Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
The television was blasting from the living room and she snuck past the closed door toward the door leading down to the basement.
“Faith.”
Fuck. Shit.
She froze, her heart racing. God. Why was she here? Why hadn’t she stayed with Reuben?
He never made her feel like this. As though her heart might pound its way out of her chest. Turning, she stared up at Eric.
He’s never hurt you.
He’s just a mean asshole.
“Eric. Is Cammie home?”
“No.”
Fudge.
“You’re not supposed to come in the front door, Faith.”
He spat her name out as though it was a curse.
“Sorry.” She wasn’t, though. She was starting to get tired of him treating her this way.
Maybe she should go stay at a hotel for a few nights.
Of course, she’d have to explain that to Reuben. If she told him how Eric treated her . . . yeah, she didn’t want Eric to die.
Right?
Hmm. There was a part of her that wasn’t sure.
“What have you been doing all weekend? Out with your rich boss. Getting your photo taken. You want attention, is that it, Faith? Poor Faith . . . everyone always loved you, didn’t they? Until you proved to them all what a useless bitch you are.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. What had she ever done to him?
“You been fucking your boss? Letting him bend you over his desk to rail that pussy? Huh? And what’s he giving you? Limo rides and fancy dinners? You know what they call that sort of transaction, you slut?”
She was shaking by now. The vile stuff he was spewing at her was making her feel ill.
“What’s your problem with me, Eric?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “What have I ever done to you?”
“I know you never wanted Cammie to marry me. You told her that I wasn’t good enough for her, didn’t you?”
Cammie had told him that? Betrayal filled her. How could Cammie do that to her? And she hadn’t exactly said that about Eric.
Not in so many words.
Plus, she’d thought they’d been talking in confidence.
Faith swallowed. “That’s why you hate me? Why let me stay here then?”
“Yeah, that’s why I hate you, stupid bitch,” he spat out. “Always thought you were better than me. Same with your brothers. Your whole family. Lording themselves over the rest of the town. Well, you’re not better than me, Faith. Look at you, you’re pathetic.”
She had no idea what he was talking about. Her family had never lorded anything over anyone else. What the heck did they even have to lord over anyone? They were just hard-working farming folk.
Although her parents were very happily married. And very proud of their children. Well, they had been.
She knew that Eric’s home life had been less than stellar. His mom had left when he was a kid, and his dad was known to be mean and demanding.
“I told her that you could stay because I wanted you to feel small, Faith. I wanted you to be beneath us. And you are . . . you’re pathetic. Living in a fucking basement. Fucking your boss. Letting me dictate to you. I could get you to do whatever I wanted, couldn’t I, Faith? Because you’re a fucking waste of space. What if I told you to get down on your knees and suck me off, would you do that, too, Faith?”
Trembling, she backed up toward the basement door. Just then, Cammie walked through the front door. Relief flooded her.
“What’s going on?” Cammie asked sharply. “Eric? Faith?”
Was that suspicion on her face? What did she think was going on?
Faith had reached her limit. She couldn’t do this anymore.
“I’m moving out,” she blurted.
Cammie tensed, glancing over at her. Eric scowled at her. He must be disappointed to lose his punching bag.
Well, she didn’t sign on for that.
“What? Why?” Cammie asked.
“Ask your husband,” she snapped before opening the door to the basement.
All right, that might have been a bit harsh. Cammie hadn’t been here. Maybe she had no idea about how Eric felt toward Faith.
Faith’s hands were shaking as she shut the door. She half-stumbled down the stairs.
Making it to the sofa bed, she sat heavily. Faith knew she should start packing, but she was too busy trying to get her breathing under control.
In. Hold. Out.
Repeat.
You’re all right. You’re fine.
The sound of someone speaking loud from upstairs made her jump. What was going on?
She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it was obvious they were fighting.
Oh no.
Now she felt terrible. Finally, a door slammed and there was silence.
Pack your bag, Faith.
Grabbing her suitcase, she put Colin in first. Colin didn’t like being in the suitcase, he found it hard to breathe. But he’d be safer in there.
“Faith? Hey, Faith?”
She glanced up to see Cammie standing on the stairs.
“Hey,” she replied.
“Listen, Eric’s gone to cool off a bit. I know that he’s been a bit . . . hard to get along with lately, but he’s having some problems at work. You don’t need to go.”