A Hostage to Delusion by M J Marlow (free children's online books txt) 📕

the attack.
“No one is ever going to say nasty things about you again, honey,” Adam said as he kissed the tip of her nose afterwards. “Samantha has a gown waiting for you that I want you to wear when we got to Toledo. I’ll take you for the fitting.”
Cassie could only go along with him. Her mind was complete mush after his attack. She didn’t love this man, but he could make her body do things that made her feel wonderful as they happened and then deeply ashamed and disgusTed with herself when the glow faded. She had to get away from him before she lost all control of herself. Her shame turned to outright pain as she remembered the look on Eric’s face when he had caught them in the balcony. He was going to hate her now. She had lost her only true friend.
“The town is looking forward to the reception when you get back from Toledo, Cassie,” Samantha, the centenarian who owned the local dress shop, sighed and clapped her hands together. “I understand you are moving to Arizona.”
“That’s what I’m told,” Cassie sighed. How could people be so blind? Couldn’t anyone besides Eric see how much she haTed being forced to stay married to Adam?
“I’m going to be late for work, Samantha,” Cassie said to the woman. “Help me out of this, please.”
“Work?” Adam laughed as he came in just then. “You quit, Cassie. Don’t you remember?” He winked at the woman. “Her mind has turned to mush this week, Samantha.”
“Who can blame her?” Samantha smiled back at him. “She’s lost in the delight of being your wife, Mr. Garrison.”
Cassie fled into the changing room, red-faced. She got changed and he was waiting for her. He took her to the house and kept pulling her along until they were in the study. Jonathan smiled at her and she shivered. He reminded her of a shark circling around a wounded fish.
“Cassandra,” he smiled as he pulled a folder out of his drawer and opened it. “We just have a few legal concerns to deal with and I’ll let you two get on with the honeymoon.”
Cassie saw the nuptial agreement he was asking her to sign and she read it slowly. She could get her own back a little by annoying them over this. She really didn’t care about their money. They could have it all. The clause she balked over was the one that staTed if she ever left Adam, he would retain custody of any children she gave him.
“You expect me to abandon my children to you if I leave?” she turned on them. “That makes me nothing but a – a brood mare for you.”
“Did you think it would ever be anything else?” Jonathan looked at her. “We all know you are not in love with Adam. You are just a convenient body for Adam to enjoy. Any children you bear for him are more properly raised in this home where they can have every advantage.” He shook his head as he had an uncomfortable thought. “I wish I could have left you alone, Cassandra, but your avaricious grandmother made that impossible.” He looked at her coldly. “You can blame her when you go see her next week to give her the happy news.”
“You think I will allow my children to be raised to think they can be manipulative, self-serving bastards like you and your older son?” Cassie snapped. She tried to stand up and Adam held her down. “You can’t make me do this! I am not letting you blackmail me any further!” She saw only amusement on their faces as Jonathan grabbed her arm and twisTed. “You’re hurting me!”
“Sign the document, Cassandra,” Jonathan told her. “It protects our future children from your lack of maternal instinct.” He stroked her cheek. “You should have known our son was alive, darling.”
“You bastard!” Cassie hissed at him and tried to slap him. Jonathan twisTed her arm again and she whimpered in pain. She picked up the pen and signed it. He released her and she picked up the document and ripped it in half. Jonathan slapped her across the face and promised her another document would be ready for her to sign quite soon. “Don’t bother,” she said as she took off the rings and threw them at Adam. “I am not staying married to your son! I hate you both!”
She ran from the room and hurried towards the front door. She was opening it when Adam caught her. He leaned on it and it shut fast against her. She turned to glare at him and he merely shook his head. This girl was so gloriously stubborn, he thought as he pulled her to him and kissed her. She put him to shame with her refusal to accept what she was ordered to do.
“You’ll learn to appreciate all the spoiling you will get as my son’s wife,” Jonathan laughed as he saw Adam take her towards the stairs. She tried to get loose and he twisTed her arm up behind her back and forced her upstairs to his suite.
“This will be our place when we visit Dad during the holidays.” He shoved her inside and locked the door behind them. “If you want to change the décor, it is allowed as long as you discuss it with me first. I won’t have anything too feminine in here.”
“Why are you so insistent on being married to me, Adam?” Cassie asked as he kept her moving towards the bed. “You could have anyone you want…”
“But I want you, honey,” Adam finished for her as he shoved her down on the bed. He laid his fingers on her lips. “We’re married now, Cassie. Please stop fighting now. I’ll be a good husband to you.”
Cassie pulled away from him; suddenly very frightened of him and this strange marriage she was trapped into. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, claiming her lips roughly. He was not at all gentle when he forced himself on her this time. When they returned to the diner she was bruised all over. Adam left her to run an errand and she took a long hot bath. The phone rang as she was combing out her hair and she picked it up.
“Cassie Baker,” she choked out, failing to hold onto her control.
“Oh honey,” Gloria crooned as she spoke over the line. “It can’t possibly be as bad as you think it is.”
“No,” Cassie whimpered. “It’s worse.” She told Gloria everything then. “What am I going to do, Gloria? Adam’s father has trapped us into this marriage. I am never going to be free of them!”
“You need to tell that detective everything then,” Gloria told her; knowing that she was slitting her own throat by speaking this way, “and ask him what you should do. I think it’s time you let your father help you.” Cassie wished it were that simple and she said so. “You know your grandmother, do you really believe a word she said to you?” Cassie began to realize how she had been manipulaTed and anger replaced despair. “They sent a man to find you, honey. I think that shows they want to meet you at least.”
“I can’t think right now,” Cassie said, feeling some of the fear easing away through the woman’s concern. “You and George have been like parents to me, Gloria. Thank you.”
“Do you need any money?” Gloria asked her the practical question. “I have about $400 saved up that you can borrow. It’s hidden in our secret cupboard with an emergency kit.”
“No, Gloria,” Cassie replied; “you are doing enough by encouraging me to run. Mr. Garrison is not going to take that kindly.” She didn’t need money; she had stolen the money her grandmother had accepTed for turning Cassie into a slave. It was something she had never told anyone, and she was not going to risk losing it by admitting she had it. “I’m just going to make certain Oliver is all right and then I’ll be back.” She haTed herself for lying to the woman, but she could not be certain that Gloria was not going to tell someone what she had said. “I can’t take away his future so I’m going to do as Adam asks.”
“Wait until morning,” Gloria advised her. “You need some sleep.” Cassie nodded. “You are far too emotional right now. Take a sedative so you can sleep.”
Cassie did not argue. When Gloria had that tone in her voice, then no one argued with her. Cassie knew Gloria was right. She was still shaking from the news she’d been given about her son. Once she was certain that Oliver was all right, she would go somewhere she could have a life of her own choosing.
“I love you, Gloria Baker,” Cassie choked. “I hope someday I’m half the woman you are.”
“Go find out about your boy, Cassie,” Gloria nodded. “You know you always have a home with us.”
Gloria hung up. She recognized the panic in Cassie’s voice. She was going to run. She went to her purse and made a phone call she had not wanTed to make. But Cassie was more than just a job to her. She had to do what she could to help the child. The detective had given them his card when he had stopped at the diner before she and George had been told they were going on vacation. Gloria had retrieved it from the trashcan after George had tossed it.
“Mr. Evans?” she said softly so Cassie and George couldn’t hear her. “This is Gloria Baker. Cassie has been forced to marry Adam Garrison. She is going to run.”
Cassie jumped as someone knocked on the door. She put her backpack and the stack of clothing next to it back in the hiding place in her closet before she opened the door. She wiped the tears off of her face as Adam walked in. He set down the bottle of wine and raised her eyes to his.
“Thinking about our little boy, honey?” he guessed as he saw the tears. “Run a bath. I’ll join you in a moment.”
Several hours later, while Adam was sleeping off the sedative Cassie had slipped into his wine, Cassie pulled out her backpack and got dressed. She took his car keys without a moment’s hesitation and drove out of town. She dumped his car and went the rest of the way on foot, spending what was left of the night in the motel near the bus station. With every minute that passed with her unmolesTed, her hope began to rise. She was going to be free!

Dekker and Belinda waiTed in the sun room at the end of the floor Justine’s room was locaTed the next morning. She could see that her husband was on edge and almost wished she had come alone. She watched him rise to his feet as an orderly brought Justine to them.
“Dekker, my dear grandson,” Justine smiled as she saw who her visitors were. “And this must be your lovely wife, Barbara.”
“There is no need to be catty, Justine,” Dekker said to his grandmother. “You know full well what my wife’s name is.” He saw her deflate. “We need the name of the man who raped Cassie and got her pregnant.” He saw her bit her lips. “Don’t lie to me, Justine.”
“Pretty Cassie,” Justine smiled as she went to sniff some of the roses hanging in a basket. “How is the darling girl these days?”
“She is safely away from you, Justine,” Belinda told her. “How could you do such a heinous thing to that child?”
“Oh the poor baby,” Justine crooned. Her expression told them that she was amused