37| chained

D I A N E

"Sure, where do you want to meet?" he replied, and I bit my lip, nervous and excited at the same time. I typed out a reply: "My apartment," and sent it. A thumbs-up emoji popped up on my screen, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I gathered myself, trying to calm my nerves. I could do this. I had to do this.

"I have to go," I said, my voice trembling. "But you just got here," Claudia protested. "I'm not feeling very well," I explained, only half-lying. She looked at me, her expression concerned. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, and I nodded, avoiding her eyes. "Yeah, I just need to go home," I said. "Alright," she said, sighing. "I hope you feel better soon."

"Okay, I'll see you later," she said, and I left the room before she could change her mind. I hurried downstairs, relieved to see that Ms. Rivera was facing away from me, and she didn't see me leave. I made my way outside, and the cold air hit me like a slap in the face. I shivered and hurried to my car.

I grabbed my clutch, my hands trembling as I made my way to my car. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I hurried to my apartment, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins. When I reached my door, I fumbled with my keys, my hands shaking. I finally got the door open and I rushed inside, slamming it shut behind me.

Luka notified me and said he was nearby. I opened the fridge and poured myself a cold glass of water.

I opened the door, and there he was. I let him in, closing the door behind him. The silence was deafening, the only sound was the rapid beating of my heart. Luka must have noticed, because he looked at me with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, his voice soft. I hesitated, but finally nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

"Diane, what's wrong?" he asked, his brow furrowed. He reached out to touch me, but I flinched away, my body shaking. "Luka, I have something I need to ask you," I managed to say, my voice quivering. I could feel the tears pricking at my eyes, threatening to spill over. I tried to keep them at bay, not wanting to break down in front of him.

He looked at me, his expression still one of confusion, but he nodded, waiting for me to continue. "That night..." I said, my voice wavering. I tried to keep my mind focused, but the images were still there, hazy and out of reach. "When we were at the cabin-"

The images of that night rushed back to me, and I stopped mid-sentence. I couldn't even form words, my mind racing. "I don't remember much of it," I said finally, my voice hoarse. "Everything was a blur and-" I couldn't finish the sentence, the memory of that night coming back in waves. I felt like I was going to be sick.

My mouth went dry, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. "We made love," he said, his voice quiet. My whole body felt numb, and my head spun. I must have heard him wrong, there was no way he could have said that. "What?" I asked, my voice barely audible. I needed to hear him say it again, to be sure I wasn't hallucinating.

"W-why didn't you tell me," I whispered.

"Because it was obvious that you didn't remember and your heart belonged to someone else,"

The images of that night rushed back to me, and I stopped mid-sentence. I couldn't even form words, my mind racing. "I don't remember much of it," I said finally, my voice hoarse. "Everything was a blur and-" I couldn't finish the sentence, the memory of that night coming back in waves. I felt like I was going to be sick.

"Do you know what your silence cost?" I asked, my voice rising. I couldn't keep it in any longer, and the anger bubbled up inside of me. "Flipping hell, Luka, I think I'm pregnant," I said, the words heavy on my tongue.

"What, no."

"What do you mean, no?" I rolled my eyes, my thoughts still distorted.

I still couldn't understand why all my thoughts were distorted - why everything that happened after was a blur.

I blinked.

"You drugged me," I muttered. "You drugged me," I gasped, looking at him. He didn't seem surprised by my discovery.

"Bingo." He smirked. "It was about damn time that you put the pieces together you know?"

He was insane. "You're sick,"

He had a smug look on his face. "Don't get all emotional right now, you're carrying my son,"

"Get out," I said, my voice cold. I didn't want him here, not anymore. I couldn't stand him.

"Just get out!" I shouted, my voice cracking. My chest was on fire, my body filled with rage and hurt. I didn't want him here anymore, not after what he had done.

"You can't get rid of me now, you're stuck with me forever."