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“I-I f-forgot…”
Carson flashed me a soft smile, petting my hair. “Of course you did, darling. No one is blaming you. I know this diagnosis has been hard on you. Doctor Barrows has a few new medications we can try. We’ll get you feeling better in no time.”
When I glanced over my shoulder, Britney and Gabi looked like they didn’t fully believe him. It meant a lot to me, but I couldn’t let them get hurt.
“I-I’m sorry for all the t-trouble. I sh-shouldn’t have left.”
Gabi shook her head slowly. “No… It’s okay. Are you sure–”
“I-I should go. Th-Thanks f-for helping me.”
Gabi made a noise of protest when I let Carson guide me away. I couldn’t look back, though. I felt like my heart was shredding in my chest. I had only a few days of feeling safe, and I lost it all because I couldn’t get a grip and stop freaking out. Maybe Carson was right. Maybe there was something wrong in my head.
Once I was tucked into the back of his town car, Carson went back over to the group, shaking hands and smiling. I couldn’t hear well. Everything was muffled in the car, but it sounded like he was thanking them. He was charming when he wanted to be.
When he turned around, his face fell and turned menacing. He stalked over to the car, forcing me to shuffle across the seat to make room for him. He sat beside me, the tension building as the car pulled into traffic and drove away. I glanced out the window, watching a very confused Gabi and a frowning Britney track me as we left.
“You’re going to pay for this. I hope you know that.”
Carson’s growl made me hunch in on myself. “I-I’m sorry…”
He scoffed. “Sorry doesn’t cut it. You’ve embarrassed me. After everything I’ve done for you.”
“C-Carson, I–”
He moved fast. Once we turned a corner and were out of sight of my friends, he was on me, shoving my head hard against the window. I cried out, squeezing my eyes shut against the pain.
“You put my entire career in jeopardy with your little stunt. I should kill you right now and be done with it,” he hissed.
Sobbing, I let my body go limp. Fighting him would only drag it out. He leaned into it, grinding my head against the window before pushing away from me.
“You should count yourself lucky. It was Avery’s idea to do the mental illness bit. It’ll help me save face after this bullshit. But if you say anything to indicate otherwise, to anyone, I swear to god, Rosalie, I’m going to make you wish you were dead.”
Too late. I already did.
* * *
We drove for a while in silence. Carson’s focus was on his phone. I used to complain when he ignored me like this. Back before he showed his true colors. Now, I looked forward to anything that would distract him long enough to give me a reprieve from the pain.
It wasn’t until we reached the edge of town that I realized we weren’t going home. I looked around with a frown, trying to figure out where we were. I couldn’t work up the nerve to ask where we were going until we pulled up to an unassuming building in the middle of a small town.
“W-Where…”
Carson smirked. “I told you. We’re going to get you some help. Only the best for my psychotic bitch of a wife. Let’s go.”
Wide eyed, I sat stiff and frozen until he opened my door and yanked me out by my arm. The pain that shot up my ribs made me yelp, which only made Carson double down on his rough treatment. He always liked it when I cried.
When he dragged me inside, I saw the name on the sign by the door. Larkhaven Psychiatric Hospital. Carson was having me committed.
I couldn’t tell if it was a good thing or not. He couldn’t come with me, which seemed like a positive thing. But from the dark looks on the nurses’ faces when he pushed me towards them, a sense of foreboding rose in my mind. I spun around, shaking my head at him.
“P-Please don’t. I’ll be good, I promise. Please–”
Carson shot me a dirty look, growling low so that no one could overhear him. “You should’ve thought of that before you ran. Remember what I said, Rosalie. Keep your fucking mouth shut.”
“Mr Shelby? We’ve got some paperwork we need you to fill out.”
He straightened, all hints of the monster gone as he flashed them his winning smile. “Of course. Anything to help my wife. We can’t leave her alone, however. She’s a flight risk,” he warned.
