***Trigger Warning***

The following work of fiction

contains verbal, drug use, sexual content, and physical violence.

Read Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four  

“Chief, you don’t get it! I hope one day you will see the truth!” said Elizabeth as she stoped out the door.

Tears fell down her cheeks. She knew this was all pointless. Once again, her husband had won.

Elizabeth needed a moment to compose her thoughts. This day was not turning out anything as she had wanted.

Damn him! He will not get away with it!

Elizabeth looked at her phone before stepping into her car. There was another message.

Come home now.  I always win!

She couldn’t help but get upset and threw the phone out. I will show him. Then she drove off.

Meanwhile, back at Layla’s. Things were not looking good for her either. Immediately she noticed Valentin was gone. Well, he could have said goodbye. She got up and then saw a note by her bed lamp. Layla was curious. Hmm, what could this be?  

Dear Layla,

I am afraid our time together is up.

I need to get back to my duties at the hospital and as a husband to my beloved wife, Elizabeth.

It has been fun. 

But who are we kidding?

Love,

Valentin.

Layla cringed and grabbed the note before tearing it up. Why that no good ass! Who does he think he is! I will show him! Furious, she dialed his number.

He was expecting her call.

“Layla, I see you found the note.”

“Yes, I did, and I am not happy with it Valentin!” she shouted.

“Doll, calm down!” he exclaimed.

“Calm down, are you serious right now?”

“Yes, Layla.”

“I don’t think you get it, Valentin.

“What exactly don’t I get?”

“Do I have to spell it out for you?”

“No, Layla you don’t.”

“I am warning you, Valentin!”

“Layla, I left you a video. Have you seen it?”

“A video, what are you talking about?”

“Watch it; it is on the kitchen counter. Hit play on the computer. Be sure to call me.”

Then he hung up.

She scratched her head. What is he talking about? Then walked over to the counter and hit play on her computer.

There it was. A video of her giggling in bed. She was shooting up with the drugs. He was nowhere in the video.

Layla was shocked.   It had been about 10 minutes now. She could not stop crying and dialed the phone.

“Well, I take it you saw the video.”

“Yes,” she gasped.

“I have a copy I will take to the hospital if you continue with your threats!” he shouted.

“There is no need for this, Valentin.”

“Thanks for seeing it my way!”

“I promise I will be good.”

“Great, now let me live my life!”

Then again, he hung up the phone.

Layla went to her bed. She crawled under the covers. I hate you, Valentin! I wish I had never met you.

All she could do was cry. She felt so used and ashamed.

***

Later in the day, Elizabeth arrived back at home. She was shaking and couldn’t contain the rage she felt for her husband. When she walked in the door, he was already waiting for her.

“Darling, you are home.”

“Please, Valentin, cut the act!”

He wanted to get close, but she walked away.

“Elizabeth, let me explain.”

“Explain!” she shouted.

“Look, I can see you are angry!” he pleaded.

“Angry!”

“Darlin, please let me explain.”

He grabbed her.

“Let go of me!”

“I will, once you sit and hear me out!” he shouted.

Liz feared for her life. She sat as he asked her.

“Look, first of all, Layla meant nothing, she was just a fling.”

Elizabeth looked down.

“Liz, baby please look at me!”

She looked up.

He could see the tears in her eyes.

Elizabeth got up.  She was trembling again.

“Liz, I am not done!”

“No, but I am!” she shouted.

He went at her. Valentin grabbed her by the throat.

“Look, Liz, you need to do as I say!”

“What? Are you going to kill me!”

Her lashing out pissed Valentin off. He punched her.

Elizabeth fell to the floor again. Her face felt like it was on fire. She faded in and out of conscious.

“Damn you, Liz, why do you make me do this to you?”

She was weak and frail.

“This is all you, Valentin.”

Then she passed out.

Valentin carried her into the bedroom. You will always be mine, Elizabeth. Then had his way with her.

After a few hours, she woke up. Elizabeth noticed a different set of clothes on her.

She got nauseous. 

It wasn’t the first time he had forced himself on her. This was just another time.

Elizabeth felt helpless. He was getting away with it all. At this point, she did not know what would happen next. For now, she lay in her bed and sobbed. Like Layla, she crawled under the covers.

No, I can’t lay here!

Her body ached, and she needed to feel whole again. Elizabeth took a long bath.

She noticed for the moment Valentin had disappeared. He is headed to see Chief Monroe. How could the Chief fall for his schemes!

***

Back at the hospital, all the rumors were swirling around Elizabeth.

“Have you heard about Nurse Kiriakis?” asked one of the nurses.

“I know, it is sad!” said another.

Valentin couldn’t help but grin a little. His plan was working. Now to get reinstated.

He was about to go into the Chief’s office when he noticed a big commotion in the large foyer of the hospital. Valentin could not believe his eyes. It was Layla, and she was fuming. He tried to hide when she spotted him.

“Please, Doc, won’t you join us?” she asked.

“No, I am actually here to see the Chief.”

Layla stared at Valentin. She thought about letting him get away with it. But after sitting in her apartment, she decided to expose Valentin for the slime he was.

“I came here to let you all know Dr. Kiriakis is a junkie!”

Everyone glared at the doctor.

“No, No, No Layla!”

“Oh, hey Chief, I am glad you are.”

Valentin got nervous. One thing Valentin did not know about Layla was not someone he wanted to mess with. She had grown up in a tough neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, and she raised by her father and two older brothers.

Layla recalled her father’s voice, “Never let anyone step on you, baby girl. You hear me?”

Those words rang through as she trembled and tears ran down her cheeks.

“As I was saying, Dr. Kiriakis is a junkie, and yesterday he came to my place and drugged me!”

“What are you saying, Layla?”

“I am saying this man took advantage of me!” she cried.

Everyone in the front foyer glared at Valentin.

“This woman is delusional!”

“Valentin is this true?”

“No, she is lying!” he shouted.

The shouting between the two of them got out of hand.

“Okay, everyone please go back to your duties.”

By now the chief was left reeling with these new allegations.

“Okay, I need to see both of you in my office now!”

Layla followed the chief as she dried her tears.

Valentin’s eyes said it all.  His anger was building inside as he clenched his fist. He wanted to take Layla and show her who was boss. Still, he couldn’t help be attracted to her beauty. He enjoyed spending time with her. After all, it was her who would supply the drugs to him. It didn’t matter now. Layla was trying to destroy him, and he needed to stop her.

After both of them stepped into the chief’s office, he made sure to shut the door.

“Okay, now will you two tell me what in the hell is going on?”

“I will if he does,” she said.

“I am not saying anything without my lawyer!” lashed Valentin.

“Valentin, you are not on trial!”

“Well, it feels like it!”

“I think he’s afraid I am right!” exclaimed Layla.

“Look Chief; it is clear here someone is lying, and it is not me!”

“Nice try, Valentin,” said Layla.

She underestimated him. He was good at using his charm.

All of a sudden, a video played. It was all on Layla. She was dancing for money, and then in the next one; it cut to her being high on drugs and giggling.

Like with Elizabeth, he showed all the injections of the drugs on her bed.

Layla could not believe what he had done.

This was a day Layla would never forget.

“Okay, please make sure to empty your locker, Layla. You are off the program.”

She was devastated. “Well, you may have won now, Valentin, but I swear you will pay!” Then she stormed out the door.

“Sorry about all of this, Chief.”

“Okay, I am glad you are here, Valentin. The board and I have made a decision.”

He was trying to contain his grin.

“Yes, it is clear you did nothing wrong. We want you to return back to work on Monday.”

Those were the words Valentin had been waiting for. “Thank you, Chief Monroe, but what about the lawsuit?”

“We are here to support you, 100 percent. Right now, you need to get Elizabeth the help she needs.”

“Yes, Chief I am already working on it.”

***

It was midday now, and Elizabeth finished with her bath. She needed to vent. After cleaning up the living room. She went back to the bedroom and wrote in her diary.

December 14, 2013,

Dear Diary.

My life as I know it is over. My husband has yet again abused me. He is a lying cheat and worst of all he has ruined my career. But the worst part is he took advantage of me while I was knocked out.  

I am not sure how I will ever break free. He has become the devil! 

 Elizabeth.

While Elizabeth was writing, she overheard the doorbell. Oh goodness, who could it be now? I am not in the mood for company right now!  As she looked through the window, she saw it was Layla. Wow, what does this tramp want from me!

I am not sure about trusting her but what do I have to lose.  

Elizabeth opened the door. “Valentin is not here!”

“Look I am not here for Valentin, I am here to talk to you.”

Elizabeth did not understand. She shook her head.“Why do you want to talk to me for?”

“Please, you need to hear me out!”

Elizabeth felt nauseous. “Did you want my blessing?”

“Look Ms. Kiriakis, I see why you are angry, but you have to listen to me!”

“Make it quick!”

“Valentin is nothing but an evil man, and he used me to get his drugs. Then when I threatened to expose him, he recorded a video of me while in bed with him.”

“Wow, I don’t want to hear your dirty details!”

“Look, I am not proud of what I did to you, but he made promises to me, and I believed him,” she cried.

After Layla cried, Elizabeth felt terrible for her and heard her out. “Please continue, Layla.”

“Thanks. You see, I was helping Valtin get the Oxycodone and he and I were enjoying some time together. I guess I should have known he was just using me.”

Elizabeth stared into the younger woman’s eyes. She knew this feeling all too well. “Yes, this sounds like him.”

“Well, the worst part is he blamed me and played a video for the chief.”

“A video?”

“Yes, he recorded me using the drugs, and then he also played footage of me when I was a stripper.”

Layla could not stop crying.

“Now, I am off the program, and it all because of Valentin!” she shouted.

“I know the feeling,” said Elizabeth.

“What do you mean?” asked Layla.

“Well, I was planning on going back to work after taking a leave of absence.”

“Okay, so what happened?”

“Valentin spoke to the Chief and set me up!”

“What?”

“Yes, he placed all the empty syringes in one of my work backpacks!”

“Why that bastard!” shouted Layla.

“So, I have been suspended indefinitely!”

“No, you can’t let him get away with it Elizabeth!”

“Look, Layla, I am sorry Valentin did this to you, I am, but I can’t help you!”

“Elizabeth, but you can!”

She showed Layla all her bruises.

“Do you see this,  he will kill me!”

Layla could not stop crying; then she asked, “He did all of it?”

“Yes, he has for a long time now!”

“Please, Layla, get away before you become one of his victims!”

“But, what about you?”

“Right now, don’t worry about me. Please, Layla, walk away!”

Layla looked at her with tears in her eyes.

“I wish you could get away too.”

“I know, I wish I could too, but I can’t!”

“Well, here is my number if you ever need to talk. I am heading back to Brooklyn and staying at my Aunt’s for a while.”

“Best of luck to you and thanks.”

Layla gave her a small pat on her back.

After she left, Elizabeth knew blaming Layla was not the answer. It was all Valentin.

How I hate you, Valentin!  

***

The day became night and Valentin was still out. Elizabeth prayed he would not return. She went back to bed and fell asleep.

***

Valentin was out at a local club in Asheville. He was celebrating his recent reinstatement. But his mind was on the sexy Layla. Oh, how I miss her.  She was incredible. He wanted, her and in his eyes, Valentin needed to have her.

Back at her apartment Layla was planning to move back to Brooklyn the next morning. She got in the shower and thought about everything Elizabeth told her. Layla cried and asked God to forgive her for sleeping with a married man.

Sure, she was not a saint. But working at the strip club was only so she could save money to go to medical school. She never slept around. Overall, she was a good person. But her looks always made it hard for anyone to see her as more than a sex symbol.

Layla became distracted by her thoughts. She did not hear the door open.

Valentin still had a key. He overheard her in the bath. Valentin wanted Layla to cooperate. He waited for her to come out. Then he would inject her again.

Layla never saw it coming. He placed the injection, and she fell to the bed. He had his way with her.

She pleaded for him to stop but he continued.

He ravished her. “Oh Layla, how I missed you!”

She begged and tried to fight him. Layla could not. She passed out.

He wanted control. It made him feel superior. Valentin grinned. The devil inside of him was escalating. He spent the night.

Layla was out cold. She would not remember anything.

He walked out the door and left the key. Goodbye Layla.

Now he would head home to torment Elizabeth.

All was going in his favor. He decided he wanted to try and make peace with his estranged wife.

As for Layla, she awoke to the sound of her alarm. She was late for the bus to Brooklyn.

Her body was aching. Then she saw the key. Bastard, he was here again!  She lay on the floor in a fetal position and cried.

***

It was about nine in the morning, and he decided to make some breakfast in bed for his wife. To his surprise, Elizabeth was already up. She had gotten up early to shower. Valentin was not happy with this. He wanted her in bed. “Elizabeth why don’t we take you back to bed?”

“But I am not tired, Valentin!”

“Come on, honey!”

She did not want to fight him this time. Elizabeth went back to her bed. Valentin came in the door, and she indulged in his game. How I hate this! I am helpless!

After eating breakfast. He gave her the news. “I am going back to work on Monday.”

What is he kidding me?

“Well, have you nothing to say to me.”

Elizabeth frowned at him. “What would you like for me to say, Valentin?”

“Okay, I get you are a bit mad!”

“A bit mad! Come on, you screwed me over, and you know it!” She walked away.

Valentin was losing his patience once again. “Please Liz, I don’t want to hurt you!”

“No, right!” Then she took her robe off.“Look at me, Valentin!”

He looked down.

“Look at me, at my body covered in the bruises!”

Valentin refused to look up at her.

“Look at me, Valentin!” she screamed.

He looked up. It was a horrific scene. Elizabeth back was covered in bruises. Her face still had a swollen purple cheek, not to mention the bruises on her legs. Elizabeth was so angry and cried.

“Liz, this is enough!” he pleaded.

“No, Valentin, I will not put up with this!”

“Come on, Liz!”

“Look, you have not only been abusive, but you have now ended my career at the hospital!”

Valentin was trying to keep it together. He walked over to her, picked up her robe, and put it on her.

For a moment Elizabeth remembered the caring man he used to be.  She went back to the day they met and how gentle he had been. She glared into his eyes for a moment and tried to see the man who pledged his love for her. But it was too late, the damage he had done to her was irreplaceable. He had hurt her so much, and there was no way to fix or change it. Lord give me strength.

“Listen, Liz; you need to take it easy, honey.”

Elizabeth tried to calm down. She needed to take a breath. I am so sick of his games.  She again felt nauseous. Why am I always feeling so sick lately?

“Valentin, I think I am going to be sick!”

“Okay, let me help you.”

Elizabeth walked towards the downstairs bathroom. Thankfully, she made it.

Valentin waited outside the door. He talked to Elizabeth. “Liz you okay?” he asked.

She was obviously not in the mood to talk. “Please, Valentin not now!”

“Fine, I will be in the living room, okay?”

“Okay.”

Elizabeth was frustrated. She wanted him to leave her alone. “Why can’t he let me be?” she whispered. Inside she took a glare in the mirror again. Her eyes were bloodshot. She did not know what would become of her now. My marriage is a farce. My career is over. I will never be able to have children. What do I have?

There it was. The one thing she had not spoken about. Children.  This was something Elizabeth had wanted. She also thought Valentin wanted them too. He had been such a kind man and grew up with four older sisters of his own, not to mention he was a great Uncle to all the kids. This is why not having children was a surprise to Liz. When she brought it up, he would say there would be time for it later. But as time passed, it became more apparent he wanted nothing to do with them.

Then there was the day Elizabeth found out she was expecting.  Boy, she could not wait to tell him. He had been away at a doctor’s conference. Her only thoughts were to call him. To her surprise, he was already home by afternoon. This is when she first noticed his moods swings.

Elizabeth thought Valentin’s attitude was all work related and the long hours made him weary. She did not know he had been using drugs the night before.

Nothing could have prepared her for how he reacted. He was angry and lashed out.

Then he knocked her to the ground. Elizabeth was unconscious.  Next thing she knew Elizabeth was in the hospital and the O.B.G.Y.N, Doctor Richards, told her the bad news. Her baby was gone. Apparently, she miscarried. Elizabeth knew Valentin had killed their baby.

The loss left her devastated and in a state of depression. This lasted for a few months. It was hard for her to look at him. The worst part was he never took responsibility for what he did. Then after it, Valentin had the audacity to ask to take precautions. He truly was the devil and did not care about what he had done.

Back in the present Elizabeth needed to pull herself together. Okay, I need to go back to bed.  Valentin was in the living room. He was going over some papers.

“Valentin, I am not feeling well. I am going back to bed.”

“Sounds like a good idea, Liz.”

He gave her a kiss in the forehead. Then he continued on his paperwork.

Elizabeth went back upstairs and saw the text on her phone. It was from Layla. It read: You need to call me. 

“Layla?”

She walked into the corner closet and dialed her number. “Layla,” she whispered.

“Elizabeth, is this you?”

“Yes, it’s me!”

“What happened?”

“He… he… he drugged me, and then he… he attacked me!” she cried.

“What?”

“I am scared!”

“Okay, Layla go to the police!”

“What?”

“Do it, Layla!”

“They are never going to believe me!”

“You don’t know anything; please go!”

“I am scared!”

“I can imagine, I will see what I can do to go and help!”

“Thank you, Elizabeth, for listening to me.”

“You’re welcome, now go.”

Then Layla hung up the phone.

Elizabeth cried once she placed her phone down. What is wrong with me?

Photo by Kelly Sikkema | Unsplash