AUDREY POV
It was time for me to cancel on Caroline.
I had told Xavier I was going to tell his sister I was feeling sick and that I wouldn’t be able to hang out today. I felt it would be the best excuse.
"I'm not feeling so well today. After dinner last night I got really bad stomach pain and I have a massive headache. Can we reschedule?"
"Omg Audrey are you ok? I did notice you got pretty quiet when we were cutting your cake."
So she noticed.
"I felt a bit of pain since the morning but it got worse by the end of the day. I think I just need to rest."
"I'm coming over."
I worried that Xaveir would get upset. But I wasn't breaking any of his rules since I wasn't going to go out with Caroline, she was just going to come to the house.
"Thank you so much. I'd really appreciate the company, I don't want to be alone."
I agreed. This was the perfect time to tell Caroline what was going on. This way I had enough time to prepare my things when I finally leave this house.
The guards were watching my bedroom door.
Before I knew it Caroline was already here. The doorbell rang but I couldn't get to it since Xavier didn't let me go anywhere near the front door.
Finally, I heard a knock at the door.
I couldn't open it since it was locked from the outside.
However a maid opened the door and Caroline was allowed inside.
Before Carloline could say anything I told her to walk with me to the library.
Since Xavier had allowed me to go to the library, the guards let me go.
As soon as I went inside I heard the doors lock. This was common for me, but not for Caroline.
I led her to the other end of the library as far as possible from the door and finally Caroline spoke.
"What the fuck is going on Audrey? I arrive at your house with maximum security and when I look for you I see you've been locked in your room. And to make matters worse you're being followed by guards that are clearly watching your every move."
I could tell Caroline was concerned.
"Look, I don't have much time. I'm sure the guards must have already informed Xavier you came over to the house. Meaning he's probably on his way home."
"What's going on Audrey?"
I could see she was worried about me.
"I tried to look for a job a few months ago. I'd been looking online to see any available positions. But when I mentioned it to Xavier, he got upset. I didn’t think much of it. I just thought he was worried because of my accident. However, the day I left on my own for a job interview he got furious. We had talked, and I thought the issue was solved, but I was gravely mistaken."
I could see the look of horror in Caroline's face.
"What did my brother do?"
I felt on the verge of tears.
"I got scared because he looked so angry and was yelling. I tried to leave the house but he brought me back to our room and locked me in there. For almost two months he's kept me in my room. I haven't gotten out at all. Not the backyard nor other rooms in the house. Just recently I convinced him to let me go to the library and have dinner with him in the dining room. But even then I felt like a prisoner in this house."
All of the pent up feeling just came bursting. I began to cry, feeling overwhelmed.
Caroline hugged me.
"I just wanted to work and go out. Was that so much to ask? Xavier is different. He's cold and distant. I don't know what I'm doing wrong." I continued to cry.
I managed to calm down.
"Xavier has guards outside my bedroom door or the library, depending where I go. He won't let me go anywhere else in the house. I haven't seen the sun in a long time. I honestly feel like I'm going crazy. But I'm so happy you're here. I was hoping I could go to the UK with you. I want to be as far away from Xavier as possible."
I saw Caroline shed a few tears.
"I'm so sorry about what my brother's made you go through. That doesn't sound like the brother I know. But don't worry Audrey, you have my full support. I'm going to get you out of here. And once you're far away from this place and situated in your new life, I'm going to demand an answer from my brother."
Caroline looked furious.
We decided to make a plan. Once Xavier was home we were both going to act normal. I was going to have to act like a loving wife and hopefully he wouldn't suspect I had already informed Caroline about everything.
Caroline told me she would get me my passport and other important documents since there was no way I wouldn't get caught by the guards if I tried rummaging through the house. She said I didn't need to pack a suitcase since it was going to be nearly impossible to get it past the guards. Instead she was going to give me all of the clothes she no longer used once we arrived in the UK.
Our plan was to leave on my birthday. Caroline would find an excuse to get me out of the house and then I would leave.
I would have to wait a few days and then finally I would be free.
Before I knew it, Xavier was home.
He had arrived pretty soon after Caroline.
I heard a knock on the door and Xavier came in.
I needed to pretend Caroline had no idea about our fight and that I was still the loving wife of Xavier.
So I walked toward him and hugged him. I kissed his cheek.
"You're home early." I said, sounding happy.
He looked pleasantly surprised and a bit taken aback.
"Yeah, I knew you weren't feeling well so I decided to get out of work early."
It was a good excuse. But I knew the real reason he was home.
We headed downstairs to the dinning room to have some lunch. Caroline's husband came over so we all got to eat together.
Everything appeared normal. We talked about different things and Xavier and I acted like a normal married couple.
Caroline left to use the restroom and I
I knew this was just an excuse to find my passport and other important items.
Meanwhile I talked with Xavier and Caroline's husband.
I held Xavier's hand while I talked. I acted casual and made it seem natural.
He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it.
I turned to him and smiled. Then I continued my conversation with Caroline's husband.
I wasn't sure what Xavier was thinking. But he hadn't pushed me away yet. In fact he was being very affectionate.
This was all part of the plan to gain his trust, but to be honest I liked being near him, hugging him, holding his hand, and acting like a married couple.
I couldn’t admit it to myself but deep down I knew it was true.
Caroline came back and we continued to talk for a bit. Then it was time for them to leave.
I hugged Caroline goodbye and she whispered in my ear.
"It's going to be ok."
It was subtle so I was positive no one noticed.
I hugged Caroline's husband goodbye and then they were gone.
My birthday was in two days and by then I would be prepared to leave this house and never come back.
I would no longer have to deal with Xavier’s possessive and cold demeanor.
For now I'd have to act like everything was back to normal and I was a loving wife.
Xavier held my hand and we headed upstairs.
As soon as we walked inside the bedroom, Xavier pulled me toward him and pressed his lips against mine.
I wanted to push him away and slap him. But he would realize right away that I was still angry with him and was only pretending that I was ok.
It wasn't an aggressive kiss, but a soft, gentle, loving kiss. It was like he was saying "I love you".
We stopped and he embraced me.
He kissed my head and continued to keep me in his arms.
"Let's go to bed." He said.
We both got ready for bed and we slept side by side.
I hugged him like I normally did before our fight and I fell asleep in peace knowing I would escape this place. I only hoped things would go as planned.
END OF CHAPTER 17
(I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to VOTE if you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading my book.☺💖 Until next time everyone.😁)