Sweetheart

35

⚠️tw: this chapter will deal with sexual assault. There will not be detailed scenes or events, but the topic will be faced explicitly. If you have experienced SA, I feel for you deeply and I hope you're better now. I love you and you are strong.

If you think that reading about it might be too hard for you, please feel free to scroll to the end of this chapter. I'll summarize Lizzie's backstory for you so that you know what happened to her without having to read about it specifically. Please be careful <3

Also, there will be blood and violence, so if that disturbs you I advise you stop reading from the first * to the second one.

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Lizzie
January 2020

Sitting at the kitchen table alone, I keep eating my snack. Rosy doesn't often make brownies because my mom forbade it, but today she made an exception. I will never thank her enough.

My parents aren't home at the moment, so no one can judge me for eating something that isn't lame fruit or veggies.

As it's the first time I eat brownies in months, I allow myself to take a bit more than I probably should, knowing damn well that it's probably gonna mess with my stomach. You only live once, though, right?

"Stellina," Rosy calls me from the living room. "Your mother is on the phone. She wants to speak with you."

I groan, dropping my fork and leaving my third piece of chocolate untouched. "Can't you tell her I'm not here?" I sarcastically ask, aware that my mom knows where I am at all times. Thank you, tracing app on my phone.

"Come on, now," Rosy says, smiling sweetly at me. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

She gives me the phone. "Thank you." I bring the object to my ear and take a deep breath, trying not to sound annoyed. "Hi." Mission failed.

"What's with the attitude, young lady?"

I frown. "I just said hi."

"Forget it. I'm sending Marcus a location. Be there in ten, all right?" As she tells me this, Marcus, our driver, pops his head inside the house. "Elizabeth?"

"Uh, okay. Where are we going?"

"To meet some people. Now get ready and be here quickly. I don't like to make guests wait." Before I can say another word, she hangs up.

I roll my eyes and set down the house phone. "One minute and I'll be outside, Marcus. Thank you."

"No problem, Miss." The man smiles, his face scrunching with the many wrinkles adorning it. "Are these brownies I smell?"

"Yep. Rosy made them. Don't tell my mom," I reply, smiling.

Marcus chuckles, going towards the kitchen. He looks at the chocolate sweets, but spares Rosy a longer look. Adorable.

I climb up the two flights of stairs and enter my bedroom. I open the walk-in closet to grab something cute to wear since my mom always taunts me about the leggings and sweater I usually prefer to wear.

Not wanting to look too cute, however, I simply opt for a pair of jeans and a beige cashmere sweater. I add my white sneakers and pull on a coat while I head back downstairs.

Marcus is still biting down on a brownie when I say, "I'm ready." The old man smiles at me apologetically. I grin. "I'll wait in the car. Take your time."

The Range Rover is waiting for me in the driveway, so I climb in and fasten my belt, texting my mom to tell her that we're about to leave. When Marcus enters the car as well, we start moving.