Chapter 6 The Fragile Escape

Sometimes survival means running.

Mark had promised me that he was on my side but I had doubts. And the man I was in love was about to prove to me that he was up to the task.

I was home all through because I had nowhere to go. My boss was too afraid to let me continue working. I took Lily to school and stayed home, knitting some crochets wears that I could sell.

Then I heard him knock at the door. I always knew in my heart that he would always find his way to my doorstep no matter what. My heart beamed with excitement as I rushed to open the door.

But his face drained me of all the excitement. "What again?" My heart sank in fear.

His eyes were fiery, his breathing was heavy like he had been running. He looked at me like a man that was cornered but unwilling to surrender.

"Pack your bags," he said, his voice was very thick and sounded urgent.

I looked at him in confusion. "Mark, what's happening?"

"I'm taking you and Lily away, just for a little while." He replied, his eyes not leaving mine.

"Why? I don't understand, Mark. Did something happen?

"I need to take you and Lily away from my family and their threats. I have to get you two away from them for a while.''

I looked deeper into his face and I knew that he was dead serious but I couldn't undertsand the urgency. He didn't say anything the last time we saw. He semed happy to me.

"Mark, that's madness. I can't just leave. I don't even know where we'd go." I replied in a low tone, trying not to upset him.

"You don't need to know," he said firmly. "Just trust me."

I hesitated.

I didn't want to do that. Trust him? I hadn't forgotten that he betrayed my trust in him and did his family's bidding with his engagement to Emily. I didn't forget but I just couldn't resist him.

Gosh! Why am I so in love with him?

He moved closer to me and held my tiny hands when compared to his. Damn, his hands were warm, so warm they made me feel safe.

"Clara, I know you still don't trust me. But I want you to know that you can trust me. I am all in for us.''

He knew what was on my mind. I didn't trust him one bit, and I had to be responsible for my daughter.

"Why did you get engaged to Emily then?'' I asked him hoping for an honest answer.

Silence.

He didn't say anything and then he began to stutter.

"Look, uhm Clara.....It's ...."

"It's what?" I demanded to know.

"It's complicated."

Did he just say it was complicated. I couldn't understand why he was doing all that his mother wanted.

Why couldn't he just stand up to her and fight for our love? Of course I loved him but I wasn't going to go anywhere with a man I didn't trust.

"I can't go with you Mark.'' I replied very calmly.

Trust was very important to me, especially when my world had been torn down brick by brick because of him.

"Clara please, let me fix my mess. You are in all of this because of me. I can't let you go and that's why my evil family is coming after you. Please, Clara, please."

The desperation and sincerity in his eyes reminded me of the truth, that he was as trapped as I was. He was caged in the priosn of love just as I was.

The heart wants what it wants. Our hearts desperately needed each other to breathe and survive. But it was hard.

I felt like I was drowning. The look in his eyes showed me that he was helplessly drowning too.

Maybe he was right. Going away for a while would definitely give me room to breathe. I had never been away from the city where I lived. Time away from the watchful eyes of his mother will help me regain my strength.

"Where's Mummy going?" Lily's small body crept between us. She had overheard our conversation. I wasn't sure she understood fully though, because she was only four.

Mark bent down, his voice softening in a way that gave me mad heart palpitations."We're going on a trip, sweetheart. Somewhere safe. Somewhere made just for you, mummy and I."

Lily's brightened with an excited smile. "Like a holiday?"

"Yes gummy bear" Mark whispered. "Like a holiday."

And so, I let him take us.

We drove through the night, the city lights fading behind us, swallowed by dark roads and empty fields.

Lily fell asleep in the back seat, her tiny head resting against the window, while I sat in bedside Mark in silence, staring out into the darkness.

After driving for hours, the car slowed down, turning down a narrow road lined with tall trees. At the end of it stood a small cottage by the sea, its windows shinning faintly against the night.

I was stunned by its beauty and serenity. I got excited within me. Mark was right, I need some self care with lots of peace.

"This was my grandmother's," Mark said quietly as he parked. "It's the only place my parents don't come to."

"Why?'' I asked, curious

"It's a long story. I'll tell you one of these days.'' He replied.

When I stepped out, the slow breeze hit me, it was warm and cool. I could hear the sound of the sea waves crashed in the distance, it was steady and soothing.

For the first time in weeks, my chest loosened, as though the ocean itself was lending me its air to breathe.

When we entered the cottage, it was simple. It had beautiful wooden floors, a stone fireplace, and the faint scent of lavender. It was nothing like the polished, glamorous world of the Moguls.

As I tucked Lily into bed, she whispered, "I like it here, Mummy. Can we stay forever?"

I kissed her forehead, my throat tightening from uncertainty. "We'll see, darling."

But deep down, I knew forever was a fragile dream.

When I went back into the living room, Mark was by the fire, his hands were buried in his hair. He looked like a man carrying the weight of two worlds his family's and mine.

"Clara," he said softly when he saw me. "I wish I could give you more than this. More than stolen nights and temporary peace."

I swallowed hard as sadness filled my heart. I crossed my arms against the swell of emotions that was threatening to make me cry.

"Why do you keep fighting them, Mark? You could have everything, wealth, power, respect. Instead, you're here with me, hiding out in your grandmother's cottage"

His eyes locked onto mine.

"Because none of that means anything without you. You think I don't see the way they're tearing you apart? You think I don't hate myself for it? But Clara, I'd rather lose everything, even lose myself than lose you."

His words sank into me, leaving me in awe. "And Emily?" I whispered. "She won't stop. She looked at me like I was dirt, like I was an enemy she would stop at nothing to kill."

Mark's jaw tightened, anger filling up his eyes. "Emily is nothing but a contract in my eyes. She's convenient. But she doesn't own me. She never will." He pulled me in at this point to sit on his laps close to the fireplace.

After he said those words, silence filled the space between us. I could only hear the heavy sound of the ocean outside and our heartbeats that were synced into a distant rhythm.

"Do you regret it?" I finally asked, my voice was barely a whisper. "Choosing me, when you could have had an easy life?"

He moved closer, his hand brushing my cheek so gently it made my heart long for him. "Never, my love. You are the only thing in my life that feels real."

I could feel his eyes sinking deep into my soul as he said those words.