Olivia looked up from her book the moment she heard the soft sound of the piano playing.

It was "Every time" by Brittney Spears, a song she recognized. How could she not? It was one of her favorite songs. She knew exactly what this was. it was an endless cycle if she was being honest, every single time he hit her, he'd throw something nice in her face like it was supposed to fix everything.

She whirled around to the sound of her phone ringing. She didn't even have to look at the caller ID to know it was him. He had made sure of that. She reached for it and exhaled, staring at the picture of Andrew on her phone.

She drew in a deep breath as she pushed the answer icon and then placed the phone close to her ear.

"Come downstairs." Andrew ordered just before he hung up. She let out a shaky breath and then ran her fingers through her hair. She didn't want to. The last thing she needed was to be around him but she knew she didn't have a choice. The Other last thing she didn't need was another fight.

She folded the page of her book she was reading and shut the book close. The sound of the piano grew louder as she walked towards the door and after a few more notes, other instruments joined in, and then a voice.

"Notice me,take my hand; Why are we strangers when our love is strong-"

The voice sang. In another world, this would have been perfect, but this wasn't another world, and her favorite song had just become a theme song for a horror movie, a nightmare.

She climbed down the stairs, holding on to the railing for support. Her knees were shaking and her heart was racing.

"Why carry on without me?" The voice continued.

She didn't like this one bit. She felt her feet come to a halt when she walked into the dining room. She looked around the beautifully decorated room, her eyes taking the sight in front of her. They'd given the room a complete makeover. Her eyes moved from the live band at the opposite end of the room to the beautifully set dining table, everything a theme of red and white and it wasn't even Valentine's Day. How extremely pathetic.

And then her eyes fell on Andrew.

He was approaching her now with a bouquet of red roses in his hands.

She swallowed hard when he reached her.

"Your favorites." He placed the flowers in her hands. "Come, you must be starving." He continued. He didn't even wait for a response before he turned away from her and then moved towards the dining table. Rose petals adorned the ground she walked on as she followed behind him, making sure to keep enough distance between the both of them. He pulled out a sit and then gestured her to sit in it.

"Are you feeling okay?" He asked as he took the seat across hers.

Was he seriously kidding her?

Was he really going to pretend like he didn't remember what he had done?

She knew he hadn't called her to apologize, he never did. Every single time, she hoped that he'd at least acknowledge what he had done.

He could see it now.
The way her hands trembled as she placed one over the other, the way her legs trembled under the table, the way she avoided eye contact. Austin was right, she was terrified of him.

"Uhm-" He pursed his lip as he reached for one of the serving dishes then pulled the cloche off. "I had them prepare your favorite, jollof rice and plantain." He continued as he served some food into her plate. "I didn't forget the fried fish." He continued. "I had them make it just the way you like it." He put some food into his own plate. "Try it." He encouraged her. She glanced at the food in her plate.

She felt sick. So sick she could feel the bile rising up her throat but still, she took a spoonful of rice and forced it into her mouth.

"How is it?" He asked expectantly, raising an eyebrow.

"Good." She muttered.

"I'm glad you like it." He nodded, a small smile spreading across his features. "Here, eat some more." He said, adding more slices of plantain into her plate. Olivia could feel her face grow pale, she glanced down at her plate and then let out a shaky breath.

"Are you still mad at me Ollie?" She cringed at the sudden feeling of the warmth of his hands on hers. He sighed. "You know I don't like it when you act this way. I don't like it when you're angry with me." He continued, genuine concern clouding his features. She didn't understand how he could easily switch from acting like a monster to an actual human being.

"Look, I got you something." He ran his fingers through his head and then bit down on his lower lip. He turned to one of the men who stood at meters away from the table and then signaled for him to come over. Olivia couldn't help but notice the jewelry box in his hands as he walked towards them.

She scoffed. Of course.

"I was going to give it to you after dinner but I can't stand watching you look this way." He collected the jewelry box and then placed it in front of her. "Here, open it." He grinned. "I had these made just for you." He continued.

Olivia swallowed hard and then licked her lip. She'd never felt so disgusted by the presence of another human being.

Seeing as she didn't make a move, he reached for the lid and then opened the box. Olivia stared at the diamond jewelry set in front of her.

It was beautiful, she had to admit but the sight of it repulsed her. The sight of everything in front of her repulsed her.

"Do you like it?" He asked after a few seconds passed by. She bit down on her lower lip and nodded.

"It's beautiful."

"Good." He smiled and took a spoonful of rice from his plate. Olivia watched him eat.

"Look Olly, he dropped his gaze slowly so he could look at her. I know a lot of misunderstandings happened in Nairobi and I probably let my anger get the best out of me. My actions were, over the edge." He stared at her. "I don't want you to be mad at me anymore so I was hoping you could keep all that happened behind us and start over again, can you do that?"

Of course. She should have seen it coming. it was the same cycle of ignorance repeating itself again where he'd hurt her and try to make amends for it by buying her expensive things without ever saying those words.

'I am sorry.'

She watched the movement of his face as he chewed. She watched the bubbling of his Adam's apple as he swallowed. She wished he'd choke on it and she hated that she felt that way.

She hated that she'd wish something as monstrous on another human being but she just wanted to be free.

"So-" he started after a moment. "You were gone for an awfully long time this morning." He added, putting another spoonful of rice in his mouth. She watched him chew slowly, her heartbeat accelerating with every second that passed.

Not again.

"Where were you?" He asked, not even bothering to glance up.

"I-I had a few errands to run." She picked up her fork with shaky hands.

"Interesting." He nodded, finally looking up from his plate. He shrugged. "Why didn't you go with the driver?"

"I thought you'd need him." She breathed, playing with her food. He pouted and then nodded.

"Eat." He ordered and then gave her a second's worth of silence. "Who were you with?" He challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"Andrew, please-" She whispered, her eyes pleading. "Please lets not do this right now."

"I just want to know where you went Olivia." He forked a slice of plantain and then put it in his mouth. "You'll answer me if you have nothing to hide." He added. She sighed and brushed her palm over her face.

"I was with Amanda." She dropped her fork. "I stopped by her office. We just- we just talked." She stammered. He glared at her, his expression turning stone cold.

"Amanda doesn't work on Tuesdays. How'd you stop by her office?"

"She was called in for an urgent surgery."

He scowled and drooped his fork, his jaw clenched. She felt herself jerk.

"Are you lying to me right now? Again?" His eyes narrowed. Olivia shook her head.

"N-no." She stammered, pushing her chair backwards, giving herself some space from the him. "Andrew, I swear I'm telling the truth."

"Who were you really with Olly? You know how much I hate the constant lies. I am making an effort to make things right between us right now so you better tell me where the hell you went before I get upset." He warned, cleaning the edge of his mouth with a napkin.

"Andrew-" She stood up slowly.

"Sit the hell down!" He raised his voice, banging his fist on the table so hard, she felt herself leap back into her seat.

"Andrew there are people watching." She gasped,  feeling tears fill her eyes. She placed a protective hand over her stomach then squeezed a handful of the fabric of her dress.

"You're all dismissed." Andrew didn't take his eyes off her. She rubbed her collarbone, watching everyone else exit the room.

"Andrew, please." She glanced down at her nightdress.

"Are you still cheating on me? Is that what this is? Did you not learn your lesson?"

"Andrew, I swear to God I'm telling you the truth-"

"Bullshit!" He pushed a few dishes to the ground. She stood up instantly and took a few steps backwards but almost immediately, she was pulled back roughly. She sniffed and then tried to free herself from his hold.

She'd never really had a reason to fight back before but she did now, and that reason was living inside of her.

"Andrew, please let me go." She pleaded, finally managing to free herself from his hold. She had to get away. She had to get away from the monster in front of her. She ran towards the door but she wasn't fast enough, Andrew grabbed her arm once more, pulling her to him once more and before she could register what was happening, his hand collided with her cheek with so much force, she felt her body hit the ground. The look on Andrew's face was murderous as he towered over her.

"Oh my God." She breathed when she noticed the blood dropping from her nose. "Oh My God." She chocked.

"So you're learning to disobey me now?" He bent down and grabbed a fistful of her hair, forcing her to look at him.

"A-Andrew,please." Her lip hurt from the gash in it.

"You're fighting me now? Is that what he told you to do?" He tugged on her hair and then sneered. "Oh Olivia, I am going to teach you never to disrespect me again." He stood straight and looked down at her.

"Do you understand me Olly?" Olivia could barely hold herself together when his leg made contact with her stomach. "You will never ever fight me again."

She placed a hand on her stomach, trying to overcome the stinging pain she felt.

"Will you ever disobey me again, Olivia?!" He squatted so he was now eye level with her. "Will you ever fight me again?" He stared at her, eyes wide.

"Never." She gasped, tears falling down her face. "Never."

"Louder!" He kicked her again, on her legs this time since she'd balled herself up to protect her stomach. She was helpless and at this rate, he was going to kill her. "Louder!"

"Andrew." She said weakly.

Why wasn't anybody coming to her rescue?

"Andrew please stop." She choked on her words as a strangled cry escaped her lips.

Why wasn't anyone coming to save her?

"I said louder!" He reached for her hair again.

"Andrew, please don't hurt my baby!" She cried.

He froze.

"Please don't hurt our child." She winced. Everything became static that moment, no one made a sound. She hated herself the moment those words left her mouth but Andrew on the other hand, he looked like he'd just seen a ghost. His hand slowly slid out of her hair as he took an uncertain step backwards, his eyes narrowing, his mouth hung open for a few seconds before he slowly placed a shaky hand over it.

No way.
Just then the door burst open.

"I'm pregnant, Andrew." Olivia cried just as Austin stormed in.

"Andrew, get away from her right now."