Chapter 4 4. Confrontation

Kelly's view """"

I had called in sick, hoping to spend the day in bed, hiding from the world. But as I heard the knock on the door, I knew I couldn't ignore it.

I dragged myself out of bed, expecting it to be a neighbor or maybe a delivery. But when I opened the door, my heart sank.

Augustus stood there, a look of concern etched on his face. "I heard you called in sick," he said, his voice soft. "I wanted to check on you."

I felt a mix of emotions: anger, hurt, and betrayal. What was he doing here?

"I'm fine," I said, trying to shut the door. But Augustus pushed his way in, his eyes locked on mine.

"Don't lie to me, Kelly," he said, his voice low. "I know you're not fine."

"Get out," I said, my voice trembling with rage. "How dare you show up here after what you did?"

Augustus took a step forward, but I held my ground. "You have no right to be here," I spat, my anger boiling over.

The memories of our past, the pain of his betrayal, it all came flooding back. I felt like I was staring into the eyes of a stranger, a stranger who had broken my heart.

"I hate you," I said, the words pouring out of me like venom. "I hate what you've done to me."

The air was thick with tension as Augustus's expression faltered, but I didn't care. I wanted him gone.

Augustus's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of remorse. But then his expression hardened.

"I'm not going anywhere, Kelly," he said, his voice firm. "You're still mine, and I'm not letting you go."

The words sent a chill down my spine. Did he really think he could just waltz back in after what he'd done?

I laughed, a cold, bitter sound. "You're delusional," I said, my voice dripping with venom. "I'm done with you, Augustus. Done."

The finality in my voice should have been clear, but Augustus just smiled, a smile that made my skin crawl.

Augustus's words cut deep, his tone dripping with condescension. "You're lost without me, Kelly. You need me to save you from yourself."

I felt a surge of anger and resentment. Did he really think he was my savior?

"You're delusional," I spat, my voice venomous. "I don't need you to save me. I'm perfectly capable of saving myself."

"I own my life, Augustus," I said, my voice firm. "Not you. Not anyone else. Me."

Augustus's words hung in the air, a smug look on his face. "I saved your life, Kelly," he said, his voice dripping with self-importance.

I felt a wave of anger wash over me. Saved my life? Was he kidding?

Augustus's eyes gleamed with a possessive light. "I saved your life 9 years ago," he said, his voice low and intense. "And from that moment on, you became mine."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. Was he serious?

"That's not how it works, Augustus," I said, my voice firm. "You saved my life, yes, but that doesn't give you ownership of me."

The idea that I owed him my life, my loyalty, my everything, was suffocating.

"I owe you my gratitude, yes," I said, "but not my freedom. Not my autonomy."

The distinction was crucial, and I stood firm, refusing to be bound by Augustus's twisted logic.

Augustus's expression remained unyielding, his eyes burning with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

"You don't understand, Kelly," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You belong to me. You owe me your life, and I'll collect what's mine."

The words sent a chill down my spine. Augustus's obsession was suffocating, and I knew I had to get away from him.

"I'm not a possession, Augustus," I said, my voice firm. "I'm a person, with my own thoughts and feelings."

But Augustus just smiled, a cold, calculating smile.

Augustus's grip was like a vice, his fingers digging into my skin as he pulled me towards him. I felt a surge of panic and adrenaline as he crashed his lips to mine.

The kiss was brutal, possessive, and it left me breathless. I tried to push him away, but he held me tight, his grip unyielding.

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as I realized I was being kissed against my will. The thought was revolting, and I knew I had to fight back.

With a surge of strength, I managed to break free from his grasp. "Don't ever touch me like that again," I said, my voice shaking with anger and fear.

The look in Augustus's eyes was dark, intense, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

Augustus's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and determination as he leaned in close. "We'll see about that," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me shaken and wondering what he had planned.

I watched him go, feeling a sense of unease wash over me. What did he mean by those words? Was he going to try to manipulate me again, or was he going to take things further?

As I stood there, trying to process what had just happened, I knew one thing for sure - I needed to be careful around Augustus.

I picked up my phone and dialed Jesse's number, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as she answered on the first ring.

"Hey, girl, what's going on?" she asked, her voice warm and concerned.

"I need to talk to you about something," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Come on over," she said, without hesitation. "I'll be there in 20."

I hung up the phone, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Jesse. She was always there for me, no matter what.

As I waited for her to arrive, I couldn't help but think about everything that had happened with Augustus. The cheating, the lies, the manipulation... it was all so overwhelming.

When Jesse arrived, I let her in and we sat down on the couch. I took a deep breath and began to tell her everything, from the beginning.

As I shared my story with Jesse, I could see the surprise etched on her face. Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.

"Wait, what? Augustus cheated on you?" she asked, her voice filled with shock.

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yes, and that's not all. He showed up here today, acting like he owns me."

Jesse's expression turned incredulous. "Owns you? What does that even mean?"

I took a deep breath and recounted Augustus's words, his actions. Jesse listened intently, her face growing darker with each passing moment.

When I finished, she let out a low whistle. "Girl, I'm so sorry. You deserve so much better than him."

Her words were comforting, and I felt a sense of validation wash over me.