a trace of bitterness in his voice.

Nicholas’s breath was warm against my shoulder, his body still curled into mine. I kept my eyes shut, breathing slow, pretending I was still asleep. Still in that space where it was easy to forget who we were now. Where I could lie to myself and believe we were still that young couple, broke and in love and hopeful.

But the illusion didn’t last.

He stirred behind me, stretching a little, then sighed with a lazy smile in his voice.

“Mmm,” he murmured. “You were good for me last night. Made me feel real close to you again,” he continued, voice low and affectionate. “I needed that. Needed to feel you. You didn’t even cry, baby.”

I opened my eyes, the ceiling coming into focus, gray with morning.

“You’re always so sweet when you let me take care of what I need,” he whispered, pressing a kiss just behind my ear. 

That did it.

The warmth in my chest evaporated like it had never been there at all.

I stared up, completely still, the sharp truth of his words snapping me back into the present. His hand slid down my side, and I shifted out from under him, slowly but purposefully.

“I should get ready,” I mumbled.

Nicholas groaned playfully. “Five more minutes.”

But I was already sitting up, pulling the blanket with me. “I’m gonna be late.”

The kitchen was quiet except for the low gurgle of the coffee machine. I stood at the counter, staring blankly at the rising steam curling from the first mug I’d poured. I heard him before I saw him—bare feet on tile, a sleepy groan, the familiar sound of his knuckles cracking. Then warm arms snaked around my waist, pulling me back against his chest.

“Mmm. Look at you,” Nicholas murmured, pressing a kiss to my neck. I forced a smile, eyes fixed on the cabinets. He rubbed my hips, slow and possessive. “Can’t stop thinking about last night.”

I nodded but said nothing.

He reached for the mug before sipping and making a satisfied sound. “Oh—meant to tell you,” he said, like it just popped into his mind. “The guys are coming over tonight. Poker night.”

I stiffened slightly. “Tonight?”

“Yeah.” He took another sip, unfazed. “We’re doing it here this time. They’ll bring beer and snacks, you don’t gotta do anything.”

My stomach turned.

His “guys” were never just guys.

They were the loud, smirking, beer-burping kind of men who always made too-long comments about my legs, asked invasive questions, and laughed when I got uncomfortable. Some of them had girlfriends. Didn’t matter. They were the kind of men who talked over me when I spoke and made bets about how “tough” Nicholas must be in the bedroom.

I hated them, but I couldn’t say that. Nicholas was already looking at me, waiting for some sign of protest.

I gave him the softest smile I could manage. “Okay.”

He narrowed his eyes just slightly. “Don’t do that thing where you get all weird, Reese. I know you don’t like them, but they’re not so bad.”

I looked down. “No, I know.”

He reached over, pinching my chin lightly to tilt my face up toward him. “It’s one night. Just be chill. You can stay in the bedroom if they annoy you.”

I nodded again, quickly. “I will. It’s fine.”

He kissed me—quick, a little rougher than it needed to be. “Good girl.”

And just like that, he was gone—mug in hand, humming as he moved back toward the bathroom.

***

I barely spoke to William that day at work. The diner was so busy there was hardly any time to. He gave me a few knowing glances throughout the day, but I didn’t say anything. Most of the time I just looked away and grew even more concious of the bruise on my eye. A few customers had asked me what happened, and I just told them the default lie. The exact lie I told William. “I hit a cabinet at home.” I knew I could’ve come up with something better, but I was already so far into that excuse that there was no going back. 

During my break, I barely touched my lunch. All I could think about was how much I was dreading going home. My stomach was tight and twisted and I could already hear their laughter and the snarky comments his friends were going to make about me. Maybe this time it wouldn’t be so bad, but that’s what I say every time. 

Last time Nick hosted Poker Night, I ended up hiding in our bedroom the entire night. And that’s exactly what i had planned for tonight. 

“My favorite worker,” William’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I looked up at him. He stepped into the break room and shut the door behind him. I watched quietly as he sat down across from me, spreading his legs and resting his elbows on his knees. His stare was incredible; both scary and irresistable. He was so handsome. 

“I’m your favorite worker now?” I asked him, remembering that I was still supposed to be mad at him, but God, it was impossible to be mad at someone with those eyes . 

William smirked a little. “Yeah,” he said, “I hope you don’t have any problem with that. Usually I don’t play favorites so, make sure to keep it a secret, yeah?” 

I bit down a smile. “Have you come to lecture me again?” I asked. 

He let out a soft chuckle. “No. I came to check on you. Why aren’t you eating?” 

I shrugged. I knew I wasn’t going to tell him the truth. “I’m just not hungry. I had a big breakfast this morning, so…” 

He narowed his eyes a little, definetly suspisous. I didn’t know how he was so good at this; at being a literal human lie detector. “It’s nearly 3pm. You haven’t eaten in 6 hours, that means. Something on your mind?” 

William knew what he was doing. “Nope,” I lied, “I’m just not hungry. Whatever answer you’re looking for, you’re not going to get it.” 

“I’m not looking for any specific answer,” William shrugged, “Why are you suggesting that?” 

He had me speechless again. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. This made his smirk widen and little, and made my anger seeth. “You…” I muttered, furrowing my eyebrows, “Just leave me alone.” 

William sighed, standing up slowly and stepping forward to peer down at me. “I’ll let you to finish your break,” he told me, “But I’m not leaving you alone. You can’t get rid of me, unless you’d like to quit, of course. But I don’t think you want that. In fact, I don’t think you want me to leave you alone at all, actually,” he said. “You like my attention. I know you do, Reese. You just can’t admit it.” 

I could feel my entire body burning. “You’re wrong again. I’ve told you over and over that my life is none of your business. I could report you, you know. In fact, I-I think I will…” 

William laughed. This was hilarious to him, apparently. “That’s cute. Even you don’t believe that,” he said, and I knew that he was right. It killed me to admit that to even myself, but he was. I didn’t say anything else, and he left me alone in that break room. Suddenly I felt cold again, and a fresh wave of dread washed over me once again. 

I wanted William to come back. I wanted him to comfort me. But the presence of Nicholas in my life held me back from doing anything, and I wasn’t stromng enough to detatch. 

***

By the time my shift ended and I got off the bus, the sun had dipped behind the buildings. I adjusted my hoodie and started walking across the lot, my eyes automatically flicking toward the cluster of parked cars near our building. 

I froze.

That stupid lifted truck with the peeling Punisher decal. The beat-up black Mustang. Someone’s dented silver sedan with empty beer cans in the backseat.

His friends were there already; Lucas, Jared and Daniel. 

My stomach twisted, hard. I just stood there on the sidewalk, staring at the row of cars. My hands clenched in my sleeves, heart pounding even though nothing had happened yet. I could already hear them. The booming laughter. The snide little comments. I took a breath, and then another, trying to brace myself. Trying to put my face back on.

The door creaked open and the wave of noise hit me like a wall—beer bottles clinking, low laughter, the static buzz of a TV turned up just a little too loud.

“There she is,” Jared called out from the couch, grinning like he was already a few drinks past polite. His baseball cap was flipped backwards, and he leaned back like he owned the place.

“Hey, Reese,” Daniel added, raising a beer in lazy acknowledgment. Lucas chuckled into his drink. 

I smiled, tight and practiced. “Evening,” I said simply, setting my bag down by the door. I didn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

Nicholas appeared from the kitchen, beer in hand, already loose with his movements. “There’s my girl.” He walked straight over to me and bent me back into a kiss—deep, messy, and too hard, like he was performing it for an audience. When he finally pulled away, his hand slid around my waist. “ God , am I lucky,” he said to the room, like he was marking his territory. 

The guys laughed like they’d just witnessed some frat party ritual.

I stepped away, cheeks burning, and just as I turned toward the hallway, Nicholas gave my ass a hard smack. The sound echoed louder than the TV, followed by a chorus of laughter behind me.

“ Nick ,” I scolded quietly, looking at him through scared eyes, “Stop…”

Nick rolled his eyes. “It’s just a joke, Reese,” he teased, “Don’t get all sensitive now. Why don’t you go take a shower and clean yourself up a little, yeah?” 

I sighed, keeping my eyes down and turning around. I just walked down the hall and into our bedroom, locking the bathroom door behind me with a quiet click.

I stood in silence for a moment, the sound of my own breathing loud in the stillness. Then I turned the shower on, letting the water run until it was nearly scalding. Steam began to curl through the air, clouding the mirror and softening the harsh edges of the bathroom. I undressed slowly, each movement feeling heavier than the last. My hands trembled more than I wanted to admit—fingers fumbling with the zipper of my hoodie as if even my clothes resisted being shed tonight.

As I slipped it off, something fluttered to the tile floor. I froze, then crouched down, my brows furrowing in confusion. It was a small scrap of paper, slightly crumpled, folded once over. I picked it up with cautious fingers, the damp air already softening its corners.

Scrawled in quick, clean handwriting was a phone number: 

669-455-9421
- William.

My breath hitched. A chill prickled down my spine despite the warmth in the room. My eyes widened, heart thudding a little too hard as I stared at the name like it might burn through my skin. I folded the note again, almost instinctively, as if that might undo what I’d just read.

I stood frozen, eyes locked on the sink. William had slipped me his number. I didn’t even see him putting it there, which somehow made it worse—or better. I wasn’t sure.

I should’ve torn it up. I should’ve flushed it or thrown it away before the temptation settled into my chest like a stone. But instead, with fingers that still trembled, I slid the folded paper behind the bathroom mirror, where Nicholas would never think to look.

I pressed a hand to my chest for a second, grounding myself, before turning back toward the shower. I stepped in, letting the water rush over my skin. It was almost too hot—my shoulders flinched at first—but I didn’t turn it down. I wanted to feel something. Anything that wasn’t this tangled mess in my chest.

I closed my eyes. The water poured down my back, rivulets tracing over old bruises I didn’t want to think about. I tilted my head up, letting it soak my face. I couldn’t stop thinking about William and his words. 

“You like my attention. I know you do, Reese. You just can’t admit it.”

He wasn’t kind, not in the traditional sense. He was…sharp. Careful with his words. He watched too closely, spoke too softly, like he was always just a few thoughts ahead of everyone else. Including me.

I shivered, even under the hot water. I didn’t know if it was fear or something far more dangerous. Because the truth was, a huge part of me wanted to call him. Just to hear his voice again.

***

After the shower, I hid in the bedroom.

I shut the door behind me, even though I knew it wouldn’t matter much if Nicholas really wanted in. The noise from the living room filtered through the walls, muffled laughter and clinking bottles.

I slipped into my pajamas—soft cotton shorts and a worn tank top. Something in my chest was tight. Unshakable.

This wasn’t the first time Nicholas had hosted his “boys,” but something about tonight felt different. They were very drunk and louder than usual. Looser. Meaner. Especially Nicholas himself. I sat on the bed with my book in my hand, but for the love of God, I couldn’t read. My heart wouldn’t stop racing.

What if they came in here?

What if they were bored and drunk enough to try something and Nicholas let them?

He always said they were harmless. That I was just “sensitive.” That they liked to mess around, sure, but they were good guys deep down. Just guys being guys.

I kept telling myself I was overreacting. That nothing was going to happen. That Nicholas might be cruel, but he wasn’t that cruel. He wouldn’t—

“Reese!”

The voice cut through the air like a whip. Nicholas.

“Reese, get out here, baby!”

My whole body went still. The room felt smaller suddenly. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I didn’t move. Not right away. I just sat there, frozen, waiting to see what would happen next. The door creaked open slowly, but I didn’t look up right away. 

Nicholas leaned against the doorframe, beer in hand, grinning. His eyes dragged over me sitting on the bed, legs curled up beneath me, and he tilted his head slightly.

“The guys wanna ask you a question,” he said, like it was nothing. Like it wasn’t already sitting like a stone in my gut. 

I hesitated. “Nicholas… I’m really tired, I don’t—”

He took a step inside. That grin never moved, but something behind his eyes shifted—just slightly. “You’ve been cooped up in here all night. C’mon,” he coaxed. “Just for a minute.”

I opened my mouth to say no again, but the weight in his voice stopped me. He didn’t have to raise it. He didn’t have to say the words. I already knew. If I didn’t go out there, he’d make me regret it later. So I nodded slowly and stood, hands already reaching for the hoodie hanging on the edge of the bed. It was oversized, old, and safe.

I barely got a hand on it before Nicholas grabbed my wrist—lightly, but firm.

“No need for that,” he said casually, taking the hoodie and tossing it back on the bed. “You look perfect. Don’t cover up.”

My stomach twisted, but I didn’t argue.

I followed him out into the hallway like I was sleepwalking.

The second we stepped into the living room, the noise hit me—loud laughter, beer bottles clinking, the thick, greasy smell of food. They all turned when I entered.

“Hey hey hey,” Jared grinned. “There she is.”

Daniel chuckled, eyes dragging down my legs. “Got a question for you, sweetheart.” I stood stiffly just inside the room, feeling every inch of skin like it was glowing under a spotlight. Nicholas stepped behind me, his hand resting possessively on my lower back.

“Go ahead,” he said to the guys, like this was a show. “Ask her.” 

Daniel leaned forward, beer sloshing in his hand. “If you had to pick one of us,” he slurred, grinning, “just hypothetically —who’d you fuck?”

The room exploded into laughter. I blinked, stunned for a second, the blood rushing in my ears. My throat was dry. My lips parted, but nothing came out at first. I glanced at Nicholas beside me, praying he would say something—anything—to stop it. Tell them to shut up. Tell them I wasn’t a fucking party trick. 

But he just stood there, smirking into his beer, hand still heavy at the small of my back like I was his trophy.

“Uhm… I’d choose Nick,” I finally said, my voice cracking. 

The guys howled with laughter.

Jared leaned forward. “Nah, sweetheart, not him. One of us. C’mon, don’t be shy. We’re just asking. Hypothetical, right?”

Lucas chimed in, grinning like a wolf. “Yeah, babe, we won’t be mad. Just curious.”

I looked back at Nicholas, eyes wide, pleading—do something. But he just took a swig of his beer and raised an eyebrow at me.

“She’s bashful,” he said with a lazy grin. “Don’t let that fool you.”

The floor dropped out of my stomach. He wasn’t going to stop it. He liked it. “Okay,” I said quickly. “Funny joke. You guys got your laugh.”

As I turned to leave, my only goal was to get out of the room—out of their eyes, their voices, the heat crawling up my neck. My legs moved fast, but not fast enough. Nicholas grabbed my wrist.

“ Come on —don’t go, baby,” he said, grinning, like this was some twisted flirtation. Like I was just being dramatic for attention.

I froze, pulse spiking. His grip wasn’t rough—not yet—but it was firm. “Nick,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice even. “Please. Let me go.”

“Nah,” he said, pulling me a little closer. “They’re just joking. You’re being too sensitive.”

Behind him, the guys were laughing—really laughing. I was the punchline to their joke they’d been setting up all night. Jared let out a mock ooooh just to sir the pot. 

“Nick, let me go! ” I snapped, my voice cracking with panic now, my free hand pushing at his chest.

“Jesus, Reese,” he muttered, “Relax. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

I’m embarrassing myself.

My chest caved inward. The sheer audacity of it made my vision blur for a second. Not the alcohol—not the tension—but that bitter sting of betrayal, so casual on his lips, like this was all my fault. 

I tried to pull away again, more firmly this time. “Let. Me. Go.”

Lucas stood from the couch, beer in hand, swaggering over like this was some kind of performance. “Aw, come on, Reese. No need to be scared. We’re just having a bit of fun.” His gaze swept over me like a hand, lingering where it shouldn’t. 

“She’s always been like this,” Nicholas said, chuckling to the guys. “Gets all shy when people pay her attention. Doesn’t know how to take a compliment.”

Daniel’s eyes met mine. Glassy. Amused. Cruel. “It’s a compliment, babe. You’re hot. Like, fuckable hot. Don’t act like you don’t know it.”

Heat burned up my throat—not the kind that blushes bring, but the kind that rises before a scream. My skin was crawling, raw, like I’d been peeled open and put on display. My tank top clung to me, and I suddenly wished more than anything I had fought harder for that hoodie.

Jared tilted his head, licking his lips. “Do a spin for us, Reese.”

That got a new round of laughter.

I shook my head, heart pounding so fast I felt dizzy. “I’m not doing that. I’m not some… thing.”

“Aww, don’t say that,” Lucas said. “You’re definitely something.”

I took a step back, but Nicholas was behind me, his arm now curling loosely around my waist. A cage. 

“No, Nicholas—I said stop,” I whispered again, my voice thinning out like mist. But it didn’t matter. It never did.

“Damn, Nick, she’s feisty tonight. Kinda like it,” Jared said. 

“Same,” Lucas added, grinning. “I bet she’s a little wild behind closed doors, huh? Got that innocent face, but girls like her are always freaks.”

I swallowed hard, blinking fast. My mouth opened, but I couldn’t get any words out. I couldn’t even breathe .

Nicholas laughed and leaned down, voice thick with amusement. “They’re just playing, babe. Loosen up.”

The laughter that followed twisted around me like smoke. I took another breath, shallow and trembling, but it caught in my throat. My vision blurred—not from fear, not just—but from the sting of tears I didn’t want to cry in front of them. Not them . But they came anyway. Quiet, hot drops that slid down my cheeks like betrayal.

“Oh no ,” Lucas said mockingly, tilting his head like a child watching something break. “Is she crying?”

“Aw, shit,” Daniel snorted. “She is. We were just messing around, Reese. No need to cry.”

Jared clutched his chest in fake offense. “You’re gonna make me feel bad, sweetheart. That’s not fair.”

I shook my head and tried to wipe my face, but my hands wouldn’t stay steady. Nicholas still had me, his grip a little looser now, but I couldn’t stand being touched anymore. I pulled away—harder this time—and he let go with a surprised noise, like he didn’t understand why I was upset at all.

“I didn’t mean to—” I tried to speak, to make anything make sense, but it came out broken. “I just… I didn’t…”

“Jesus,” Nicholas muttered, the edge in his voice sharp now. “ So dramatic .”

That was the final snap. I turned and ran.

I didn’t care how it looked. I didn’t care that they were laughing again, louder now, like my tears were the punchline. I shoved open the bedroom door and slammed it behind me. 

Then silence. Just my breathing. Harsh, uneven, broken.

I slid down the back of the door, trembling. My hands covered my face as the sob finally broke loose, muffled and shameful. I didn’t want to cry like this. I didn’t want to give them this.

But I felt dirty. Stupid. Used—even if they hadn’t laid a hand on me the way they wanted to. And worst of all, I felt alone . Except… I wasn’t. Not completely. 

Not with William’s number hidden behind the mirror.

Chapter Text

The morning rush was finally over, thank God. My feet ached and my shoulders were sore, and all I wanted was ten minutes to breathe. 

I was wiping down the counter when Janine sidled up beside me, smirking like she knew something I didn’t.

“Guess who’s staring at you,” she whispered, elbowing me gently in the ribs.

I didn’t need to guess. Still, I played dumb. “Who?”

She gave me a look. “Don’t do that. You know who.” I didn’t say anything. Just kept wiping the counter like my life depended on it. Janine leaned in closer. “ Mr. Afton .” That made me freeze. Just for a second. She caught it. “Uh-huh. That’s what I thought.”

I rolled my eyes and moved toward the napkin dispensers. “He’s not staring at me.”

“Yeah, he is,” she said. “That man doesn’t look at anyone else like that. Ever. I’ve worked here two years, and the most I’ve gotten out of him is a nod and a ‘thanks .’ You? He watches. ”

“Janine,” I hissed under my breath. “Shut up.”

She grinned. “What? It’s not a crime to notice that our boss is hot. Like—objectively hot. In a murder-mystery, grief-stricken-rich-widower kind of way.”

I felt heat crawl up my neck. “Wait …widower ?”

Janine popped her gum and leaned one elbow on the counter. “Yeah. His wife died a few years back. A little bit before I started working here.” 

“Oh.” I looked over at him. He was still staring at me, and I quickly looked away. “I had no idea. That’s so sad.” 

Janine nodded. “No one talks about it, but one of the old cooks told me. Said he used to wear his ring a while after her death, but not anymore.” I didn’t know how to reply. It made sense after all—I wouldn’t expect a man like that to be involuntarily single. “I just feel for the kids.” 

My heart dropped. “He has kids ?” I hadn’t seen any of them. Somehow that made him feel even more distant. Like there was this whole hidden part of him.

Janine nodded. “Three. Two boys and a girl. Sometimes his youngests come in when school’s out. The oldest is never here, though. Never seen him before.”

“Wow…” I turned to glance at him again, that same magnetic pull dragging my gaze in. And this time… he was already walking toward me. Too late to look away. Too late to pretend I hadn’t been watching.

He stopped right in front of us, that familiar crooked smile tugging at the edge of his mouth.

“Ladies,” he said smoothly, but his eyes didn’t move from me. “I need to borrow you for a moment, Reese. Privately .”

My stomach clenched. There was no question in his tone. No room to say no. Janine raised an eyebrow at me, but she didn’t say a word. Just gave me a knowing look and stepped away, wiping her hands on a rag as she disappeared around the counter.

I hesitated—just long enough for him to notice.

“Don’t keep me waiting, Reese,” he said softly, almost playful, but there was a flicker in his eyes that made my skin crawl.

So I moved. Because what else was I supposed to do?

I followed him through the swinging door that led to the hallway behind the kitchen. His steps were quiet, mine clumsy in comparison. He stopped in front of his office door, opened it, and held it for me like a gentleman. But that smile—it wasn’t polite. It was knowing. 

I stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind me. Locked.

“I just needed a word,” he said smoothly, walking past me, too close, the brush of his shoulder sending a quick chill down my spine. He turned around once he reached his desk and leaned back against it, arms crossed loosely over his chest. “You’re extra skittish today,” he said, cocking his head to one side. “You feel like telling me why that is?” 

“I’m—” 

“You can lie to me if you want,” he interrupted. “Say it’s nothing. Say you’re fine. But I’d rather you just be honest,” he continued. “With me and with yourself.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he was too quick. 

“Admit it, Reese,” he said, eyes flicking from my lips to my throat then back to my eyes. “You’re tired of little boys who break you just to feel powerful. You know that’s not what love is. You’re not supid, Reese. If you were stupid, I wouldn’t like you this much.”

His hand rose to gently touch the curve of my jaw—fingers barely grazing, but it made my breath catch all the same. He had a way of leaving me speechless when he touched me like this. 

“What you need,” he whispered, “is a real man. One who knows how to handle you without harming you.” His thumb ghosted along my skin. “Your joke of a boyfriend is ignorant. You and I both know it, Reese.” 

As he touched me, I froze—mesmerized. It was like I was locked in place, strung up on some invisible thread between fear and… something else I didn’t want to name.

It was once his thumb rested on my lower lip when I snapped out of it. I jerked away from his touch like it burned. 

He chuckled low in his throat, the sound lazy and satisfied. “There she is,” he said, grinning. “I was wondering how long you’d let me keep touching you.”

I glared at him, heart pounding, trying to ignore the warmth still lingering on my skin.

“You think this is funny?” I snapped, though my voice trembled. “You think you can just—just manipulate me like this?”

William tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing like I’d just said something charming.

“No,” he said, voice soft but edged. “I think I could’ve manipulated you if I’d wanted to. But I didn’t have to, did I? You let me touch you, Reese. You watched me. You listened. That wasn’t manipulation.” His grin deepened. “That was interest.”

I shook my head, but he could already see the uncertainty in my eyes. 

William sucked in a breath. “Listen. You don’t owe him your life just because you wasted time. Time’s a trap. That’s how boys like him keep women like you .” 

I clenched my jaw, looking away. “I know what you did. Slipping me your number,” I muttered, voice low and brittle. Then I forced myself to meet his eyes again. “Do you know what could’ve happened if Nick found that?”

William didn’t flinch. He just gave a slow shrug, the picture of ease.

“But he didn’t, did he?” he said, cocking a brow with that maddening, knowing smile. “And you didn’t throw it away.”

I froze.

He stepped closer, his tone still smooth—but now softer, like velvet draped over something sharp. “You kept it. Don’t deny it. I bet it’s tucked in somewhere nice and safe .” His eyes searched mine. “Tell me, Reese… Did you imagine calling me last night?”

My throat tightened. “No,” I said quickly, voice cracking at the edges. “I had a… a nice night. I—I wasn’t even thinking about you, William.”

William just stared at me for a moment, then slowly smiled. “That’s adorable,” he said softly. “Really. The stammer, the denial—you think you’re fooling me?” I knew he was right. It killed me to admit it to even myself. “Nothing to say, right? No comeback, no smart little remark. You know I’m right.” 

I swallowed hard, the silence pressing between us like a weight. I could feel him watching me—closely, carefully—reading every shift in my expression. He didn’t push. He didn’t need to.

After a long pause, he stepped back just slightly—barely noticeable, but enough for me to breathe again.

His voice was lighter when he spoke next, smooth like nothing had happened. “That’s all I needed,” he said. “You can go.”

I blinked. “That’s it?”

That grin spread across his face—darker now, like he’d been waiting for me to ask.

“Yeah… why?” he said, stepping closer. “ You want more? ”

Before I could answer, his hand came up, fingers brushing the fabric of my shirt. He smoothed it carefully, like it was a kindness. But the second his knuckles grazed the curve of my waist, I flinched away.

He chuckled under his breath. Not cruelly. Like he found it... endearing .

“Relax,” he said softly, that familiar glint in his eye. “Just fixing you up. Wouldn’t want you walking out of here looking all flustered.”

Too late for that.

I couldn’t get out fast enough. My face was burning, heart hammering in my chest as I reached for the door with unsteady fingers.

“Yeah,” he added behind me, “Get back to work.”

I didn’t look back.

The second the door closed behind me, I exhaled like I’d been holding my breath the whole time. My skin tingled where he’d touched me. My stomach flipped—nerves, adrenaline… and something else I didn’t want to name. I hated how much I felt it. 

I knew it. I liked him. 

Chapter Text

I stood in front of the sink, makeup brush trembling slightly in my fingers as I dabbed concealer under my eyes. Behind me, I could hear Nicholas moving around the bedroom. 

“We’re already late,” he called, tone clipped. “You don’t need to do all that. You look fine.”

I swallowed and capped the concealer. “Just a second.”

“Jesus, Reese,” he muttered. “It’s drinks with Jared and Destiny, not the fucking prom.”

I turned, quickly slipping my lip balm into my purse before he could comment on that too. “I’m ready.” 

Nicholas gave me a once-over as I stepped into the room. His expression unreadable.

“Good,” he said finally, pulling on his leather jacket. “Just remember to be nice, yeah? Smile. Laugh when you’re supposed to. Don’t start with the attitude tonight.”

“I don’t—”

“I’m serious.” His voice cut me off, sharper now. He turned fully to face me, stepping closer. “Destiny doesn’t need your weird moods, and Jared already thinks you’re uptight.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, nodded once. “Okay.”

He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “You can be sweet,” he said, voice lower now. “Just be that version of you tonight, alright?”

I smiled at him, but it didn’t reach my eyes. It never did. 

***

The bar was loud when we got there. Nicholas’s hand rested on the small of my back as we wove through the crowd.

“There they are,” he said, nodding toward a corner booth.

Jared was already halfway through a beer, cap still flipped backwards, his arm stretched along the back of the booth. Destiny sat beside him, a bright smile lighting up her face the second she saw us. She waved excitedly.

“Hey, hey! You made it!” she called out.

Nicholas grinned and slid into the booth across from them, pulling me in after him. Jared raised his glass in greeting, eyes skimming over me a little too slowly before meeting mine.

“Reese,” he said. “You look real good tonight.”

I forced a smile. “Thanks.”

Destiny leaned across the table with a bubbly giggle. “Doesn’t she? I told Jared that earlier when we saw you walking in. I was like, ‘Wow, Reese is glowing tonight!’”

My smile twitched. “That’s all you girl!!” I said to her with forced enthusiasm. She was sweet, but it was hard to muster up much excitement with Nicholas there threatening me and Jared there creeping me out. 

“Drinks?” Jared asked, already flagging down a server. “First round’s on me.”

Nicholas chuckled. “He’s just trying to show off for the ladies.”

“Damn right,” Jared said, smirking. “Gotta keep our women happy, right?”

“Ha. Yeah, happy and quiet,” Nicholas added, snorting as he took a sip of his beer.

They both laughed. Destiny laughed, too. Light and easy, like she didn’t hear it the way I did. Like it didn’t dig under her skin. “You guys are terrible ,” she said, nudging Jared’s arm.

I stared down at the table, suddenly very aware of my hands. Of how I was holding myself too stiffly. And worse, I could feel Nicholas watching, not with protectiveness, but with pride. As if this was just another night to show me off. To remind me how lucky I was to have him. 

The drinks arrived fast. Destiny and Jared got another beer, Nicholas ordered whiskey, I went for water.

“No fun tonight?” Jared asked me, cocking an eyebrow.

“I’ve got work tomorrow,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.

“Boring,” he said, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “You’re always so serious, Reese. You should let loose sometime. Bet you’re different when you relax.”

Nicholas laughed, completely missing, or ignoring, the implication. “Nah. She’s always wound up,” he said. “But she’s a good girl. Aren’t you, baby?”

I smiled, too tight. Too small. Destiny laughed again, sipping her drink. “I think you’re lovely, Reese. If you don’t wanna drink, don’t!”

“You’re so sweet, baby,” Jared said, giving her a peck on the cheek and winking at me over her shoulder.

***

The music pulsed through the floor, low and steady, the bass rattling up through my shoes as Destiny spun me in a clumsy little half-twirl.

We both laughed. Loud, breathless, tipsy. At that point I had scratched my water and gone for three different vodka cocktails. Her drink had long since turned into nothing but watery ice, and I was still nursing mine, but the edge had dulled. At least for a little while.

“Oh my God, you’re adorable,” Destiny giggled, her hands on my shoulders as we swayed off-rhythm. “Why are you always so quiet? You’re actually fun!”

I smiled, genuinely for once. “Thank you!! You are too!!” I was happy. I was having fun. But then I glanced over Destiny’s shoulder. And there, at the bar, Nicholas and Jared sat. But they weren’t alone.

Two girls stood with them, young, maybe college-age. Nicholas was smiling, Jared was leaning in, whispering something that made the brunette beside him bite her lip and smile back. 

Destiny’s hand tightened around mine for just a second, like maybe she felt it too. I looked at her. She must have followed my gaze, because the light in her face had dimmed, just a little. Her eyes were still trained on them, but her smile stayed where it was.

“They’re just being friendly,” she said quickly, too quickly. “They’re always like that. Jared’s just… chatty when he drinks.” I didn’t say anything. Destiny turned back to me with a brighter smile, eyes too wide, voice too light. “Anyway! C’mon, let’s just keep dancing, okay?”

I nodded automatically, but the music felt far away now.

She grabbed my hands again, pulling me back into movement, laughing louder than before. I moved with her, but I wasn’t really there anymore. My eyes kept drifting past the crowd and back to them. I felt horrible for Destiny, because I knew that this wasn’t the first time. She forced a smile and pretended like she didn’t see, like she didn’t know what her boyfriend was doing. 

But I couldn’t ignore it. 

Nicholas had his arm resting on the girl’s shoulder now, leaning in close, that easy, charming smile he used to give me. The girl laughed, her fingers brushing his arm in return. But then he looked up. And saw me watching. Our eyes locked across the room. His smile faltered. 

Then he stepped away from the girl so quickly it was almost clumsy, shoving his hands in his pockets like they’d burned him. He said something to Jared and started making his way toward me.

I turned away before he got close. Let Destiny pull me back into a spin. “This song is so good, right?” she said, still trying to keep the mood alive. I forced a smile, nodded, and moved with her.

But then Nicholas was behind me.

His hands slid around my waist, pulling me back into him like we were in sync, like nothing had happened. “Hey, baby,” he murmured into my ear. His breath smelled like whiskey. “You look good dancing.”

I stiffened.

Jared joined us a second later, pulling Destiny toward him with a dramatic spin that made her laugh. The four of us danced, but it didn’t feel right. Not to me. Nicholas’s hands were too tight. His chest too close. I couldn’t breathe with him wrapped around me like that.

He leaned down again. “What’s with the attitude?”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly.

“You’re not even trying to have a good time,” he muttered, fingers flexing at my waist. “What did I tell you earlier?” I didn’t answer. He pulled me in tighter. “You know, you can be such a fucking drag sometimes,” he muttered under his breath, smiling outwardly so no one else would notice. “Come on.” 

Before I could ask what he meant, he was already tugging me through the crowd.

“Nicholas, stop—” I tried to protest, but he didn’t care. Not here.

He pushed open the back door of the bar. We were alone in the alley, lit by a single buzzing fluorescent above the exit.

He turned on me.

“What the fuck was that?” he snapped. “Giving me that look from across the bar? Pouting like some goddamn child?” My mouth opened, but nothing came out. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my arms over my stomach, like I was trying to shrink. “I saw your face,” he went on, bitter now. “Jesus, Reese. I step away for five seconds and you act like I’ve cheated on you.”

“You had your arm around her,” I said quietly, eyes stinging.

“So what?” he barked. “It was nothing. That’s how people talk in bars, Reese. God, you’re so fucking sensitive all the time. No wonder people don’t like being around you.”

I flinched. “Wait, what?” 

Nicholas ignored that. “Don’t look at me like you’re the victim here,” he said, stepping closer. “You wanna play sad little girl, go cry in the bathroom. But don’t embarrass me in front of my friends.”

“I wasn’t—”

“You’re always doing this,” he cut in. “Making shit harder than it has to be. And for what? Attention? You think being moody makes you deep? You’re not mysterious, Reese. You’re exhausting.”

My throat closed. I couldn’t breathe, let alone speak.

He stared at me for a second longer, then scoffed and turned toward the door. “Get your shit together. And wipe your face before you come back in.”

The door slammed behind him. And I was alone. The alley was cold, quiet, except for the muffled thump of music behind the door. I leaned against the wall, heart hammering, eyes burning. 

I stood there for a while, debating whether or not I even wanted to go back inside. But Destiny was still in there, and I couldn’t stay out here forever.

With a sigh, I turned toward the door—just as it flew open. It slammed into my face with a loud crack. “Oh—fuck!” I gasped, stumbling back, catching myself on the wall. My hand flew to my nose as tears welled in my eyes from the sharp burst of pain. 

“ Shit ,” a voice said, followed by a laugh. “Damn, Reese. Sorry ‘bout that.”

I didn’t need to look up to know it was Jared. I recognized the amusement in his voice like a bruise I couldn’t stop pressing.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, still holding my nose. “I was just heading back in.” I moved to step around him, but he shifted, blocking the doorway.

“Wait a sec,” he said, flashing that grin. “You and Nick have a fight or something?”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s none of your business. Let me through.”

“Nah, c’mon.” He leaned against the doorframe, still grinning. “You can tell me. I won’t say anything to Nick, scout’s honor.”

I stared at him flatly. “If you’re so curious, ask Nick yourself.”

His smile faltered slightly, replaced by something more calculating. “I did ask him,” he said, voice lower now. “But you know Nick. He just said you’re his perfect girl who needs a little reminder now and then about who’s in charge.”

He took a step closer. I backed up. The wall hit my spine.

“But you ...” he continued, eyes dragging over my face, “I think you’ve got a whole different version of the story, don’t you?”

“Why do you even care? You have a girlfriend. Why does this matter at all to you?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.

Jared’s eyes glinted. “Maybe I was just worried for my friend. I consider you a friend, you know.. .” He took a step closer. 

I stiffened. “Back off.”

He laughed under his breath like I’d told a joke. “Relax. I’m just talking.”

“I said get away from me.”

But he didn’t. Then his hand was on my arm, and i quickly yanked it away before the back door slammed back open again. 

And there stood Nicholas and Destiny. 

Nicholas’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell is going on?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Jared beat me to it.

“Look, man…” he said, stepping back and holding his hands up like he was the victim here. “I didn’t want to say anything, but… I think Reese has had a little too much tonight.”

My breath hitched. “What—?”

“She came onto me,” Jared said flatly, his tone perfect. He turned to Destiny, eyes wide with false concern. “I didn’t want to make it a thing. I was just trying to calm her down.”

“That’s a lie,” I said, my voice shaking. “He grabbed me . He—he cornered me out here, and then he started—”

“Okay, stop,” Nicholas snapped, eyes flashing toward me. “Stop it.” I froze. “You came onto Jared?” he asked, voice cold. “ Seriously , Reese?”

“No!” I shouted, panic rising fast. “I didn’t—I would never— ”

Jared cut in with a soft, disappointed sigh. “I didn’t want to make this awkward, man. But I had to say something before she tried to twist it around.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You liar. ”

Jared just looked at me, his expression neutral. Like he wasn’t even mad. Like he was concerned .

“She said things that weren’t okay, Nick,” he continued. “I didn’t touch her. She came out here talking about how you don’t touch her anymore. How I notice her more than you do.”

“That’s not true!” I cried, stepping forward, tears brimming in my eyes. “He’s lying! Why are you just standing there?!” 

Nicholas didn’t move. His face was stone. Destiny looked between us, lips parted, clearly shaken.

“Reese,” she said gently. “Did you… I mean…were you flirting with Jared?”

“I wasn’t ,” I choked. “I swear. I would never—”

Nicholas scoffed. “You really expect anyone to believe that? After the way you’ve been acting lately?”

My chest was caving in. The air felt thin.

“Nick…” I whispered.

“You know what?” he said, backing away. “Maybe you should go home. Sleep this shit off. You clearly can’t be trusted right now.”

Tears burned in my eyes, blurring their faces. Jared just stood there, casual, composed. Destiny didn’t say another word. 

So I left.

***

I took a taxi home that night. I didn’t know how late Nick would be out. I almost didn’t want to. The only thing I was certain of was this: the moment he walked through that door, I’d be in trouble.

I took a long shower, trying not to cry. The water was hot, but it couldn’t melt the knot in my chest. I couldn’t stop thinking about Destiny either. How easily she’d been convinced by them. How quickly she believed I was the one in the wrong. That I had hit on her boyfriend. I couldn’t believe it.

I wasn’t even sure if Nick truly believed Jared’s lie, or if he just wanted an excuse. Any excuse to punish me.

I kept picturing him back at the bar, smiling at that younger girl, maybe even touching her. It made my stomach twist.

Later, I found myself standing at the bathroom mirror, staring at the folded scrap of paper wedged behind it. William’s number.

I hadn’t called. I hadn’t even saved it to my phone. I was too afraid. Nick had gone through my phone before and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. Even if I saved it under a fake name, it wouldn’t matter. Nothing ever stayed hidden for long.

So like always, I shoved the paper back behind the mirror. This time a little sloppier. A little more desperate. Then I got ready for bed.

It took a long time to fall asleep. Nick still wasn’t home. My nerves were at an all time high, my thoughts were racing. I kept wondering how bad it would be this time. Would he knock me out again? Would he force himself on me? Or maybe he’d say nothing and just wait until tomorrow to remind me who’s in charge.

The worst part was knowing he’d been drinking whiskey of all things, and Nick’s always the scariest when he’s drunk.

But eventually, sleep took me. And when I woke up, he still wasn’t home.

***

The sheets beside me were cold. Untouched. It should’ve brought some relief but it didn’t. Just more anxiety. Of course, he would come back eventually. And whatever he was holding onto would hit harder for the wait.

I got dressed slowly, my hands clumsy as I buttoned my uniform shirt. I didn’t eat. I couldn’t, the thought of food made me nauseous, and I left for work with that feeling once again. 

I was looking forward to seeing William.

There was no point in denying it anymore. Not to myself. Not after everything. And especially not today—because today, more than ever, I didn’t want to go back to my apartment.

But when I got to work, there was no sign of him.

When I worked the floor: no sign.

In the back doing dishes: still nothing.

Even on my break, I found myself scanning the front, hoping he’d walk in, that he’d pull me aside again like before, But he didn’t.

He wasn’t there.

I told myself to stop and to think about Nicholas, to remember what would happen if he found out. But thinking about Nicholas only intensified the ache in my chest. The need for someone, anyone, who didn’t want to hurt me.

I’ve been scared before.

But this time, I was terrified.

I’d gotten so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t even realize I’d gone over my break. With a quick glance at the time, I inhaled the rest of my lunch and rushed to clock back in.

“Three minutes late,” Janine giggled, coming up behind me.

I flinched and immediately shushed her, eyes wide.

“Oh, please,” she said, waving me off. “Three minutes is nothing, Reese. It’s not like Afton’s here to punish you.”

She winked.

“Oh my God,” I groaned, rolling my eyes playfully. “Enough with that. I have a boyfriend, remember?”

Janine narrowed her eyes, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “No, I don’t remember. You’ve conveniently left that little detail out.”

“Whatever.” I shook my head, already wishing the conversation would end. “Doesn’t matter—”

“Now it does,” she interrupted, nodding toward the door.

I froze.

My head snapped toward the entrance.

And there he was.

William.

Tall, composed, effortless as always, except this time, he wasn’t alone. Holding his hand was a little girl in a pink shirt and a blue skirt, her strawberry-blonde hair tied back with a red bow. She looked no older than six or seven.

She was adorable. Beaming from ear to ear.

And beside her, William, her father, wore a smile so warm and gentle it almost didn’t feel real.

“That’s his daughter, Liz,” Janine said beside me. But all I could do was stare.

“She’s beautiful, right?”

I nodded slowly. Something about seeing William with his daughter shifted something inside me. It was like catching a glimpse of a different version of him

Next to her, he seemed trusting and safe. But when he was alone with me? I felt exposed and Disarmed. 

I tore my gaze away and returned to work, trying to focus. I wanted him to come to me. To introduce her. To say something. Anything. I needed a distraction from the thought that kept twisting in my gut: Nicholas. What he’d say. What he’d do when I saw him tonight.

But every time I glanced over, William was busy with Liz. Like he’s supposed to be. And there I was, feeling selfish and foolish for wanting his attention. For needing it.

I hated myself for it. For craving even a sliver of his focus, when he was clearly being a father.

So I made my own effort.

After the big party cleared out and the dining floor had quieted, I waited for the perfect moment. I smoothed my apron, forced a smile onto my face, and walked toward them. I was nervous, but hopeful.

William looked up first. His eyes met mine.

He grinned knowingly, already rising to his feet. He gently helped Liz to stand beside him, and together they turned to face me.

“Reese,” he said, his voice warm. “Hello.”

“Hi,” I breathed, meeting Liz’s bright eyes for a moment before flicking my gaze back to William. My nerves prickled. I’d never been good with kids, never confident enough to keep their attention, let alone keep them entertained.

“Uhm… is this your…?” I trailed off awkwardly.

William chuckled softly, casting a fond glance down at her. “Introduce yourself, honey.”

“I’m Elizabeth,” she said sweetly, folding her hands in front of her like a little lady. “But you can call me Liz. Or Lizzy. I don’t really care!”

I laughed. “Okay, Liz! Err—Lizzy!” I stumbled over the name, already overthinking which was more appropriate. My hands twisted in my apron. William watched me with a slight smile, like he could see every inch of my awkwardness and somehow admired it.

“You know, Lizzy,” he said, glancing down at her, “Reese is one of my favorite employees.”

Her eyes lit up, bright and curious. “Really? Why?”

My heart warmed instantly.

For the first time in days, Nicholas didn’t exist. Not as a memory. Not as a threat. Not as a thought. Just gone.

William looked back at me, his gaze lingering. “Because she’s a strong, hard working girl. Smart too.”

“Like Mommy?” Liz asked brightly.

The words hit like a punch to the chest. I looked at William, and his smile faltered.

He sucked in a slow, tight breath and gave a small nod. “Uh, yeah,” he said, voice quieter now. “Like Mommy.”

“She’s pretty like Mommy too,” Liz said suddenly. 

“She is, isn’t she?” he said, eyes still on me as he nodded along with his daughter.

I wasn’t sure what to say. Compliments never sat right on my skin, but coming from him, especially with his daughter standing right there, it landed differently. 

I forced a quiet laugh, looking down at the floor. “You two are too sweet,” I muttered. 

She looked up at her father again, her brows pulling together just slightly. “Do you like her, Daddy?” she asked, voice soft but clear. 

My eyes widened. I wondered if I should just walk away at this point. 

William’s expression didn’t shift right away. He just looked at her for a moment, and then his gaze flicked briefly to mine before settling back on her. .

Liz’s lips pouted a little. “I was just wondering… because you said she’s pretty like Mommy.”

I took a small step back, unsure what to do with myself. This wasn’t a moment I was supposed to be part of. And yet, here I was.

William crouched beside Liz, brushing a hand over her soft red bow.

“I can think someone is pretty and still miss Mommy,” he said gently. “That’s allowed, isn’t it?”

Liz looked at him for a long moment, then gave the smallest nod, but her eyes didn’t light up again.

She wasn’t angry. Just… quieter now.

And I understood that silence all too well.

William stood again, and when his eyes met mine it was different.

“It’s about time I take this one home,” he said with a nod to Liz. “Say goodbye, honey.”

Liz turned to me and gave a small wave. “Bye, Reese.”

“Bye, Lizzy,” I said softly, and watched them leave. William didn’t even glance back at me. I wanted to crawl up into a ball and just cry. 

I never should’ve approached them. 

***

The moment I stepped through the door, it was too quiet. No TV or music, just the cream of the hardwood under my shoes. The apartment was dim with the one kitchen light that I had left on. For a second, I wondered if maybe he wasn’t home after all. 

Then I heard his voice.

“Hey, baby.” He stepped out of the kitchen like he’d been waiting for me. “How was work?” 

He was being too nice. “Uhh, it was good, yeah,” I said as he approached me with a smile, kissing me on the lips. 

Good. I’m glad,” he said too smoothly. “How was your sleep?”

I swallowed hard, confused by his calmness, but I answered anyway. “Yeah… it was fine. Thanks.”

Nicholas gave a slow nod. “Yeah, I bet it was,” he murmured. “While I was gone… did you miss me?”

I nodded quickly. “I did. I missed you.”

His smile twitched like he didn’t buy a word of it.

“Yeah? What about Jared? Did you miss him?” he asked suddenly, his hands landing on my shoulders, gently but deliberately pushing me back until my spine met the wall.

“What?” My voice cracked. “No—Nick, you have to believe me. Jared came onto me—he—”

“Shhh,” he hushed me, softly, almost tender. But it wasn’t. Nothing about this moment was soft. I froze, heart pounding, as his hands remained on my shoulders, pinning me in place.

“I’m not worried about Jared,” he said, shrugging like it was nothing. “He’s a liar. I know that.”

Then his hand slid into his pocket.

And when he pulled out the folded scrap of paper, my blood ran cold.

He smiled, sweet, almost loving, fingers toying with the edge of the note before unfolding it.

“No,” he said slowly, “I’m worried about William, here.

My mouth went dry. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, heavy and cold.

William’s number.

I hadn’t even saved it. Hadn’t called. Hadn’t texted. I had hidden it behind the mirror.

Nicholas unfolded the paper like it was something fragile, something precious, like it held all the proof he needed.

“I found it this morning,” he said casually, eyes still on the little note. “Slid behind the mirror, folded up real neat. Guess you didn’t hide it as well as you thought.”

I opened my mouth. “I didn’t—”

He pressed a finger to my lips. “Shh. Don’t lie. Not right now. I want you to listen.”

His eyes were dark. His finger lingered a moment too long before he lowered it again, resting his palm just beside my head on the wall. Trapping me.

“I don’t care what William wrote,” he said. “What matters to me is that you didn’t tell me. You kept a secret.”

“I didn’t use it,” I whispered. “I swear, I didn’t even—”

“But you thought about it.” He leaned in closer. “Didn’t you?”

He was so close I could see the flicker of fury behind his smile.

“Did you think about him when you were in the shower?” he asked. “Did you imagine his hands instead of mine? Huh?”

“N-no,” I whispered, tears welling despite everything in me screaming not to cry.

His hand moved and cupped the side of my face. I flinched. He chuckled.

“You can’t lie to me, Reese. I know you too well. I know every twitch, every blink. I know everything about you. I own you.” He let go of my face, only to lift the note again between two fingers. “You want him?” he asked, head tilting. “Is that it?”

“No,” I whispered. “Please, Nick, I didn’t—”

“No?” he repeated, voice low.

He stepped in close and began tearing the note apart. The tiny shreds fluttered to the floor.

“You never thought about him kissing you?” he whispered, his hands roughly grabbing each arm, pinning it against the wall. 

“Nick, no—” I tried, but he leaned in closer.

“What about him fucking you?” His voice was almost tender against my ear, which made it worse. “You thought about that, Reese? You touch yourself thinking about him? Hm?”

I shook my head frantically, tears brimming in my eyes. “No! Nicholas, no!”

“Shut the fuck up,” he murmured, grip tightening. “Tell me the truth: Do you love me?” He asked. 

“Yes!” I nodded quickly, my voice trembling. “Yes, Nick, I do! I love you!”

My heart pounded in my chest as I tried not to cry over the fact that William’s number was gone. Gone because I’d been careless. Because I’d left it somewhere easy. Stupid. How could I have been so stupid?

“Yeah?” Nick said, eyes flicking over my face with eerie curiosity. “You love me, baby?” His voice was soft, like he actually needed the reassurance. “You really do?”

His grip on my arms tightened again.

I nodded, barely holding it together. “Yes, Nick. I do. Now… please—please let me go. You’re hurting me.”

He sighed, releasing my arms, but still didn’t move away. I was still cornered, trapped between him and the wall.

“I just…” He stared at me for a long moment, then something in his expression shifted. His eyes filled with tears. “I just love you so much, Reese.”

My breath hitched.

“And I know I treat you like shit. I know I’m a horrible boyfriend,” he said, voice cracking as he looked down. Slowly, he stepped back. Just a little. Enough to give me air. “I’ve hurt you so much… and you still haven’t left me.”

I hesitated. “Yeah… and that’s because I… love you, Nicholas.”

I wished I could run. Just turn around, bolt out the door, and never look back. I wished I could tell him the truth. But I’d seen this version of Nicholas before: the fragile, vulnerable one. One wrong move, one wrong word, even one wrong glance, and he became something else entirely. Something dangerous.

He looked back down at me. “You don’t love William?” he asked quietly, watching me too closely.

I shook my head firmly. “Nick. I love you.”

I reached out and placed a hand on his arm. He was shaking. My stomach twisted tighter, but I forced myself to breathe through it.

“You’re the one I love,” I said carefully. “You’re my boyfriend.”

He nodded slowly. “And we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together. Happy. Right?”

I nodded, just like I was supposed to. Just like I had every other time this happened.

“Yes, Nicholas.”

“Mhm.” He smiled, too wide. “You love me. I love you.”

He gently took my hand in his, fingers curling around mine. “Come on,” he said softly. “Why don’t we go to bed.”

“Nick… I haven’t eaten dinner yet,” I said, softly, kindly, carefully.

But I felt his fingers tighten around my hand, and I knew to stop talking. He led me to the bedroom and closed the door behind us.

He turned to face me slowly. He gently guided me back toward the bed, his touch deceptively soft.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, eyes scanning me hungrily. “I’m so lucky you haven’t left me. What would I even be without my girl?”

“Mhm,” I nodded, heart pounding so loud it drowned out my thoughts.

“Mhm,” he echoed back at me, his lips curling into a smug grin before he pushed me fully down onto the mattress and climbed over me.

He stripped my jeans off fast, and I didn’t fight it. I never did, not when he got like this. I’d learned better.

He was half-undressed in seconds, his hands all over me like I was a thing he already owned. And then he was inside me, groaning into my ear, whispering how much he loved me like it somehow justified everything.

I stared up at the ceiling again. Like I always did.

“Hey. Hey—look at me,” he muttered, grabbing my face, fingers digging into my cheeks until I had no choice. I looked.

“You always do that,” he said with a breathless chuckle. “Feels like you’re trying to escape me.”

He moaned again, grinding into me harder.

“But you’ll never escape me,” he breathed. “Right? We’re forever, Reese. You and me.”

I could feel him getting closer. This was usually the moment he pulled out, at least when he didn’t use a condom. But this time… he wasn’t.

“Nick, are you close?” My voice trembled. “Y-you… you need to—”

I squirmed beneath him, trying to push him off, but he pinned me down with a heavy grunt.

“I’m real close,” he whispered, breath hot against my neck.

“Nick, pull out. Please, you have to pull out—”

“Shhh,” he murmured, placing his hand firmly over my mouth. “Let this happen, Reese. You’re my girl. We love each other.”

I thrashed harder than I ever had before, sobbing into his palm, muffled pleas spilling out in panicked waves, but it was no use. There was no escape. 

And then he finished inside me with a low, drawn-out groan, a string of breathy praises whispered into my skin.

He collapsed on top of me, his weight pressing the air from my lungs. His hand slid off my mouth, but he didn’t let me go. He just held me, tight and possessive. Like nothing was wrong.

My sobs had quieted to silence. I just lay there, staring up at the ceiling again, at the same crack.

“Why did you do that?” I whispered shakily, eyes still locked upward, unblinking.

Nick let out a sigh, smiling down at me like this was something tender. “I just wanted to show you how much I love you.”

I shook my head faintly. “But… you’ve never done that before, Nicholas.”

He furrowed his brow like I’d asked him a riddle. “And?”

“Nick…” My voice was barely there.

His expression shifted and something cold was in his eyes. “We’re together, Reese,” he said simply. “What difference does it make?” 

Chapter Text

I felt disgusting when I woke up.

Nick was still asleep beside me, one heavy arm draped across my stomach. I carefully lifted it and slipped out of bed, every movement deliberate, quiet. My body ached, but it was my mind that felt broken. I padded into the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

I threw up more than once just thinking about what he did to me. I had never felt so violated. Not by a stranger. Not in a dream. But by him. The man who claimed to love me.

“Reese?” I heard him call sleepily from the bed. I froze, eyes locked on my own reflection in the mirror, my pulse racing.

“Come back to bed, baby,” he called out again, voice syrupy, almost sweet.

I felt bile rise again. “I… I need to go to the store,” I said through the door, voice trembling.

No reply.

When I came out, he was already fast asleep again. Of course he was.

I pulled on a pair of sweats and a hoodie, laced up my shoes with shaky fingers, and quietly grabbed his car keys. The drive to the nearest convenience store felt endless, though it barely lasted ten minutes. 

Inside, I kept my head down, avoiding everyone’s eyes. My fingers trembled as I picked out a pregnancy test. Just in case. Just in case the nightmare went even deeper than I imagined. My period was due in a week but if it didn’t come, I knew I’d be trapped. Completely.

I swore the guy at the register was laughing to himself. I could’ve been paranoid, but it felt like every person in the store was watching me. Judging me. Like they knew. Like they could see what had happened.

The moment I stepped outside, clutching the plastic bag tight to my side, I stopped dead in my tracks.

William was walking in.

Of all people. Of all moments.

I froze. Then quickly moved the box behind my back, pasting on a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

“William,” I said, my voice strained but steady enough

William grinned when he saw me, eyes lighting up in a way that made my heart twist. “Well, look who it is,” he said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jacket as he approached. “You're stalking me now or something?”

I tried to laugh, but it came out brittle. “Had to pick something up,” I mumbled, shifting my weight from foot to foot. 

His smile softened. “Yeah? You look tired,” he said gently. 

I swallowed, throat dry. “I am,” I repeated. “But I’m all good.” 

William took a small step closer. His voice dropped. “You sure?”

I nodded too quickly. “Yeah. Seriously, I’m fine.”

He didn’t believe me. I could see it in his eyes. “Did something happen?”

That almost cracked me. I blinked fast and looked down. “No. Just… a long night.”

“What’d you get?” he asked casually, but his tone was careful.

I clutched it tighter. “Nothing important.”

He didn’t press, just nodded slowly. “ Alright . You hungry?”

I blinked up at him. “What?”

“You heard me. Are you hungry?”

I hesitated. I was hungry. My stomach had been quietly growling all morning, and it was about time I got my coffee.

“Uh… yeah,” I said softly. “I am.”

William smiled, just a little. “Come on, then.” He tilted his head. “Bendy straws can wait. Let me take you somewhere.”

“Bendy straws?” I giggled, furrowing my eyebrows. “You came to the store at 7AM for bendy straws?”

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. “I’ve got a five-year-old and a seven-year-old at home. You’ll understand if you ever have kids.”

The words hit me harder than they should have.

I’d forgotten the pregnancy test still tucked behind my back. I forced a laugh. “That’s… cute,” I said, too brightly.

William’s eyes lingered on me for a moment. “There’s a place I like around the corner. Coffee and pastries. That sound okay to you, love?”

Love. My stomach fluttered at the nickname, even if I told myself it meant nothing.

“Yeah,” I said quickly. “Sounds perfect. Can I just run to my car real quick?”

I didn’t wait for his answer. I was already moving. My footsteps were light but quick, my breath shallow as I rushed to the car. I unlocked it and tossed the pregnancy test into the backseat like it burned to touch. I didn’t even look at it.

I had maybe thirty minutes before I needed to be back. It was Nick’s car, after all, and he’d be up and leaving for work at 9. I couldn’t risk him knowing I was gone.

I shut the door and turned back toward the store, heart still pounding.

William was waiting for me, hands in his pockets, leaning casually against the car. “This is his car, huh?” 

I hesitated, but nodded my head. “Uhm, yeah,” I said. 

“Does he know you’re here?” William asked. 

“I told him I was going to the store so…yeah,” I answered. 

William took a step closer. “Do you need to be home soon?” He asked. 

I shook my head, no hesitation this time. “No. It’s fine. As long as I'm back before he leaves I'm sure it’ll be fine…”

I wasn’t sure if I even believed that, but being with William felt right at that moment, and I didn’t want to go back to that house and face Nick again just yet. All I could remember was what he’d done to me. How he put his hand over my mouth, purposely showing me how in control he truly is. 

“It’s just a friendly breakfast,” William said, “C’mon. Let’s go.” 

So we walked around the corner to the coffee place he’d told me about. William reached for the door and held it open for me.

“After you,” he said, voice lower now. “Let’s get you something real in your stomach.” 

I laughed softly, and he followed me in.

The place was quiet and small. There were only a few other people seated, scattered between booths and small wooden tables. No one looked up when we walked in.

William stepped ahead of me at the counter. “Two coffees,” he said to the girl behind the register, then glanced at me. “Black for me. What about you?”

“Uh…” I blinked, still adjusting to the comfort of it all. “Cream and sugar, please.”

He gave a knowing smile, then added a croissant and a muffin to the order before sliding his card across the counter.

“You didn’t have to—”

“I know,” he said simply. “Let me.”

He took the tray and led us to a table by the window, tucking himself into the corner like he always wanted to keep his back covered. 

I sat down across from him, hands curled around the warm cup he handed me. 

You seem different today,” he said, eyes fixed on me over the rim of his coffee cup. “I mean, you’re usually all serious and quiet, but today…” His head tilted slightly. “You seem a little more vulnerable.”

I stiffened just slightly, unsure of where he was going with it.

“Everything alright? Or is it still ‘none of my business’?”

I let out a breathy laugh, but it didn’t have much humor behind it. And instead of answering, my mind drifted to last night, and Nick’s weight pressing down on me, and his hand muffling my mouth, and the sharp sting of panic when I realized what he was doing.

My stomach twisted violently. My throat burned.

I didn’t even realize how quiet I’d gotten until I felt a warm touch brush across the back of my wrist.

“Reese.”

I flinched. William’s voice pulled me back. I blinked again and finally looked up at him. His brow was slightly furrowed now, his hand still resting against mine, light and steady.

“You alright?” he asked, softer this time. “You zoned out.”

I swallowed hard and nodded. Lie .

But the sting behind my eyes betrayed me. I looked away, jaw tight, willing the tears not to fall. 

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” I said, quickly, the words almost tumbling out. “Can’t we just… talk about you for once?” I laughed before I could stop myself. “It’s always about me. Reese, Reese, Reese . Always.”

I looked down, biting the inside of my cheek again. I hated how I sounded—bitter, selfish, annoying. Like I was some dramatic, broken girl who couldn’t shut up about her problems. I couldn’t even explain why I said it that way. It just came out.

But William didn’t flinch. He didn’t roll his eyes or correct me or get offended. “Alright,” he said softly. “Let’s talk about me.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Really?”

“Yeah,” he said. “What do you want to know?”

I hesitated, then shrugged lightly. “Your kids. I met Liz… She’s sweet.”

”Yeah, she’s my little fire cracker,” he smiled fondly to himself. “And she likes you.” 

She does?” I asked, surprised. “I thought maybe she didn’t, since…”

“Since I said you’re pretty like Mommy?” he teased, a knowing glint in his eye.

I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Uh, yeah,” I said, feeling my face warm. “That part.”

William leaned back slightly, still grinning. “Don’t let it get to you. She just misses her mom. Gets a little protective sometimes.”

I nodded slowly, my smile fading just a bit. “I get it. Uh, what about your boys?” 

“Michael’s my oldest. He’s seventeen with a real attitude problem,” William said with a dry smirk. “Thinks he knows everything, but he knows nothing.”

I smiled faintly, listening.

“And Evan’s my youngest,” he continued, his tone softening. “Just turned five a few weeks ago.”

I tilted my head. “Does he ever come into Fredbear’s?”

William chuckled quietly, shaking his head. “Hates it. The animatronics terrify him. He won’t even step foot near the show stage.”

“Honestly,” I said, smiling into my coffee, “I don’t blame him.” 

William smirked, nodding. “Yeah, well… Michael already gives him enough hell at home.”

I laughed gently, then glanced at him. “Is it just the four of you?”

“Mhm,” he nodded. 

“How is it… being a single parent?”

William leaned back a little in his seat, eyes thoughtful. “It’s difficult but they didn’t choose this life. So I do everything I can to make sure they feel safe in it. And with their mother gone it gets hectic but we love each other,” he explained. “Even if that little shit Michael begs to differ. He’ll mature in a few years and realize he’s wrong.” 

I smiled. “You sound like a really good father,” I said, “They’re lucky to have you. Really, and to be honest, I didn’t know you had any kids. Janine told me a bunch of things.” 

William raised a brow, amused. “Oh yeah? And what did Janine say exactly?”

I shrugged, still smiling. “Just that you used to wear a ring, and that you’ve got three kids. Said the younger ones come in sometimes, but she’s never seen the oldest—errr Michael.” 

He leaned back, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in that half-grin I was starting to recognize. “Sounds about right.”

“Can I ask about… her?” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Or… is that off-limits?”

William didn’t respond right away. His eyes dropped to his coffee, fingers tracing the rim of the mug. The silence stretched just long enough for me to wonder if I’d overstepped.

“She was a good mother. Smarter than me, for sure. We weren’t perfect. But when it was good, it was good.”

I nodded gently, heart tightening at the weight behind his words.

“She got sick and passed away a few years back,” he added, eyes distant. “Lizzy still talks about her like she’s gonna walk through the door any day now.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. 

William shook his head. “Don’t do that. Don’t apologize,” he said. “Clara and I had our problems. She had lots of secrets. It’s not her death that keeps me up at night. It’s just the way it’s affected the kids.” 

“I understand,” I said. I had never seen William like this before. Vulnerable and exposed, like the roles were reversed, and I was prying him open this time. “Thanks for talking about this. I like getting to know you more…” 

“Careful,” he said, voice dipping slightly. “Say things like that and I might start thinking you like me.”

“Well, I do like you,” I said—then hesitated, quickly adding, “You’re a great boss. And a great friend to talk to.”

William laughed, low and amused, like I’d just said the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard. “Oh really? A great boss and a great friend? That’s what you think of me, Reese?”

“Yeah,” I said. But we both knew I was lying. The butterflies in my stomach made it impossible to deny.

His eyes didn’t leave mine. “You’re very cute,” he murmured. “But I know it’s more than that,” he said softly. “You know it too. You want me.”

I forced out a nervous laugh, already looking away. “William, stop… You’re my boss, I—“

“Have a boyfriend,” he said, cutting in before I could finish. “No, Reese. You have a coward with a temper and a leash around your neck. That’s not a boyfriend.” 

I stared back at him, heart pounding so loud it felt like it echoed in my ears.

“Why are you still pretending like that relationship matters to you?” he asked.

I shook my head. I truly didn’t know. All I did know was that I was scared. Terrified. And after last night, I was convinced it would only get worse. 

“Enough,” I mumbled. 

“No. You’re different today,” he said, watching me closely. “What happened?”

I looked away, swallowing hard. The question landed too close to the truth, like he had peeled back a layer I wasn’t ready to expose.

“Nothing,” I whispered, but it sounded pathetic even to me. 

“Stop lying to me,” William said, his voice low and steady. “He hurt you again. I can see it all over you.” He leaned forward. “Tell me what he did, Reese.” 

“You don’t want to know,” I whispered. 

“I do,” he said quietly. “I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t.”

I swallowed hard, gaze fixed on a spot on the table. My hands were shaking. “I don’t want you to look at me differently,” I said. “I don’t want you to pity me.”

“I don’t pity anyone,” William scoffed. “I want you to tell me what he did to you.” 

I sucked in a breath. “I can’t talk about this here,” I said, barely meeting his eyes. My voice wavered, thick with everything I was holding back.

William studied me for a moment. “Okay,” he said. “Not here.” He took my hand in his, squeezing it gently. “But you’re going to tell me. And then you’re going to leave him.” 

I paused for a moment, then pulled my hand away from his. “Don’t you get it?” I whispered, keeping my voice low. “It’s too late for me.”

William tilted his head a little. His fingers drummed lightly on the table, then lazily slid beneath it, brushing against my knee.

“You don’t believe that,” he murmured. A crooked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re too smart for that kind of nonsense, Reese.”

I tensed at his touch. I should’ve stopped him. I didn’t.

“You don’t understand,” I whispered, swallowing hard. “I can’t leave him. He’s unstable. If I go, he might kill himself. And it’ll be my fault.”

William chuckled softly, shaking his head like I’d said something absurd. “Let him,” he said, voice dark and smooth. “The world’s better off without men like him anyway. So let him kill himself.”

I stared at him, stunned. The calm in his voice made it all the more jarring. He meant every word. 

“I… What ?” 

“You heard me. Think about it, really. Wouldn’t your life be so much better if he just disappeared?” 

I felt a lump in my throat. William was smiling. He was serious, I was sure of it. “What the hell are you implying? Why are you speaking like this?” I asked, still keeping my voice low, not wanting to cause a scene. 

“I care about you,” William said, “A little more than a boss should care about his employee. But I don’t care. You’re not easy to ignore, especially when you go home to a man who doesn’t treat you like a woman. He treats you like a thing , you know that, right?”

“Well…” I started to speak, but the words caught in my throat.

“I’ll keep saying it: He doesn’t deserve you,” he said. “And I’m not going to stand by and let a man like that break something that doesn’t belong to him.”

I swallowed. “Doesn’t belong to him?”

William’s smile was slow. “No. Because I’ve already decided, Reese. He doesn’t get to keep you.”

“You… you don’t get to decide that,” I said, but even to my own ears, it sounded unsure. Weak.

William leaned forward just a little more, eyes dark and unwavering. “Don’t I?” he murmured. “Because I think I already have.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly hyper-aware of how close he was. 

“I don’t belong to anyone,” I said quietly. “Not him. Not you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Reese,” he said. “You just don’t know what it feels like to belong to someone who actually gives a fuck.”

“I don’t know what this is,” I whispered. “I don’t even know what you want from me.” 

William scoffed. “Isn’t it obvious? I want you, Reese, I want you bad .”

My heart nearly stopped. “You… can’t say things like that,” I whispered. 

“No?” He leaned in slightly across the table. “Why not?” he asked, lips tugging into the faintest smirk. “Because I’m your boss? Or because you’re scared to admit just how much you want me back?”

My stomach flipped. I hated how well he read me. “You don’t know what you’re saying,” I muttered.

His voice dropped even lower. “I know exactly what I’m saying. And I know exactly what I see when you look at me like that. You want me. I know you do.” 

My breath caught in my throat. “I need to get home soon,” I said. But we both knew I didn’t really. 

William ignored me, and instead reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. Just an excuse to touch me. “You know I’d never hurt you,” he said. 

“I know,” I said, gently pulling away. 

His knee pressed firmly against mine under the table now. Not gentle or soft at all this time. “You deserve to be worshipped, Reese,” he said. “And that’s what I intend to do.” 

Chapter Text

I came home with a pit in my stomach. It was official—William liked me. But I still couldn’t admit that I liked him back, not out loud. Nicholas was still in my life, and I was too scared to imagine what he’d do if I ever left him for someone else.

Nick was already up, hair a mess, eyes tired as he made coffee in the kitchen.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said with a smile. “Coffee?”

My stomach twisted. “No, thank you,” I replied politely.

He turned to face me, stepping a little closer. I wanted to back away, but I didn’t.

“Where’d you go?” he asked.

“The store,” I said. 

You were gone a while,” he said, tilting his head. “Why? I’m not mad. Just…why?”

I hesitated, then slowly pulled the pregnancy test from the inner pocket of my jacket. Nicholas’s expression shifted as he furrowed his brows.

“I had to get this,” I said quietly.

He stepped closer and snatched it from my hand, staring at it. “Oh my god,” he said. “I could be a dad. Do you know how amazing that is, Reese?”

I swallowed hard, a lump forming in my throat. “Nick, I haven’t even taken the test yet. I’m waiting to see if I miss my period.”

His smile dimmed for a moment, but then came back. “Well, if you are pregnant, that’s a good thing. You can quit that sweaty pizzeria job and stay home to take care of our baby. It’ll be perfect, Reese. Our dream.”

He smiled, stepping too close, hands sliding onto my waist. 

But that sounded like a nightmare. I wasn’t ready to have a child. I wasn’t ready for that kind of life, and I definitely didn’t want it with Nicholas. I knew that now, without a doubt.

“Maybe,” I said quietly.

Nicholas chuckled and leaned in to kiss me. “I think you mean, ‘Yes, Nicholas,’” he said low, almost playfully, but his eyes were already dark with expectation.

I hesitated, then forced the words out. “Yes, Nicholas.”

His grin widened as he dropped the test onto the floor, like it didn’t matter anymore. Before I could react, his hand slid up toward my chest. I wanted to move away and say no, but I didn’t. I just stood there.

“The thought of spending the rest of my life with you…” he murmured, eyes roaming, not really seeing me—just the idea of what he thought I was. 

“You have no idea what that does to me,” he said. “So come on. Show me some love.” 

I sighed, my eyes pleading as I looked up at him. Nick only laughed, hands tightening on my hips as he dragged me closer.

“I said,” he muttered, voice hardening, “show me some love.”

“I’m not in the mood,” I said, my voice small.

His smile vanished.

“Not in the mood.” He repeated, flatly.

I nodded, forcing myself to stand my ground even though my knees trembled. “That’s right. I’m not in the mood right now.”

He inhaled sharply, rage flickering behind his eyes. “You’re going to be the mother of my child,” he snapped. “I gave you that. You should be thanking me and giving me something in return.”

My heart pounded. “Nick, I didn’t ask for that. You didn’t even ask—”

“Ask?” he laughed, cutting me off. “Ask what? Permission? From my own girlfriend?”

I froze, the cruelty of his tone making my stomach turn. He stepped closer.

“You’re lucky you’re sexy, Reese,” he muttered darkly. “Because you’re sure as hell not smart.”

He brushed past me, but not before leaning in close and whispering, “You’re never in the mood. What do you expect me to do?”

His breath was hot against my cheek, and I flinched before I could stop myself. He laughed and walked away toward the bedroom to get ready for work. 

He always made me feel defeated. 

***

One week later: 

I sat on the toilet seat, elbows on my knees, the pregnancy test shaking in my hands. My heart hadn’t stopped racing since I tore open the box. The bathroom was way too quiet. Just the sound of my breath, shallow and fast. 

It had been ten minutes since I had taken it, and I still hadn’t looked at it. I was too frightened, too terrified to face the truth. My period hasn't come, and I had thrown up once at work in the bathroom. William was knocking on the door, asking me if I was okay, but I just lied. Said it was a stomach bug and took a few days off.

So when I finally turned it over, to finally face what I knew was coming, there it was. Undeniable and clear as day.

Positive.

Chapter Text

My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat. I stared at the test, hand trembling so badly I almost dropped it. The room felt too small. Too quiet. My stomach lurched.

I barely made it to the sink in time.

I vomited hard, shaking as my body emptied itself. I gripped the edges of the counter, sweat sticking to my hairline. The word kept flashing behind my eyes.

Positive.

A sharp knock jolted me.  “Reese?” Nick’s voice. “Are you okay in there?” I couldn’t answer at first. My chest was too tight. Another knock, louder this time. The doorknob rattled. “Reese. Open the door.”

“One minute!” I choked out, my voice too high, too shaky.

“What are you doing?” His tone shifted: curious, annoyed, suspicious.

Shit. I looked at the test still sitting on the edge of the sink like it was mocking me. I lunged for it, ripped open the bathroom trash, and shoved the test deep under a wad of tissues and makeup wipes. I covered it with toilet paper, hands moving faster than my thoughts.

“Reese.” His voice was sharper now.

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to hide the tear tracks, and then I unlocked the door.

Nick stood there, his expression unreadable. His eyes moved over my face like he was searching for something.

“You okay?” he asked, tone flat.

“Yeah,” I lied, stepping past him. “I just felt a little sick.”

Nick followed me out of the bathroom like a shadow. I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my neck. “You just felt sick?” he asked. 

“Yeah,” I said quickly, heading straight for the kitchen. “Probably something I ate yesterday.”

He didn’t reply right away. I grabbed a glass and filled it with water, my hand shaking slightly as I lifted it to my mouth.

“You weren’t gone long enough to eat anything,” he finally said. “And you didn’t mention feeling sick earlier.”

I swallowed. “Well, I feel sick now.”

He stepped closer. “You were in there for a while. What were you really doing?”

My pulse sped up. “Jesus, Nick. I told you.”

He laughed once, dry and humorless. “Right.” A beat passed. “Then you won’t mind if I take a look.”

My stomach dropped. “What?”

“The bathroom.” He gestured toward the bathroom. “You won’t mind if I check. Since you’re not hiding anything.”

I stepped in front of him instinctively. “Nick, seriously? Check for what?”

“Why are you so jumpy?” he asked, ignoring my question, eyes narrowing now. “What the fuck is going on, Reese?”

“I’m not hiding anything,” I lied through my teeth.

“You sure about that?” he asked, voice dropping lower. “Because something’s off. You’re off. You’ve been off for days.”

Yeah. Ever since you stealthed me. 

He moved to brush past me, toward the bathroom.

“Nick—stop,” I snapped, blocking him again, this time with more force. My hands were trembling. “It’s nothing. Just drop it.”

And that’s when his jaw tightened and the anger flickered behind his eyes. “You’re lying,” he said firmly. “And I’m gonna find out what about.” He took a step back, but not far. Just enough to make it clear he was letting me walk away—this time.

“I'm gonna let this go,” he added, turning toward the living room, “but don’t think I’m stupid, Reese.”

I stood frozen for a beat longer, still watching the hallway that led to the bathroom trash can, still buried, still hidden. For now.

Nick flopped onto the couch like nothing happened. Like we hadn’t just danced on the edge of something violent.

“Come sit with me,” he said, not looking away from the screen.

I stood there a second longer. “I have to get ready for work.”

Nick didn’t look at me.

“I said,” he repeated, his voice lower this time, “come sit with me.”

My stomach twisted. I hesitated, barely breathing. 

“Reese.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly walked toward the couch. He spread his arm over the back cushion as I sat down, tucking me in against his side.

“That’s better,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head. His hand slid around my waist and rested there, too firm to feel affectionate. “So,” Nicholas said, “does that William guy still cause you trouble?”

I blinked, trying not to react. My body froze beneath his arm. He was smiling, but the question felt like a trap.

“No,” I said quickly, too quickly. “He doesn’t bother me. He’s just my boss.”

Nicholas nodded slowly, his thumb brushing circles against my shoulder. “Just your boss,” he echoed. “Mm.” He leaned back like he was settling in. “Funny, though. Most bosses don’t give their employees secret phone numbers,” He chuckled, soft and amused. 

I didn’t know what to say. I just stared straight ahead, my stomach churning. “Well—”

“You never called him though, did you?” he continued, voice low. “No, of course not. You’re loyal. You wouldn’t do that to me.” He tilted his head to glance at me, eyes narrowing slightly. “Unless you were lying.”

My hands were folded tightly in my lap, knuckles white. “I wasn’t,” I whispered. “I never called him.”

I knew what he was doing. He still thought this was about William. But it wasn’t, it was about him. 

Nicholas hummed again. “Good.” His hand moved down to rest on my thigh. “Because you know what would happen if you lied to me again, don’t you?” I swallowed hard and nodded. He smiled like it was all a game. “That’s my girl.”

Nicholas finally stood up and stretched, like nothing had happened. He ran a hand through his messy hair and glanced at the clock. “You should get to work,” he said, casually. “Don’t wanna be late.”

I hesitated, still tense, but nodded. “Okay.”

I got up and started toward the bedroom to grab my bag, but before I could make it far, he caught my wrist gently. I turned to face him. His smile was soft and loving, but his eyes were cold.

“I love you.” 

I nodded and smiled, then turned to leave. I heard Nicholas hum from behind me, and I stopped in my tracks. “I…love you too,” I said, like I knew I was supposed to. He let out a sound of approval and I quickly left, barely ready to see William at work, knowing what I know now. 

I got to work just in time for a massive birthday party. I hadn’t expected it, it was easily one of the biggest I’d ever worked at Fredbear’s. There were even Disney princesses there, with the animatronics serving as double the entertainment for the kids. I glanced toward the stage, and there she was: Elizabeth.

Her hair was done up in pigtails, and she wore a sparkly silver tiara with “Birthday Girl” written across it in soft pink letters. It reminded me of the crown I wore for my own tenth birthday a whopping sixteen years ago. Moments like this made me jealous of Elizabeth. That fragile innocence of childhood doesn’t last forever. For some of us, it ends far too soon.

Looking around at all the children made me question everything. I stood there frozen, hadn’t even put my things down or clocked in yet. I just watched Elizabeth on stage, completely lost in her joy, and thought to myself: I could give what’s inside me something. A chance. A future. A childhood.

They could grow up learning how to stay safe, how not to end up where I have—trapped, carrying the baby of an abuser. Maybe just as vulnerable as a child.

That thought alone made tears blur my vision.

I had to get out of that room before I broke down in front of everyone. Especially when I spotted William. He looked upset, too upset for a father at his daughter’s birthday party. He was arguing with someone, though I couldn’t see who.

But that wasn’t my biggest problem right now.

So I bolted for the hall, heading straight to the breakroom.

I rested there for a few breaths, letting a few tears fall, wiping them from my cheeks every other second. After a few minutes of this, I finally felt stable again, and I got up to finally clock in. I had to be at least 10 minutes late by now, even though I had arrived on time. 

Sure enough I was, but I put my apron on and got to work. 

***

I was heading toward table nine with a shaky tray of drinks when I turned the corner and nearly crashed into two figures standing near the main walkway.

“Whoa, sorry—!” I said, trying not to spill anything.

William caught my arm to steady me, his grip firm but gentle. “Easy,” he said. 

I blinked up at him, breath catching. “William. My bad. I wasn’t paying attention.”

Next to him stood a teenage boy with dark hair and the most annoyed expression I’d ever seen. Arms crossed, hoodie half-zipped, and a scowl that said he’d rather be anywhere else.

Must’ve been Michael.

“It’s alright, Reese,” William said smoothly, then glanced down at his son. “I need to have a word with my boy. If Henry comes looking, just let him know I’ll be back soon.”

“This is so stupid—” Michael muttered under his breath.

Before he could get another word out, William reached out and grabbed the back of his neck firmly. Michael shut up immediately. William’s hand lingered for a beat too long, like a warning. I’ve felt that warning before. 

“Thank you, Reese,” William said with a small nod, his expression unreadable.

I nodded back, eyes wide, unsure what to say after seeing him handle his son so forcefully. I let them walk past me and they headed towards William’s office. All I could think was I would never touch my child like that.

***

During my break, I ate in silence. No book, no phone. Just me, my thoughts, and the growing knot in my stomach. I couldn’t focus on anything else. Not with everything that had happened. William. Nicholas. The baby. I was so lost in thought I didn’t hear the knock at first.

“Hey, you,” came a familiar voice from the doorway. William. “What are you doing eating in silence?”

I gave a dry chuckle. “Just…a lot on my mind.” The second the words left my mouth, I regretted them. I knew he would start asking questions. 

But before he could, the break room door flew open.

“Janine—?” I said, startled.

“Reese,” she cut me off, wide-eyed and breathless. “Someone’s here to see you. And I don’t think he’s leaving until he does.”

Her tone was serious and nervous. I didn’t even get the chance to respond. William was already on his feet, storming past her.

“Wait—!” I called out, heart racing, rushing after him.

But I stopped cold when I saw Nicholas. 

He stood near the front entrance, jaw clenched, eyes wild. Henry had reached him first. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” he said. 

Nicholas turned, smirking like the whole thing was a joke. “No. You can’t make me.”

A few heads had turned by now. Staff, parents, even a few kids were watching. Before the tension could boil over, William appeared. “Don’t act like a child, Nicholas. Leave before you embarrass yourself.” 

“My girlfriend is here,” Nicholas said, eyes shifting between Henry and William. “I’m not leaving until I speak with her.”

I sighed. He wasn’t lying. So I stepped out, heart pounding.

“Your girlfriend is on the clock,” William shot back, voice sharp. “It can wait—”

But Nicholas’s eyes locked onto mine, and a tight, unsettling smile spread across his face. “There she is,” he said, stepping forward.

William reached for his arm to stop him, but Nicholas jerked it free before he could get a firm hold. Henry stood frozen, unsure whether to intervene, and honestly, I didn’t blame him. I wouldn’t have known what to do either.

“You need to take this outside,” Henry said, finally finding his voice. “There are children here.”

Nicholas turned back to me, smile still fixed. He took my hand gently. “Fine,” he said. “We’ll take it outside.”

I shot William a look. Don’t do anything.

Nicholas and I walked outside, and I gave William one last glance before the doors shut behind me.

“Nick,” I said, arms crossed tightly over my chest, “what’s so important that it couldn’t wait until after my shift?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. My stomach turned.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he said, holding up the pregnancy test. My heart dropped. “Maybe it’s the fact that you’re pregnant with my baby and didn’t bother to tell me?”

I froze, my heart slamming against my ribcage.

“Look, I’m sorry. I was going to tell you—”

“Oh yeah?” he cut in, stepping closer. “When? After you killed it?”

My jaw dropped. “Nicholas,” I breathed, “Don’t… don’t say it like that.”

He gave me a tight, dangerous smile and suddenly lunged like he meant to grab me. But before he could, the door behind us swung open.

William stood in the doorway. Calm. Collected. But sharp-eyed.

“Time’s up, Reese,” he said, gaze locked on Nicholas. “We need to get back in there.”

Then he looked down and saw the test still clenched in Nick’s hand and for a split second, his face cracked. My stomach twisted. Humiliation bloomed hot in my chest.

William cleared his throat. “This isn’t a break. Come on.”

I nodded stiffly and stepped away from Nicholas.

“We’ll continue this conversation at home,” I heard him say behind me.

I didn’t reply. 

***

I was expecting William to pull me into his office and lecture me, maybe even scold me for the scene earlier, but he didn’t. He barely looked at me. Just muttered, “Get back to work,” and walked off.

So I did.

Henry had the decency to ask if I was okay, and I forced a nod, replying, “Yeah.” It wasn’t true, but I got through the rest of the shift. Barely.

It wasn’t until closing, as I was grabbing my bag from the break room, that William finally spoke to me again.

“I need to talk to you before you leave,” he said quietly from the doorway.

“Okay,” I replied, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “Let me clock out first. I’ll meet you outside.”

I brushed past him, already dreading whatever conversation was coming.

By the time I stepped out, the parking lot was nearly empty, the sky dark, and the air cool. William stood by his car, leaned against the driver’s side door with his hands in his pockets. When he saw me, he pushed off and walked toward me with that small, unreadable smile.

So,” he said, his voice low but steady, “what are you going to do?”

I sucked in a breath, staring down at my shoes. “I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

“This was an accident, I’m assuming,” he said, carefully watching my face.

I hesitated, my throat tightening. “I guess so,” I said, then stopped myself. “I mean, Nicholas—”

I couldn’t finish the sentence. The words sat heavy on my tongue, unwilling to come out.

“Yeah,” I finally whispered. “I guess so.”

William hummed softly, his jaw flexing. “You guess so,” he repeated, almost tasting the phrase.

He took a small step closer.

“You can’t stay with him if you keep it,” he said firmly.

I blinked. “What?”

“You heard me,” he said, stepping closer. “I’m not saying what to do with it. That’s your choice. But if you choose to keep that baby, Reese, you cannot stay with him.”

“I—” I started, but he shook his head, gaze sharpening.

“I’ve seen what he does to you. You think that’s going to stop when there’s a child involved? You think he’s going to get better?” His voice was low but intense, each word cutting like glass. “He’ll break you. And he’ll break that kid, too.”

I swallowed hard, heart hammering against my ribs.

“You deserve better than this. So does that child, if you decide to have it.”

He was right. Every word of it. But all I could think about was Nicholas and what he’d think. What he’d do. He already knew I was pregnant. There was no escaping this without him being there the entire time, breathing down my neck, watching, controlling, threatening.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered, and the tears started falling. “I’m scared.”

Without a word, he stepped forward and pulled me into him. His arms wrapped around me firmly. His chest was solid and warm, and the way he held me wasn’t delicate. It was protective.

I sobbed into his shirt, my fists curled weakly against his ribs. He didn’t speak. He just held me, one hand resting on the back of my head, the other between my shoulder blades.

Eventually, my cries quieted. I pulled back slightly, still caught in his arms, my eyes puffy and wet, breath shaky. When I looked up, he was already watching me.

I looked at his lips. He looked at mine. 

And just when we we’re about to kiss, I turned my head away.

I should go home now,” I said, my voice low, barely above a whisper.

William didn’t move at first. His arms were still around me, but the tension had shifted, gone from protective to hesitant. Like he didn’t want to let go.

“Are you sure?” he asked. “You don’t have to.”

I nodded, even though every part of me wanted to stay. “I have to,” I said.

William finally released me, his hands grazing down my arms as he let go. I stepped back, trying to collect myself, but my chest still ached, and my cheeks were sticky with drying tears.

He studied me for a second longer, eyes flicking to my face, my hands, my trembling posture.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he told me. 

“Yeah,” I nodded, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

Chapter Text

When I got home, the house was quiet.

Nicholas was sitting at the kitchen table, a single lamp casting a soft glow over him. His hands were folded neatly in front of him. He had been waiting.

Nicholas was always so good at making these things so dramatic.

“There you are,” he said, his voice calm. Too calm. “Come sit down.”

I walked over slowly and sat down across from him. “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner,” I said.

“You should’ve told me the moment you took that test,” he snapped. “I should’ve been there. But instead, you hid it from me—and then what? What were you gonna do, Reese?”

“I guess I just—”

“What did you think was going to happen?” he cut in, voice rising. “I knew you’d take the test. I mean, God—” He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “You’re so fucking stupid sometimes.”

I stared at him, hurt stinging my chest. “You’re so mean,” I whispered. “I’m scared, Nick. I don’t think I’m ready.”

His expression twisted. “This isn’t just about you,” he said coldly. “I’m the father. I put that baby in you. You’re welcome.”

I flinched.

“A good woman would be happy,” he went on. “But you’re not a good woman, Reese. You’re a liar. I would never lie to you about something like this.”

“You don’t get it!” I snapped, my voice cracking as I fought back tears. I didn’t want to feed into his games—his twisted, misogynistic logic—but I couldn’t help it. It hurt. So much. “I’m terrified, Nick. Have you ever actually thought about what it means to raise a child? I’m not ready. I don’t want this. Not like this.”

Nick slammed his fists against the table, the sound jolting through the room. “I don’t care!” he shouted. “It’s my baby too. I get a say. Hell, I get more say. I pay the bills. I make most of our income. I keep you safe. The least you can do is carry and take care of my child.”

The way he said it, like it was a fact, like it made perfect sense, shattered something inside me.

He really believed that.

He’s a monster.

I need to leave. Now.

I stood up fast, my chair scraping hard against the floor as I grabbed my things with shaking hands. “I can’t do this right now,” I muttered, heading toward the hallway.

“Reese, what the fuck are you doing?” he snapped, footsteps following close behind.

I’m staying at my friend’s house tonight,” I told him, voice shaking.

Nicholas laughed. “Your friend’s house? What friends, Reese? You have no one. No one but me.”

I ignored him, shoving clothes into a bag with trembling hands. “Janine’s,” I said firmly. “I can’t be around you right now.”

His smile faded, replaced by a glare. “You’re not leaving me.”

I turned my head, defiant. “Watch me, Nicholas.”

His eyes darkened. In an instant, he grabbed my forearm, yanking me toward him. The bag slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a thud as I struggled to pull free from his tightening grip.

“Let go!” I screamed.

“Don’t make me hurt you,” he said, his voice disturbingly calm for how furious he looked.

“You are hurting me!” I snapped.

I told you,” he said lowly, his voice trembling with restraint, “you’re not leaving me.”

My stomach turned. I backed away, shaking my head. “Nick, please just let me go.”

He didn’t. He lunged forward, grabbed my arm hard enough to make me cry out, and dragged me down the hallway. I stumbled, tried to pull away, but it was useless. He was too strong. Too angry.

“No! Nick, stop—!”

He shoved me onto the bed, and I fell backwards onto the mattress. My heart was pounding, thundering in my ears as he towered over me.

“You wanna leave?” he spat, eyes glinting. “Maybe I’ll give you something to leave with.”

I watched in horror as his fingers went to his belt.

“No.” My voice came out small, shaking. “Nick. The baby.”

But he just smirked, slowly unbuckling it. “What?” he asked, mockingly. “You don’t care about the baby anyways, right?” He leaned closer, voice a whisper now. “Maybe I’ll put another one in you right now. Teach you a fucking lesson.”

Tears blurred my vision. “Get off of me!! Nick!!” I panicked.

He didn’t. He grabbed my wrists, pinned them over my head, pressing his weight into me. I struggled, writhing under him, but he just laughed. That low, cruel laugh I’d heard too many times.

“STOP!” I screamed, but the sound barely reached the walls.

Something inside me snapped. I didn’t think, I just moved. My knee shot up hard between his legs.

He crumpled immediately with a cry of pain, rolling off the bed, clutching himself. “You bitch!”

I didn’t wait. I jumped off the bed, grabbed my bag from the floor, and ran. Down the hall and out the door. I didn’t even know where I was going, I just knew I had to go

Chapter Text

I never truly realized how isolated I was until this moment, sitting at a bus stop, duffel bag in hand, breath shaky, still reeling from Nicholas’ abuse. I had no one to call.

Dad was useless, he always had been. And God only knows where my brother Dean ended up. On the streets, maybe even dead by now.

The few girls I once called friends had drifted away after college. And with Destiny still believing I hit on her boyfriend, the only other person I could think of was Janine. But we were just coworkers. I didn’t even have her number.

And beneath all that, I couldn’t deny it, I was thinking about William.

If I still had his phone number, I would’ve called him in a heartbeat. If Nick hadn’t found it. If I’d just been more careful. If I’d asked for it again, just in case.

The longer I sat there, the more the weight of it all sank in. I felt scared. I felt sad. But more than anything, I felt stupid.

I should’ve left Nicholas a long time ago.

All I could think to do was go to Fredbear’s. I doubted anyone would be there this late at night, but I figured I wouldn’t be getting any sleep anyway. If I hung around long enough, William would show up in the morning. He’d know what to do. He always did. He’d take care of me.

So that’s what I did.

But when I arrived, I was surprised to see his car still parked in the lot. He was still there.

The second I got off the bus, I practically started running toward the diner. And just as I reached the doors, they opened, William was on his way out.

He looked at me, eyes wide with confusion and concern, and immediately unlocked the door.

“Reese—”

I just threw my arms around him.

“Can I please stay with you for one night?” I asked, desperate, praying he’d say yes.

“Of course,” William sighed.

I swallowed back the tears. “Thank you.”

“What’s going on?” His gaze dropped to my bag, then back to me. “Are you leaving him for good?”

I hesitated. Then nodded. “Yeah. I want to.”

“What changed your mind?” he asked.

“I was scared of leaving because I was scared of being hurt,” I said, eyes on the ground. “But I’m realizing now that if I stay… it’ll only hurt more than leaving.”

I finally looked up at him.

“He tried to rape me tonight. Knowing I’m pregnant. He would’ve hurt me. I know it.”

William’s face didn’t shift much, but I could see the change, the way his jaw ticked slightly, the way his eyes darkened with something cold and barely restrained.

“Does he do that often?” he asked, voice calm. Too calm.

“Yeah,” I said softly. “He does it all the time.”

I expected to feel ashamed, but instead, I just felt tired. Numb. It was like I’d said it out loud too many times in my head already. Like it had lost its shock. This was just part of what being with Nicholas meant. And now, my body, my experiences, everything was marked by that. Ruined by him.

William blinked, and for the first time, I saw real shock in his face. “All the time?” he repeated.

“That’s how I got pregnant,” I told him. “Nick never wanted kids. He hated the idea. So he always pulled out. And I never went on the pill… I don’t know why. I guess I should’ve. But I didn’t.”

I took a breath, heart starting to race again.

“Then he found your number,” I said.

William’s jaw clenched. His fists were tight at his sides.

“And then what happened?” he asked, but I could tell by the look in his eyes that he already knew.

“He destroyed it. Tore it to pieces,” I said. “Then he took me to the bedroom and… I don’t even know how to say it without feeling disgusting.”

I sighed, wrapping my arms around myself like it would keep everything from spilling out.

William shook his head. “Don’t say it,” he murmured. “I know what he did.”

He pulled me into another hug, and I broke down against his chest, sobbing quietly. I felt his chin rest on the top of my head. He was tense, holding back something. Probably anger.

I wondered how much energy it took to keep that kind of rage locked away. How exhausting it must be to always stay composed. But I couldn’t focus on that right now. I wanted to, maybe, but I couldn’t.

“He’s going to get what he deserves,” William said softly, stroking my hair. “You’ll never have to worry about him again.”

I tensed in his arms. My body stiffened without meaning to, and I started to pull back, but William held on.

“William—”

He let go quickly, like he’d only just realized how tightly he’d gripped me, and straightened up.

“You’re not going to do anything, right?” I asked carefully, searching his face.

William tilted his head. “He’s a rapist,” he said, voice low. “He’s an abuser. He needs to be taught a lesson.”

“But William… he’s not stable,” I whispered.

“I don’t care,” William said, “Nobody deserves any kind of peace after committing something so cruel. Especially multiple times. Especially to you.”

“You don’t get it though. He’ll just come for me. He’ll hurt you too.”

William laughed at this. “Nicholas can’t hurt me,” he said, “But I can hurt Nicholas. And as long as you're with me, that boy can’t touch you.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Listen,” William said, “For now, I can take you back to my home. You’re not going back there, okay?”

I nodded along.

“We’ll figure it out later,” he said, “Just let me lock up.”

I nodded again and waited before William walked me to his car. He opened the door for me, and I climbed in without a word. He got in quickly after, starting the engine. I stared out the window at the passing streetlights and the occasional car.

The sun had completely set, it had to be close to 9 p.m. now.

“Do you always stay that late?” I asked softly, still watching the blur of motion outside.

“Only when I need to,” he shrugged, then rested his hand gently on my thigh. “You okay?”

I stiffened instinctively. He felt it, paused, then gave my leg the smallest squeeze before pulling his hand back.

“I’m fine now,” I said. “Thank you.”

William smiled to himself. “I’m glad you came to me tonight. That was smart, Reese.”

I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. “I didn’t really have anyone else. Nick… he made sure of that. I didn’t even realize how lonely I was until tonight.”

William’s expression changed slightly. “What about family?”

“Dad’s in prison,” I said, voice flat. “My brother? Probably dead. Last I heard, he was living on the streets.”

There was no gentle way to put it, so I said it bluntly.

“Hm. What about your mother, dear?” William asked.

“I never knew her. She died giving birth to me.”

He only nodded. No apologies. No awkward expressions of sympathy. He seemed to understand that I didn’t want to hear it. That I was tired. No energy left to ensure that I’m over it.

And I appreciated that, more than I could say. Most people never caught on, but somehow, William did.

“What about friends?” he asked after a pause. “You went to college. You must’ve made at least a few.”

I sighed. “Yeah. My roommates and I were close. We all were. But after graduation, Nicholas and I had been together so long that we moved in together. And by then… I guess I was already in too deep. He always thought I was cheating anytime I went out.”

I hadn’t even realized I was rambling. Or maybe it just felt that way, like I was saying too much, too fast.

“I’m sorry,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe it just felt too good to finally let it out. To speak my truth without being cut off or questioned.

“Is that why you stopped seeing them?” William asked. “Because he’d get upset?”

“Pretty much,” I admitted. “It was exhausting. Every time I went out, there’d be a fight waiting for me when I got home. Eventually, I just stopped going because it wasn’t worth the stress. Then the invites just stopped coming.”

“Do you ever get upset? About them not checking in? Not noticing?”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t blame them. They didn’t abandon me, I abandoned myself. They didn’t know what was really happening.”

William scoffed gently. “It’s clear as day to me. Those girls must be idiots.”

I scoffed too. “It’s fine,” I muttered.

We pulled into the driveway of a modest but charming two-story house. A porch swing hung out front, potted plants placed beside. It looked nice.

“Alright, we’re here,” William said.

As soon as we stepped inside, the chaos hit.

Screaming.

In the living room, Michael stood with his arms crossed, looking furious. A much smaller boy, his face red and soaked with tears, was sobbing uncontrollably. And there on the floor, Elizabeth drew in her coloring book calmly, like none of it phased her.

“What’s going on in here?” William snapped, his voice sharp.

The little boy spun around, sniffling hard. “Michael broke my toy!” he wailed.

“I did not!” Michael shouted back. “Dad, seriously. He broke it himself. He’s such a little—”

“Hey!” William cut him off before he could finish. “Watch your mouth. Upstairs. Now.”

Michael glared at him, then turned his attention to me with a scowl. “Who is she?” he asked coldly. “What’s she doing here?”

William didn’t miss a beat. “You met Reese, my employee,” he said, his voice firm. “She needs a place to stay.”

The little boy was still crying. Michael was now glaring at me like I’d personally offended him just by existing. Now Elizabeth had wrapped herself around William’s leg, making it hard for him to move.

“Needs somewhere to stay? Why?” Michael snapped.

“I’ll explain it to you later. Upstairs,” William said again, more firmly this time.

Michael rolled his eyes but obeyed, not before casting one last sharp glare in my direction as he stomped off.

William gently pried Elizabeth from his leg so he could kneel beside the boy, Evan, I remembered now. His toy car lay crushed on the floor, its front axle bent in half.

“It’s alright, Evan,” William said softly. “I’ll get you another one, okay?”

Evan sniffled hard and nodded, wiping his face.

Elizabeth was watching me now. Her big eyes locked on mine, curious and observant. I hesitated for a moment, then walked over, doing my best to smile warmly.

“Hi, Elizabeth,” I said gently. “Remember me? We met at Fredbear’s.”

She nodded. “Yeah.” Then, tilting her head, she asked without hesitation, “Do you like Daddy?”

Somehow, I knew she would ask something like that. Maybe not so directly, but she didn’t beat around the bush. She went for it, full-on.

I didn’t want to lie to this child, but everyone knows kids are spared certain truths.

“I’m just your dad’s employee,” I said carefully. “I work at Fredbear’s, remember? We’re friends too!” I added with a little smile, trying to keep it light.

But Elizabeth had already moved on. Her gaze shifted to Evan, who had started crying again.

William glanced at me, and then back at his son. “Give me a second,” he said before scooping Evan up and heading upstairs.

That left me alone with Elizabeth, who now sat quietly on the couch, her little legs dangling off the edge.

I eased down beside her, unsure what to say next. But she beat me to it.

“I like your hair,” she said suddenly.

I smiled. My hair was pulled into two braids which was the usual style I wore to work.

“Why thank you, Elizabeth,” I said warmly. “Do you know what these are called?”

“Braids,” she answered proudly, reaching out to hook her finger around one and giving it a gentle tug.

“Close!” I grinned. “These are French braids. They’re extra fancy.”

She seemed mesmerized, still twirling the end of the braid in her fingers, only half listening.

“I could do them for you, if you’d like,” I offered softly. “It won’t take long.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up, and I nodded.

“Yes!” I said, smiling wide. Honestly, this was probably the happiest I’d felt in a long time.

I guided Elizabeth down onto the floor and sat on the couch above her, gently gathering her hair into sections. It was surprisingly thick for her age, silky and easy to work with. As my fingers moved, I felt a wave of nostalgia, like I was a teenager again, braiding my friends’ hair at a sleepover or something. Everything felt right.

There wasn’t much conversation, just the occasional question from her.

“Is it almost done? I wanna see!” she whined, bouncing a little in place.

“Almost done, Elizabeth,” I promised, wrapping the last braid and securing it with one of the extra hair ties I always kept on my wrist. “Alright, go take a look!”

She squealed and scrambled up, rushing to the mirror that hung near the stairs.

“I love it!” she yelled, beaming at her reflection.

“You look beautiful, Elizabeth!” I told her, beaming.

Just as I said it, William came down the stairs. He looked exhausted but the moment he saw Elizabeth, his whole face lit up.

“Daddy! Look! Look what Reese did to my hair!” She spun around proudly, showing off her braids.

William grinned from ear to ear. “Oh, Lizzy, you look beautiful,” he said, then turned to me with a softer expression. “What do you say to Reese?”

“Thank you, Reese!” Elizabeth chirped.

I let out a small laugh, touched but quiet. “You’re welcome.”

“It’s too bad it’s time for bed,” William said, feigning a frown.

“Nooo,” Elizabeth groaned dramatically. “Please let me stay up! Reese is here!”

William smiled but shook his head. “Nice try. Come on, Lizzy. Bedtime. You’ve got school in the morning.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes with a sigh worthy of a stage play, but she obeyed, trailing behind him up the stairs.

Left alone in the living room, I let myself breathe. I stood and wandered slowly, my eyes drifting to the framed photographs on the wall. Michael as a little boy, a genuine smile on his face. Elizabeth and Evan as babies.

Then her. But I looked away. This wasn’t my business, they had a family, they still do have a family. Seeing William’s late wife and having the audacity to feel even a little jealous was a new kind of hatred I felt for myself.

How selfish I was.

I turned away and quietly sank into the couch, deciding to wait for William in silence. The less seen, the better.

He finally came downstairs, looking completely drained. “Sorry about all that,” he said as he sat beside me. “You’re really sweet for braiding Lizzy’s hair. She loved it.”

“Thanks,” I smiled softly. “It’s a girl thing.”

“Sure is. Lizzy doesn’t get to experience things like that anymore. Not since her mother passed. It meant a lot.”

My heart ached for Elizabeth. I hadn’t grown up with a mother either. And without that figure—especially during puberty—everything feels harder. Lonelier. More confusing.

“You’re really good with them,” I said.

He chuckled and rubbed his jaw. “Not so much with Michael,” he admitted. “I handle him the only way I know how.”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to dig too deep into his relationship with Michael. I’d seen the way he grabbed his son’s neck at Fredbear’s. A little too forceful. And Michael hadn’t smiled once since I met him. Not that I’ve seen at least.

“You guys fight a lot, don’t you?” I asked gently.

William nodded, exhaling. “Ever since his mother died, he’s… different. Distant. He blames me for it, I think. Maybe it’s how he copes. He’s nearly eighteen now, and I won’t let that behavior go unchecked.”

I nodded. I agreed with him. I just hoped whatever punishment he gave Michael wasn’t physical.

“My dad used to humiliate me when I was a kid,” I said quietly. “Do you ever do that to Michael?”

William’s expression tightened. His brow furrowed, like the question genuinely bothered him. “No, Reese,” he said, almost offended. “And I don’t hit him either, if that’s what you were thinking next.”

“No,” I said quickly. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”

William gave a small smile. “It’s alright. I’ve been in your business since the day you started working for me,” he said. “It’s only fair.”

That made me laugh a little, despite myself. “You must think I’m an idiot.”

He shook his head slowly. “I think you’re very smart, Reese,” he said, and his voice was soft but certain. “You’ve just never had a stable home. I can tell.”

I thought for a second, then nodded again. “Yeah,” I admitted. I shifted a little closer to him on the couch. Our thighs touched, but neither of us moved.

“I’m kind of scared,” I confessed.

“I know.” His long arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me into him gently. “But you don’t have to be when you’re here,” he murmured. “That boy can’t get to you while you’re with me.”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “You’re right. He’s made me so paranoid, to the point where I feel like he’s tracking me.” I let out a dry laugh, then quickly waved my hand, brushing the thought away. “Actually, never mind. I don’t want to talk about Nicholas. Not for the rest of tonight.”

William gave a slight smirk. “Okay then,” he said. “What would you like to talk about instead?”

I looked down at my stomach. My hand rested gently against it. “I think… I think I want to keep the baby.”

I hesitated before looking up, bracing myself for a flicker of judgment or concern. But all I saw was William’s warm grin.

“I think that’s a great idea, Reese,” he said without hesitation.

I smiled, the smallest hint of relief washing over me. “I just…” I almost brought Nicholas up again, how he’d never let me go if he knew I kept the baby, how he’d always feel entitled to it, like it belonged more to him than to me. That it would never just be mine.

But I didn’t want to go there again. Not tonight.

“Never mind,” I said softly. “All I know is I want to keep it. After seeing your kids… and all the kids at Fredbear’s… I realized how good of a life I could give my own. Something safe.”

William’s voice was low but certain. “You’re going to be an incredible mother.”

I hadn’t even noticed his hand gently stroking my hair until now. I leaned into him a little more, then slowly let my hand fall to his thigh, resting a little higher than what could be passed off as casual.

He smirked down at me, brushing my jawline with his thumb. My eyes lingered on his lips longer than they should have. And before I could stop myself, I leaned in and kissed him.

He kissed me back, slow at first, then deeper. Before I knew it, I was straddling his lap. His touch, his mouth, the warmth of his body… he felt better than Nicholas ever had. Tasted better. Moved better. But it wasn’t even a comparison. Nicholas wasn’t even a person to me anymore. Not in this moment at least.

My hands slipped into William’s hair, thick, soft, and warm between my fingers. I wanted to grip it, to pull him closer, to disappear into him completely.

“You’re so soft,” William murmured into my neck between kisses.

I smiled against his lips, breath hitching slightly as his hands slid up beneath my shirt. He didn’t grab or grope, he held me with surprising tenderness, one palm pressing firmly into the small of my back, the other resting at my waist as he pulled me tighter against him.

A soft moan escaped my throat. I hadn’t felt this good, this wanted, in what felt like forever. But then…

One of his hands brushed up, fingers slipping into my hair, giving the faintest tug. It was faint, gentle, hardly even a tug if I’m being honest. But still, it was enough. Somehow.

Everything came back all at once and way too fast. Nicholas. His face. His hands. His breath. His voice whispering threats while he touched me.

I gasped sharply, whimpered, and scrambled off William’s lap, landing hard on the floor beside the couch. My back hit the carpet, breath caught in my chest, eyes wide and shaking.

William immediately stood and helped me off the floor, his hands gentle but his eyes full of concern.

“Reese, what happened? Are you okay?” he asked softly. “Did I… do something?”

I shook my head quickly. “No. Not you. You’re fine. It’s fine,” I said, trying to steady my breath. “Maybe I should just go to bed or something.”

William gave a slow nod, still watching me carefully. “Okay,” he said. “Do you need to shower? Anything you need before bed?”

“I’ll be fine,” I murmured, brushing the hair out of my face.

“My room’s the last one at the end of the hallway upstairs,” he said. “There’s a bathroom, clean towels, whatever you need. I’ll sleep on the couch tonight.”

I blinked at him. “What? No, William, come on! Take your bed.”

But he was already gathering his things. “No,” he repeated, firmer this time. “That’s final.”

His tone left no room for protest. I didn’t argue.

As he walked past me, he paused, leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. “Goodnight, Reese.”

***

Here I was, laying in William’s bed, without William. And God, it felt wrong. His wife used to sleep here, next to him. I couldn’t stop thinking about that. About her. About everything.

I tossed and turned, debating going downstairs more than once. But I didn’t.

At least, not until sleep finally claimed me.

And even then… it didn’t last long.

I was lying in my bed, not William’s, mine. The dim light of the hallway bled through the cracked door, and in that thin sliver of space stood Nicholas.

He didn’t look angry. Not exactly. He looked disappointed and sad.

I tried to move but couldn’t. My limbs were heavy, useless, like I was sinking into the mattress. Panic surged in my chest.

Where was William?

How did I get here?

Why wasn’t he with me?

“You’re nothing without my love, Reese,” Nicholas said, his voice reverberating unnaturally in the air, like it didn’t belong in this world. It echoed again. Nothing… nothing…

He stepped into the room and his shadow stretched over me.

No.

Don’t.

My mouth opened to scream, but no sound came. My chest felt like it was caving in. A pressure, unbearable and real, grew heavier and heavier until I couldn’t draw in air.

And still, he came closer.

Closer.

Closer.

He climbed on top of me, knees sinking into the mattress on either side of my hips. His hands, ice cold, wrapped around my throat.

“I just want to show you how much I love you,” he whispered, eyes wet with tears, even as his thumbs pressed deeper into my windpipe.

I wanted to fight him, claw at his arms, kick or scream or cry, but I was paralyzed. Trapped. Nothing but a body for him to pour his rage and obsession into.

Then suddenly I woke up.

A violent gasp tore from my throat and I bolted upright, coughing and gripping my neck with trembling fingers.

”Just a dream Reese,” I repeated to myself.

I rolled onto my side, eyes wide open in the dark.

I didn’t sleep again. I didn’t dare.

“Hey.”

My head snapped up. I turned toward the door, heart pounding. It was cracked open, and William stood there, his hair a tangled mess, eyes still heavy with sleep. He wasn’t wearing a shirt or pants, just a pair of black fitted boxers.

My breath hitched. He looked… good. Unfairly good. And he didn’t seem the least bit bothered that I saw him like this. If anything, he almost looked amused.

“Oh God, you scared me,” I said, letting out a nervous laugh, trying not to let my eyes linger too long on the lines of his body, even though the room was dark.

He chuckled softly and stepped inside. “Wanted to check on you,” he said. “Didn’t actually expect you to be awake.”

I shrugged, trying to sound casual. “I had a bad dream.”

William walked closer and sat gently on the edge of the bed, right beside me.

“Yeah?” he asked, voice quieter now. “About that boy?”

I nodded slowly. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay,” he said, “we won’t talk about it. Do you want me to leave so you can get some sleep?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“You want me to stay?”

“Yes,” I said, a little more confidently this time.

William smiled and now that my eyes had adjusted to the dark, I could see it clearly. He shifted beside me on the bed, settling in close. I didn’t move away. If anything, I leaned in.

Then, without thinking too hard about it, I reached for his face and kissed him.

He kissed me back instantly. His body shifted, pressing against mine, and I let it happen. I laid back slowly, and he moved with me, settling on top of me without hesitation.

He looked down at me, his eyes soft but hungry. His hands found my waist and he gently pushed my shirt up just enough to reveal my stomach.

“God,” he murmured, more to himself than to me, “You’re so sexy.”

I kissed him in response, and he started to grind into me, his arousal unmistakable through his boxers.

“I wanna fuck you,” he whispered into my ear, his voice low and teasing, his smirk audible.

I giggled and nodded, almost like a schoolgirl. But when his hand slipped down the front of my pants, something shifted.

It felt wrong.

Way too wrong.

“Wait,” I said quickly, and he stopped immediately, pulling his hand back.

“Yes?” he asked gently.

“Um…” I let out a nervous laugh, trying to think. “Shouldn’t we maybe close the door? In case your kids…”

William looked at me for a moment, then gave a small shrug and crossed the room to shut the door. As he turned around and started walking back toward me, the wrongness returned. That crawling feeling at the edge of my skin.

But this wasn’t Nick.

This was William.

And William was kind. Patient. Safe.

I just had to remind myself of that.

Even if, in the dark, it all started to blur.

He crawled back onto the bed and over me, his hand gliding up my thigh with careful attention.

“You’re so soft,” he murmured.

I squirmed a little, letting out a nervous laugh. “Thanks,” I said automatically.

Thanks?

Why did I just thank him?

William paused, eyes scanning my face. “You alright?” he asked gently.

“Um… yeah!” I said too quickly. “Keep touching me. It feels good.”

He tilted his head, studying me. “It does?” he asked, sounding unconvinced.

“Mhm,” I nodded, trying to smile.

But he wasn’t buying it. He slowly climbed off of me, shifting onto his side beside me.

“What?” I asked, sitting up a little.

“Not tonight, Reese,” he said softly. “You’re not ready.”

“No—no, that’s not true, William—”

“Yes, it is,” he cut in, his voice firmer but still kind. “I’m not going to take advantage of you like that. I shouldn’t have even insinuated it.”

That was something I wasn’t used to hearing at all. I had grown so familiar with the routine: saying yes when I didn’t want to, fearing the word no because of what might follow. But in the end, it never mattered. I always got hurt anyway.

Whether it was yelling, hitting, rape, or all three, I always ended up in a puddle of my own tears, staring up at Nicholas’s smug face. That look. That reminder of the power he had over me.

“Oh,” I said softly, looking up at William. “Thank you.”

He studied me for a long moment, searching my eyes. “He really did a number on you, didn’t he, dear?”

I nodded. “Mhm,” I breathed, and the tears came again before I could stop them.

William pulled me close without hesitation. I buried my face in his chest and let myself cry, just for a little while longer.

Chapter Text

The sun woke me. It streamed through the curtains in William’s room. For a moment, I forgot where I was, but then it all came back. I turned onto my side, instinctively reaching for William, only to find the space beside me empty.

My heart dipped until I heard the sounds downstairs.

Evan and Elizabeth were squealing, their footsteps thudding against the floor as they ran around. And then I heard William’s laugh through the chaos.

I couldn’t help but smile.

I got out of bed quickly. I hadn’t showered after my shift from yesterday. I still probably reeked of pizza grease and fryer oil. 

But William hadn’t seemed to care last night. 

I headed into the bathroom and took out my braids, letting my hair fall loosely over my shoulders. I combed through it with my fingers until it looked at least somewhat presentable, then splashed cold water on my face to wake myself up.

I was still wearing the sweats and t-shirt I’d packed the night before and didn’t bother changing. When I glanced at the alarm clock on William’s nightstand, it read 8:32 AM. Saturday morning.

Technically, I had to work in about three hours.

I made my way downstairs and found William in the kitchen, flipping pancakes. Elizabeth stood beside him, still sporting her French braids, though they were much messier now after a night’s sleep. She kept sneaking fingers of batter when she thought he wasn’t looking, despite his scolding.

“Your stomach’s going to hurt,” William warned gently, tapping her hand away.

Evan was off to the side, sitting on the floor and playing with a toy dinosaur this time. No more car toys for poor little Evan. 

He was the first to spot me.

I’d been quiet coming down the stairs, and when his head popped up, he stared at me like I was something to be afraid of. Maybe he hadn’t really registered me last night.

“Daddy…” Evan’s voice trailed off into a soft, uncertain whine as he kept his wide eyes on me.

William turned his head quickly at Evan’s voice, but his shoulders relaxed when he saw me. A soft smile spread across his face.

“Oh, Evan, that’s just Reese,” he said gently. The moment my name left his lips, Elizabeth spun around too, her eyes lighting up.

Evan still looked confused, but not as scared now.

“Reese!!” Elizabeth beamed, running up to me and grabbing my hand. “Daddy made pancakes this morning,” she said proudly, leading me toward the kitchen. We passed Evan on the way, his eyes tracking me the whole time. He still looked wary. Maybe he didn’t hate me… but he definitely didn’t like me.

“That’s awesome!” I told Elizabeth.

William was now leaning back against the counter, casually licking batter off his finger. I caught his eye just as Elizabeth did too.

“Hey!!” she whined, letting go of my hand to slap her dad lightly on the leg. “You told me not to eat the batter! That’s not fair!”

William laughed. “But I’m the chef,” he teased, “and the chef gets one taste.”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “Daddy,” she scolded. 

William gave me a knowing look before crouching down to Elizabeth’s level.

“You’ve had enough of the batter, sweetheart,” he said gently. “Remember? Your stomach always feels funny afterward.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes dramatically, but she didn’t argue.

“Go play with your brother,” William added.

“But—”

“Lizzy,” he said again, a little firmer this time, though still kind.

She gave a tiny sigh, bowed her head in defeat, and turned to join Evan.

I laughed softly, turning to William. “She’s so cute.” 

William’s eyes followed her across the room. “Lizzy’s my girl,” he said fondly, a proud glint in his gaze. “Evan’s a little shy. Definitely scared of Michael. So don’t take it personally if he doesn’t warm up right away.”

“I’ll be okay,” I chuckled. 

William stared at me for a few moments before turning back to the stove, pouring batter into the pan.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” I nodded, then tilted my head. “How are you feeling?”

He didn’t answer that.

“If you’re not feeling up to work today, I have no problem with that,” he said instead, focused on the pancakes. He placed each one neatly onto a growing stack on a plate.

“No, I’ll be fine to work,” I said quickly. “Really.”

He hummed in acknowledgment, then picked up the plate. “Kids!” he called out.

In an instant, Evan and Elizabeth dropped everything and sprinted to the table. They climbed onto their chairs and started devouring pancakes like they hadn’t eaten in days.

It was honestly adorable.

“Have some,” William said, gesturing to the plate, but I shook my head politely. My stomach was already full—of butterflies.

“Watch them for a sec?” he asked, already walking off before I could answer.

Up the stairs.

I froze, glancing down at the kids still munching on their pancakes. Then, a scream broke through the air.

“Fuck you!!”

It wasn’t William’s voice. Similar, but not quite. It was younger, sharper. Definitely Michael.

The children didn’t even flinch. Not with pancakes in their mouths.

“No! Fuck off!” Michael yelled again.

Yikes. I wasn’t sure what kind of argument was happening up there, but I couldn’t help being curious.

What really shocked me was how unaffected Elizabeth and Evan were.

“God! I hate you! It should’ve been you!”

A door slammed.

Silence.

Except for the soft clinking of forks against plates.

My heart pounded in my chest. Those last words echoed in my mind. I couldn’t imagine what William must’ve felt, hearing that. 

A few moments passed before I heard William coming back down the stairs. He looked drained. The pancakes were nearly gone, devoured by the little ones.

“You okay?” I asked gently as I approached him. “I heard that…”

William exhaled through his nose. “Not the first time he’s said it,” he admitted. “I’m sorry you had to hear it.”

“No, don’t apologize to me,” I said quickly. “I’m just… surprised the kids didn’t even react.”

William gave a small laugh, glancing at them and then back to me. “They don’t understand it. And when you put pancakes in front of them they don’t pay attention to anything else.”

I offered a weak smile. “But are you okay? Like, be honest.”

He nodded once. “Don’t worry about me,” he said. “Michael’s just… a moody teenager.”

But then his eyes drifted past me, somewhere far off. “One day he’ll regret his behavior,” he added, voice quieter, almost to himself.

I nodded slowly, though something in his tone left a strange twist in my stomach.

“Yeah…”

Just then, Elizabeth ran up with pancake syrup on her chin, tugging William’s sleeve.

“Daddy, can I come to Fredbear’s today?”

William looked down at her with a soft smile, brushing a sticky curl off her cheek. “Not today, Lizzy. You have school, remember?”

“No I don’t…” Elizabeth whined. 

“Nice try,” he said, crouching to her level, his tone calm but steady. “You’ve got the book fair today! Remember?”

Her shoulders slumped. “Ughhh,” she groaned dramatically, stomping one foot on the floor. “Book fairs are boring. Fredbear’s is more fun.”

William tapped her nose lightly. “That’s because you don’t have to mop floors at Fredbear’s.”

She giggled, despite herself. “Can I come after school then?”

“We’ll see how your day goes,” he said, standing back up. “Now go get ready, you’re still in pajamas.”

Elizabeth gave me a pleading glance before dragging her feet toward the stairs, muttering something about hating book fairs.

I smiled, but William just ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

“Alright,” he said. “You’ve got two hours before we head in. If you want to shower, go ahead. I’ll make more coffee.”

“Thank you,” I said, offering William a small smile before heading back upstairs to his room. The hallway was quiet until suddenly, Michael’s door swung open.

He stepped out, already dressed for school. Sweatpants, hoodie, earbuds dangling from his pocket. I stopped in my tracks as he brushed past me.

“Watch yourself, slut,” he muttered.

I turned sharply. “What did you just say?”

But he was already halfway down the stairs, not even glancing back.

I stood there for a moment, my cheeks burning. My stomach turned hot and cold at the same time. So that was how he saw me?

A slut? 

Yet another problem to add to my long, long list. 

Chapter Text

Work was a welcome distraction. William was there, and even though we were both busy with our tasks, just being in the same room as him gave me peace. 

Still, I couldn’t ignore the flicker of paranoia creeping into the edges of my thoughts. What if Nick showed up? He knew where I worked. He knew I had a shift today. There was no reason he wouldn’t come looking for me, especially now. That was exactly the kind of person he was. I’d known it deep down since I was seventeen and blindly in love with him.

How did I get so far? How did I let it get so far? 

I couldn’t help but replay all the worst parts of Nick and I’s relationship. Worst of all, I knew I’d see him again someday. That was unavoidable. He was the father of my child. 

All my stuff was still at his apartment. Our apartment. The walls were paper thin, yet no one had ever called the cops. Not once. No one protected me. And I didn’t protect myself either.

Not until William came around.

Maybe in this new life, a life without Nicholas breathing down my neck, without his shadow wrapped around my spine, I’d find something real. Friends. Peace. Maybe even a kind of happiness that stuck. Not just a sliver. 

***

My shift ended, long before Fredbear’s was to close. William wouldn’t be off for another three hours. I had time to kill.

He’d left around midday to pick up Elizabeth and Evan from school, only to return alone. I assumed Elizabeth didn’t get her wish of spending the afternoon at Fredbear’s. I could practically picture her pouty little frown when William let her down easy. 

She was so sweet. So innocent. Evan too. Both of them were, and every time I thought about them, I thought about my own baby, and who they might grow up to be. 

“I can drive you back to my place,” William offered as I gathered my things after clocking out. “I’ll be here a few more hours, but Michael’s there watching the kids.”

Michael.

He didn’t like me. That was obvious.

“I’d like that,” I said, then paused. “But… I don’t think Michael would. He hates me.”

Why did I care so much what a teenage boy thought of me? I guess because that teenage boy happened to be the son of the man who had completely stolen my heart.

William waved it off. “Michael hates everyone. Don’t take it personally. Besides, Lizzy adores you.”

That made me smile. “Okay,” I said, though I left out the part where Michael had called me a slut under his breath. The last thing I wanted was to stir up more tension between them since it already felt fragile. “Then yes. Thank you, William.”

Before I could say another word, he slid his arm around my waist and pulled me in for a kiss. It startled me, but not in a bad way. I melted into it, letting my eyes flutter closed as I kissed him back.

“Hey…” I murmured, glancing over at him as we pulled out of the parking lot. “Can we stop at my apartment?”

William’s jaw tightened. “Why?”

“I just want to grab a few more things,” I said quickly. “Nick’s not there. He’s at work for at least the next couple of hours. I’ll be in and out. Super quick. Then we can head straight back.”

He exhaled through his nose, clearly not thrilled. “Then I’m coming in with you.”

“I can go by myself,” I insisted. “It’ll take five minutes. There’s nothing to worry about.”

William shook his head. “I’m not taking that risk. He could show up.”

“Well, it’s not exactly your decision,” I snapped before I could stop myself. “It’s my apartment. I don’t want you going inside.”

He looked at me, not saying anything. I didn’t even have a solid reason. I just didn’t want him in there. That space, it wasn’t mine anymore. It was tainted. It was Nick’s.

“It’s…” 

“It’s what?” He asked. 

“I just don’t want you to come in with me, okay?” I snapped, sharper than I meant to.

William exhaled slowly, his posture softening. “Okay,” he said calmly. “I understand. I’ll wait outside.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, guilt already creeping in.

“Mhm,” was all he said.

Aside from me quietly giving him directions, we didn’t speak the rest of the drive. He wasn’t like Nick, he didn’t try to control me. He just wanted to protect me. But this was something I needed to do alone. I should be allowed that much.

Nick never allowed me anything.

When we finally pulled into the apartment complex, I opened the car door before it even came to a full stop and rushed up the stairs. I unlocked the front door, my heart pounding even though I knew he wouldn’t be here.

Still, relief washed over me when I stepped into the silence. The apartment was empty.

I headed straight for the bedroom, grabbing the old suitcase from the top of the closet and yanking it down with trembling hands. I packed quickly—clothes, toiletries, my medications, a few small trinkets I couldn’t leave behind. And then the most important thing: the framed photo of my mother. 

Then I paused.

This room… this was where most of the trauma I carried occurred. I looked around at the space, familiar and cold, remembering how small I used to feel in it.

I would never step foot in this room again.

I would never be shoved back down onto that bed.

It was over.

We were over.

But then I heard the door. It creaked open.

I froze, heart slamming against my ribs.

No.

No, no, no.

He wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to be back yet.

But I could hear him mumbling to himself. His voice was slurred. Drunk. Why wasn’t he at work? He must’ve left early and stopped at the bar. Of course he did.

I stood perfectly still, listening to his uneven footsteps shuffle through the apartment. Maybe he’d pass out on the couch. Maybe I could sneak out. Maybe…

But deep down, I knew better.

I knew him.

And nothing was ever that easy.

I slowly backed into the closet, breath catching in my throat as his footsteps grew louder. I ducked behind the hanging clothes, shoving myself into the narrowest space I could, one hand clamped tightly over my mouth.

Through the hanging clothes, I saw him.

He stumbled into the bedroom. His jacket hit the floor first, then his shoes, one half-kicked off, the other flung with a lazy grunt. 

He unbuttoned his shirt and took off his belt. 

I didn’t breathe the entire time. 

He staggered toward the kitchen, muttering something I couldn’t hear. I thought that was my chance, maybe I could slip out through the window and onto the fire escape. 

I moved, the floorboard creaked. Way too loudly. 

By then I knew it was too late. 

“Hello?”

His voice rang out from the kitchen, slurred and laced with suspicion.

I immediately stepped right back into the closet. 

“Heeelllooo?” he repeated, drawing the word out like a threat. Mocking. Taunting. “Oh…Reese?”

My heart dropped into my stomach.

He knew.

He chuckled softly to himself. His footsteps dragged back into the bedroom.

“Oh, Reese,” he cooed. “I know you’re in here, baby.”

My blood ran cold.

I should’ve listened to William. I should’ve never come back here.

I was paralyzed. My body refused to move, breath shallow and silent behind the curtain of clothes. Every inch of me was locked in place, screaming internally, knowing it was too late. I’d already lost.

Nick ran a hand through his greasy hair, eyes scanning the room with a drunken glaze. “Come on out,” he said, his voice lilting in a singsong tone that barely masked the evil beneath it. “I just wanna talk to you, sweetheart. I’ve missed you…”

I didn’t move. Couldn’t. My heart slammed against my ribs. I knew better. “Talking” never meant talking.

He stood still for a moment, silent again, too silent. Then he turned his head toward the closet and smiled.

That cold, knowing smile.

“Don’t make me come in there and get you.”

When I heard those words, I knew I didn’t have a choice. I stepped out of the closet.

Nick’s eyes lit up with dark satisfaction. He let out a soft, pleased sigh and started humming to himself, like this was some kind of twisted victory.

“I knew you’d come back,” he said. “Couldn’t stay away, could you?”

“I’m getting my things,” I said firmly. “I’m leaving you. It’s over.”

But Nicholas only smiled, as if I’d just told a joke. “Oh, it’s over, huh?” He took a slow step toward me, tilting his head with mock sympathy. “You poor little thing. Since we moved in, I’ve been the one supporting us. I make the money. I pay the bills, because your helpless ass can’t get a real job with that sad little English degree. What were you thinking, really?” 

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. 

“You’re lucky to have me, Reese. You’re nothing without me. Nothing. I mean seriously…” He looked me up and down, eyes sharp and invasive. “Have you even thought this through? You think you’re gonna run off and suddenly be someone? With who? That new boss of yours?”

He spat the word boss like it tasted rotten in his mouth.

“Yes!! I’m leaving!!” I shouted, my voice cracking as I turned on my heel to storm past him. But I barely made it two steps before I felt his arms around my waist, yanking me back with force.

His grip was bruising.

“No, you’re not,” Nick hissed against my ear. “You don’t get to just walk away from me. Not after everything I’ve done for you.”

I struggled, pushing at his chest, but he only pulled me in tighter, his fingers digging into my side.

“Let me go!” I cried, squirming, trying to twist out of his hold.

“You think he loves you? You’re a toy to him. He’ll throw you out the second he gets bored. But me?” He dragged me closer. “I’ve always been here. Always will be. You can’t leave me, Reese. You belong to me.”

Nick’s hold tightened, and the tone of his voice shifted. It was lower now. Hungrier. Dangerous.

“I’ve missed touching you,” he whispered, nose dragging along the side of my face. I flinched away, but he turned me around, forcing me to look at him.

“And you’re pregnant, Reese,” he said, almost in awe. His hand splayed over my stomach, possessive. “You’re carrying my baby. Do you know what that means?”

I couldn’t even breathe.

“That means you’re mine forever. You don’t get to leave. You don’t get to whore around. You’re the mother of my child. That means so much.”

He grinned, but there was nothing soft in it. It was feral.

“I’ve been dreaming about this, about you.” His hand slid lower, and I jerked away, but he gripped me harder.

“You look so good, I can’t help it. God, Reese, I know. I know. I need to fuck you right now. Right fucking now.”

“No,” I gasped, trying to shove him away. My voice was weak—so weak—because I was terrified. Frozen. I knew that look in his eye. I’d seen it before.

“Don’t do this again,” I begged, heart pounding in my chest so loud I couldn’t even hear my own thoughts.

Nick smirked. “What a nice surprise to come home to,” he murmured before he pushed me back toward the bed.

I never thought this would happen again.

Not like this. Not here. Not after everything.

How could I be so stupid?

Why did I think I could just slip in and out?

Why didn’t I let William come with me?

God, why didn’t I listen?

I thought I was strong enough.

I thought he wouldn’t be here.

But he’s always here.

In my space. In my body. In my nightmares.

And now I’m right back where I started.

I can’t move.

I can’t breathe.

He’s touching me again like he owns me.

Like I never left.

Like I never said no.

I hate this. I hate myself.

Why am I frozen?

Why can’t I scream?

Get out. Move. Do something.

But I’m stuck.

Just like before.

And he’s smiling.

Like I belong to him.

Like I never escaped.

And maybe…I didn’t.

So I stare back up at that crack on the ceiling.

Like I always used to do.

Like it could split open and swallow me whole, and maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

My eyes blurred. My breath stuck. My body still.

It was always the ceiling.

My quiet escape.

But then: 

BANG.

The front door busted open, and William’s voice tore through my thoughts like thunder.

“Reese?!”

Chapter Text

“Reese?!”

Relief surged through my entire body like a tidal wave. William. He was here. My hero.

But Nick didn’t even flinch. It was like he hadn’t heard a thing. He kept going. His hands all over me, groping, grabbing, his mouth wet and desperate as he kissed whatever skin he could reach. Sloppily grinding his hard-on against me like I was just some object that owed him something.

The bedroom door was wide open. William saw everything. He crossed the room in seconds.

He grabbed Nick by the ribs and yanked him off of me with a strength I didn’t even know he had. Nicholas hit the floor with a thud.

William’s eyes immediately found mine, wide with panic. Then he was scooping me into his arms, holding me like something precious.

But Nick wasn’t done. He laughed, slurred and half-lucid, staggering upright and reaching for me again.

William set me down behind him and moved fast. His fist collided with Nick’s face with a sickening crack. Nick’s head slammed against the bed frame before he dropped to the floor, out cold.

William turned to me, his expression frantic. “Reese, my God, are you okay, sweetheart?”

I nodded, crying. “I’m okay,” I choked, curling into his arms. “Let’s just go. Please.”

He hugged me tighter, then slowly pulled back, glancing at Nick’s motionless form.

“Go ahead,” he said, voice low and steady, handing me his keys. “I’ll be there in a second.”

His eyes didn’t leave Nick’s body.

My stomach turned.

“William…?”

But he was already turning to face him. 

“No, no—let’s just go,” I said, grabbing his arm. But he pulled it out of my grasp.

“William,” I said, firmer this time as he stepped toward Nicholas’s unconscious body. “William!”

I followed him quickly. He was standing over Nick, shoulders tense.

“It’s okay, Reese,” he said softly, too softly.

“What are you going to do?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Are you going to kill him?”

He looked at me then, really looked at me. “Reese, don’t you feel angry?”

I blinked at him, confused. “What?”

“Don’t you feel it?” he asked again. “You think he gets to just go on with his life, no consequences? After everything he’s done to you?”

I hesitated.

Of course I’d thought about it, everything Nick did, all the times he hurt me, broke me, made me feel small. But my mind had never gone to revenge. I just wanted to get away. I didn’t need justice, I needed peace.

“He can’t get to me anymore,” I said quietly. “I just want to leave. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

I reached for William again, tugging his arm. “Please. Let’s just go. He’s not worth it.”

William stared down at Nick, then looked at me again.

A beat passed. Then he gave a small nod.

“Okay,” he said. “Then let’s go.”

William wrapped his arm around me and carried my suitcase without a word. We got into his car, and the drive was quiet. When we finally pulled up to his house, he leaned in and kissed me. Then he walked me to the door.

I expected to see Elizabeth and Evan in the living room, maybe playing with their toys or watching cartoons. But instead, it was just Michael.

He was sprawled on the couch, watching sports, shoes off, legs kicked up. He didn’t even glance in our direction.

“Michael, where are your siblings?” William asked sharply.

Michael scoffed. “Chill, Dad,” he muttered. “They’re at Sam’s. Her family just put up a new swingset.”

William’s eyes narrowed. “And you didn’t think to call me?”

I stood off to the side, awkward and silent, not daring to make eye contact with either of them.

“They’re two doors down,” Michael said, rolling his eyes. “Mrs. McCoy said they’ll be back by dinner.”

William exhaled through his nose. “Okay,” he said, then turned to me, lowering his voice. “Just hang out, alright? I wish I could stay, but I can’t. I’ll be back in a few hours. I’ll leave as early as I can.”

I nodded. “Thank you, William. You saved me today.”

He shook his head. “Don’t mention it. If Michael gives you any trouble, just ignore him, okay?”

I glanced at Michael, who didn’t even seem to be listening. “Okay,” I murmured.

William gave me a soft smile. I wanted to kiss him, but I didn’t. Not in front of Michael. Then he turned and walked out the door.

Now I stood there, alone with Michael. I didn’t know where to go, so I drifted into the kitchen and filled a glass with water even though I wasn’t thirsty.

“Yeah, just help yourself,” Michael muttered, still staring at the TV.

I furrowed my brow. “I’m just getting water.”

That’s when he stood. Now he was looking at me, and I immediately felt exposed.

“You’re so obvious, you know that?” he said.

“…What?” I asked, already on edge.

Michael smirked as he walked toward me. “Why are you really here?”

I set the glass down. “Your dad is doing me a kindness,” I said. “He saved me.”

Michael scoffed. “Saved you? Please.” He let out a humorless laugh. “My dad doesn’t save people. He just ruins them.”

My brows furrowed. “What are you talking about? No, he—”

“Don’t act like you know him better than I do,” he snapped, cutting me off. And he was right, I’d only known William a few months. Michael had known him his entire life. “You think he’s some noble hero? He’s probably just charmed you. Or maybe you’re just too stupid to see it.”

“You’re being very rude,” I said, my voice tightening. “He’s just trying to help me. I’m coming out of a bad situation—”

“Oh yeah? What, are you broke?” Michael interrupted again, laughing coldly. “Is this some bullshit pity act you’ve put together? A way to get into his wallet?”

I stared at him, stunned. “This has nothing to do with money,” I said firmly, though my voice trembled. I couldn’t believe the cruelty coming from him.

But then I looked at him, really looked at him. Angry, tired, deeply alone. His mom was gone. He didn’t smile. He didn’t laugh, not genuinely. He didn’t even seem to feel safe in his own home. He was lashing out at me, but I could see the cracks underneath.

I felt bad for Michael.

“Are you okay?” I asked softly.

Michael furrowed his brows. “What?” he snapped, scowling at me.

Uh oh. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. “I don’t know…” I murmured, glancing away. “You just seem… upset.”

“Yeah, I am upset,” he shot back, stepping closer. “You’re here. Like, who even are you? You just show up and act like you live here, like you’re part of the family? Who do you think you are? It’s embarrassing.”

My cheeks burned. He wasn’t wrong, was he? I did just show up. I was a guest. A stray. Out of place. Maybe even selfish.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “You don’t know the whole story.” I tried to keep my voice calm. “Your dad’s letting me stay because I was in a bad situation.”

He rolled his eyes and leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Here we go again,” he muttered. “What is this bad situation, anyway? You keep saying that. So what? What happened?”

I didn’t want to get into it. Not with him. But maybe if I gave him a vague answer, it would be enough to make him stop.

“I was living with my ex-boyfriend,” I said slowly. “He was abusive. Your dad’s been… incredibly kind to me. And careful.”

Michael stared at me, unreadable for a moment. “So, he hit you?” Michael asked.

I nodded, though every part of me wanted to drop the subject. Still, I understood his curiosity. He was a teenager. It made sense.

“Damn,” he muttered. “That… sucks. How long were you with him?”

“Almost ten years,” I said. The number still sounded unreal when I said it out loud. “We started dating in high school. But not anymore.”

“Damn,” he repeated, shaking his head. “Why didn’t you just leave sooner? I mean… all of this could’ve been avoided, right?”

There it was. Not quite blaming, but close. “It’s more complicated than you think,” I said gently, trying not to sound defensive. “You get trapped. It starts to feel like you’re being slowly suffocated. You’re brainwashed into believing you can’t leave and that leaving will only make it worse. So you stay, because by the time you realize how bad it is, you feel like you’ve already lost everything.”

Michael’s expression softened. His eyes dropped to the floor for a second, like something clicked.

“Oh,” he said. “Well that sucks. He’d probably be pissed you’re here, huh?”

I pressed my lips together in a flat line. “Yep,” I said. 

Michael’s smirk returned. “You totally like my dad,” he said, shifting the subject, thankfully. “Like I said, you’re super obvious.” He brushed past me and started rummaging through the pantry. “But he’ll only hurt you. Maybe worse than your abusive ex,” he snorted, pulling out a bag of chips.

I folded my arms across my chest, narrowing my eyes. “Why do you hate your dad so much?”

Michael let out a short laugh. “Ridiculous question,” he muttered. “Clearly he’s painted himself like some angelic savior to you.”

“What?”

“He’s the reason my mom’s dead,” he said, almost casually.

The air left my lungs. “What…?”

“It’s his fault,” Michael said firmly, like he’d been holding it in for years.

I was speechless. No way. That couldn’t be right.

“I thought she got sick,” I said slowly.

Michael scoffed, shaking his head like I was the naive one. “That’s what he told you?” he said. “He’s lying. She didn’t get sick. She was murdered.”

My eyes flew wide. I stepped back. “What?!”

“She didn’t die from being sick,” he said flatly. “That’s just what he told people.”

I blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“She wasn’t sick. She wasn’t even on medication. One night she went to bed and never woke up. That’s what he told me. Just… gone.” His eyes bore into mine, unreadable, but intense.

Goosebumps prickled along my arms.

“I remember waking up to him just sitting there, staring at her. Not even calling an ambulance. He waited for hours before telling anyone.”

“That doesn’t mean he—” I stammered.

“He didn’t let them do an autopsy,” Michael said. “Said it was ‘too traumatic.’ That he ‘knew’ what happened. Said she had heart problems. But she didn’t.”

My mouth went dry. I stared at him, feeling the chill settle in my chest. His tone was too calm. Too cold. Could he be serious?

“I know you think he’s some hero,” Michael added, quieter now. “But maybe he’s just good at knowing what people want to hear. Maybe he always has been.”

I couldn’t breathe. No. No. But my thoughts were spiraling. The way William could be so calm under pressure. The strength in his voice when he hit Nicholas without hesitation. 

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

Michael shrugged. “I figured you should know the truth. Before you get in too deep.”

I just stood there, stunned. The room felt like it was spinning.

“But I mean, who knows what he actually did? Maybe he poisoned her. Or smothered her with a pillow.” He grinned wider. “Should probably dig up the backyard just in case.”

It took a second.

Then it hit me. My mouth dropped open. “Wait. Are you kidding me right now?”

Michael broke into laughter. “Finally! Took you long enough. Oh my God, your face!”

I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Oh relax,” he waved a chip at me, still laughing. “You’re way too easy. That was hilarious.”

“You think lying about your dead mom is funny?” I snapped, eyes burning. “What is wrong with you?”

He shrugged. “What’s really wrong is how fast you believed it. Maybe you don’t know Daddy as well as you think.”

“Go to hell,” I snapped. 

Michael just kept laughing. “Lighten up,” he told me. I couldn’t believe the audacity this boy had. “This is how it’s going to be as long as you’re here.” 

With that, he turned and walked away from me, splaying out right back onto the couch again. 

Chapter Text

By the time William got home, the little ones had already returned. I was braiding Elizabeth’s hair again because she seemed to be obsessed with the French braids. Michael was in his room, I guess my presence had made me the new babysitter, and he was officially off the hook.

Evan ran straight to William, wrapping his arms tightly around his leg.

“Michael was being mean!” he whined.

Earlier, Michael had been teasing Evan, dangling his dinosaur toy just out of reach, laughing in that cruel, sadistic way he sometimes did. I’d tried to get him to stop, but he just insulted me and stormed back to his room. At least this time, he didn’t break the toy.

“I’m sorry, buddy. I’ll talk to him,” William said gently, patting Evan’s head. Then he glanced over at Elizabeth and me. “Someone’s getting her hair done again, huh?”

He smiled warmly and carefully peeled Evan off of him, just like he had done with Elizabeth earlier.

“Almost done!” I said, finishing the last braid as Elizabeth squirmed with excitement. She was clearly impatient, but aren’t all kids?

Once I tied it off, I gave a quick, “Ta-da!” and let her go. Elizabeth bolted to the mirror, squealing and twirling in place.

“Thank you, Reese! Thank you!!”

William was already smiling at me. “You’re so kind to her,” he said.

I smiled back. “Well, she deserves it.”

William ended up making dinner, and even though Michael never came down, it was still a good evening. William had tried bringing him down, but Michael refused.

“Okay. Starve then!!” I heard him say before shutting Michael’s door with a loud thud.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to their fights.

Later, after baths and bedtime routines, the little ones were asleep, and it was just William and I in the living room.

“Do you want some wine?” he asked.

“Sure,” I replied. “What do you have?”

“La Crema,” he said casually.

Wow. Fancy. I was used to boxed wine.

“Wow! Sure!” I said, surprised.

He poured us each a glass and sat beside me on the couch. “How are you doing?” he asked. “How was your time with Michael? Did he give you any trouble?” 

I laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck. “Well… he definitely doesn’t like that I’m here. He made a really disturbing joke about… your late wife.”

William’s brows lifted. “What kind of joke?”

I swallowed. I didn’t want to make things worse, but I couldn’t just lie. “He said you killed her.”

William’s entire body tensed. He immediately looked toward the stairs, jaw tightening.

“He said that?” he asked, voice low and dangerous.

“Yeah,” I said. “I mean, he was really trying to fool me.”

I left out the part where he actually did fool me. Where, for a terrifying moment, I truly believed William might be a murderer.

“And then he just laughed at me.”

William suddenly looked tense, his shoulders stiffening slightly as his jaw clenched.

“Are you okay?” I asked, watching him carefully.

He nodded once, then quietly set his glass down on the coffee table. “Michael has a dark sense of humor,” he said after a moment. “He pushes boundaries when he’s angry. Don’t listen to him.” 

There was something strange about his voice. I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t.

“I’m sorry,” I said gently. “That he said something like that. I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine.” His words cut me off, sharp but not loud. “He’s just a kid.”

I blinked. That was all he was going to say?

“Do you want to talk about her?” I asked carefully.

William shook his head once. “No.”

And that was that. Nothing more.

A silence fell between us, heavier than before.

We finished our wine in silence and ended up watching a movie. William didn’t say much after the conversation about Michael. I didn’t push him.

At some point, I leaned into him. His arm came around me naturally. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but I did. Right there, with my head on his chest and the sound of the TV in the background.

When I woke up, we were moving.

My eyes fluttered open, and I realized I was in his arms, my cheek pressed to his shoulder as he carried me up the stairs. 

I blinked slowly. “You’re carrying me,” I mumbled, not really expecting an answer.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” he said softly.

He nudged open the door to his room with his shoulder and gently laid me down on the bed. The sheets were cool against my skin. I felt his hands linger as he pulled the blanket over me.

I reached out, catching his wrist before he could pull away. “Stay?” I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.

He paused, then nodded. “Alright.”

He slipped in beside me, and I curled into his side, resting against him like I had before. 

I fell asleep peacefully that night. 

***

It started in a hallway. Long, white and endless.

I was walking barefoot, the tile was freezing under my feet. I didn’t know where I was going, but I felt pulled. My hand rested on my stomach. There was pressure there, not a good kind.

Then the hallway opened into a room. A hospital room. Then I looked down. 

At first, I thought my shirt was damp. But it wasn’t my shirt, it was my hands. My thighs. My legs.

Blood. So much blood.

It soaked through the thin fabric of my sweatpants, warm and endless. I pressed my hands to my stomach, panicked, trying to hold everything in, to make it stop. My knees buckled and I fell, curling over myself like I could protect it.

“No,” I whispered. “No, no, please—”

Then I heard Nick’s voice.

“You were always careless.”

I looked up and he was standing in the corner of the room, grinning. Arms crossed. Smirking like he had won.

“You couldn’t even keep the baby safe.”

“No,” I cried, shaking my head. “No!!” 

But the room began to fill with the sound of a flatline. A cold, endless beep that drowned everything else out. It rang in my ears. My vision blurred. And the blood wouldn’t stop.

***

I woke up with a scream.

William jolted awake beside me, instantly alert. His arms wrapped around me before I could even catch my breath.

“Reese, hey, hey,” he murmured, voice thick with sleep but urgent. “It’s okay. You’re safe with me. It’s just a dream.”

I was shaking, my whole body trembling against his chest as he pulled me into his arms. The nightmare clung to me like a second skin, too vivid and real. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe.

“Breathe, sweetheart,” William whispered. “In… and out. Just like that.”

I tried, but a sob clawed its way up my throat. “There was blood,” I choked out. “So much blood, William. I thought I lost the baby—”

His grip tightened. “You didn’t,” he said firmly, his voice steadier than mine. “You’re okay. The baby’s okay. You’re here, with me.”

I buried my face into his chest again. He kissed the top of my head and kept rocking me gently.

“Shhh, it was just a dream,” he repeated softly. “It’s not real. I won’t let anything happen to you, or the baby.”

It took a while before the tremors faded from my limbs, before I could stop gasping like I’d been drowning. But William never let go. Not once.

***

Morning came quickly, but waking up was harder than usual. My limbs felt heavy, like I hadn’t really rested. The nightmare still lingered somewhere deep in my chest too. I knew it’d take me a while to get over it.

William was already downstairs again, preparing breakfast for the kids. I could hear the soft clatter of dishes and the smell of bacon drifting up through the hallway. I groggily forced myself out of bed and took a quick shower. This time, I had more clothes to choose from. 

There was nothing planned for today. No work. No errands. And that scared me more than I cared to admit. Idle time meant too much space for thoughts and fears.

What if Nicholas found me?

No. No, Reese. You’re safe, remember? Nicholas has no idea where you are. William wouldn’t let him near you.

Still, I couldn’t stop looking over my shoulder.

Breakfast was a classic American spread: bacon, eggs, toast. I ate quietly with the family, sitting in a chair that used to belong to someone else. I didn’t know if it had been her spot but something about it made me feel like I was filling a space that wasn’t mine. 

Michael came down eventually, hood up and headphones in. He didn’t look at any of us. He ate fast, like he was racing through it just to escape again. Not one word. William didn’t say anything to him, either.

I wondered if they had talked already this morning. If something had happened. The tension between them was thicker than usual. 

Once the plates were cleared, William stood. “Alright,” he said, clapping his hands lightly, “Time to get dressed. School’s a-waiting.”

Evan and Elizabeth groaned in unison but didn’t argue. They got up and dragged their feet toward their rooms and got ready for the day.

William turned to me as he grabbed his keys. “Help yourself to anything while I’m gone,” he said gently. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, offering a tired smile.

And then the door shut behind them. I was alone again.

I wandered back into the living room and sank into the couch cushions, arms crossed tight over my chest as I stared blankly at the TV screen, not bothering to turn it on.

I told myself to relax.

But part of me was still waiting for a knock on the door.

Once the front door shut and the sounds of the kids faded, I found myself wandering the house without any real purpose. I walked through the hallways, looking at the family photos on the walls again. I walked past the kids’ rooms, pausing outside the doors but not daring to step inside. It felt like crossing a line. 

Eventually, I reached a narrow door near the kitchen I hadn’t noticed before. It looked like a closet at first but I realized it was just the basement. 

Curious, I opened it. A waft of cool, dry air drifted up. There was a flight of wooden stairs leading downstairs.

I hesitated, then reached inside and flicked on the light switch. I descended, one hand on the wall, listening to the creak of each wooden step beneath my feet.

That’s when I heard it.

Muffled sounds.

“Mmfff!! Mfff!!”

I froze. My pulse jumped. At first, I thought it might be in my head or something. But no, it was unmistakable. A voice. A human voice. Choked and desperate.

I turned my head sharply to the left.

And what I saw knocked the breath from my lungs.

Chained to the far wall of the basement, slumped on the cold concrete floor was Nicholas.

Completely naked.

Blood smeared his arm, dripping sluggishly from an open gash. One eye was swollen shut. His lips were raw, covered by layers of thick duct tape. His wrists were red and torn where the metal shackles bit into his skin. His chest rose and fell with ragged, panicked gasps.

His eyes locked on mine, and they weren’t angry.

They were terrified.

He looked like an animal. Caged. Broken. Bleeding.

I staggered back a step.

Oh my god.

William did this.

Chapter Text

20 hours earlier….

I left my house with my heart pounding. Guilt twisted in my chest for lying to Reese, but I knew this was something I had to do. Nicholas wouldn’t stop: not until he had her again. I just know it. From the moment I first laid eyes on him, I saw exactly what kind of man he was. And I hate myself for not doing something sooner. But now? Now I’m going to make it count.

I sped back to the apartment complex. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly. I was angry, sure, but more than that, I was exhilarated. Thrilled, even. Because that boy was finally going to get what he truly deserved.

I took the path up to their apartment and pushed the door open. It wasn’t locked. Of course it wasn’t. He was probably still passed out just like the pathetic little boy he is.

And sure enough, there he was. Still lying there on the ground, motionless, his chest rising and falling. Still breathing.

Perfect.

See, for me, the kill is fun, but it’s the foreplay that really makes it worth it. And a man like Nicholas doesn’t deserve a quick, painless death. No. His end will be slow. Agonizing. Physically and mentally. I’ll break him from the inside out.

I needed to figure out how to move his body in broad daylight without looking like I’d just killed a man. To any neighbor watching, it would look like trespassing and kidnapping. 

But if they knew the reason, I’m sure they’d understand. They might even thank me.

As always, I somehow got away with it. I’m smart, there’s no denying that, and Nicholas? He’s a fool. Arrogant, reckless, and dumb enough to think he’s in control.

I shoved him into my trunk and drove off, straight back to my house. Around the back, hidden behind the yard, there’s a basement entrance. I unlocked the latch and dragged him inside.

My kids know never to come down here. It’s always locked, and the last time Michael tried snooping around, he immediately regretted it.

I chained Nicholas’s wrists to the wall, tight enough to leave marks. I wanted him marked up. I’ve seen the way he’s marked Reese. He deserves it, only ten times worse.

I walked over to my workbench and opened the toolbox. Inside was a long syringe and a small bottle of fluid: the perfect sedative. It would keep him out for hours, at least until everyone went to bed. Including Reese.

If I needed to wake him early, all it would take was a little ammonia to the nose. Bam. Awake. I’m a genius, really. This is brilliant. 

Reese will thank me one day. I’m doing her a favor.

With that injection, I left Nicholas alone and headed back to work, careful not to be seen.

***

Reese had just woken from a nightmare. Poor thing. She’s traumatized by him. Ruined by him. But I can help. I will help. I’ll make things right again. For her. For us.

I waited in silence until her breathing evened out again. She’d fallen back asleep. Peaceful and safe for now.

By now, Nicholas had to be waking up. Probably confused, groggy, disoriented. I’d duct-taped his mouth, of course. He could scream if he wanted, but nobody would hear a thing.

God, Reese looked beautiful when she slept. How could anyone hurt a face like that? I’ll never understand it. I never want to understand it.

I made my way down the stairs, my heart pounding. There was something intoxicating about the thought of hurting Nicholas. Arousing. About finally making him feel for everything he’s done to my sweet girl… he deserves torture.

I unlocked the basement door, the metal bolt clicking with a satisfying snap, and descended down the steps. He was still unconscious. Of course he was. I’d pumped him full of sedative, and he was already drunk when I got to him. It worked better than I could’ve hoped.

I dipped a cotton ball in ammonia water and crouched in front of him, smiling as I pressed it under his nose.

His head jerked back violently. His eyes flew open, bloodshot, panicked, frantic.

“Rise and shine, Nicholas,” I said, smiling as I stood to my full height, towering over him.

He blinked, blinking hard like he was trying to focus. Confusion slid into horror. Then recognition.

Immediately, he started screaming into the duct tape. It was so pathetic I laughed, shaking my head at his feeble attempts at escape. 

“Aw, are you scared, Nicholas?” I asked. “Are you afraid?” His eyes began to water, tears threatening to fall down his cheeks. I wanted to break him. “You should be afraid. You should fear me, Nicholas.”  

His head shook violently, the chains rattling against the cement wall. He was trying to speak now, voice high and muffled behind the duct tape, but I didn’t care to listen. I already knew what he was saying. Some version of please, or you’re insane, or let me go.

But he didn’t get to ask for mercy. Not after what he did to her.

I stood up and walked back to the workbench. My fingers brushed over the neat row of tools I’d laid out earlier: a knife, a hammer, wire cutters, pliers, and a dagger. 

I selected the knife first. I turned back toward him slowly, dragging the metal along the concrete wall.

He whimpered. Actually whimpered. Like a little girl.  God, it was beautiful. 

“You know, Nicholas,” I said, now standing directly in front of him, watching him wither in a panic of sweat and silent sobs, “the first time I saw you, I knew exactly what kind of man you were.”

He didn’t look at me. He couldn’t. His chest was heaving. His wrists were raw from the chains. Good.

“Just a small boy with a fragile ego. So desperate to feel powerful, the only way you could manage it was by asserting control over a woman who never even loved you. Reese felt sorry for you, Nicholas. She was doing charity work.”

I crouched slightly, my voice dipping lower, closer. “And how did you repay her? You hit her. You raped her. You humiliated her. You broke a beautiful soul just to make yourself feel like a man. Which you aren’t.” 

I tilted my head, watching him cry behind the tape, tears streaming down his face in silent, pathetic sobs.

“You deserve nothing but pain. And shame.”

He shook his head in denial, as if that would change the truth. His entire body trembled.

I laughed, sharp and cruel. “Cry all you want, Nicholas. It won’t change a damn thing.”

His eyes darted to the knife in my hand. He wasn’t even trying to hide it. I waved it playfully in front of his face. The way he flinched made me grin.

“Aw, what’s the matter? How’s it feel, Nick?” I asked, voice bright with mock sympathy. “Now you’re the one afraid. Can you even imagine how many nights Reese felt like this?”

He closed his eyes like he was trying to disappear.

“No,” I said coldly. “Open them. Look me in the eye like a real man.”

But he didn’t, of course not, because Nicholas wasn’t a man, he was a boy. A coward.

“Open your eyes,” I repeated, firmer. When he still didn’t listen, I scoffed and drove the knife into the soft meat of his upper arm, just enough to make him scream, not enough to kill him.

His scream tore through the basement, muffled and broken behind the duct tape. His eyes flew open wide in shock, pain and terror pouring out of him in waves. He thrashed violently, yanking against the chains like a wild animal.

I smiled.

Then, for fun, I set the knife down on the ground in front of him, just barely out of reach. The way he strained toward it, desperately reaching, fingertips scraping the floor… it was hilarious.

“Yeah,” I chuckled. “Keep trying.”

I turned my back on him.

I needed sleep. Needed to be back in bed before Reese woke up and noticed I was gone. Nicholas screamed something incoherent into the tape as I walked away, but I didn’t bother turning around.

Let him beg.

I locked the door behind me and headed upstairs, back to my sweet girl. 

Chapter Text

“Mfff!!” Nicholas screamed through the tape, but the sound came out choked and muffled.

“Nicholas?” I whispered, my voice trembling, eyes wide with disbelief.

His bloodshot gaze locked onto mine. He nodded frantically, wrists straining against the thick iron chains bolted into the wall. He held them out toward me like a child begging for help, desperate and shaking.

“Mfff!!” he repeated, more urgent this time.

“Oh my god…” I breathed, more to myself than to him. My feet refused to move. It felt wrong to stay, but it felt equally wrong to turn and leave.

Tears were streaking down his face. Real tears. He was in agony. I let my eyes drop to the gash running along his upper arm. Had William… stabbed him?

A cold chill passed over me.

And yet…

Why on earth did I feel sympathy?

This wasn’t the Nicholas who towered over me in rage. This wasn’t the man who screamed and hit and forced himself on me.

This was someone else entirely.

I hesitated, then slowly stepped toward him. Without thinking, I reached out and tore the duct tape from his mouth in one quick motion.

“Agh—fuck!” he cried out in pain, his head snapping back before he gasped again. “Oh my god! Reese!!” he choked out. “That man is insane! He’s a psychopath! He tried to kill me! He-he locked me down here!”

He was sobbing now, frantic. “You need to get away from him! Please! Please unlock me! We can leave together, Reese! I can save you!”

His voice cracked. His hands clinked against the chains, trembling and red.

I stood frozen.

My head was spinning. My heart thundered in my chest. 

“William did this?”

My voice was small, barely a whisper. I wasn’t sure if I was asking Nicholas or trying to convince myself it wasn’t true.

Nicholas nodded desperately, chains rattling as he pulled against them. “Yes! Yes, Reese! He snapped! He dragged me out of my apartment and—God, he drugged me or something—I don’t even remember getting here!” His voice was hoarse, wet with panic. “You don’t know what he’s capable of.” 

I staggered back a step, my mind a storm of disbelief and confusion. This couldn’t be real. 

“He’s dangerous,” Nicholas rasped. “You have to let me go. He’ll hurt you next.”

I looked down at the knife on the concrete floor. At the shackles around Nicholas’s wrists. At the quiet terror in his eyes.

“I—I need to think,” I said, barely able to speak. My hands trembled. My breath came short. “I don’t… I don’t know what to do.”

Nicholas’s voice cracked. “Please. Reese, think about everything we’ve been through. All the years, don’t you remember?”

I said nothing. My feet felt bolted to the concrete floor. 

“Remember your last birthday?” he went on quickly, voice raw and pleading. “You were sick but I stayed in bed with you the whole day, remember that? I held you, made you soup, we watched that stupid movie you loved! What was it? Back to the Future?” He laughed weakly. “You made me watch it three times in a row. And I love it now. It’s our movie, Reese!” 

I swallowed hard. That had happened. He had stayed. 

“And when we went to the beach last summer! God, that night in the car, we made love for hours.” He looked right in my eyes. “You told me I was your home.” 

That made me flinch. Because yes, I had said that. 

He kept going. “Remember when we looked at that house uptown? You said you could see us raising a family there. You wanted that with me, Reese.”

Tears welled in my eyes. Tears I didn’t want to admit were there. “You hurt me,” I managed to say. 

“No! No!! I love you!” he cried. “Reese, I’ve always loved you. I know I messed up, but we’re meant to be. If I could take it all back, I would. I’ll get better! I am better. Just get me out of here. We can go. Just us.”

He tried to reach out to me but the chains stopped him.

 “You know this isn’t you. You’re not cold like this. You’re my girl, Reese. We know each other better than anyone.”

Before I could reply to Nicholas, the front door slammed shut.

I froze.

Heavy footsteps followed, each one closer and closer. And then, just like that, there he was. William was standing at the top of the basement stairs, silhouetted in the doorway like something out of a nightmare.

Nicholas immediately flinched away, the chains rattling as he tried to curl in on himself. “No, no, no,” he whispered, eyes darting wildly. “He’s gonna kill me, Reese. He’s really gonna kill me this time.”

I stood in the middle of the basement like I’d been caught with blood on my hands. My breath hitched. William’s expression was unreadable, but his eyes locked on mine with unnerving calm.

“Reese,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Step away from him.”

I didn’t move. My brain was still catching up. Nicholas’s words spun in my head, mixing with all my fears, my memories, my instincts. William did this. I had to remind myself. 

William did this.

Nicholas was crying again, his voice breaking. “He’s not who you think he is! He’s a psychopath!!”

“Reese,” William said again, slower this time. Not angry or loud, but firm. “Come here.”

My legs shook. I looked between them, Nicholas, disheveled and bloody, pleading for his life… and William, just calm.

“Is this what you meant?” I asked, voice hollow. “When you said I didn’t have to worry about him anymore?”

William’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer that.

“Come upstairs,” he repeated.

I still didn’t move.

Nicholas chimed in. “Don’t listen to him! He’s manipulating you, Reese! You don’t know who he really is! This isn’t normal! He’s definitely done this before! You think I’m the monster? Look at me! LOOK WHAT HE’S DONE TO ME!”

The silence that followed was brutal.

“Reese,” William said gently now, holding out a hand. “Come. Now.”

And this time, I did.

“Reese!! No!!” Nicholas screamed, but I ignored him, even though it was hard. 

My legs moved before my mind caught up, stumbling up the stairs toward him, not even looking back. William stepped aside just enough for me to pass, then locked the basement door behind us.

He turned to me, eyes cool.

“You weren’t supposed to see that.”

“How long has he been down there?” I asked, my voice trembling.

William didn’t flinch. He met my eyes, calm and unapologetic. “After I dropped you off here yesterday, I went back to your apartment.”

“What?!” I snapped, stepping back like I’d been burned. “You went back there? Without telling me?”

“I did what I had to do, Reese,” he said smoothly. “He deserves this.”

My stomach twisted. “You said you were going to work. You lied.”

He didn’t deny it.

“He was going to hurt you again,” William said, his voice calm but sharpened at the edges. “You know it. You felt it. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I saw it in your face when I walked in. I saw what he was doing to you. So I made sure there wouldn’t be a next time.”

I stared at him, unsure whether to scream, cry, or fall into his arms.

“You kidnapped him,” I said, barely above a whisper. “You chained him up…he’s bleeding, William. You stabbed him.”

William nodded once, expression unreadable. “Yes.”

“You’re not even denying it?” My heart pounded in my chest.

“There’s nothing to deny,” he said simply. “I’m protecting you, Reese. He’s not a person, he’s a threat. And threats get removed.”

“Removed?” I echoed, horrified. 

William’s eyes narrowed, just slightly. “Yes. Removed.”

I fell silent. 

“I will never let him touch you again,” William said, stepping closer now, lowering his voice. “And if you really think this makes me a monster… then you don’t understand what loving someone actually means.”

I stared at him, silent. My heart felt like it was breaking in half, one side in fear, the other aching with something dangerously close to gratitude.

“Do you want him set free?” William asked. “Do you really want to go to bed at night knowing he’s still out there? That your abuser is roaming free?” 

“N-No, but—I—“ I sighed, my mind reeling. “I can’t do this right now!!” 

“Fine,” William snapped. “But I don’t care what you think about this, Reese. He deserves every bit of what’s coming to him.”

I fell silent again. After everything Nicholas had done to me, part of me agreed. It made sense. But seeing him down there—chained, terrified, crying, helpless—I felt… something. A flicker of pity. Like I should help him.

But then I thought about his hands. The things they’d done. His voice when he mocked me. His cruel, twisted smile.

And suddenly, it all made sense again.

“You’re going to kill him?” I asked, voice soft.

William stepped closer and placed a hand gently on my arm. I didn’t flinch.

“He deserves it,” he said quietly. “Can’t you understand? He hurt you. Over and over again.”

“I know,” I murmured. “You don’t get it… I hate him. But I was with him for ten years. I’ve known him since I was seventeen. That’s a long time…”

“Too long,” William cut in, almost instantly.

I let out a breath. “Can I just talk to him?” I asked. “Please?”

William scoffed under his breath, but after a pause, he nodded. “Okay. Yes. Of course.”

I gave a small nod, my heart tight in my chest. “Right now.”

Then I hesitated. “Have you… fed him? Or anything?”

William scoffed again, this time laughing like I’d said something absurd. “Of course not.”

I shot him a look—sharp and disappointed—and made my way into the kitchen pantry. I grabbed two slices of wheat bread and threw together the laziest turkey sandwich of my life. Tossed in a handful of chips. A bottle of water. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

William watched me the entire time, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face.

“We should keep him fed,” I muttered.

He said nothing.

With a shaky inhale, I turned toward the basement. “Let’s go.”

William followed behind me, silent.

As we reached the bottom of the stairs, Nicholas immediately sprang to life. “Reese!! Oh thank God you’re back!!” he cried out, but the second his eyes flicked past me to William, his whole body recoiled. “Get away from him!” he shouted. “He’s dangerous! He’s gonna hurt you!”

I didn’t respond. I simply slid the plate of food and water bottle across the floor to him. “You should eat,” I said.

Nicholas stared for a second, unsure, and then dove in. The desperation in the way he devoured the sandwich told me everything. He must’ve been starving. 

“You wanted to talk to him,” William said, jaw clenched. “So talk to him.”

“Alone,” I added, turning to face him.

William’s eyes narrowed. “Absolutely not.”

“He’s chained to the wall, William. He can’t touch me.”

“I don’t care. I don’t trust him. Not for a goddamn second.”

“I don’t either,” I said gently. “But please… let me do this.”

William looked at me like I’d just asked him to hand me a knife and turn his back. He looked over at Nicholas, who immediately shrank into himself at the sight of him. Still pathetic. Still desperate.

“You have five minutes,” William said, his voice tight. “I’ll be right upstairs. You scream: I come down. Got it?”

I nodded. “Got it.”

He hesitated for several more seconds, then finally turned and climbed the stairs. The door at the top shut behind him. A long silence followed, broken only by Nicholas’s frantic breathing.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice raw. “Reese… thank you.”

I stared at him coldly.

“You think I’m going to help you?” I asked. “After everything you did?”

“I made mistakes—”

“You didn’t ‘make mistakes,’ Nick. You abused me.”

His eyes widened, but I kept going.

“You held me down and raped me when I said no, and then called it ‘making love.’ You hit me. You terrified me.” 

Nicholas looked away, shame suddenly overtaking his face. His voice was smaller now. “You said you forgave me…”

“I lied.” My voice cracked, bitter and sharp. “Because I was scared. Because I didn’t think I had a choice.”

He blinked hard. “I was drunk. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

“Don’t you dare,” I snapped. “You always knew exactly what you were doing. Whether you were sober or not.” 

The room went silent again. Nicholas’s head hung low. He looked like a broken man, but I didn’t care.

Tears welled in his eyes. “I love you, Reese.”

“You don’t hurt people you love,” I said.

Nicholas shook his head. “I didn’t mean to,” he told me. “Reese, he’s—he’s going to kill me. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?” 

“Stop,” I snapped. “Don’t change the subject, Nicholas. Why did you hurt me so much? Why did you make me fear you?” 

He opened his mouth but nothing came out. Just heavy breathing, eyes darting between mine and the floor.

“I was just stressed,” he finally muttered. “I didn’t know how to love you right.”

“That’s your excuse?” My voice cracked. “Every little thing I did had to be calculated because I was terrified of what you would do. It never mattered anyway. You always took what you wanted.”

His face contorted like he wanted to deny it, but he didn’t.

“And when you knew I was pregnant,” I added, my voice nearly a whisper now. “You tried to rape me anyway. You didn’t care about me and you didn’t care about the baby.”

Tears pooled in my eyes, my whole body trembling. I didn’t want to be here anymore. I didn’t want to see his face. But I couldn’t walk away yet. 

“No, Reese, I care about you so much!” He said, struggling as if trying to get closer to me. I couldn’t help but back away. God, I knew he couldn’t get to me, yet I was still somehow threatened by him. “I care about the baby! I want a family with you!!” 

I ignored him. 

“You always told me no one else would want me,” I said. “That I was lucky you stayed. That I was pathetic and broken and stupid. And I believed you. For years, I believed you. And that’s why I stayed.”

Nicholas let out a hoarse sob, shoulders shaking against the cold brick wall. “I was stupid, Reese… I wasn’t right. I—”

“No,” I cut in, swallowing hard. “You were in control. You chose to treat me like property. You chose to treat my body like it was yours. And now you want me to save you?”

“I love you,” he whispered.

“You destroyed me,” I replied. “I have nightmares about you,” I said, arms wrapped tightly around myself. “I don’t trust people. I don’t even know how to feel safe anymore. You did that.” 

Nicholas looked small now. Smaller than I had ever seen him.

“And now you’re scared?” I shook my head slowly. “Now you want mercy? I begged you for mercy. Do you remember? Because I do. I remember every time.”

He lowered his head, shame consuming him.

I wiped my face, barely realizing I was crying. 

“You don’t get to sit there and act like a victim now. You are where you belong.”

Nicholas blinked at me, something twitching behind his eyes.

“You used to tell me I’d be nothing without you,” I continued. “But look at me, Nick. I left. I got away. And I’m happy. I’m safe. I’m—” I hesitated—“I’m loved.”

His jaw clenched. “By him?” he sneered. “By William?”

I didn’t answer.

“Oh,” he chuckled bitterly, “I see. The knight in shining armor routine worked, huh? Poor, broken Reese. She’s always needed someone to fix her. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”

“No,” I said sharply. “I’m not broken. Not anymore.”

His face twisted. “He’ll use you. He’ll toss you aside like everyone else. He’s not your savior, Reese. He’s worse than me.”

I ignored it. “You know what the worst part is?” I said. “Even now, after everything, you still think I owe you something.”

“Shut up,” he hissed.

I took another step forward, voice trembling with rage. “You’re pathetic. You’re weak. And you’re going to rot in this basement like the coward you are.”

Nicholas’s breathing grew faster, his face reddening. He yanked at the chains, metal clinking hard against the concrete wall.

“Say that again,” he growled.

I froze.

“Say it again, bitch,” he snapped. “You think this is over? You think hiding behind that bastard means you’re safe? You think these chains make you untouchable?” His voice dropped to a low snarl. “I made you mine. That doesn’t just go away.”

I stumbled back a step. The way his eyes changed: gone was the crying, shaking man. This was the real Nicholas. 

“One day, you’ll remember how much you need me. How much you always needed me.”

My blood ran cold.

“No,” I whispered shakily.

“Yes,” Nicholas spat back, eyes gleaming now, hunger replacing his earlier desperation. “You’ll come crawling back.”

“I left,” I said, but even to my own ears, it sounded fragile. Small. Like I was trying to convince myself.

“You didn’t realty leave,” he said. “You just ran. You panicked. That’s what you are, Reese: a scared little girl playing dress-up in a grown woman’s clothes.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My throat was tight, my chest heavier than it had been in days.

He kept going. “You think William’s gonna put up with your shit for long? With your crying and panic attacks and constant need for reassurance?” His voice curled with venom. “You’ll wear him down. He’ll get bored, Reese. And then what?.”

My fists clenched at my sides. “That’s not true,” I said hoarsely.

“Oh, baby. Yes it is,” he said softly now, almost sweetly. “That is what you are: a burden,” he said, voice rising, chains rattling again. “It’s what you’ll always be. And the worst part?” He grinned now. “You miss it. You miss me. You miss my love, my hands, my voice. The way I could break you and put you back together in the same night.”

Tears sprang to my eyes, uninvited and infuriating.

“I hate you,” I whispered. 

He laughed, an ugly, rasping sound. “No, you hate yourself for still feeling something.”

That broke something in me. I took a step back, shaking. His words slithered inside like poison. I could feel my old self crawling beneath my skin—the girl who made excuses for bruises and who stayed because she thought she deserved it.

“I need to go,” I said, backing toward the stairs.

Nicholas didn’t move. He didn’t need to.

He just smiled. “Tell me again how free you are, Reese,” he murmured. “Go on. I love hearing the lies.”

I turned and fled up the stairs, nearly slipping in my panic. I didn’t stop until the door was shut and locked behind me. I stood there, breathless, heart pounding like a war drum.

Even with chains around his wrists, he still knew exactly where to strike.

Chapter Text

I stumbled out of the basement, dizzy and trembling, my hand catching the doorframe as I tried to steady myself. My breath came fast and shallow. I didn’t even realize I was crying until I felt the tears cooling against my skin.

William was already there.

He didn’t ask what happened. He didn’t speak. Just reached out and touched my arm, gentle as ever. 

“I’m okay,” I murmured, even though it was a lie.

He nodded, brushing a thumb under my eye to catch the tear before it fell. His touch was warm, his gaze even warmer. “You shouldn’t have gone down alone,” he said, barely above a whisper.

“I needed to.”

His jaw tensed. But he didn’t push.

“Come sit,” he said, and his hand stayed on my back, guiding me toward the couch.

I collapsed into it. William sat beside me and pulled a blanket around my shoulders. “Here,” he murmured, pulling my legs across his lap. “Just rest.”

I did. I didn’t know why. My muscles were too tired to argue.

His hands rubbed slow, steady circles into my legs through the fabric of my sweatpants. Up and down, over and over. 

“I hate what he did to you,” William said finally, voice low. “I should’ve done this a long time ago.”

My breath caught in my throat.

He said it like it was a fact. Like he’d already made peace with the outcome.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.

He leaned toward me. Gently, he reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered, trailing along my cheek. “You don’t have to worry anymore. You’re mine now,” he whispered.

I blinked.

That word—mine—chilled me straight to the core.

Nicholas used to say it too.

You’re mine. You’ll always be mine. No one will love you like I do.

I pulled back just slightly. Not enough to be rude, but enough that he noticed.

William didn’t flinch. He just smiled. “You’re safe,” he said again. I nodded, but the truth was, I wasn’t sure I believed it.

I don’t know how long we stayed there.

The blanket was warm. William’s arms were warmer. I was now curled against his chest on the couch, my limbs heavy, my mind swimming. But his hand kept stroking my back. 

“You did good,” he murmured, lips grazing the top of my head. “You were strong.”

I wasn’t so sure. This still felt so wrong. 

“Thank you,” I said, barely audible.

“I’m proud of you.”

He said it so sincerely, like it meant something holy. My throat tightened.

“But I have to ask,” William said, voice changing slightly. “What did he say to you?”

I shrugged. “Just… the usual. Manipulation. He was begging. Talking about the past.”

William’s body tensed under me. I felt it. His jaw was clenched when I looked up.

“Did he scare you?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, honest.

He exhaled through his nose, slow and sharp. “He doesn’t get to make you feel like that. Not anymore.”

His fingers gripped the blanket tightly. A flicker of something darker passed through his expression.

“I should’ve finished it already,” he said.

My heart gave a quiet stutter. “William—”

“I’m serious,” he said, his tone hardening. “He’s a roach. A festering, cowardly parasite. And if I’d done what needed to be done from the beginning, you wouldn’t still be this shaken.”

I sat up slightly, searching his face. “You already hurt him,” I said gently. “Isn’t that enough?”

“No,” he said flatly. “It’s not. You really want to let him go?” His eyes were calm, but too calm. I hated to admit that it reminded me of Nicholas. “Why, Reese?” 

I swallowed hard. “William… if you kill him, that’s something we’ll never come back from.”

“We?” he asked, gaze flickering over me. “You’re thinking of this like a line we both cross.”

“Aren’t we?” I asked.

He studied me for a long second.

Then his expression softened again, the way a storm momentarily settles.

“You don’t have to carry this,” he said gently. “That’s what I’m here for. To protect you from monsters like him. Even if that means becoming one myself.”

He brushed his fingers along my jaw. I let him. It felt like fire and ice all at once.

“But you’re not a monster,” I whispered, not really believing myself.

His eyes glittered. “Aren’t I?”

The question lingered in the air for a few seconds. I didn’t like that. Not at all. 

Then he kissed me slowly. Like it was romantic. When he pulled back, he cradled my face. “You never have to see him again. Say the word, and I’ll make sure of it.”

I didn’t answer.

I looked at him: his intensity, his devotion, his pain. I didn’t know if I was falling into safety or falling into something much more dangerous.

But I nodded.

And that was enough for him.

***

I didn’t remember falling asleep.

One moment, I was curled up against William’s chest, eyes heavy, his breath soft against my hair. 

And then suddenly I jerked awake.

The couch was cold. The blanket was tangled around me, and William was gone.

“William?” I called, voice hoarse. No answer. I sat up slowly, still disoriented. “William?” I tried again, louder now, glancing into the kitchen, the hallway.

No sound. No footsteps upstairs. His coat was gone.

I blinked. My heartbeat ticked faster.

Oh god.

Without thinking, I stood and stumbled toward the basement door, flinging it open so fast the knob banged against the wall. I fumbled for the light switch, breathing hard. 

“William?” I tried again, panic climbing up my spine like ice.

I hurried down, almost slipping on the final step, breath shallow and shaky.

And froze.

The basement was empty.

The chains were dangling from the wall, open.

The sandwich plate was shattered on the floor. Water bottle tipped on its side.

But no Nicholas.

And no William.

I raced back up the stairs, grabbed my phone from the couch, and dialed William.

Voicemail.

I hung up and tried again.

Voicemail.

“Pick up,” I whispered, pacing the living room. “Pick up, pick up, please.”

I tried texting. I tried again.

Where are you?

What’s happening?

Please answer me. I’m scared.

Nothing.

I stood in the middle of the room, trembling. My brain felt like it was spinning out of control, flooding with images: William dragging Nicholas through the woods… William finishing what he started… Nicholas somehow escaping and turning the tables… blood on the floor… sirens… 

No. No. Stop.

I didn’t know what was happening. That was the problem.

I was alone in this house. With no answers. No idea where either of them had gone.

The line rang. Again. And again. My hands were shaking. My heart was pounding like it wanted to rip out of my chest.

Voicemail.

I hung up and dialed again.

“Reese.”

His voice sent a chill through me. 

“Where are you?” I asked, breathless. “Where’s Nicholas?”

A beat of silence.

“You sound worried,” he said. “Don’t be.” 

I ignored that. “William, where are you? What did you do to him?”

He didn’t answer at first. I could hear the wind through the receiver. He was outside. Somewhere far.

“I didn’t hurt him,” he said eventually. “Not yet.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Then where is he?”

“I moved him,” William said simply.

My stomach flipped. “Why?”

Then his voice changed: lower, more intimate.

“Because I saw the way you looked at him.”

“What?”

“In the basement,” he continued, slowly, almost gently. “You looked at him like he was still yours. Like you missed him.”

“That’s not true,” I snapped, throat tightening.

“I don’t blame you,” he said. “You were with him for so long. He was in your blood. You’re still detoxing.”

I said nothing. I didn’t know what to say.

“I’m not angry,” William said. “I just needed to be sure.”

“Sure of what?” I whispered.

Another pause.

“That there’s nothing left between you,” he said. “That you’re mine now.”

My heart dropped.

“William…”

“I’ll be home soon,” he murmured. “And when I get back, you’ll tell me the truth. Every last thing you felt down there.”

Click.

The line went dead.

I stood there, stunned, phone still pressed to my ear.

My blood ran cold, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I escaped one abuser, just to fall into the arms of another. 

Chapter Text

Hours passed.

I didn’t know what to do. I had no car, no sense of direction in this town, no one to call, no one to trust. I spent those hours trapped in that house, spiraling, panicking, and waiting.

When will he come back? Will he come back?

What if he doesn’t?

What about his kids?

Would that be on me?

Then, at last, the front door creaked open.

And there he was.

I stormed up to him and slammed the door shut behind him with a bang that rattled the frame.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” I screamed, my voice cracking from fear and fury.

“I’m protecting you,” he said evenly, reaching out to touch me.

I recoiled, taking a step back.

“No. You’re making things worse!” I shouted. “We could’ve just stayed away from Nicholas! We could’ve forgotten about him!”

“You know that’s not true,” William snapped, his voice sharper now. “As long as he’s out there, you’ll never be free. And he’ll get away with everything he did to you, Reese.”

“This is so fucked up!” I shouted, tears welling in my eyes. “How can you not see that?!” I could barely breathe. “You’re—You’re risking everything. You’re scaring me.” My voice broke. “I didn’t think you were capable of something like this!! It scares me!!” 

“So that’s it? You’re scared of me now?” William’s voice rose, hard and bitter.

“No! No—fuck you!” I screamed, spinning around to storm away.

But before I could take a step, I felt his hand yank my hair back. I cried out, the pain sharp and sudden. He released me instantly, his breath catching in his throat. A rough sigh slipped from his lips like he regretted it the moment it happened.

I spun back to face him.

He wasn’t looking at me, he was staring down at his hand, like he didn’t recognize it anymore.

I slapped him.

Hard.

His head jerked sideways in shock.

“You’re just like him, aren’t you?” I said, the words leaving me before I could stop them. “You want to hurt me.”

“No,” William growled, locking eyes with me now. “Nicholas is nothing like me. He’s a coward. A rapist. He hurt you. I’m trying to protect you, but you won’t fucking let me!”

“By killing him?” My voice cracked. “Did you kill him, William? Is he dead now?”

He held my gaze, silent..

“No,” he finally said. “I’m not going to kill him.”

I scoffed, disgusted. “Then what? You gonna torture him and just let him go?”

William shook his head slowly.

“No. You’re going to kill Nicholas.”

My blood turned cold.

“What?” I breathed. I stumbled a step back. “What the fuck…?”

“Listen to me,” William said, stepping closer. His voice was low, intense. “You deserve this. You deserve to give him just a taste of the pain he put you through.”

Something in the way he said it almost made it make sense. I felt my body ease, just slightly. 

No.

Don’t give in.

This isn’t you.

“I can’t kill someone,” I said, voice unsteady. “I can’t do it.”

William scoffed. “Nicholas isn’t someone. He’s not a person, he’s a parasite. An abuser. Scum. And you—” his eyes locked on mine, “you deserve justice. You deserve revenge.”

He was close enough now that I could feel the heat coming off of him, could smell the subtle scent of his cologne still clinging to his skin.

I shook my head. “No.”

“Yes,” he snapped, voice rising. “Think, Reese. Think. You remember what he did. Every time. Every bruise. Every violation. He broke you over and over again. Aren’t you angry?”

“Of course I am!!” I screamed, the words ripping out of me. “But I can’t do this! This isn’t normal, William! This—this isn’t sane! Stop acting like I’m the one who’s crazy!”

He stared at me for a long, quiet beat. Then his expression twisted. Not cruel, just… disappointed.

“You are crazy,” he said softly, “for not wanting him dead.”

I stared at him. His eyes. They looked so cold. 

“You’ve done this before,” I said quietly, my voice barely a whisper. And in that moment, it was like I was seeing him for the first time.

William didn’t flinch. “I do what’s necessary to protect the people I love.”

My stomach twisted.

“Oh my god,” I whispered. “You’re a murderer.”

He closed his eyes and took a slow, heavy breath, like he was wrestling something inside himself.

“You don’t understand, Reese,” he said. “This is why I’m trying to help you—”

“Help me?!” I snapped. “Help me by making me kill somebody?!”

“He’s not just somebody!” William shouted, his composure cracking. “He’s your abuser!”

I covered my ears and shook my head violently. “Stop!” I cried, as the tears finally broke loose. “I just want to forget! I just want it to be over!”

He stepped forward and gently pulled my hands away, holding them in his. His touch was warm, disturbingly tender.

“You can’t forget,” he said softly. “That’s why you need closure.”

I kept shaking my head, trembling. “This isn’t right,” I whispered through the tears.

“This is wrong. You’re a psychopath.”

“Maybe I am,” William said calmly. “But does it really change the way you feel about me?”

He asked it like he already knew the answer. Like it was inevitable.

And the worst part wasn’t that he was wrong.

It was that he was right.

Even after everything—even knowing what he’s done, what he’s capable of—I still felt something for him. Some stubborn, sick part of me still liked him.

And that made me wonder if maybe I was just as crazy as he was.

“Answer me,” he said, voice firm. “And don’t lie. I can tell.”

I narrowed my eyes and yanked my hands out of his grasp.

“Fine. I still like you,” I admitted, hating the words even as they left my mouth. “I just… I don’t like this version of you.”

He had the audacity to smile.

“I don’t believe you,” he said with that same smug quiet.

“What?” I snapped, scowling.

“This isn’t a version of me,” he said, stepping closer. “This is me, Reese.”

I staggered back a step, disgusted. “Fuck you, you egotistical maniac!” I yelled. “You’re insane! How—how can you do this to your kids?!”

My voice cracked.

“Do they know?! Does Michael know?!”

And then it hit me. I froze, staring at William’s unreadable face. My voice dropped to a whisper.

“Did you kill your wife?”

His expression didn’t change. Not even a flicker.

“She got sick,” he said. His voice was low. Precise. Sharp.

I shook my head slowly, inching backward. “No…” My breath caught. “Oh my god.” It was like everything snapped into place. “Michael wasn’t joking, was he?” My voice cracked as I looked at him with new eyes. “He was being serious. You killed her.”

William’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t come closer.

“I have reason for what I do,” he said coldly. “I protect. You don’t understand.”

He said it like I was the one who didn’t get it.

Like I was the fool.

“Why?!” I screamed. “Why would you kill her?!”

“You don’t know the full story—”

“Then tell me the full story!!” I shouted, stepping toward him now, my voice trembling with fury and dread.

“Tell me,” I repeated, quieter this time. Almost a plea.

I was ready.

Or at least, I needed to be.

I had to know.

William’s gaze never wavered. His eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

“She knew things she wasn’t supposed to know,” he said softly. “I did it to protect my children.”

My breath hitched.

“What… what did she know?”

“Sometimes,” he said, “I have urges.” My heart began to sink. “And Clara—she knew about them.”

I know about those urges too.

A new fear rose in me.

Does that mean he’s going to kill me too?

“She was threatening to leave me. To take full custody,” William continued. “I couldn’t let that happen. That woman was unstable—she would’ve ruined our children.”

“So you killed her,” I said, each word thick with disbelief. “You killed your wife because she knew the truth. Because she knew you were dangerous.”

I stared at him. “So you proved her right… and you murdered her.”

William stepped even closer. I didn’t want to move, I didn’t want to show fear. But I backed away.

“Yes, Reese,” William said. “That’s exactly what I did.”

His eyes bored into me, dark and hungry.

A look I recognized.

A look Nicholas used to get.

“And you’re not about to stand there and tell me you don’t like me anymore,” he continued, stepping in closer. I felt the wall at my back. 

“Because I know you by now, Reese,” he murmured. “This excites you. After all those years of being the victim… you finally have a choice. You can take back what he stole from you.”

My heart thundered. He was too close, his body a shadow swallowing mine.

“Okay, just—just back up,” I said, my breath quickening. “Please.”

He shook his head slowly. “Not until you tell me the truth.” His voice dipped lower, velvety and terrifying. “That you want to see that boy suffer.”

“You’re sick,” I spat.

“I’m trying to help you,” he said. “You can hurt him. You can show him what it feels like.”

I shook my head, voice trembling.

“Nothing will ever compare to what he did to me,” I said. “I could kill him and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

William tilted his head, his expression unreadable, almost gentle in the most perverse way.

“It’s not just the killing, Reese,” he said quietly. “It’s the torture. He’ll get exactly what he deserves… if you just trust me.”

“How can I trust you?” I asked, my voice shaking. “You killed your wife. Who knows—m-maybe next, you’ll… you’ll kill me.”

William’s expression dropped. “Excuse me?” he said quietly. 

“You heard me.” I didn’t back down. “How do I know I’m not next?”

He stepped closer. I didn’t move.

“I didn’t love Clara,” he said, voice smooth but heavy. “We didn’t get along. She crossed lines, pushed me past my limits… and I had no choice. But you, Reese…” he whispered, cupping my cheek with startling gentleness. “I love you. And I don’t kill who I love. I protect who I love.”

“You love me?” I asked.

He nodded slightly. “I thought you would’ve known that by now,” he murmured. “After everything I’ve done for you.”

I reached up, gently grabbing his wrist and lowering his hand from my face, but I didn’t let go.

“I can’t tell you if I feel the same,” I admitted. “I don’t… really know what that feels like.”

William let out a small breath, like the answer disappointed him but didn’t surprise him.

“Then you don’t,” he said simply. “If you did, you’d know.”

My chest tightened. I wanted to love him. Or maybe I just wanted someone to love me. But this, whatever this was, felt like a labyrinth of pain. It was never simple.

“William—”

“Don’t apologize,” he said, cutting me off gently. “If that’s what you were about to do.”

He pulled his wrist from my grasp and softly cradled my jaw again.

“I know eventually,” he added, “you will.”

My heart pounded so loud it hurt.

“Yeah,” I whispered, uncertain. “Maybe.”

William narrowed his eyes slightly. Then he leaned in and kissed me.

I kissed him back.

His body pressed hard against mine, the contact forceful, urgent. There was nothing gentle about it, he kissed like he was angry, like he was claiming something he already believed was his.

His hands roamed over my body like he’d mapped it before: touching, gripping, tracing me like a possession. I tried to let go, to disappear into the feeling, to silence everything in my head.

But every time I started to melt into it, Nicholas’s face flickered in my mind.

His voice. His weight. His hands.

My eyes opened. I froze.

And William’s eyes were already on mine, locked and searching.

“Reese,” he said softly, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, just—” My fingers curled into the fabric of his t-shirt, clutching him like a lifeline. “Just touch me,” I whispered, desperate to drown out the sick churn in my gut. “Please.”

My heart thundered. My stomach twisted. But I was determined too take control, to erase the stain Nicholas had left behind.

William stared at me. 

“William, just—” I forced another kiss, pulling his face to mine. I tried to pour all the pain, all the confusion into it.

But the moment I pulled away, the mask crumbled.

My head dropped against his chest and I sobbed.

It came out of me like a flood, violent, breathless, unstoppable. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

I felt William tense… then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around me.

There was a long, awful silence.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

I didn’t answer.

I just cried.

All I could think about was Nicholas.

The rape.

The abuse.

The baby.

The thoughts curled around me like smoke, poisonous and suffocating. I couldn’t shut them out, no matter how tightly I pressed myself into William’s chest.

He kissed the top of my head and gently stroked my hair. I could feel his breath steady and quiet above me.

“I just want to forget,” I whispered into him, my voice raw and cracked. “I don’t want to see him again.”

William nodded slowly, his hand still gliding softly through my hair.

“Okay,” he murmured. “I understand.” 

Chapter Text

Hours passed before William came back home. I heard muffled voices from downstairs—him and Michael talking—and my curiosity got the better of me.

I quietly opened the door and leaned against the top of the stairs, straining to listen.

“She’s probably upstairs crying or something,” Michael said first. They were talking about me.

“Did you make her cry, Michael?” William’s voice cut through, sharp and threatening.

“I just told her the truth,” Michael argued back. “She’s gotten way too comfortable here. I had to remind her where she—”

“Michael, what exactly did you say to her?” William interrupted, voice cold and firm.

A tense silence followed.

“Nothing bad,” Michael shrugged. “She’s the one trying to worm her way into this family, acting like my mom, as if she’s not only ten years older than me.” He chuckled, but it sounded bitter.

“I’ll ask you one more time, Michael,” William said, voice low and dangerous. “What did you say to her? Because in a few minutes, I’m going upstairs to find her, and she will tell me the truth. So you better be telling me the same. Right now.”

Michael didn’t answer immediately, and the silence screamed louder than words.

“She told me about Mom,” Michael said quietly. “What you did to her. She tried to talk to me about it. It was bullshit. Everything about you and her is bullshit.”

“And you made her cry?” William pressed, ignoring the insult.

“I didn’t make her do anything,” Michael snapped defensively.

“Hey,” William snapped, voice rising so sharply it made me flinch, “Tell me right now.”

Silence again.

“Look at me, Michael.”

Still no response.

William scoffed. “Just as I thought. Too pussy to own up to your mistakes. God,” he chuckled darkly, “I am so disappointed in you.”

My heart twisted with sympathy for Michael, but then I heard footsteps ascending the stairs. Panic flushed through me. I darted back into William’s room, closing the door quietly behind me, and collapsed onto his bed.

Seconds later, William opened the door.

“Reese,” he smiled, charming but unreadable when he saw me lying there.

I pushed myself up a little and smiled back weakly. “Hey.”

William kicked off his shoes and settled down next to me, pulling me close, his hold possessive and intense.

“Heard you and Michael had a little argument,” he said. My stomach clenched. “Did he make you cry?”

The fact that a seventeen-year-old boy had made me cry was too embarrassing to admit. But the things he said were cruel—bringing up Nicholas, blaming me—it was impossible not to be affected.

“It’s fine, William. He’s just a kid.”

William shook his head sharply. “He’s an ungrateful brat,” he said. “And I know he said something cruel. He won’t even admit it himself.”

I sighed. “Well, I brought up his mom… I guess I deserved some of his anger. I understand why he’d lash out.”

William’s tone stayed calm but firm. “I don’t accept that. He has to deal with you being here. He needs to be respectful and kind. Because that’s who you are. So I ask again: what did he say to you?”

I hesitated, not wanting to get Michael into more trouble. Despite everything, I still felt sorry for him.

“He brought up Nicholas,” I finally whispered.

William’s jaw clenched tightly. “And what exactly did he say?” 

I sighed nervously, picking at my fingernails. Before I could go on, William gently took my hand in his.

“It’s fine, William. He’s just a moody teenager. He doesn’t really mean it—”

“Tell me,” he interrupted softly but firmly, squeezing my hand. “I’m sorry for cutting you off, but you need to tell me what he said.”

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. “William, just… Please don’t be mad at him. I’m not mad, so you shouldn’t be either.”

He nodded slowly, but I could tell it was only to coax the truth out of me.

“Uhm, well… he kind of victim-blamed me,” I admitted quietly. “It was in a fit of rage and—”

“He blamed you? For what Nicholas did to you?” William’s voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a knife.

“But William, he doesn’t know everything that happened,” I said softly, trying to explain.

“That doesn’t matter,” William shook his head, his voice hardening. “I don’t care. He sure as hell has no right to say things like that to you. You’re—”

“William!” I snapped, my voice trembling. “Enough! Please!” I swallowed hard. “It’s fine. You’re angrier than I am. It just… hit me for a moment, alright? But it’s fine. Maybe I’ll talk to him. That would be good, right? Maybe I can get him to like me, and then maybe we can all get along.”

William released my hand, pausing thoughtfully. I was a mess, trying desperately to calm him so he wouldn’t storm downstairs and yell at Michael again.

“Okay,” he said finally. “I suppose you’re right.”

I smiled and scooted closer, seeking comfort in his warmth. “Yeah. See? We can just forget about it for now. Let’s forget everything.”

A small, guarded smile tugged at William’s lips. But I could see the thoughts still flickering behind his eyes.

“Yeah,” he said smoothly, “How about… you join me in the shower?”

I grinned, my heart fluttering. “How about… yes!”

Chapter Text

My heart was pounding as I stood beside William in the bathroom. The shower was already running, steam already clouding the mirror.

William’s gaze shifted to me. His hand rose, fingers warm as they cupped my jaw.

“You sure about this?” he asked quietly, voice low, careful.

I smiled. “Of course. It’s just a shower, right?”

His lips twitched into something between a smile and a knowing smirk. He gave a small nod.

“Mhm. Just a shower.”

But we both knew better. This wasn’t just a shower. This was a test. A line I wasn’t sure I could cross until now. If, after all those years of abuse, I was ready to finally be intimate with someone again.

William’s fingers brushed the hem of the t-shirt I wore. His eyes flicked up to mine, asking silently for permission. I lifted my arms in answer, and he peeled the fabric away, slipping it over my head with unhurried ease. His gaze lingered on my bare chest longer than I expected before his hands slid lower to hook into my boxers. They pooled at my feet, leaving me exposed.

“No panties?” His lips curved into a sinful smirk. “God, you’re so precious.” His voice dropped to a murmur as he pressed a kiss against my forehead. Then, with the same ease, he began undressing himself.

I’d seen William shirtless before, but never stripped down completely. When he was finally bare before me, my heart tripped over itself. He wasn’t Nicholas. Not even close.

He was everything Nicholas wasn’t. In every way that mattered.

“You like what you see?” he asked, head tilting with that arrogant little smirk that both infuriated and thrilled me.

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I nodded. “I do.”

His chuckle rumbled low in his chest, and without hesitation he stepped into the shower. I followed, slow and cautious, but before I could climb in fully, his hands caught my waist. He lifted me effortlessly, like I weighed nothing, and set me down directly in front of him beneath the cascade of hot water.

I gasped, startled by the suddenness but melting instantly under his touch. William grinned, the water slicking back his dark hair, his eyes glinting as if this moment was his to orchestrate all along.

His hands found my shoulders and he turned me around. I could feel his body pressed up against mine, and his lips against my ear.

“This okay?” he whispered.

“Yes,” I answered immediately.

William hummed in satisfaction, his hands sliding from my shoulders down my waist, to my hips. I shuddered from the touch, relaxing into it.

He planted a kiss on my shoulder, then moved to my neck. My head tilted almost instinctively, giving him more space, and his smirk curved against my skin.

“You’re soft everywhere,” he murmured, his palms smoothing along the sides of my body. 

A small moan escaped me and I felt his chest shake with quiet laughter. He kissed just beneath my ear.

“Mm. You like that.”

I turned my face just enough to meet his mouth, and he kissed me with hunger. 

His hand traveled down my stomach, fingers toying at the entrance of my pussy. A soft moan escaped me as he slowly slid a finger inside, his lips finding my neck again. The combination of his mouth and his touch made my body arch back into him, helplessly chasing more.

His finger moved with deliberate rhythm, coaxing sounds from me I couldn’t control, while his other hand closed firmly around my breast.

“So fucking sexy,” he breathed against my ear, the rawness of his voice only intensifying the ache he was pulling from me.

A second finger joined the first, stroking my walls with an assertive gentleness that made my legs shake. He thrived on every reaction, each shiver and moan spurring him on.

Behind me, his hard length pressed against my ass as he began to grind into me. His arm wrapped tight around my waist, pinning me to him, claiming me.

William’s breath was hot and ragged against my ear, each exhale vibrating through me.

He was bringing me right to the edge, his fingers curling perfectly inside me. He worked them in steady, devastating strokes—up and down, in and out—until the pleasure snapped and I came on his fingers, moaning far too loudly.

His other hand was quick to clamp over my mouth, and I felt the low chuckle rumble against my skin.

“Shhh,” he hissed darkly, lips brushing my ear. “Don’t be too loud, now…”

He kept his fingers moving, drawing out every wave of my orgasm until my body sagged against him, spent and trembling. His arm held me firm, his mouth pressing reverent kisses against the side of my neck.

Turning in his arms, I looked up at him. His smile made my chest flutter. Slowly, I trailed my hand down his chest, down his torso, until I wrapped my fingers around his cock.

His breath hitched, sharp, a hiss tearing from his throat as I began to stroke him. His eyes locked on mine, dark and unblinking, lips parted in lust. With every faster pump of my hand, his hips jerked forward, meeting my rhythm.

I tightened my grip, and a deep groan broke from him. In response, he slammed both hands against the shower wall behind me, caging me in. My back pressed to the tiles, his body looming over mine, dominance radiating from him in waves.

“Yes,” he moaned, his mouth hovering just above mine. 

His cock throbbed harder in my hand as I stroked him, slick with the heat of the water and the desperation building between us. William’s breath came in short, ragged bursts against my ear, his whole body trembling with restraint.

“Fuck—Reese,” he groaned, his hips grinding into my fist, every thrust rougher than the last. His forehead pressed to mine, sweat and steam mixing as his teeth clenched.

I tightened my grip, pumping him faster, watching the way his jaw flexed, the way his eyes—half-lidded and burning—stayed locked on me. He cussed under his breath, deep and guttural, the sound vibrating through his chest.

“Good girl… just like that…” he rasped, his voice breaking as his hand tangled in my wet hair, tugging my head back so he could breathe me in. His lips hovered over my mouth, his groans spilling against my lips as his body started to tense.

And then he snapped. With a deep, shuddering growl, his release tore through him, his cock jerking in my hand as he spilled against my stomach, hot and messy. He cursed again, louder this time, muffling it by biting down hard against my shoulder.

His whole body trembled as I kept stroking him through it, milking every last wave until he was sagging against me, drained. His breath was ragged in my ear, his voice low and hoarse when he finally spoke.

“Do you have any idea…” he whispered darkly, pressing a reverent kiss to my throat, “…what you just did to me?”

His arms wrapped around me, holding me tight against him as if he couldn’t bear to let me go, even as the shower washed everything away.

I tilted my head, my voice small but certain as it slipped out of me.

“I love you, William.”

He froze. Just for a beat. His breath caught against my neck, and his grip on me tightened. Slowly, he leaned back enough to look at me, water streaming down the hard lines of his face. His eyes searched mine, as if he didn’t trust what he’d just heard.

His thumb brushed my cheek. “Say it again,” he whispered.

My chest ached, but I didn’t look away. “I love you.”

William exhaled like I’d just broken him. 

“You’re mine,” he murmured, voice ragged, kissing me hard, almost desperate. “Do you understand me, Reese? You’ll never take that back.”

He kissed me again. 

“You don’t get to take that back,” he said lowly, his voice shaking with restraint. “Ever. Do you understand me, Reese? You’ve given it to me now.”

My heart thudded painfully against my ribs. Still, I nodded, breathless. “I don’t want to take it back.”

That broke him all over again. He let out a deep, almost broken sound, dragging me into his chest, holding me against him so tightly I felt the steady hammer of his heartbeat. His mouth pressed to the side of my head, murmuring against my wet hair.

“Good girl… my girl. Mine.”

Chapter Text

William was fast asleep beside me, but my eyes refused to close. It had been a wonderful night with him, but my mind was tangled in knots over Michael.

I hated that he hated me. He was William’s son, and right now, William was everything to me. The thought of being despised by someone so close to him made my chest ache. I couldn’t stand being an enemy.

Carefully, I slipped out of William’s grasp, pulled on pajama pants, and tip toed toward the stairs. The children were asleep, which meant the only one awake in the house might be Michael.

I descended the stairs slowly, only to find him sprawled across the couch, sound asleep. I sighed, shaking my head at myself. Stupid. I turned to go back upstairs, but my foot caught the edge of the step. I stumbled and hit the floor with a graceless grunt.

Michael stirred. His head lifted groggily from the armrest, his squinting eyes landing on me as I pushed myself up, rubbing my face in embarrassment.

“Michael,” I said softly.

He rolled his eyes and dropped his head back against the couch cushion. But he was awake now, and I wasn’t about to lose my chance.

“Leave me alone,” he muttered.

“Can I just talk to you?” I asked.

He gave a short, humorless laugh and shook his head. “Don’t you ever take a hint?” His lips twisted into a smirk. “Bitch.”

Something inside me snapped. I was tired of crying over every cruel word, tired of folding in on myself whenever someone pushed too hard. I wasn’t going to let a boy—his boy—strip me down to nothing.

“Michael, I’ve had enough of this,” I snapped. “I understand your anger. I’ll never know what it feels like to be in your position, and I am sorry. But you can’t sit there and call me a bitch, a slut, and blame me for being a victim.”

Michael didn’t even flinch. His lips curved into a cruel smirk. “Yes I can,” he said. “I mean, I already did, didn’t I?”

“Stop, Michael. I’m older than you. I’ve been through hell. And I’ve finally found someone who sees me—someone who’s willing to protect me. Can’t you have even an ounce of sympathy?”

He laughed, hollow and mocking. “You sound ridiculous.”

“It’s not fair what happened to your mother,” I pressed, my voice softer now. “And believe me, I see the way your father treats you. It bothers me. I’ve told him more than once that I hate how he speaks to you. I’m trying to help you.”

“Do you even hear yourself?” His voice cut through me. “You’ve only made things worse.”

“Oh, really?” I shot back. “What do you think would’ve happened tonight if I hadn’t begged your father not to punish you?”

That stopped him. 

“Answer me, Michael,” I pushed. “Because I know it wouldn’t have gone well for you. And judging by that look on your face, you know it too.”

“You’re being insane,” he muttered.

“Don’t call me insane for standing up for you.” My voice cracked. “He forgets you’re just a teenager—a moody, angry teenager who’s been through more than most. And I understand. My father was cruel too. He didn’t know how to care for me properly. Sometimes I see him in William when he talks to you, and it scares me.”

Michael’s gaze dropped to the floor. His silence was an answer in itself.

“I know it scares you too,” I whispered. “That’s why I’m trying to help.”

“You don’t know how to help me.” His voice was low, bitter. “You can’t even help yourself. You have to let my dad do it for you.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, fighting to steady myself. “You don’t get it, Michael. Stop acting like you’ve figured me out.”

“But I have,” he snapped, eyes flashing as he looked back up at me. “You seem weak. Running away from your problems instead of facing them. Straight into the arms of your boss. It’s pathetic.”

I clenched my jaw and slowly sat on the edge of the couch, keeping my eyes locked on his. “I’ve faced many problems Michael. For years. I know what it’s like to feel unsafe in your own home, even as a child.”

“So what?” Michael sneered. “Your dad hit you too?” He asked it like it was a joke.

I shook my head. “No. He didn’t have to. He was manipulative. Selfish. He made me feel unworthy of his love.” I studied his face. “Does that sound familiar?”

Michael’s expression hardened. “We are not the same. Your dad didn’t kill your mom.”

My stomach twisted violently. I swallowed, forcing the words out. “No. But in a way, I did. She died giving birth to me. That’s why my father despised me so much.”

For the first time, Michael’s face faltered. “Oh.” He hesitated, searching for footing. “Well… that’s still not the same. And it’s not as bad. You never knew her. I knew my mom. And I loved her.”

My chest ached at his words. I nodded, my throat tight. “I know. And I’m sorry. It’s so unfair.” I exhaled slowly

Michael sat back, crossing his arms. “So your dad hated you for something you couldn’t control. Fine. But at least you got away from him. You’re an adult now. You had choices. Why didn’t you just—” he gestured vaguely, “—leave that boyfriend of yours sooner? Why let him do all that to you?”

His bluntness made my stomach tighten. “It’s not that simple.”

“Yes it is,” he said flatly. “You don’t like something, you leave. You fight back. I mean, how bad could it really have been?”

His words stung like a slap. I stared at him, searching his face for even a shred of understanding, but I found none 

“You think it wasn’t that bad?” My voice cracked. “You think I stayed because I wanted to?”

Michael shrugged. “Sounds like it.”

“Stop trying to turn this around,” I snapped. “This isn’t about me and my ex. This is about you and your father. I’m just trying—”

“To help me, right,” Michael cut in, his voice sharp. “But you can’t even own it. You just shove it all down, act like none of it happened. Because deep down, you’re embarrassed, aren’t you? Embarrassed that you stayed that long.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Michael, please, just try to listen—”

“No.” His tone dropped, heavy with venom. “You listen to me.”

My eyes widened. The audacity.

“I don’t like you, Reese. I never will. You’re stupid. Weak. And let’s be honest—you’re an attention whore. Just a warm body for my dad, right? God—you deserve each other.”

Every muscle in my body seized. His smug little smirk. The amusement in his voice. He knew exactly where to strike, exactly how to crawl under my skin. And he enjoyed it.

Before I even realized what I was doing, my hand flew.

I gasped, stumbling back, my trembling fingers covering my mouth. Michael sat frozen on the couch, one hand to his cheek, eyes shining. I had slapped him hard. Hard enough to bring tears to his eyes.

“Oh my god…” My chest heaved, my pulse roaring in my ears. “Michael, I’m so sorry. I didn’t—I’m sorry—”

But he didn’t answer. He just stood abruptly, his jaw tight, and stormed upstairs without a word.

That couldn’t have gone worse. 

Chapter Text

I slammed my bedroom door so hard the frame rattled.

I threw myself on the bed, staring at the ceiling. My cheek still throbbed where she’d slapped me. I pressed my fingers there, half hoping it’d bruise. At least then I could point to it and say, See? Not even she likes me.

God. Reese.

She was so damn quiet all the time. Always shrinking into herself, always careful, like if she made the wrong move she’d snap in half. I hated it. I hated how it made me feel. Like maybe I should go easier on her. Like maybe I’d gone too far this time.

I groaned and dragged a pillow over my face. No. Screw that. She wasn’t innocent. She looked at me like she saw right through me, like she could tell I was just one screw-up after another. And she pitied me. I could feel it in the way her voice softened when she said my name, or the way she hesitated before answering me, like she didn’t want to poke the beast.

But then she hit me.

The sound of it echoed in my head, sharp and humiliating. Nobody touches me. Not Dad, not anyone. But her hand had cracked across my face and for a split second I’d frozen—not because it hurt, but because I hadn’t expected it. And then it felt almost right. Like maybe I deserved worse.

I rolled onto my side, staring at the wall. She’d apologized right after, her eyes wide, like she thought I was going to explode. Like I was some monster she’d just unleashed. I’d wanted to yell at her, tell her she was pathetic for apologizing, but the words got stuck. So I bolted.

Now, lying here, the silence gnawed at me.

Why the hell did I even care what she thought? It wasn’t like I liked her. She was just…there. Just another broken thing in this house. 

Except sometimes, I wondered.

How bad had it been?

I knew she’d had that boyfriend before, but why should I even care? I didn’t want her stories. I didn’t want to sit around and listen to her cry about some jerk. Except… maybe I did.

Because if I knew, maybe I could understand why she acted the way she did. I didn’t like being angry. I didn’t choose to be. She just made me feel that way, and sometimes, I’d see my mom in her. 

I sat up, running a hand through my hair, restless. Should I go downstairs? Should I just ask her?

No. Stupid. She’d probably just look at me with pity again, and I’d say something cruel, and we’d start all over. 

Still… my fist tightened in the blanket.

But I decided to leave it. At least for now. Let the guilt gnaw at her for a little, and then maybe we’ll both feel equally as shitty about ourselves. 

***

The next day was a Saturday. I woke up late, and I knew Dad was gone by now, along with the little ones. I wasn’t so sure about Reese though.

Maybe now was the time.

I dragged myself downstairs to see if she was there, but the place was empty. The TV was off, the kitchen quiet. Weird. So I made my way upstairs instead.

The door to Dad’s room was wide open, like I was being invited in. I hesitated before stepping inside, looking around carefully. The bathroom door was shut, though, and I heard muffled sounds from behind it. Whimpers. Choked cries. Low groans.

At first I thought she was just having some kind of breakdown, but then I realized she was trying to keep quiet.

“Reese?” I knocked softly. The sounds stopped. A sharp gasp. “Uhh… you okay in there?”

“I—I’m fine,” she whimpered. Her voice was tight, shaky, wrong. “Just—” She cried out again, a pained noise that made my stomach twist. “Please. Go away.”

Something in me said not to. This wasn’t just crying. She sounded… hurt. Really hurt.

“What’s going on?” I asked, hesitant, leaning against the door. No answer. Just muffled sobs. “Reese, I’m coming in—”

“Don’t come in!!” she cried, but I was already pushing the door open.

I saw the blood. So much blood. My eyes widened before I even registered her.

“Get out, Michael!!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face. She was sitting against the wall, knees pulled up, wearing one of Dad’s shirts that was soaked through red.

“Oh my god,” I whispered. My chest tightened like I couldn’t breathe. “What happened?! I’m calling 911!”

The only thing my brain could piece together was that she’d been stabbed. Did someone attack her? Did she stab herself? Did Dad—?

“No! No—” She shook her head furiously, sobbing harder. “Don’t! Michael—just get out!”

“Reese! You’re dying!!” I shouted back, panicked.

But she shook her head again, squeezing her eyes shut, groaning through another wave of pain.

Her voice cracked when she whispered, “It’s not me.” Tears streaked her cheeks, raw and broken. “It’s my baby.”

I froze. Her words didn’t make sense at first. 

“What?” I croaked. My voice cracked, and I didn’t even care. My stomach flipped, my chest felt like it was caving in.

Reese curled tighter against the wall, gripping her stomach. Blood smeared her thighs, dripping down to the tile. She looked small—smaller than I’d ever seen her.

“My baby,” she choked out again, shaking, “I’m losing it.”

I just stood there, staring, trying to piece it together. Not stabbed. Not dying. Not the way I thought. But…

“You were—pregnant?” The word sounded foreign on my tongue. It didn’t feel real.

Reese’s face crumpled as she nodded, sobbing.

My mouth went dry. My brain scrambled, grabbing at any explanation. My dad’s kid? The thought hit me like a punch to the gut. “Wait. The baby… was it my dad’s?” I asked, voice dropping to a whisper.

Her eyes darted to mine, wide, broken, full of shame.

“No,” she answered. “Just…” She let out a cry, raw and broken. God, I felt so bad. 

I knew I had to call someone. So I scrambled to my feet. My heart was pounding out of my chest as I bolted down the stairs. My hands shook as I grabbed the phone off the counter, fingers fumbling with the buttons. Finally, I punched in his number and pressed it to my ear, pacing like I couldn’t stand still.

“Hello?” His voice came through.

“Dad!!” I practically screamed. “Dad, come home! It’s—It’s Reese! I-I think she’s having a miscarriage!”

There was no hesitation. No wasted words. He hung up immediately. My chest heaved with relief because that meant he was already moving.

I sprinted back upstairs, two steps at a time, nearly tripping in my rush. When I burst into the room again, Reese wasn’t sitting upright anymore. She was lying on the floor, curled on her side, one arm clutching her stomach. The blood was spreading darker against my dad’s shirt. Her cries were sharper, desperate, and it felt like knives cutting into me just hearing them.

“Oh my god,” I dropped to my knees beside her. My hands hovered uselessly over her, not sure what I could touch, what I could do. “It’s okay, it’ll be okay! My—My dad’s coming. He’ll be here soon! He’ll—He’ll know what to do!”

She shook her head violently, teeth gritted in pain. “I don’t want him to see me like this,” she gasped. “Michael, I—” Another wave of pain cut her words short.

“You don’t have a choice!” I snapped, panic tightening my voice. “You need help, Reese! I can’t—I don’t know what to do!”

Her eyes flickered up at me, wide and wet, like she wanted me to fix it, like she needed me to hold her together. I swallowed hard, my throat burning. Slowly, awkwardly, I slid my hand into hers, squeezing tight.

Her fingers clung to mine with surprising strength.

We sat there on the tile, the sound of her cries echoing in the room, until the heavy slam of the front door made me jump.

Dad was home.

Chapter Text

I was awake before William left. I stayed curled under the blankets, listening to the sounds of his routine: the faint shuffle of his shoes against the floor, the click of his belt, the low creak of the dresser drawers. The room smelled faintly of his cologne which was soothing, but my body felt off. It was heavy, aching, and unsettled.

Something was wrong. I knew it. Deep down, I had known it since my eyes opened.

But I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.

When he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of my head, I forced myself to smile faintly, even though I felt brittle inside. “I’ll see you later,” he murmured. 

“Yeah,” I whispered back. “Later.”

The door shut behind him, and the house fell quiet.

The moment the silence settled, the ache in my stomach sharpened. I winced, pressing a hand against myself, but the pressure didn’t help. Slowly, I pushed myself out of bed, each movement cautious, like I was afraid my body might betray me if I moved too quickly.

And it did.

As soon as I stood, I felt the wetness: unmistakable and horrifying. My heart stopped. My legs nearly buckled under me as panic shot through my chest. No. No, no, no.

I staggered into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me with shaking hands. One glance down and my stomach turned cold. There was blood. Too much. Bright against the pale fabric of William’s shirt that hung loose on me.

A sound broke from my throat, half a sob, half a gasp. I stumbled to the toilet, gripping the counter on the way down, my vision blurring. The pain came in waves, sharp and unrelenting, tearing through me until I was trembling on the tile floor.

“No…” The word escaped as a whisper, desperate and useless. My hands clutched my stomach like I could hold it together, like I could undo what was happening. But my body wouldn’t listen.

Another spasm ripped through me, and I cried out. I curled onto the cold floor, pulling my knees close, sobs breaking free despite how I tried to stifle them. Tears slid hot down my face, mixing with the sweat that beaded at my temples.

It wasn’t William’s. It was Nicholas’s. The violent mark he had left on me. And yet—even knowing that, even hating that truth—the loss gutted me. Because it was still inside me. Because it was still mine to carry, mine to suffer, mine to lose.

“I’m sorry…” I whispered as I held my stomach, my voice shaking, breaking. “I’m so sorry…”

The pain only grew, relentless. My breaths came in shallow gasps, my body betraying me again and again. And all I could do was lie there on the tile, clutching at myself.

I was losing it.

And I was alone.

The pain wouldn’t stop. It ripped through me, sharper and deeper each time, and with every wave I felt myself unraveling. My nails dug into the tile, scraping against the cold floor as though I could anchor myself, but nothing grounded me.

I tried to breathe, but my chest was heaving, my sobs breaking into gasps. My body was betraying me, giving me no control, no choice.

And then his voice came back.

Nicholas.

“Stop crying, Reese. You sound pathetic.”

“You’re mine. Don’t even think about saying no.”

“You should be grateful anyone even wants you.”

I remembered his weight pinning me down, the cruel grin, the way he made me beg. Not out of want, but out of fear. My skin crawled with the phantom of his touch, even as I lay on the cold floor, blood pooling beneath me.

I remembered the night it happened, the moment my body was stolen from me. The way I stayed silent afterward, swallowing my screams because no one would have believed me. Because he made me believe I deserved it.

And now here I was, on this floor, bleeding out the last proof of what he had done to me.

A child I never asked for. A child I never wanted. Yet, it was a child I never had a chance to love. 

And I knew I would have given it all of the love I had in the world. 

“Why?” I choked out, my voice raw. 

I pressed my palms to my stomach, but it was useless. The pain still came, cruel and merciless. My sobs echoed against the bathroom walls, a sound so broken it scared even me.

I saw his face again, smug and victorious. I heard his laugh, low and taunting. And the horror hit me. I would never be free. Not even now, as my body tried to rid itself of him, he still owned me. He still lingered.

The tears wouldn’t stop. They burned, hot and endless, spilling down my cheeks.

I thought of William, of how he kissed me goodbye this morning, of how safe his presence made me feel. 

I wanted him here with me now. 

***

The world came back to me in fragments. Bright lights overhead. The steady beeping of a monitor. The dry ache in my throat.

And a warm hand wrapped around mine.

I blinked slowly, and when my eyes adjusted, I saw William sitting at my side. His head was bowed, his thumb tracing circles into my skin like he was afraid to let go. His expression was unreadable at first but the moment my eyes opened wider, his mask cracked.

“Reese,” he breathed, leaning closer, his other hand brushing the damp hair from my forehead. “You’re awake.”

My lips parted, but no sound came out. I swallowed hard, my throat raw. He shushed me gently, as if he could quiet the chaos inside me with nothing but his voice.

And then I saw Michael.

He was slouched against the far wall, pale and wide-eyed, his arms crossed so tightly it looked like he might fold in on himself. The second I met his gaze, he looked away, jaw tight, his leg bouncing nervously against the floor. He looked like he hadn’t slept.

“What…?” My voice cracked, rasping. “What happened?”

William’s hand squeezed mine. His voice was calm, even, though I could see the storm just beneath it. “You passed out. Michael found you. You’ve been through… a loss.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. My chest tightened, and tears pricked at my eyes before I could stop them. A loss. That was all he said. But we both knew what he meant.

I turned my head toward the wall, unable to meet either of their eyes. Shame washed over me, hot and suffocating.

“I didn’t…” My voice broke, and I tried again. “I didn’t want—”

“You don’t need to say anything,” William said firmly, leaning closer. His tone left no room for argument. “Not now. Not here. You just need to rest.”

But I felt Michael’s eyes on me. Hesitant, searching.

He finally spoke, his voice cracking like he hadn’t used it in hours. “You were… bleeding. I thought you were gonna die.”

His words broke something in me. The tears came harder, my body trembling under the thin blanket. William immediately shifted closer, shushing me again, holding me carefully as if I were something fragile that might shatter.

“It’s over now,” he whispered, his voice low against my temple. “You’re safe.”

Safe. The word sounded so far away.

Michael turned toward the wall, dragging a hand through his hair. He muttered under his breath, almost too quiet to catch.

“…I didn’t know.”

I wanted to ask him what he meant, but I was too tired, too broken. The weight of everything pulled me back under, even as William’s grip anchored me.

I let my eyes close again, letting the tears slip free. 

“It’s alright, Princess,” I heard William say, his voice steady even as I felt his chest tremble against my cheek. He stroked my hair gently, the way one might soothe a frightened child. “You’ll be okay.” 

***

The days after the hospital blurred together in fragments. William barely left my side. Michael lingered too, though he never stayed close for long. I could feel his restless eyes watching me sometimes, like he didn’t quite understand what he was seeing or how to process it.

When they finally let me return home, the silence of the house felt unbearable. Everything echoed: my footsteps, the faint creak of floorboards, the memory of what I had lost. William kept hovering, checking in with his hands more than his words—a hand brushing my shoulder, fingers smoothing my hair back, his presence comforting me.

But something gnawed at me.

Nicholas’s face hadn’t left me. The hospital hadn’t washed him away. If anything, lying in that bed with grief tearing me open had only made him louder in my head. And I couldn’t take it anymore.

One evening, when William came to bring me tea I wouldn’t drink, I finally broke the silence.

“I need to see him,” I whispered.

William froze, the cup in his hand trembling just slightly. His eyes narrowed, sharp and dark. “No,” he said at once, his voice controlled but final. “Absolutely not.”

“I have to,” I said. “William, please. I can’t move on without it. I need to look at him and… and end it. Otherwise he’s always going to be there. He’s going to win.”

His jaw tightened, his silence heavier than any scream could have been. He finally moved, placing the cup back onto the tray then turning back to me.

“Reese,” he said slowly. “That man has already taken enough from you. To go back willingly, to stand before him again…I know it would tear you apart. And I will not allow it.”

I shook my head. “You don’t understand. I’ll never be free if I don’t look him in the eye. I need to take that power back, William. I need to prove to myself that he doesn’t own me anymore.”

“If you do this,” he said, his voice trembling at the edges of restraint, “it will not be alone. Do you understand me? If you face him, you face him with me there. Always.”

I nodded, my forehead pressing against his hand, and whispered, “Okay.”

His thumb brushed across my cheek, but his expression didn’t soften. And I knew in that moment—Nicholas wasn’t just my demon to face anymore. He was William’s, too.

Chapter Text

The air at Fredbear’s was colder than usual that night. Because by now I knew: Nicholas had been here the whole time. 

William led me through the dim dining hall without a word, his hand on the small of my back. Every step echoed too loudly against the checkered floor, and I kept my eyes fixed on the ground. 

When we reached the locked door near the back hallway, William finally spoke. “You don’t have to do this, Reese,” he said quietly, his voice low enough to make it sound like a plea.

I swallowed, my throat dry, but I didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I do.”

He searched my face for a long moment, then pulled a key from his coat pocket. The sound of the lock turning made my stomach twist.

The door creaked open. My hands shook, but I forced myself down the narrow staircase, William’s shadow always a step behind.

The basement was damp and dark, lit only by a single swinging bulb. Chains rattled faintly. And then I saw him.

Nicholas.

He was slumped against the wall, wrists chained to the concrete, his once-sharp features hollowed out by hunger and weeks of confinement. His skin clung to his bones, his lips cracked, but his eyes—those cruel, familiar eyes—lifted the second he heard me.

And he laughed. A hoarse, broken laugh that made my blood run cold.

“Well, well,” he croaked. His voice was ruined, but the venom was still there. “If it isn’t my girl.”

My breath hitched. My chest ached. William stayed silent behind me, but I felt his presence. .

I forced myself to step forward, though my knees trembled. “I’m not your anything,” I said, my voice breaking but loud enough to cut through the basement air.

Nicholas smirked weakly, his eyes tired. “Then why’d you come back?”

I froze, and for a second I felt weak again. But I remembered that I wanted this. Needed this. To see him broken. But standing here, face to face, my body still remembered every violation, every whispered word, every moment he stole from me.

“Still can’t speak for yourself?” Nicholas teased, followed by a rasping cough. His lips curved into a cracked, mocking smile. “That why your boss is here? Too scared to face me alone?”

Even starved, even shackled to the wall, he knew how to find the exact words that cut. My chest tightened. I glanced at William, but he just stared Nicholas down.

I clenched my fists. “I’m not scared of you,” I whispered, though my voice trembled.

Nicholas laughed, low and hoarse. “Oh, come on, baby. You’ve always been scared of me.” His eyes flicked over me and despite the chains binding him, I felt cornered. “Even now, look at you. Shaking.”

My stomach twisted, bile rising in my throat. I wanted to scream at him, deny it, but part of me knew that’s exactly what he wanted. To watch me unravel.

I forced myself a step closer, even though every nerve screamed to run. “No,” I said, my voice breaking but louder now. “You tried to destroy me. And you failed.”

Nicholas tilted his head, smirking despite his frailty. “Failed? Tell me, Reese… when you close your eyes at night, whose hands do you still feel? His?” He tilted his chin toward William. “Or mine?”

For a moment, the basement spun, and I was back there again—his weight pinning me down, his voice whispering filth in my ear.

I looked back at William again, and he steadied me with his hand.

Nicholas chuckled, victorious at the sight of my weakness. “That’s what I thought.”

“That’s enough,” William said coldly. His voice was final, like he was about to silence Nicholas for good.

But I shot out my hand, pressing it firmly against his chest. “No.” My voice cracked but I didn’t waver. “I’ve got this.”

William’s eyes flickered down at me, narrowing in protest. I shook my head. “Please. If you stop him now, he wins. Let me… let me do this.”

William hesitated but finally, he stepped back, though his gaze never left Nicholas. His silent promise was clear: one wrong word too far, and Nicholas wouldn’t have a tongue left to use.

I turned back to Nicholas. My heart was pounding so loud I could barely hear myself think, but I forced myself to meet his eyes.

“You don’t scare me anymore,” I said, my voice trembling but growing stronger with each word. “You want me to be that broken girl you controlled. But I’m not her anymore.”

Nicholas smirked faintly, his cracked lips curling. “Oh, you’re still her. I can see it all over your face. You still think about me. You still feel me.”

“I feel disgust,” I spat, the word sharp like glass in my mouth. “I feel rage. I feel nothing but hatred for you, Nicholas.”

He shifted, the chains rattling softly as he leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “You’re stupid, Reese. You’ll never get rid of me. And you know it,” he looked at William, then back at me again. “And he knows it too.” 

I froze for a moment, his words slicing through me, but I stood straighter, forcing the quiver from my jaw. “You’re wrong. I chose this. Him. And you—” I stepped closer, —“you’re nothing but a piece of shit chained to a wall. No one cares you’re gone. Not even your friends. You’re forgotten and you’re powerless. You should be ashamed of yourself.” 

Nicholas sneered, but the silence that followed felt like my victory.

But then he tilted his head, eyes glittering with a sick amusement despite the hollowed, starved frame he was trapped in.

“You really think you’ve won something here, don’t you?” he rasped. “You stand there trembling, trying to sound strong, but I can smell it on you—fear. That’s all you’ll ever be. A scared little girl pretending she’s not mine.”

I forced myself to hold his gaze.

“You’re wrong.” 

Nicholas’s lips curved into a twisted grin, even through the weakness of his starved frame. His voice rasped low, almost gleeful.

“You think that?” he sneered, tugging against the chains, “Then how’s our baby doing? Hm?” His eyes glinted, sick with perverse pride. “Still growing inside you? Still mine, isn’t it? It’ll always be mine.”

The words punched the air out of me. My throat closed, my chest tightened, and I froze where I stood. My eyes stung, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. 

Nicholas smirked at my silence. “Oh, I struck a nerve. I knew it. That’s why you’re here, right? You’ll never be rid of me, Reese. No matter how many times you wash your hands, no matter who you crawl into bed with—you’ll always have my mark. Inside you.”

I couldn’t take it. My head snapped toward William. His face was unreadable, cold, his eyes burning holes through Nicholas, but I could see the tension in his jaw, the quiet fury ready to ignite.

I swallowed hard, shaking, and forced myself to speak. My voice cracked, but it was steady enough to cut.

“There’s no baby.”

Nicholas blinked, his grin faltering. “What?”

My eyes welled, tears spilling freely now as I shook my head. “I lost it.” The words tore out of me like glass, raw and jagged. “It’s gone. And I don’t need you to remind me, because I feel it every second of every day. And now you don’t get to use it as a weapon against me.”

For the first time since I walked in, Nicholas’s smile faded. His face twisted with something—confusion, then anger, then something almost like fear—but it only lasted a second before he forced a laugh.

“You’re lying,” he spat. “You’re trying to hurt me. You’re—”

“No,” I snapped, my voice rising, breaking. “You hurt me. And now you rot down here, alone, chained like the animal you are, while I get to live. Without you.”

The room went silent except for my ragged breathing. William’s hand brushed against mine, though his eyes never left Nicholas.

Nicholas leaned back against the chains, a sly grin spreading across his face. His eyes flicked toward William, then back to me.

“Why don’t you send Daddy Dearest upstairs, huh?” he drawled, his voice hoarse but smug. “I want to talk to you, Reese. Alone.”

William’s head tilted, his expression icy. “Not a chance,” he said flatly. “You don’t get the privilege of being alone with her ever again.”

Nicholas chuckled, his laugh weak but cruel. “What, you afraid of what she might admit when you’re not around? Afraid she’ll finally tell me the truth? Let her decide. Unless you don’t trust her either.”

William’s jaw tightened. He stepped closer, standing just enough in front of me to make his dominance clear. “You’ll get nothing from her. Nothing.”

But I touched his arm, forcing him to look at me. My voice trembled, but I steadied it, meeting his eyes.

“William,” I whispered, “it’s okay. I’ve got this.”

His brow furrowed. “No, Princess. He’s manipulating. He’ll tear at you.”

“I know,” I said softly. “But if I don’t face him, if I don’t say what I need to say, then he still wins. Please. Trust me.”

For a moment, William just stared at me, his eyes searching mine, caught between protective instinct and the respect he’d been trying to show me.

Nicholas’s smirk grew. “Yeah. Trust her.”

William shot him a look that could have flayed him alive, then turned back to me. His hand brushed mine.

“I’ll be fine,” I whispered, nodding. “I need to do this.”

William lingered, clearly hating every second, then finally stepped back toward the stairs and out the door.

Nicholas leaned forward, chains rattling, his grin spreading wider now that it was just him and me. “There we go. Just you and me again, sweetheart.”

Chapter Text

I’ll never forget the first time Nicholas hit me. It was the summer after college graduation, right after we had moved in together. We’d been having small arguments here and there, usually about me going out with my girlfriends at night. Nicholas didn’t trust me, and even though he swore he did, I could always feel the doubt simmering underneath.

That night, I had gone out for my best friend’s birthday—bar hopping around the city. I’d had a few drinks, laughed too loud, let myself feel carefree. I was supposed to sleep at her house, but after the flood of missed calls and texts from Nicholas, I knew I had to go home.

When I walked through the door, the first thing I noticed was the scattered beer cans on the counter. He’d been drinking.

“Nicky?” I called out, locking the door behind me. I used to call him Nicky, back when things were good. “Hello? I’m home!”

He emerged from the hallway, shoulders tense, eyes narrowing the moment he saw me. “I texted and called you,” he said, voice clipped. His gaze dropped to my body, scanning me with sharp disapproval. “Where’s your jacket? You were out all night wearing just that?”

I looked down at my skirt and tank top. I had left with a jacket, but it got hot in the bar and I’d forgotten it on a chair. I hadn’t even realized until Nicholas pointed it out.

“Nicky, it’s fine,” I said with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. I stepped toward him. “I just got hot. And I’ve had a few, so—”

“How drunk are you?” he cut in.

I scoffed, trying to brush it off. “How drunk are you?” I shot back.

His lips pressed into a thin line. “You’re the one who’s been out all night. How do I know you weren’t flirting with other men?”

My smile faltered. “Nicholas…” I sighed, shaking my head. “You really think I’d do that? It was my best friend’s birthday. I wasn’t flirting with anyone.”

But he stepped closer, his voice rising. “How the hell do I know that? You leave the house dressed like that, drunk, staying out ‘til morning—you think I’m stupid?”

I felt my chest tighten, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. “You don’t trust me at all, do you?”

That was when it happened.

His hand lashed out so fast I barely registered it until the sting bloomed across my cheek. The sound echoed in the apartment, louder than anything else. I staggered back, clutching my face, staring at him in shock.

“You hit me…” I whispered, my voice trembling.

Nicholas froze, his chest heaving, eyes widening as if he hadn’t even realized what he’d done. His face crumpled, panic flooding his expression. “Baby—fuck—I didn’t mean to. I don’t know what came over me. You just—” he reached for me, his hands shaking, “you make me so mad sometimes.”

I backed away, tears spilling over, my cheek throbbing.

He looked gutted. “No, no, please—don’t look at me like that. I love you. You know I love you.” His voice cracked, almost desperate. “I swear it’ll never happen again.”

Before I could move, he pulled me into his arms, pressing his face into my hair, whispering apology after apology. I stood stiff in his grasp, but slowly, I let him hold me. I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him.

And I did. That night.

But that was the beginning. The line had been crossed, and once it was, he never stopped crossing it again.

***

Nicholas smirked at my silence, leaning his head against the wall like he owned the room. “Nothing to say, huh?”

I flinched, but kept my lips pressed shut.

His smile widened. “You know, you weren’t the only one. Not even close. I cheated on you more times than you’ll ever know. Girls who could actually handle me, who weren’t so pathetically desperate.” He let out a weak chuckle. “Hell, some of them were better than you. Prettier. Definitely smarter too.”

The words sank like stones in my chest. My nails dug into my palms.

“And you knew, didn’t you?” His voice turned almost sing-song. “Deep down, you knew. That’s why you hated yourself so much. Because you stayed. Because you let me.” He tilted his head, mocking. “Because you loved me.”

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes. I refused to let them fall.

Nicholas noticed. Of course he noticed. “Oh, sweetheart, don’t cry. You’ve moved on now, haven’t you? With your 40 year old boss.” He gave a low laugh, though it cracked in his dry throat. “But you and I both know how that ends. He’ll get tired of you. He’ll leave you, just like everyone else. And when he does?” His smile turned sharp, cruel. “You’ll miss me.”

I couldn’t breathe. His words pressed down on me, suffocating, familiar. Still, I didn’t answer.

Nicholas leaned forward as far as his chains would allow, his eyes glinting with perverse satisfaction. “You’ll miss me because no one will ever want you the way I did. No one else can love someone as broken as you. Not even William.”

“Shut up,” I rasped. 

Nicholas let out a laugh. “You know what’s funny?” he whispered. “I’m not surprised you lost the baby. You’ve been killing things your whole life.”

My chest tightened, my stomach turning. I didn’t answer.

He grinned wider. “That baby didn’t stand a chance.” He shook his head slowly, mockingly. “And it’s all because of you. Your body couldn’t even hold onto it. You killed it, Reese. Just like you killed your mother.”

My breath hitched so violently it almost hurt.

“Think about it,” he pressed, voice low and cruel. “She died bringing you into this world. And that baby died trying to grow inside you. That’s your legacy. Death. Emptiness. Nothing. Even the people who are supposed to love you the most don’t survive you. Look at your dad. Look at your brother.” 

Tears blurred my vision before I even realized I was crying. My hands curled into fists at my sides, but I couldn’t stop trembling.

Nicholas tilted his head like he was studying me, savoring the way I fell apart. “You’re cursed, Reese.” 

My whole body went cold, then hot, then nothing. My ears rang so loud I barely heard my own voice when it ripped out of me.

“SHUT UP!!” I screamed, the words tearing through my throat until it hurt. “Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!”

Nicholas flinched back against the wall, chains rattling, but that grin never left his face. It only made me shake harder.

“You don’t get to say her name! You don’t get to talk about my mother, or my baby, or me!” My voice cracked into something feral, broken, guttural. “You destroyed me! You hollowed me out until there was nothing left, and I still thought maybe, maybe if I loved you hard enough you’d stop hating me!”

He chuckled, raspy, dark. “That’s pathetic, Reese. You’re pathetic.” 

I lunged at him. The chain between us clinked as he jerked back, but my hands grabbed him by the shirt, lifted him up against the wall, and wrapped around his throat before I even realized what I was doing. His skin was hot and clammy under my palms, his pulse frantic against my grip.

“You ruined me!” I sobbed, pressing harder, my arms trembling violently. “You don’t get to win anymore, you hear me?! You don’t get to crawl inside my head and live there! I’m done with you! I’m done!”

Tears streamed down my face, falling onto him, mixing with the ragged sound of his laugh strangled beneath my grip.

“You… can’t…” he croaked, eyes gleaming even as they watered from the pressure. “R-Reese—” 

I squeezed tighter, screaming so loud my voice cracked raw. Then I staggered back, gasping, clutching my chest like I’d been stabbed. My legs gave out and I crumpled to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, my mind unraveling in every direction at once.

Nicholas coughed, slumping back against the wall, a smug, broken chuckle wheezing out of him.

“See?” he rasped. “I knew you couldn’t do it. Same weak little girl I’ve known since high school.” 

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, forcing myself to look him in the eye. “I don’t understand you, Nicholas,” I said, my voice shaking but steady enough to carry. “Why are you so cruel? Why did you do the things you did to me?”

“You’re stubborn,” he said. “You’re high maintenance. Ungrateful. Everything I ever gave you, every chance I ever gave you, it was never enough for you, was it?” He tilted his head, eyes glinting. “Anything that happened between us that you didn’t like? That wasn’t me. That was you. You’re the root of all your problems, Reese. You always have been. I’m sure your boss knows that too.”

The words hit me like a blow. I felt my chest tighten, my heart pounding against my ribs. My mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Nicholas smirked wider, sensing the hesitation. “See? That’s the truth you don’t want to admit. You hated yourself long before I ever laid a hand on you. I just… showed you what you really were.” His voice dropped lower, crueler. “Pathetic. Weak. Easy to break.”

I felt my fists curl at my sides, my nails digging into my palms.

“And here you are again,” he went on, leaning forward until the chains rattled. “You’ll never change, Reese. Even when I’m chained to a wall, you’re still scared of me. You’ll always be scared of me.”

I flinched when he lunged against the restraints, and he laughed—a sharp, broken laugh that made my blood boil.

“There it is,” he taunted. “Proof. I own you. Even now.” 

My chest heaved, my heart pounding so violently I thought it might burst. His laughter clawed through me, scraping old wounds raw.

“You don’t own me,” I spat, my voice shaking but sharp. “Not anymore. You didn’t make me hate myself, you just fed on it. You made me believe I was worthless because it made you feel powerful. You broke me down because without me to destroy, you were nothing. And you’re still nothing, Nicholas.”

His grin faltered for just a flicker, but then returned, smug and cruel. “Cute little speech, Reese. But if you really believed that, you wouldn’t be standing here trembling like a child. You wouldn’t have flinched just now. You wouldn’t be crying.”

I wiped furiously at my tears. “No. You don’t scare me,” I said, though my voice cracked. 

He leaned forward, the chains rattling. “Yes, I do. I always will. Because deep down, you know I’m right. You’ll never be free of me.”

Something inside me tore open.

“NO!” The scream ripped from my throat before I even realized it. My fists clenched, and I lunged.

I slammed into him, the chains rattling violently as his head hit the wall with a sickening crack. He barked out a laugh, even then, even now.

My fists crashed into his face, again and again, the skin of my knuckles splitting on bone. His laughter turned to a garbled mess, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. All the years of silence, all the bruises, all the nights I told myself it was love: every punch carried them.

“You—ruined—me!” I screamed, each word punctuated by another blow. “You—don’t—own—me—anymore!”

Blood splattered across my arms, my chest, the concrete. He coughed, choked, slumped against the wall, but still managed to sneer through broken teeth. “You’ll miss me.”

“SHUT UP!” My hands moved on their own, beating, clawing, grabbing. His face was barely recognizable beneath the mess of blood and swelling, but I couldn’t stop until he went still. Until there was nothing left.

And then there was silence.

My chest heaved, my hands shaking, raw and covered in blood. I stumbled back, gasping, staring at the lifeless body chained to the wall. 

Nicholas was finally quiet.

I pressed my hands to my face, blood on my face, chest heaving in exhileration. I had killed him. With my own hands.

“Reese…” I heard softly from behind me. 

Slowly, I turned around.

William was standing at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the railing casually, his eyes locked on me. His expression wasn’t horror. It wasn’t shock.

He was smiling.

That sharp, knowing, proud smile that chilled me and steadied me all at once.

“Well…” his voice was smooth. He stepped close to me. “Look at you.” His eyes flicked to Nicholas’s ruined body, then back to me. “So beautiful. So strong.”

I nodded my head, trembling. “I killed him, William…”

“Yes,” he said simply, almost like it was an answer to a prayer. His hand lifted, brushing my cheek with startling gentleness despite the blood smeared across me. “You finally did what he deserved.”

His thumb grazed my jaw, tilting my face up toward him. “And I’ve never been prouder.”

My tears fell faster, but I didn’t pull away. For the first time in years, Nicholas was gone. Forever. And William was the one smiling at me like I had done something holy.

Something inside me cracked, and I collapsed into William’s chest, sobbing. His arms wrapped around me instantly, possessive and unyielding, like he had been waiting for this moment all along.

“Shh,” he whispered against my hair, his smile pressed into my scalp. “It’s over now, Princess. He’ll never touch you again.”

And for the first time, I believed him. 

Chapter Text

I came home with William that night feeling alive. Not just breathing—but alive. I didn’t feel guilty. I didn’t feel defeated. And most of all, for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel scared.

William parked the car and turned the key slowly, his profile illuminated in the light from the moon outside. I watched him, the way his jaw clenched and then released. 

When he looked at me, it wasn’t pity in his eyes. It was pride.

“You did it,” he said softly.

I nodded, the corners of my mouth twitching upward. “Yeah. I did.”

He studied me a moment longer before speaking again. “Do you regret it?”

I shook my head immediately. “No.”

It was the truth. I had imagined a thousand ways Nicholas could die, and not one of them came close to how freeing it actually felt. 

As we stepped inside the house, I realized I wasn’t trembling anymore. My hands were steady. My breathing calm. The blood on my sleeves had long since dried, but William didn’t flinch when he saw it. He simply reached for my wrist, his touch deliberate, guiding me toward the bathroom.

“Let’s clean you up,” he murmured.

He helped me undress and wash away the last evidence of what I’d done. The sink water ran pink, then clear. I stared at my reflection in the mirror—eyes wide, cheeks flushed, a ghost of something new in my expression. Power, maybe. Or peace.

There were two kinds of justice in this world:

1. The lawful kind: the kind that required forms, evidence, signatures, and people who would never believe me.
   
   
2. And mine: the kind that required blood and courage and violence. Revenge.
   
   

A domestic abuse case wouldn’t have given me even a sliver of what I’d found tonight. Nicholas was gone. Forever.

When I came out of the bathroom, William was waiting on the edge of the bed. “How do you feel?” he asked, his voice quiet but firm.

I smiled. “Amazing.”

William’s lips curved faintly. “You should,” he said. “You’ve earned that.”

I walked closer until I was standing between his knees. His hands rested lightly on my hips, his thumbs tracing small circles against my skin. For once, I didn’t flinch.

He tilted his head up, catching my gaze. “I love you,” he said, almost reverently.

My chest tightened. It was the first time he’d said it out loud.

“I love you,” I whispered back.

I leaned in and kissed him. He kissed back—slowly at first—then deepened it, his hand finding my waist. I climbed on top of him, straddling his hips. He chuckled softly against my lips, scooting backwards, his breath warm as his hands guided me closer.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, and I giggled, tugging at his shirt. He pulled it off in one motion, then reached for mine. Our mouths never parted. His left hand slid behind me, unhooking my bra with practiced ease while his right slipped beneath the waistband of my sweats.

“All good?” he whispered, just making sure.

“Fine,” I said too sharply, too fast. My tone surprised even me. I shoved myself up, tore off my sweats, and yanked down his boxers.

He gave a quiet laugh—half surprise, half admiration—and pulled me back in for another kiss. I ground against him, pressing hard, nipping at his neck as I moved.

William stiffened beneath me. He shifted as if to stop me, but I grabbed his wrists and pinned them down. My breath came out in short, angry bursts.

“Reese—”

I crushed my mouth against his before he could finish. Only my panties separated us, and still, I didn’t let him move. I could feel his body faltering, losing its desire. He wasn’t hard anymore. 

He tried again. “Reese—”

“Shut up,” I hissed, kissing him harder.

I wanted this. Or at least, I thought I did. I wanted to want it. I had gone so much time dreading sex. Hating sex. Because it was never sex. It was rape. And that fear twisted into rage. And the rage made me reckless.

“Reese, slow down—”

“Shut up!” My voice broke. “Just—touch me!” The words cracked like glass. Tears blurred my vision. I wasn’t doing this because I wanted to. I was doing it because I didn’t know how else to feel okay.

I wasn’t ready.

William finally stopped me. He broke free easily, catching my wrists and pulling me against his chest, holding me there. Not kissing. Not speaking. Just holding.

I froze.

He knew. Of course he knew.

My body went limp as the tears came, hot and uncontrollable. I buried my face in his chest, sobbing, clutching at him like I was afraid he’d disappear.

He wrapped his arms around me. 

“It’s okay,” he said. “You’re okay.” 

Chapter Text

I was upset with myself. Upset at Nicholas for ruining me. I knew how unhealthy this was. Nicholas was gone, but somehow he was still in my head. Still haunting me. How in the hell was he ruining my life even after being burned to ashes by William?

He was always there. Underneath my skin.

My body still felt like his.

But it wasn’t his. It wasn’t William’s either. It was mine.

William had kindly offered to take me on a date tonight. I knew he wanted to distract me, but I also knew he truly wanted to go on an actual date for once. Something we’d never done before.

And I wanted that, too.

That night, I got dressed up. We both did. I wore a skirt I’d only worn once before: a dark purple and black floral pattern that brushed mid-shin, with a sheer mesh trim along the hem. I paired it with a fitted black long sleeve that showed a sliver of my stomach and dipped low at the neckline, revealing my collarbones. My hair was down. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I almost didn’t recognize the girl staring back.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d truly dressed up. Gone out to dinner. Gone on a date. It felt good and freeing. I felt loved.

William was already downstairs, dressed in a pair of black slacks and a dark grey sweater tucked loosely into a silver-buckled belt. He looked perfect, of course. I’d never seen him in a sweater before.

I quietly descended the stairs, admiring him from behind as he stood in the kitchen, drying dishes with a rag, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms.

I giggled softly, and he turned around as if he could sense me there. A smirk spread across his face, but it faltered the moment his eyes landed on me. I walked toward him, and his grin returned, broader now. He leaned against the counter, watching me approach like I was the only person in the world.

“Look at you,” he teased. Before I could respond, he lifted me by the waist and twirled me around once, kissing me as soon as my feet touched the ground again. “You’re sexy,” he murmured against my lips.

“You’re sexy,” I replied, reaching up to ruffle his hair, but he caught my wrist midair.

“Nice try,” he smirked, and I laughed.

We got in the car and drove downtown to a restaurant I hadn’t visited in years. William was quick to open my door, helping me out and gently adjusting the fabric of my skirt at my hips. He smiled, laced his fingers through mine, and led me toward the entrance.

I had never felt so loved. It was almost overwhelming.

The restaurant was elegant but not overdone: warm, intimate lighting, faded floral wallpaper, soft music humming through the air.

“For two,” William said as we approached the hostess stand. She smiled at him, barely glancing my way.

“Of course,” she said sweetly. “This way.”

She led us to a table in the center of the room. It seemed perfect to me, but not to William.

“Sorry,” he said smoothly, “but could we sit somewhere more… private?”

Both the hostess and I looked at him in surprise. I’d never seen anyone refuse a table before—outside of movies, anyway.

“Oh, uh, sure!” she said, quickly gathering the menus and guiding us to a quieter corner. “How’s this?”

William looked at me and squeezed my hand. “Perfect.”

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. The hostess left, and William pulled out my chair before sitting across from me.

“She was checking you out,” I said lightly, unable to keep the teasing edge or the faint jealousy out of my voice.

“Oh really?” He smirked. “Are you jealous?” 

“No,” I snapped quickly, and he laughed. I laughed as well. This would’ve gone so differently with Nicholas. We’d already be in an argument by now. 

***

After dinner, William and I walked through the quiet town, talking about nothing and everything. With Nicholas gone, it was as if the air itself had cleared. For the first time, William and I could simply be.

Sometimes, I wondered if I had never met him, would I even still be alive?

The thought scared me.

The night had been perfect, right up until the two least expected people appeared.

We turned a corner, and there they were—Jared and Daniel—stumbling toward us, laughing, clearly drunk out of their minds. Nicholas’s old friends.

My heart stopped. My body refused to move. William felt me hesitate and tightened his hold on my hand.

“Reese—” he began quietly.

“Oh, look who it is!” Jared called, his laughter echoing down the empty street. He pointed straight at me, and Daniel’s face lit up with a twisted kind of recognition. Their gazes flicked between William and me.

“Where’s Nick been hiding, huh?” Daniel jeered. “Finally let you out of the house, I see.” He chuckled, his eyes dragging over me disgustingly.

“Or maybe she traded up,” Jared added, eyeing William. “Old man’s got taste.”

I looked up at William. His expression had hardened. He had the same quiet, restrained anger I used to see whenever Nicholas was mentioned. 

“Walk away,” William said evenly. His hand left mine and moved to my waist, pulling me closer. “Don’t even look at her.”

But they only laughed louder.

“Relax, man,” Jared said, still grinning. “We’re just saying hi. Didn’t know she was spoken for.”

“She’s not,” William snapped, jaw tightening. “Come on,” he muttered to me. “Ignore them.”

We started to walk again, but they didn’t stop.

“Not even gonna say a word, Reese?” Jared taunted. William slowed his pace, then stopped altogether. I tugged at his arm, but he wouldn’t move. 

Jared smirked, sensing it. “Nick always complained about how uptight you are. Thought you would’ve loosened up by now,” He laughed.

William turned back to face them fully. His voice was calm, but there was steel in it.

“William—”

I tried, but William was already letting go of my hand and storming toward them. His voice came low and dangerous. “You don’t talk to her like that.”

“Oh, come on,” Jared sneered, his words slurred from alcohol. “Look at her—shaking in her little boots, face all tight. What happened to that sweet smile, huh?”

William moved before anyone could blink. He grabbed Jared by the front of his jacket and slammed him into the wall so hard the plaster cracked. Daniel stepped forward, but William shoved him back with one arm like he was nothing, his focus locked entirely on Jared.

“Go any further,” William said, his face inches from Jared’s, “and see what happens.”

Jared smirked through his fear, wiping his mouth. “I’m not scared of you, old man.” He glanced over William’s shoulder, right at me. “Reese always had a thing for me, didn’t you, sweetheart? All those times I came over, you had your eyes on me--”

The sound of William’s fist hitting Jared’s jaw was sickening.

I gasped, stepping back as Jared’s head snapped to the side, blood spattering the wall. William didn’t stop. He punched him again, and again, knuckles cracking against bone until Jared’s laughter turned into choked grunts.

“William—!!” I cried, but he didn’t hear me.

Daniel hovered uncertainly, eyes darting between his friend and the man beating him senseless. Then his gaze landed on me. There was something cruel in it.

“This is what you like, huh?” Daniel said, voice trembling but sharp. “Big, scary men fighting over you. Figures. Always were a tease.”

“Shut up,” I said, keeping my distance. 

He stepped closer. “You think he’s protecting you? He’s just like the rest of us. We all know what kind of girl you are—”

William turned so fast Daniel didn’t even have time to flinch. His hand shot out, grabbing Daniel by the throat and slamming him against the brick wall.

“Say that again,” William hissed. “Say her name again, and I swear you’ll never walk away from this.”

Daniel gagged, clutching at William’s arm, his face turning red. Jared groaned on the ground, spitting blood.

I ran forward, grabbing William’s arm. “Stop—please! William, that’s enough!”

His chest heaved, eyes still dark and wild, but slowly his grip loosened. Daniel slid down the wall, coughing. William turned to me, breathing hard, his knuckles split and glistening red.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, voice rough but gentle now.

I shook my head, but tears spilled down anyway. “No—but you—”

He looked back at Jared and Daniel, both slumped and silent. “They won’t touch you again.”

William’s arm slid possesively around my waist and we continued walking like nothing happened. I tried to look back, but William made sure I kept looking forward. 

“You could’ve killed him,” I said quietly. 

William chuckled a little. “

I thought about it.”