Chapter 3 Aaron’s Midnight Break-in

Haunted by a relentless stream of nightmares, Sabrina found it hard to sleep that night. She felt suffocated, as though a snake was tightening around her throat, inch by inch. Struggling for freedom, Sabrina's lungs starved for air. When her eyes snapped open, she realized her sense of suffocation was not a part of the dream. It was real. The man she had kicked out earlier that afternoon was now on her bed, his hands tightening around her throat, choking her. His eyes bore into her with a dangerous and terrifying intensity, like those of a venomous serpent. Just when Sabrina thought she was about to meet her end, Aaron suddenly released his grip. Gasping for air, she acted swiftly and swung the bedside lamp at his head with all her might. Arghh! Aaron fell to the floor, and Sabrina fled from the bedroom. How could she have forgotten? Aaron still had keys to her apartment. She had thrown his belongings out in a fit but had forgotten to reclaim the keys. If he had not been afraid of legal repercussions, Aaron would have killed her right then. "You wretch! How dare you! I'm going to kill you!" Aaron had never loved Sabrina. From the beginning, he had been using her for her money and property. He was constantly scheming for ways to take everything from her. But the dark night gave Sabrina untold courage. While men were generally stronger than women, Sabrina's fear morphed into unyielding bravery. She sprinted to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. "You betrayed me, Aaron, and now you dare to invade my home!" "Look, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. No one could ever love a woman like you. How dare you throw me out and humiliate me? What are you going to do to make it up to me?" Aaron was unfazed by Sabrina's threatening stance. If she were really that brave, she would have done more than just toss his belongings out. Aaron moved closer, and Sabrina’s grip on the knife wobbled. "Don't come any closer! I swear I'll kill you!" "Go ahead, kill me then!" Aaron was certain Sabrina lacked the guts to fight back. He recalled how she had always cowered behind him during their trips to haunted houses, even when it was all make-believe. Now, he was sure she would not dare to use the knife on him. And he was right. Sabrina could not muster the resolve to go through with it. But that did not mean she was willing to let go of the knife either. In the end, her courage faltered, and Aaron deftly snatched the knife from her trembling hands. The kitchen had turned into a battlefield, strewn with objects Sabrina used for self-defense. Aaron skillfully dodged most but still got pelted by flying bowls and random items. In a fit of rage, he lunged at her, seized her wrist, and forcefully pulled her out of the kitchen. "Let go of me, you bastard!" "Sabrina, you better behave. I don't want to get rough, but you're not giving me a choice!" He pinned her to the sofa, raised her hands above her head with one hand, and began tearing at her clothes with another. Sabrina screamed and cursed, but Aaron refused to stop. Slap! "B*tch! You better behave! I've been with you for years, yet you've never satisfied my needs! I've invested so much time in this relationship, and now it's time for me to get something in return!" Sabrina's face stung from the force of the slap, and a deafening ringing noise overwhelmed her ears, making Aaron's words incomprehensible. Her vision grew hazy, and Aaron's features blurred into obscurity. Sabrina realized she was on the brink of losing consciousness, but she could not allow herself to succumb. If she passed out there and then, Aaron would undoubtedly take advantage of her. Disgusted by the thought, she bit down on her tongue hard. Her struggles grew more intense, as her will to survive lent her an unexpected surge of strength. Aaron barely managed to hold onto Sabrina as she fought back. "Let go! I swear, I'll kill you!" Sabrina spewed curses she had never uttered before, unleashing all her pent-up anger. The living room lay shrouded in darkness, with only a faint moonlight casting eerie shadows on the floor. Aaron's actions grew increasingly aggressive, sending cold shivers down Sabrina's chest. Nausea welled up inside her, threatening to make her sick. A sinister grin twisted across Aaron's face as he loomed closer, his breath chilling Sabrina's neck. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to resist and hurl insults at him. She would not give in! Just then, a muffled thud and Aaron's scream broke the tension. Sabrina quickly sat up and hugged her knees tightly. Although she realized that she had been saved, the trauma from the ordeal still lingered. Aaron's cries faded into the distance. Sabrina snapped back to reality and her heart steadied when she saw Curtis's towering figure. "Cu... Curtis." Unsure if her words had even made a sound, Sabrina watched Curtis let go of the unconscious Aaron and approach her. He switched on the living room light, snatched a blanket from the nearby couch, and gently wrapped it around her. "You're such a fool." Sabrina remained silent. She had indeed been foolish and her foolishness had allowed Aaron to exploit her vulnerabilities. Had Curtis not arrived when he did, the situation might have taken a far darker turn. "I've already called the police. They'll be here soon. Can you hold on until then?" Sabrina's gaze burned with intensity as she nodded at Curtis. "I'm going to make him pay!" That answer seemed to satisfy Curtis. He glanced at Aaron's unconscious form on the floor and suddenly said, "I could use a wife, and you seem like a good fit." Sabrina's mind went blank, still reeling from the trauma she had just endured. Curtis's words felt surreal. Who discusses marriage under such bizarre circumstances? "Do you have any idea what I've just been through?" "I witnessed it all. He's no longer a threat, which is why I can discuss this with you now." Curtis reasoned. He was fully aware of what had happened to Sabrina. However, his sense of practicality outweighed his emotions. That was why he chose this unexpected moment to propose to Sabrina, suggesting she become his wife. "You need a man in your life, and my Grandpa is quite fond of you. If you accept, I'll take care of everything for you."