Jessi's advice sounded more like a warning; she seemed very upset with her.
Beauty wanted to beg Jessi to let her sleep in their room just for the night, but she knew Kathy would never accept it.
And Jessi looked like she couldn't even grant her any request tonight.
Shamefully, she kept her thoughts to herself and watched Jessi walk back inside.
After a minute or so, she drew a deep breath and followed her.
As soon as she entered the room and closed the door gently behind her, Bruno lunged at her, pushing her against the wall.
Startled, her heart raced against her chest, fear gripping her as he pinned her hands above her head with surprising strength.
"Wha... What are you doing, Bruno?" she managed to ask, her voice trembling.
He leaned closer, a wicked smile curling his lips.
"What does it look like I am doing?"
He was drunk; she could see and smell it all over him.
"I am sorry, Bruno.."
He gripped her bodice, and panic surged through her. She struggled to pull her hands free, fear and anxiety consuming her at this point.
"You are hurting me.."
She sobbed.
He wasn't interested in anything she was saying or expecting to have his way.
"Help! Someone!"
She yelled, the sound echoing in the small room.
But Bruno swiftly covered her mouth with his palm, and as she fought against him, he wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her effortlessly.
He carried her toward the bed, dropping her down with a force that knocked the breath from her lungs.
Her bodice popped open, exposing her breasts, bouncing at the strength of the fall.
"Stop...you need my consent for this, stop!"
The predatory glint in his eyes sent a chill down her spine.
When he climbed on top of her, the struggle intensified. She flailed her arms, trying to hit him, but he easily pinned her down.
"Don't do this, Bruno, please don't break my heart."
"Stop pretending; you enjoy this, don't you? You love the toxicity," he taunted, his hands locking her in place, his legs pressing against hers.
"No I don't! Stop it! It's not funny!" she cried, her voice trembling, panic rising as she could hear her own heartbeat drumming in her ears.
"What's not funny?" he whispered, leaning even closer.
She sealed her lips and closed her eyes tightly, feeling the warmth of tears pooling at the corners.
"Please don't break my heart, Bruno...don't be like them."
Her mouth was trembling as she kept muttering those inaudible pleas.
Suddenly she felt his grip on her arms soften.
She stopped struggling and slowly opened her eyes and found his face, sad and tragic, covered with tears.
"I love you, Beauty," he suddenly declared, his tone chilling her to the tears that rolled down his cheeks soaking her hair.
As his hands still held her hand above her head.
"I don't want you to kiss anyone else. I want you for me alone. My love is that kind of love, Beauty. I want every part of you. I cherish you. Please don't hurt me anymore. I don't know what you're thinking, but I will be the last person to take advantage of you...don't call me them anymore."
"I am sorry, Bruno."
Her lips quivered as she fought to hold back her own tears.
But then Bruno coughed loudly, releasing her and attempting to lay down on the bed. Instead, he fell off the bed, and Beauty watched with her blurry wet vision as he began to vomit.
She hurried to help him up and guided him to the bathroom.
There she cleaned him up, her heart heavy with sadness and guilt.
Afterward, she tucked him into bed, covering him with a blanket.
Then, she sat on the edge, watching him sleep, her mind racing with the implications of everything that had just happened.
Tears rolling down her cheeks as she reflected on Jessi's words.
"Baby..?"
Bruno murmured.
Beauty's heart skipped; she dried her tears immediately and turned to find him, searching for her beside him.
"Baby!!"
He shouted loudly this time; it made her chuckle a bit.
She sniffed, trying not to cry anymore.
"Yes...I am here with you."
"Did I scare you away? Why aren't you here?"
He muttered with his eyes still closed, tapping at the side of his bed.
"No...no...you didn't...you are just drunk."
Beauty replied, she rolled to his bed and lay down beside him.
"See, I am here."
"I love you."
He pulled her closer.
"So soft...smells so good..."
Beauty watched him fall asleep, hugging her tightly beneath him with her back rested on his hand and face on his chest.
She had to pity his hand, else it would be dead carrying all her weight.
Slowly, she sneaked out of the bed and rolled to hers.
"Good night, Bruno."
She whispered.