I Dumped a Scumbag and Married A Boxer Star-Chapter 13: Better Alone Than With You

Chapter 13: Better Alone Than With You

Ines sat on the cold marble floor, her breath was so shallow, her body still reeled from the way Raphael had manhandled her and ripped the hoodie.

She clenched her jaw, trying to will away the sting in her chest that wasn't just physical.

It was something deeper...something raw.

He reminded her of Trevor.

The way Trevor used to shove her when she didn't listen.

The way he'd yank her arm hard enough to bruise, then gaslight her into thinking she was the problem.

That same overwhelming dominance that made her feel small, breakable.

She forced herself to breathe, glaring at Raphael, who didn't even look bothered enough to care.

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He stood over her, towering, exuding pure authority, his broad shoulders formed a shadow that swallowed her whole.

"You're unbelievable," she spat, struggling to push herself off the floor. "You act like you own me."

Raphael let out a short laugh, but it was humorless.

"I don't act, Ines. You put yourself in this position. You're the one who tied yourself to me."

Ines shook her head, anger bubbled under her skin.

"I trusted you!"

"That was your first mistake."

Her nails dug into her palms. "You really don't care, do you?"

"About what?" He cocked his head, crossing his arms. "Your feelings?"

His words were like a slap to the face. Ines felt her breath hitch, but she refused to let him see how much it hurt.

"You're exactly like Trevor."

That made something move across his face, but it was gone before she could place it.

"I'm nothing like him," he said coolly.

"You just threw me to the ground, ripped my hoodie...told me about my privilege..."

"You were hitting me."

"You deserved it."

Raphael let out a slow breath, shaking his head like she was a child throwing a tantrum.

The sheer arrogance of it made her want to scream.

"You think you can just do whatever you want, don't you?" she demanded. "You're not some god, Raphael. You don't control me."

He took a step closer, and instinctively, she took one back.

He noticed.

"You sure about that?" His voice was a deep murmur, sounding so low and dangerous on purpose.

Ines swallowed hard, hating how her body reacted to his presence.

He wasn't supposed to make her feel anything other than anger, but there was something so intensely powerful about him that it made her blood pulse differently.

Raphael leaned in slightly, just enough to make her nerves spark.

"I could make you listen to me, Ines. But I don't have to. Because deep down, you know you're already in too deep."

Her breath caught in her throat.

Ines hated that he wasn't wrong.

She hated that despite everything, she was still standing here, still trying to figure him out, still affected by him in ways she couldn't explain.

But she wouldn't let him win.

She straightened, lifting her chin. "You think you have power over me? You don't. Because I don't need you."

Raphael studied her for a long moment before giving a small smirk.

"We'll see about that."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving her seething, shaking, and hating that part of her that wasn't entirely sure she wanted him to go.

Ines sat on the edge of the bed, her hands trembled as she gripped her phone.

Her heart pounded as she scrolled through her contacts. There had to be someone. Someone who would take her in.

She pressed the call button.

"Hey, Mia, it's me. I—I need a place to stay just for a few days. Can I—"

A tense pause.

"Ines... I can't. I'm sorry."

Ines clenched her jaw. "Mia, please. Just for a little while. I don't have anywhere—"

"I can't risk it, Ines. Your father... he's powerful. If he finds out I helped you..."

The call ended.

Ines blinked, staring at the screen. She swallowed the lump in her throat and dialed another number.

"Elena? Hey. Can I—"

"I'm sorry, Ines. I just... I can't get involved. You understand, right?"

Another call. Another rejection.

She tried four more people. Each response was the same. Some apologised. Some avoided her. Some simply hung up.

Her breath quickened. It wasn't that they didn't want to help. They were terrified of her father.

Ines's fingers trembled as she went to her banking app.

If she could access her account, she'd find a way.

Maybe a hotel, at least for the night. She entered her credentials.

Access denied.

Ines frowned. Tried again.

Account locked.

Her stomach twisted. Ines refreshed the screen. Still locked.

Her father had done this. He was cutting her off.

Her hands clenched into fists as she stared at the error message, her vision blurred.

The sound of the front door opening caught her attention. Heavy footsteps that belonged to Raphael.

Ines stiffened, listening as he moved through the house. A door shut. Then silence.

He was leaving.

Good. She didn't want to see him.

Standing abruptly, hands shaking as Ines pulled at the clothes he had given her.

Not wantinh anything from him.

So, Ines yanked on the wedding dress, the fabric felt still soft despite the mess of the last few days.

The heels slipped onto her feet, unfamiliar yet grounding.

She took a breath.

Then Ines walked to the door.

Her fingers hovered over the knob.

No phone. No money. No plan.

But Ines had no other choice.

She stepped out into the night, the cold air bit her skin.

She walked. Away from the house. Away from everything.

To nowhere.

And she had never felt more alone.

But this felt more better than being with a man who might abuse her like Trevor in the future.