Not Damaged(38)

“Well, you clearly don’t know your daughter. She’s one fine cook and she cooks for me all the time. I have to get her out of the kitchen to spend some time with me,” Ryan said, dropping his fork.#p#分页标题#e#

“You clearly don’t know my daughter at all. If you knew what she suffered then you’d know she’s nothing like she used to be.”

Jesse’s world closed in on her again. Her family would never let her forget her past.

“Barbara, leave it,” Liam said.

“No, I’m not going to leave it. She may bring her boyfriend around but we know her. We know how she’s struggled to deal with what happened to her. No one knows the true extent of what happened. There is no way for her to move on.”

Her temper started to spike. All of her feelings over the last ten years rose inside and she slammed her cutlery to the plate. “Enough!”

Shocked silence followed her shouted word.

“There is nothing wrong with me. Yes, I went through something no one should have to go through but I survived. I got through it, and I’m stronger now for it.” Shooting glares at all of them, she continued, “God, I can’t breathe around you. I’m tired of it, and you need to stop.”

“Yes, I cook.” She turned to face her mother. “I cook a hell of a lot because I love doing it but you stopped me from doing it for whatever reason you thought was relevant. I’m moving on but you’re dragging me down constantly. None of what happened had anything to do with you. This is all about me. Stop making it all about fucking you.” She slammed her palm on the table and stood. “I’m in love with Ryan and he’s my life. Go ahead, tell him everything but he loves me. Nothing will change that.”

She pressed a hand to her heart, feeling the tears well up and spill over.

“Actually, can I say something now,” Ryan said, standing up.

His large body made her feel so small, so safe. Suddenly he dropped to his knee, pulling something out of his pocket.

“Jesse Robinson, you are the love of my life. I know we’ve not known each other long but I know there is no other woman I’d rather spend my life with. You’re everything to me. I know you went through hell but I’m here to make you feel like you live in heaven. Will you do me the honors of becoming my wife?”

Staring at the ring to his handsome face, Jesse was shocked. No words could explain her feelings for him. “Do you mean that?”

“Baby, I never say anything I don’t mean.”

Her family fell away completely. The modest ring glinted up at her, perfect and show casing her future.

“Yes, yes, yes, I love you so much.” Throwing her arms around him, she got to her knees to hug him close. Tears of happiness spilled over her cheeks.

Ryan pulled her to her feet. “You’re so beautiful.”

Turning back to her stunned family she wiped her tears away and smiled. “You can either be happy for me or let me go,” she said. “I can’t live with you all thinking about what happened. I love you all but please, stop bringing it up. It’s over and done with. I’m not damaged. I’m okay.”

Silence fell on the room and then Liam stood. “You hugged me today and for the first time in ten years I feel like I’ve got my daughter back.”

He pulled her in close. Her mother came next followed by her brother. Jake stayed back, smiling at her. She smiled back at him, pleased he’d given her to Ryan. If he’d not, she would have still been struggling with her life.

Sitting down at the table, the atmosphere was tense but everyone seemed happier somehow. Ryan stayed by her side while Barbara started talking wedding. She couldn’t believe how different her life was turning out to be. Maybe, she really could move on.



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One year later



Ryan stared at his wife as she walked around the dungeon talking to the members. Jesse really did know her place in his life. For the first hour she did the rounds talking with everyone to make sure they were happy, playing the part of his wife. The rings on her wedding finger showed her place within his life. Their wedding took place over nine months ago. Barbara and her family helped to organize the ceremony.

The three months it took for him to marry her, Jesse had grown close to her family once again. None of them were treating her as if she was damaged. They all saw the beautiful woman she’d turned into, inside and out.

“She’s really glowing, isn’t she?” David asked, coming to stand beside him.

Glancing down the length of her body, he saw the evidence of his true possession. Her rounded stomach showed off his unborn child. Getting her pregnant had taken a lot of energy and determination. “She really is.”