FALLING FOR A HEARTLESS BETA

Amber’s POV

I sat in our bedroom, tears streaming down my face, as I looked at the bruises on my arms. My husband, Tom, had lost his temper once again and taken it out on me. I had never felt so heartbroken and helpless in my entire life.

I thought back to the day we got married, how happy and in love, he was with me. But now, it felt like a distant memory. Tom had changed over time, becoming more and more abusive, but then it was all my fault. If only, I did not try to think of Stefan as Dale, then there wouldn’t be a problem.

Over and over again, I blamed myself for what happened to me, but then, I could not believe that Tom could become more violent. One day, when his mother came to visit, Tom forced me to appear sweet and happy, as if everything was fine in his household.

To avoid more beating from my abusive husband, I did as I was told. I never dared to inform my mother-in-law that her son was abusive, and has been maltreating me for several months already.

Tom did not only abuse me physically but also sexually and psychologically. He was a mean bastard who enjoyed inflicting pain on my body. One day, when he left to attend to an important matter in Claybourne, I was tempted to leave, but then he warned me not to do it, or Dale would greatly suffer from his wrath.

As I sat there, feeling defeated and alone, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was how my life was always going to be. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t continue living like this. I had to find the courage to leave and start anew, even if it meant being alone, but how? I was trapped in the countryside, married to a mean bastard, and so alone?

The sound of a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I hesitated, not sure if I should answer. But something inside me told me to go and see who it was. As I opened the door, I was shocked to see Dale, standing in front of me.

At first, I couldn’t find the words to say anything. It had been so long since we last saw each other. But then, as he looked at me with concern, I couldn’t help but break down in tears and tell him everything that had been going on.

Dale listened intently, his expression growing angrier by the minute. He promised me that he would do everything in his power to help me, even if it meant putting himself in danger, but then, why would he do that? In the first place, it was Dale who wanted me to get married to Tom.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had someone on my side, someone who cared about me and wanted to protect me. And for that, I was grateful, but also, I was scared.

“Amber…,” he said, his voice soft and hesitant. “What happened to you?” he asked as he immediately grabbed my wrist to check the bruises on my skin. “Is that really you, Amber?” he asked because I looked different from the last time we saw each other.

I managed to nod, my heart pounding in my chest. “Yes, it’s me,” I said, feeling my voice catch in my throat. I probably looked horrible in his eyes and he even had to ask if he was talking to me or someone else.

We stood there in silence for a few moments, just looking at each other. I could feel all the memories flooding back – the long walks we took together, the late-night conversations, the stolen kisses.

Finally, he spoke up.

“I can’t believe he abused you like this! How long has it been since he’s done this to you, Amber?”

I shook my head, feeling a little disoriented. “Too long,” I said. “It’s been so many months.”

“Are you saying that he immediately abused you right after the wedding?”

“Few weeks after the wedding,” I replied, and then I paused for a moment while trying to decide if I should be honest with Dale about Stefan. “It’s my fault, Dale,” I added, and he furrowed his brows in confusion.

“How come it is your fault? You are the victim here, Amber!”

“I cheated on him,” I confessed the truth. Regardless if nothing sexual had happened between me and Stefan, the fact that I imagined Stefan as Dale Ramsay, would be considered as cheating nevertheless.

“You cheated on Tom Summers? How? And to whom?”

“With Stefan,” I replied.

“What? What are you talking about Amber? Did you really cheat on your husband with his brother? That’s unforgivable!”

“I know that Dale, however, I couldn’t stop myself from being drawn to him,” I mumbled.

“Why? Why did you have to cheat on Stefan?”

“Because he reminded me of you, Dale. I missed you so much but you are so far from me. I couldn’t even call your phone just to hear your voice!”

“Still, we have nothing else to discuss. Whatever we shared in the past has already ended,” he stated.

“Then, why the hell did you come here? You should have stayed in Claybourne for goodness sake!” I snapped at him because he was being impossible.

“Amber…,” he said, his voice serious. “I have to tell you something.”

“What is it?” I asked, then I looked at him, feeling a sense of unease.

He took a deep breath. “I never stopped loving you, Amber,” he said, looking me straight in the eye. “I know it’s been a long time, but my feelings for you haven’t changed.”

I felt a wave of emotions wash over me – surprise, confusion, and even a hint of anger. I couldn’t believe he was telling me this now, after all this time.

“I don’t know what to say,” I said, feeling my heart race. “I’m married now, and I can’t just leave my husband for you.”

He nodded slowly, looking a little defeated. “I know,” he said. “But I had to tell you how I feel. I’ve regretted letting you go for so long, Amber.”

We stood there in silence for a few moments, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I didn’t know what to say to him, and I felt a sense of guilt creeping up inside me.

Finally, he spoke up again. “I understand if you don’t feel the same way,” he said. “But I just had to tell you how I feel. I never want to regret not telling you again.”

I looked at him, feeling a mix of emotions. Part of me wanted to tell him that I still loved him too, but I knew that wasn’t fair. So instead, I just nodded.

“Thank you for telling me,” I said

When he showed up on my doorstep, I was so surprised because it was out of the blue. We hadn’t spoken in months, not since he shipped me off to Clayland to marry Tom Summers, but Dale seemed different now. He was apologetic, and he seemed genuinely concerned for my well-being.

“You should leave now. Tom is coming home anytime from now,” I informed him.

“Not without you, Amber. I regretted my decision of arranging your marriage to that bastard. Let’s go home,” he said. “We can live in the mansion, or in my vacation house.”

He told me that he wanted to take me away, to a vacation house that he owned. He said that it would be good for me, that I needed to get away from my abusive husband.

At first, I was hesitant. I didn’t know if I could trust him, after everything that had happened between us, but Dale was persuasive. He promised that he wouldn’t hurt me, that he just wanted to help me.

And so, I agreed to go with him.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“I don’t think this is a good idea, Dale. Why are you doing this?”

“Because I can’t let another bastard abuse you,” he said.

“Tom is no different from you, Dale,” I reminded him of the time when he used to abuse me as well.

“I am better than that bastard!” he snapped.