Page 58 of Twisted Love

“Are you out of your mind?” I hiss, trying to shake him off again. “Let me go, Earl. Right now!”

Nora appears at the open doorway, her eyes widening in concern as she takes in the sight of us.

“Mrs. Jackson, are you alright?” she asks, her voice tentative.

“Well? Am I alright?” I ask Earl taunting.

Earl’s gaze snaps to Nora like a whip. “Leave,” he commands, his voice sharp enough to make her flinch.

But to her credit, she doesn’t leave. “Mrs. Jackson,” she calls again courageously. “Are you alright?”

Her voice carries distress and it makes me feel ashamed of myself for involving her. I turn my head towards her and flash her a smile.

“I’m fine,” I say.

Nora hesitates, her hands clasped nervously in front of her.

“You can go now. Thanks, Nora.”

She nods and disappears into the house.

His grip falters for that split second, and at that moment, I wrench my arm free. My chest heaves as I take a step back, my eyes never leaving his. My heart pounds in my chest, a mix of anger, pain, and something dangerously close to regret. I see it now. How naïve I was to think I could make it work. It is hopeless.

I don’t know if I can remain one more second in this place knowing for sure now that I’ve lost him. The raindrops falling on my head are getting bigger and colder, but it’s my heart that feels like it is encased in ice.

Before he can stop me, I whirl around and run towards the garden. He shouts, calling my name, his voice urgent and rattled, but I don’t stop. I’m terrified he will follow me, but thankfully, he doesn’t. The rain suddenly starts pouring in heavy sheets of water. But I can’t go back to the house. I know he is expecting me to as there is nowhere else to go, but I won’t give him that satisfaction. I will do anything possible to be as far away from him as I can. I will wait until he is asleep then I will creep in and leave before dawn. I change direction and head toward the land at the back of the conservatory, towards the lake. The rain washes away my racking sobs. I wish I could go to my parents’ home right now and this time around use my brain rather than my stupid emotions, and never come back.

The rain pours relentlessly, the icy drops soaking through my clothes until the chill reaches my very bones. My hair clings to my face, plastered against my skin, as I wander aimlessly through the grounds, my heels sinking into the soft, rain-soaked earth. The cold bites at me and makes me shiver, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my chest, the hollow emptiness that Earl’s words have carved into me.

I’m like a mad woman weeping inconsolably, walking in circles, and wailing softly, ‘How could he?’ again and again. I’m glad there is no one to see my distress or how low I have fallen. My parents would be shocked to see the state I am in. How long has passed since I ran away from him? Must be no more than a few minutes, but it feels like forever. I don’t think I can wait until he goes to sleep. Maybe I’ll wait a little while longer and then I’ll try and tiptoe in through the back door. My arms wrap around me, desperate for warmth, but the freezing wind cuts through my drenched dress, leaving me trembling and weak.

My mind spins back to the beginning—to the stolen moments when everything felt so perfect. To the way he looked at me, like I was the only thing that mattered. What changed? What the hell happened? How did it all fall apart so completely? How did we get here? His words replay in my head, over and over, each one a dagger sinking deeper into my heart.

You don’t own me, I own you. The words are sharp, bitter.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts that threaten to drown me. The rain intensifies and I can barely see a few feet ahead of me, and I stumble as my heel catches on the uneven stone path. My breaths come in short, shuddering gasps as the cold sinks deeper into my body. My fingers are numb, and my toes ache from the chill seeping through my soaked shoes.

I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to fix this—if it can even be fixed. The weight of it all crushes me, and I stop walking, my knees trembling beneath me. I close my eyes, letting the rain wash over me as exhaustion pulls at my limbs. I feel so small, so lost.

A voice breaks through the haze. “Mrs. Jackson!”

I blink, turning toward the sound. Through the sheets of rain, I see Nora hurrying toward me, an umbrella held high above her head, something bulky tucked under her armpit. Relief rushes through me, mingling with the fresh wave of tears that spill down my cheeks. She reaches me, her face pale with worry, and without a word, she drapes a thick blanket around my shoulders.

“It’s freezing cold,” she says, her voice trembling as she tugs the blanket tighter around me. “Come inside, please. You’ll catch your death out here.”

Her warmth and concern undo me. Unable to form words, I can only nod weakly. Kneeling down on the ground she takes my stilettos off and slips a pair of rain boots over my frozen feet. The simple gesture sends a fresh wave of gratitude coursing through me, and I let her guide me towards the house. I cling to the blanket as we make our way back toward the glow of Earl’s house.

Under the shelter of the umbrella, Nora walks close beside me, shielding me from the worst of the rain. The warmth of the blanket is a stark contrast to the icy wetness of my clothes, and I feel the first stirrings of comfort seep into my frozen limbs.

When we reach the door, Nora opens it quickly, ushering me inside. The warmth of the house envelops me like a balm, and I feel my body start to thaw, though the ache in my chest remains as painful as ever.

“Everyone’s gone to bed. Take that dress off and sit down by the fire,” Nora urges gently, guiding me to a chair near a wood burner in the far end of the kitchen. “While I’ll run a hot bath for you.”

But I feel too weak to undress. I just sink into the chair, my fingers clutching the blanket tightly around me. The fire crackles softly, its warmth a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. As the rain continues to lash against the windows, I close my eyes and let the exhaustion take over, hoping for even a moment’s respite from the turmoil swirling in my heart.

CHAPTER36

EARL

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