Every rain drop felt like needle pricks—quick yet painful. m. As my body complained about the pain, hopes got shattered with each passing second. This was my definition of hell.

Looking to my right, I was met with the sight of a beautiful vase filled with bewitching red roses. I got up to take a look at them and found a note between the flowers. Opening the note carefully, my fingers shook. I read it quickly.

"Alexis, my love, my one and only, my everything. I hope you can forgive for my actions yesterday. I was drunk and I didn't know what I was doing. Forgive me for my mistake. It will never happen again. Your love, your husband, Adrian."

Laughing bitterly, I tore up the note and threw it in the trash can. Mistake. That's what he calls hitting me. I realized then that he would never change. He would always hit me and then he would give me roses, thinking that I will forget everything. Forgive everything.

Heading downstairs to get some food to start my day, I was met with the sight of my so-called husband cooking breakfast.

"Good morning, my dear," Adrian said.

I notice he was in a good mood. Everything back to normal.

"Morning," I replied while taking a seat at the counter.

Adrian picked up on my mood: wary and not forgiving. He gently touched my arm.

"I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday," he said, eyes earnest, just like they were the last time. "I promise you it will never happen again." He set my breakfast down in front of . "I would like to take you on a date so I can make up for what I have done to you."

"It's okay you don't have to."

"You don't want to go?" His voice held a razor's edge, sharp, deadly. I realized mistake.

"I..." I never got the sentence out. He was on me, pushing me off my stool by my arm and squeezing me against the wall.

"You will go on this date with me, and I won't repeat myself."

"O....kay... I will Just please let me go," I uttered.

His anger faded. "Great. Be ready by six," he said and gave me a peck on the lips and just like that he was gone. I slid to the ground, wishing that someone would help me escape but deep down, I knew that I was destined to this life, to always be beaten and insulted. My thoughts were cut off by the sound of the ringing landline. I went to the phone and answered.

"Hey, Lexi," Rose's sweet voice answered.

"Hey, Rose," I answered with a relieved sigh.

"Lexi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Everything is fine, Rose," I insisted.

"AlexisMaria Parker. Tell me what's going on right now!" Rose demanded.

 Jeez.

Didshe really need to call me by my full ?With a sigh, I started to explain about everything that Adrian had done to me-from the insulting to the abusing. I could imagine her shocked face right now.

"Wow. I can't believe him, I always thought that he loved you but now, allI can think is that he is a monster, you need to get away from him as much aspossible, Lexi." Rose advised

My heart beat turned up a notch when Iheard the front door click open. "I'll think about it. Anyway, I have togo. I'll call you up soon."

"Be careful Lexi." She said in aworried voice.

"Bye."

-----------------------------

Few Hours Later

" Good Evening Madam"

"Hello Rob, Where is Adrian?"

"I can't tell you Madam" He said while opening the door car

"Thank you rob" I said

While Driving to the mysterious destination. I remembered the day Adrian had proposed to me. It was like a fairy tale, an atmosphere that any girl would dream of. Of course, he'd got down on his knees with a rose pinned to his suit. What gentleman wouldn't? I couldn't have been more wrong. Sure, he was a jerk sometimes but in many situations, he understood me like no other person ever had. Eventually, the facade had disappeared and hate and cruelty had taken its place.

*FLASHBACK*

It was a Saturday night, Manchester United was playing against Barcelona. The blinders were drawn shut because of the creepy neighbor who would peak across his window every once in a while. I still remembered Manchester winning, the score four to nil. The constant drip of the sink that was yet to be repaired, the curtains that were in need of a desperate wash. So why could I not notice the signs that were so obvious? The unanswered calls, messages that made no sense?

I remembered that exciting call that had changed my life. Who could predict that it would change for the worse?

"Hey beautiful." Adrian drawled, the flirtness evident in his voice.

"How many times have I told you that I'm not beautiful?" I stated, focusing more on the split ends than on the call.

"Okay then. Hey elegant, dazzling, radiant, cupcake of your choice..." He replied as a smile found its way on my lips.

"Anyway, where are you?" I asked, trying to figure out his packed schedule.

"I'm outside your house, cupcake. Get ready, I'm taking you somewhere. "His Cheshire grin could be deciphered through the phone itself.

"Where are we going?" I questioned, surprised at the unexpected date. It was a long time since we'd had gone on a romantic date.

"It's a surprise. See you in a few, love."

The click was enough to make me hibernate in my wardrobe. After donning a John Galliano lace gown and a pair of silver stilettos, I headed outside. After exactly five minutes, I was riding in Adrian's car with no sense of direction whatsoever. He had given me a blindfold, requesting me to put it on.

"Are you going to kidnap me? You know, like in movies where the kidnapper takes the victim to the forest and kills her?" I teased him as Adrian chuckled.

"Lexi, I'm not going to kill you. Just relax, we're almost there. Besides, with my sensual charms, you'd soon be a victim of Stockholm Syndrome."

"Ha. Ha. It was so funny that I forgot to laugh." I patted his shoulders and started playing with the edge of my dress. All that suspense was making me nervous. The car halted after 10 minutes, not that I was counting or anything.

"Come on, we've reached." He opened the door and ushered me out of the car. The lingering scent of salt and seaweed gave the secret destination away. The constant lapping of the waves proved my suspicions, we had arrived on a beach. I shouldn't have worn those goddamn heels.

"Don't let me fall." I intertwined my fingers with his and leaned on for support.

"Even if you fall, I will always be there to catch you." A quick pressure on my lips made me want to scratch that hindrance of a blindfold away.

"You're so cheesy, today. Is today a special day, or something?"

"We are here, cupcake. Take it off" The sensual whispers sent shivers down my spine. I did as I was asked. It was safe to say that the scene that met my eye was something that was straight out of a movie. Candles were everywhere, on the table for two, lined along the carpet that showed us our way in the dark. The twinkling stars illuminated the velvet sky.

"Oh. My. God." I spluttered. Surprise was evident in my wide, oblong mouth.

"You like it, love?" He whispered while wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Like it? I absolutely love it!" Gosh, today was such a cheesy day.

"Then, you're going to like this even more." My eyebrows shot up as I searched around the private beach, trying to decipher anymore hidden surprises. He dusted his breast pocket and smoothed out a tiny box from...Tiffany's? Was this was I was thinking it was? It couldn't be, it absolutely couldn't.

Adrian got down to one knee and opened the box. Taking a deep breath, he started.

"Lexi, my sweetheart, ever since I met you, you captured my breath. I found the reason to smile the day I met you. You're the only person who can make my heart beat faster, you're the one person I want to share my life with forever. In my eyes, in my words, in everything I do, you're my only reason to stay alive...Um...

"Just a minute, I forgot what I was supposed to say." A chuckle escaped through my trembling laugh, there was no way I could hide my emotions from him. Adrian patted his pocket and referred to a crumpled sticky note.

"Sorry about that. Anyway, you are the only one thing that keeps me breathing. I love you without knowing how or when or where you are from. I love you, as simple as that and I hope that it is enough. You're the missing part of my heart. I can't imagine living even another second without you. I want to share every moment, every breath. I will take care of you and give you my full support, no matter what may happen. Please do me the honor of becoming my wife." Tears escaped from my eyes as I spluttered out my obvious reply.

"Yes, I will marry you, Adrian." I whispered, pressing my lips against his. I remembered thinking that I was lucky to get married to a guy like Adrian. It was only later that I'd come to know that the whole speech was planned out by his PA. The pause wasn't because he was nervous but because he hadn't even made an effort to by-heart it.

* End of Flashback *

Being in love was the most incredible feeling I had ever experienced in my whole life. It was a roller coaster of emotions- a cruel blend of sadness, anger, confusion along with blissful day of happiness, contentment, utter bliss. In that instance, I would do anything for him, I would risk my life for him. As long as I had him, I did not care about me. My main objective was to make him happy.

When you're in love, it feels like the whole world comes alive around you. Everything suddenly makes much more sense. You feel secure, knowing that the purpose of your life is to love this person with every pulsating cell in your body. Time stops when you look into his eyes. His smile melts your heart and every touch feels like a surge of electricity dancing through your body.

My definition of love was wanting to cuddle and love him, even when you were mad at him.

Love was sharing everything: from every heartache to every slice of cake. Love was trusting another human being to take care of you. Love to me was, in short, ineffable. Or at least that was what I'd thought before my life was turned upside down.

"Madam Alexis we have arrived" Said Rob

" Thank you rob" Taking a deep breath, I left the car and realized we were in the beach, The same beach that he promised me that he will make me the happiest woman alive but I guess he didn't keep his promise.

Looking around I was met with the same sight when he proposed to me, Candles were everywhere, on the table for two, lined along the carpet that showed us our way in the dark. The twinkling stars illuminated the velvet sky.

Standing with his back toward the sea was Adrian

I started walking toward him and I thought maybe my husband was back but I didn't know that I will regret my decision

He turned around and I saw that evil grin on his face and in this moment I knew it was not my husband but it was the monster that live inside him.

"Hello Alexis"

And just like that I knew I lost my husband to the the demon living inside him and this demon was called

"Max"

________________________________________________________________

 Chapter Song : Early Winters - Gwen Stefani

 Questions: Have you ever  felt any regret toward  something or someone?

  Note : Adrian is Suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder

 Dissociative Identity Disorder is a characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring or dissociated states. These states alternately show in a person's behavior, accompanied by memory impairment for important information not explained by ordinary forgetfulness.

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See you soon -Rony