I Died on Valentine's , He Wept Kian Mendez Chapter 1 Chapter 1 : Nothing Is the Same Hayden Hughes came back reeking of alcohol , just like always . He threw open the master bedroom door and slammed it shut , making the whole room seem to vibrate . I hadn't turned on the lights , and he had no patience . He frowned , his large hands fumbling blindly across the nightstand until he knocked the lamp to the floor , where it shattered . When he didn't find what he was looking for , his voice grew sharp with irritation . " Where's the rope ? " I sighed . " It's late . Our parents are already asleep . Can you please keep it down ? " Hayden scoffed . " It's Saturday . You think they can sleep without hearing a little ... noise ? " I fell silent . This was , after all , the compromise Hayden had made with his family . Every Saturday night , he had to come home and spend the night with me . Where he went or who he was with the rest of the time was off - limits . His family wouldn't ask , and neither could I. For the past three years , this had been our life . The tabloids had a field day with me . They said that even though it was the modern age , Mrs. Hughes was like being the spurned queen in some old - timey royal court . I was the pedigreed queen he couldn't divorce , the one he was forced to visit on designated nights . But everyone knew the woman he truly adored - his real favorite - was someone else . " I am askeing you , where's the rope ? " Hayden's patience was clearly gone . " Stop wasting time . " In the pale moonlight filtering through the window , I stared at him . At thirty , Hayden was tall and handsome , and I could still see traces of the wild , sunny boy I remembered . But five years had turned him into a completely different person .. He didn't know me anymore . He'd fallen in love with someone else . The past twenty - five years - the best years of my life - were like a story that had happened to someone else 1/4 Chapter 1 as far as he was concerned . He'd forgotten , so it had nothing to do with him . " Aubrey ! " He growled a demand , and a warning . I made a small sound of acknowledgment , then pulled the three - year - old rope from the drawer and handed it to him . Hayden snatched it from me and moved to tie my hands . " Wait . " He frowned . " Now what ? " I took a wad of cotton cloth from the drawer and slowly stuffed it into my own mouth . Then , I held my wrists together , offering them to him . Hayden's expression softened slightly . He quickly tied my hands , shoved me onto the bed , and secured the rope tightly to the headboard post . Once that was done , he put on his own blindfold before finally lowering himself onto me . This whole routine was painfully familiar to both of us . Because when we were intimate , he didn't want to see my face , hear my voice , or let me touch him . So , my mouth had to be gagged with cloth , and my hands had to be tied . I was forced to be a disabled mute . Or rather , a living piece of flesh . When it was over , he pulled away quickly . In the darkness , he lit a cigarette and stood by the window , silent . " You know , Aubrey , " he said , " every Saturday , I feel like some kind of stud animal . It makes me sick . " The cloth was still in my mouth , so I couldn't speak . He took a deep drag from his cigarette , his voice thick with exhaustion . " Everyone says we were in love once . You say you love me . So why can't you just let me go ? " It took him a moment , probably because I didn't answer , to realize the problem . He walked over , yanked the cloth from my mouth , and tossed it aside . My mouth ached from being stretched open . He wasn't gentle , and when he pulled the cloth out , I felt the 2/4 Chapter 1 corner of my lip tear , a sharp , stinging pain . I waited a moment for the pain to subside before speaking . " Untie my hands , too . My wrists hurt . " Hayden looked down at me for a long moment but didn't move . I gave a faint laugh . " What , because I won't let you go , you're planning to keep me tied up here forever ? " A flicker of disgust crossed Hayden's face . " At the latest , my parents or the staff will find you in the morning and untie you . You won't be tied up forever . " " Hayden , my wrists hurt . They really , really hurt . " He didn't answer , just let out a cold sneer and turned away to keep smoking . I knew , of course , that my pleas and complaints were useless against him . Hayden used to be a good person . A really good person . Back when we were in school , we saw a little dog on the street tied up with a rope that was choking it . It was whimpering in pain , and without a second thought , Hayden rushed over to untie it . Then he went to a nearby pet store , bought a soft harness , and gave it to the dog's owner . But now that it was me , it was a different story . In his eyes , I wasn't even worth as much as that dog . I said , " Untie me , and I'll let you go . " Hayden's eyes shot up , skeptical . " For real ? " I nodded . " For real . " He sneered . " I don't believe you . " " Suit yourself . If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do . We can just stay like this . Like you said , someone will come untie me in the morning anyway . And you ? You might just miss your one and only chance . " Hayden sat on the edge of the bed and lit another cigarette . " Aubrey , let's just cut to the chase . You want a kid ? Let's do IVF . " " You really don't want to touch me that badly ? " " What do you think ? " This time , his question left me speechless . * It's true . I already knew the answer , so why even bother asking ? * 3/4 Chapter 1 " Hayden , I'm serious . Untie my hands , and you won't have to come back and sleep with me on Saturdays anymore ." Hayden still looked skeptical , studying me , trying to gauge how much of what I was saying was true . I added , " The worst - case scenario is that nothing changes . You might as well give it a shot . What if I actually keep my promise ?" In the end , Hayden untied me . My wrists were a mess of old scars layered with new ones , rubbed raw and bloody . He tossed the rope aside and turned his back to me . " You're free . Now , what about your promise ? Still good ? " " Nope . " " Aubrey ! " He spun around , his furious gaze stabbing through me like a sword . " I knew it ! " I smiled faintly . " I'm just messing with you . Why so angry ? " " You're sick , " he spat , then started picking his clothes up off the floor and pulling them on . My heart twisted as if pricked by a needle . " Yeah , I am sick . I've got a cold . You should grab some cold medicine after you leave so you don't catch it . " " Save your fake concern . I don't need you looking out for me . " " Fine , don't worry about yourself . But what about Isabelle ? Aren't you afraid you'll get her sick ? " " She's studying for her GRES right now , isn't she ? It would suck if getting sick messed with her score . " Hayden's expression changed in an instant . " Aubrey , stay out of it . " " Don't worry , I'm not low enough to sabotage her academic career . " " I wouldn't put it past you . "