Sometimes survival means running.

Mark had promised me that he was on my side but I had doubts. And the man I was in love was about to prove to me that he was up to the task. 

I was home all through because I had nowhere to go. My boss was too afraid to let me continue working. I took Lily to school and stayed home, knitting some crochets wears that I could sell. 

Then I heard him knock at the door. I always knew in my heart that he would always find his way to my doorstep no matter what. My heart beamed with excitement as I rushed to open the door. 

But his face drained me of all the excitement. "What again?" My heart sank in fear.

His eyes were fiery, his breathing was heavy like he had been running. He looked at me like a man that was cornered but unwilling to surrender.

"Pack your bags," he said, his voice was very thick and sounded urgent.

I looked at him in confusion. "Mark, what's happening?"

"I'm taking you and Lily away, just for a little while." He replied, his eyes not leaving mine. 

"Why? I don't understand, Mark. Did something happen? 

"I need to take you and Lily away from my family and their threats. I have to get you two away from them for a while.''

I looked deeper into his face and I knew that he was dead serious but I couldn't undertsand the urgency. He didn't say anything the last time we saw. He semed happy to me. 

"Mark, that's madness. I can't just leave. I don't even know where we'd go." I replied in a low tone, trying not to upset him.

"You don't need to know," he said firmly. "Just trust me."

I hesitated. 

I didn't want to do that. Trust him? I hadn't forgotten that he betrayed my trust in him and did his family's bidding with his engagement to Emily. I didn't forget but I just couldn't resist him. 

Gosh! Why am I so in love with him? 

He moved closer to me and held my tiny hands when compared to his. Damn, his hands were warm, so warm they made me feel safe. 

"Clara, I know you still don't trust me. But I want you to know that you can trust me. I am all in for us.'' 

He knew what was on my mind. I didn't trust him one bit, and I had to be responsible for my daughter. 

"Why did you get engaged to Emily then?'' I asked him hoping for an honest answer. 

Silence. 

He didn't say anything and then he began to stutter. 

"Look, uhm Clara.....It's ...." 

"It's what?" I demanded to know. 

"It's complicated."

Did he just say it was complicated. I couldn't understand why he was doing all that his mother wanted. 

Why couldn't he just stand up to her and fight for our love?  Of course I loved him but I wasn't going to go anywhere with a man I didn't trust. 

"I can't go with you Mark.'' I replied very calmly.

Trust was very important to me, especially when my world had been torn down brick by brick because of him. 

"Clara please, let me fix my mess. You are in all of this because of me. I can't let you go and that's why my evil family is coming after you. Please, Clara, please." 

The desperation and sincerity  in his eyes reminded me of the truth, that he was as trapped as I was. He was caged in the priosn of love just as I was. 

The heart wants what it wants. Our hearts desperately needed each other to breathe and survive. But it was hard.

I felt like I was drowning. The look in his eyes showed me that he was helplessly drowning too. 

Maybe he was right. Going away for a while would definitely give me room to breathe. I had never been away from the city where I lived. Time away from the watchful eyes of his mother will help me regain my strength. 

"Where's Mummy going?" Lily's small body crept between us. She had overheard our conversation. I wasn't sure she understood fully though, because she was only four.

Mark bent down, his voice softening in a way that gave me mad heart palpitations."We're going on a trip, sweetheart. Somewhere safe. Somewhere made just for you, mummy and I."

Lily's brightened with an excited smile. "Like a holiday?"

"Yes gummy bear" Mark whispered. "Like a holiday."

And so, I let him take us.

We drove through the night, the city lights fading behind us, swallowed by dark roads and empty fields. 

Lily fell asleep in the back seat, her tiny head resting against the window, while I sat in bedside Mark in silence, staring out into the darkness.

After driving for hours, the car slowed down, turning down a narrow road lined with tall trees. At the end of it stood a small cottage by the sea, its windows shinning faintly against the night.

I was stunned by its beauty and serenity. I got excited within me. Mark was right, I need some self care with lots of peace. 

"This was my grandmother's," Mark said quietly as he parked. "It's the only place my parents don't come to."

"Why?'' I asked, curious

"It's a long story. I'll tell you one of these days.'' He replied. 

When I stepped out, the slow breeze hit me, it was warm and cool. I could hear the sound of the sea waves crashed in the distance, it was steady and soothing. 

For the first time in weeks, my chest loosened, as though the ocean itself was lending me its air to breathe.

When we entered the cottage, it  was simple. It had beautiful wooden floors, a stone fireplace, and the faint scent of lavender. It was  nothing like the polished, glamorous world of the Moguls.

As I tucked Lily into bed, she whispered, "I like it here, Mummy. Can we stay forever?"

I kissed her forehead, my throat tightening from uncertainty. "We'll see, darling."

But deep down, I knew forever was a fragile dream.

When I went back into the living room, Mark was by the fire, his hands were buried in his hair. He looked like a man carrying the weight of two worlds his family's and mine.

"Clara," he said softly when he saw me. "I wish I could give you more than this. More than stolen nights and temporary  peace."

I swallowed hard as sadness filled my heart. I crossed my arms against the swell of emotions that was threatening to make me cry. 

"Why do you keep fighting them, Mark? You could have everything, wealth, power, respect. Instead, you're here with me, hiding out in your grandmother's cottage"

His eyes locked onto mine.

"Because none of that means anything without you. You think I don't see the way they're tearing you apart? You think I don't hate myself for it? But Clara, I'd rather lose everything, even lose myself  than lose you."

His words sank into me, leaving me in awe. "And Emily?" I whispered. "She won't stop. She looked at me like I was dirt, like I was an enemy she would stop at nothing to kill."

Mark's jaw tightened, anger filling up his eyes. "Emily is nothing but a contract in my eyes. She's convenient. But she doesn't own me. She never will." He pulled me in at this point to sit on his laps close to the fireplace.

After he said those words, silence filled the space between us. I could only hear the heavy sound of the ocean outside and our heartbeats that were synced into a distant rhythm.

"Do you regret it?" I finally asked,  my voice was barely a whisper. "Choosing me, when you could have had an easy life?"

He moved closer, his hand brushing my cheek so gently it made my heart long for him. "Never, my love. You are the only thing in my life that feels real." 

I could feel his eyes sinking deep into my soul as he said those words.

For a moment, I let myself believe him. I let myself melt into the warmth of his hand, I could see the embers from the fireplace glowing in his eyes. I let myself forget the battles waiting outside for me outside the cottage, after our vacation was over. 

After all, I agreed to follow him so I could find some peace and quiet. I agreed to this vacation because somewhere in my heart, I wanted to steal time alone with him. Mark was the man I wanted, I can't even lie. He is my dream come true.

That night, we sat by the fire for a long time after Lily had fallen asleep, speaking in hushed voices about everything. We talked about my dreams, my childhood and his regrets. And though we never said it out loud, love was between us, it was fragile but undeniable.

For three days, we enjoyed that fragile peace. Lily laughed more than she had in weeks, chasing waves along the shore with Mark running playfully after her. His laughter and hers made my heart palpate with joy and peace. 

I watched them play from the porch where I sat, my heart swelling with hope and joy. Mark was my joy, he gave me a kind of hope that I knew was dangerous. When I cooked, he stayed with me, hyping every scent of aroma that came from my simple meals. 

He ate my food with joy and a warm smile that made me know that I had found my home, my safe place. He didn't let me do any chores, he got the house cleaners to do it. I knew from the way he treated me that he was madly in love with me. 

We played board games by the fire. And for the first time, I felt what it was like to have a family, to belong to someone. My parents were always there for me but I had been alone, after my mum died and  I had to raise Lily on my own. 

My ex, Lily's father, was the man I thought I would spend my whole life with. We met when I was in college and he told me that he would be my everything. 

Our love story ended when I discovered that he was cheating on me with my then best friend in college. I found out I was pregnant three weeks after our break up and I told him. 

He told me to get rid of it but I knew I couldn't. So I decided to raise Lily on my own without him and without support. And that has been my life until I met Mark. 

Mark, my Mark had been my peace and comfort from my struggles. But the peace we shared was a fragile thing and it was shattered on the fourth morning.

I woke up that morning to the sound of loud voices outside. My heart was pounding from fear, so  I rushed to the door.

I froze at the door instantly but it wasn't because I felt cold. I just couldn't believe the figure I was seeing. 

You guessed right, it was Emily Vanclair. 

She  stood in the driveway, and her designer coat was glistering under the bright sun, her eyes looked as if she had won a battle. She looked like she had been looking for me and Mark and she finally found us. 

Behind her was a sleek black car, and though I couldn't see inside, I knew that his parents had found us.

"Well," Emily's voice bragged with her gaze sweeping over the cottage with disgust before landing on me. "So this is where you've been hiding. You can't take Mark away from me."

Mark stepped in front of me instantly, his voice aggressively chasing her. "Emily, leave."

She laughed, it was a cruel sound that made my stomach twist. "Leave? Oh no, darling. I've come to take you. Your parents are furious, and frankly I am too." I can't believe you ran away with this cheap waitress and that thing she calls her child."

"Emily!!!" his voice flared in anger. "Don't speak to her that way."

"I'm just asking if you know what this has done to our image?" Emily replied to him. 

"What image? I don't care!"  Mark roared back at her. 

I was shocked at her words. Our image. She said it as if Mark were already hers.

"You don't own me, Emily," Mark snapped. "This engagement, you know it's just for the family business. I don't want you. I never have."

Her eyes narrowed and her face twisted with jealousy. "And you think you can replace me with her?" She pointed her perfectly manicured finger in my direction, her voice filled with hatred for me. 

"She's nothing, Mark. She is nothing but a charity case with a child that isn't even yours. Do you really think your family, your world, will ever accept her?"

The words cut through me, leaving me breathless. She reminded me once again that I will always be a stranger in Mark's world. 

I wanted to talk back to her and  defend myself, but my throat closed with shame and fear. Besides, I wanted Mark to defend me. He wasn't worthy of me if he couldn't defend me in front of Emily and his parents. 

"Enough! You don't get to insult her. Clara is worth more than you'll ever be.  She's stronger, kinder, more real than you and my parents put together." 

My heart thundered with pride. My man was defending me. 

Emily's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then you've made your choice. But don't say I didn't warn you. This won't end well for both of you."

She entered the car sharply, her heels hitting harshly on the gravel, and within seconds she was gone, zooming off in her sleek black car.

I stood there, short of words.  

Mark turned to me, his face was pale but he didn't look discouraged.

 "Clara, look at me." 

I looked at him weakly. He didn't look like he was giving up but I was afraid and wished that we didn't have to fight so hard for our love. 

"Whatever they throw at us, whatever they try, I won't let them win. I won't."

But my eyes didn't leave  the empty road where Emily had stood, her threats kept echoing in my ears.

Because I knew this was only the beginning.

And love alone might not be enough to save us.

After Emily's visit, I lived with a constant pain in my chest, as though the ocean air couldn't fill my lungs enough. Every sound the cottage floorboards made, every car engine that I heard on the road, sent my heart into fast beats.

Mark did everything to reassure me. He cooked, he laughed with Lily, he held me at night when sleep wouldn't come. But I saw the tension and fear in his eyes, the way his phone vibrated endlessly with calls he never answered.

I knew that we would have to leave the cottage soon, it was only a matter of time. Mark was being stubborn, he didn't want to face his family or leave but I knew we couldn't stay here forever.

Our love story was going to be shortlived. Every fibre of my being knew that even though we loved each other, his world was not mine.

I was washing dishes while Lily coloured at the table when I heard the knock. It was sharp and it was not the gentle tap of any of our neighbours at the cottage..

When I opened the door, two uniformed officers stood on the doorstep.

"Clara Evans?" one of them asked.

My stomach dropped within me "Yes."

"You're under arrest for fraud and theft. We have a warrant."

The room started to spin. My hands went cold. "What? No, there must be some mistake..."

One officer stepped forward, he showed me papers that I couldn't even read. "We've had reports of stolen funds tied to your bank account. Please step outside, ma'am."

Lily's face dropped, her crayon dropping to the floor. "Mummy?"

"I haven't stolen anything!" My voice cracked with fear rising in my throat. "I don't even have anything to steal! Please, you're wrong."

"Uncle Mark!!!!!" Lily started screaming Mark's name.

"Go inside Lily, go inside get uncle Mark.'' Lily didn't want to leave the hem of my gown but I pushed her inside nad heaved a sigh of relief when she ran to call Mark.

I could see Mark running down the stairs with his afce filled with confusion and fury.

"What the hell is this, officers?"

The officers faces wore a bit of shock when they saw Mark. It was like whoever sent them didn't tell them that he would be with me.

"Sir, if you interfere, we'll have to take you in as well. The complaint was filed by Mogul Enterprises. We are just doing our jobs"

I bit my lips in pain.It was his family. Of course, it was them.

"On what grounds are you taking her into custody?'' Mark had moved so close to me and the officers that he was now holding my hands.

"We can't answer that sir. You'll have to come to the station. '' One of the officers answered.

" This is stupid.'' Mark roared in anger. "You can't arrest a person without cause.''

I was about to tell Mark what they had said before he came, but I suddenly felt cold metal bite into my wrists. Handcuffs. The humiliation of wearing them made bile rise in my throat.

"Mummy!" Lily screamed, rushing to hold me, but Mark carried her up, his own voice breaking. "It's okay, baby. I'll get her out of this. I promise."

I looked at Mark's face to get some sort of reassurance. He looked at me, I could see fear in his eyes.

" I'll get you out of this my love." He came close to me and kissed my forehead. "I promise you, baby. I'll get you out of this.''

Tears blurred my vision as they led me out, my daughter's cries echoing like knives in my chest. Neighbours peeked from windows, whispering, watching the entire scenario.

When we got to the station, I was thrown into a small cell that smelled of damp concrete and human sweat. I sat on the hard bench, my hands shaking and my mind racing. Fraud? Theft?

They were fabricating this lie , just to destroy me. I had never stolen a dime in my life. I had lived an honest life and I worked for every cent that I had spent.

Hours passed before the door to my cell opened. Mark stormed in, his hair dishevelled, his eyes wild.

When I saw him, I was angry. I wasn't angry that he came. I was so angry that it took him hours to come to the station. He later told me that he had to pull some strings to get me released.

He had to call some of his father's friends who owed him to temporarily drop the charges. They didn't want to help him because they were scared of his mother.

He had to bribe them with millions. When he told me this, I didn't know if I was to be relieved. All I felt was fear. He was already spending his life's fortune on saving me.

"You're being released." Mark said to me as the officer opened my cell door and uncuffed me.

"The charges won't stick. They were all lies from the start. I have sorted it."

Relief washed through me, followed by a surge of anger. "They did this, didn't they? Your parents."

His silence said of all.

I buried my face in my hands, my voice breaking in hot uncontrollable tears. . "They won't stop until there's nothing left of me, Mark. They'll drag me through the mud, ruin my name, and my daughter's future. What am I supposed to do, Mark?"

He knelt down in front of me, his hands gripping mine as I held onto the bars of the cell. "You hold on, please hold on to me. Hold on to Lily. We'll get through this, Clara. I promise."

But even as he said it, I saw the doubt and fear in his eyes.

He posted my bail and grabbed my things, then we left the station. When Lily saw me, she ran fiercely into my arms with tears in her eyes. Her sad little sobs made me cry too.

"It's okay baby, don't cry. Momma's here. " I hugged tightly as we walked together to the car. I didn't say anything the whole time we drove back to the cottage.

That night, when we finally returned to the cottage, I collapsed into bed, too drained to even speak. Mark sat beside me, his fingers brushing my hair back.

"They'll pay for this," he whispered fiercely to my ears. "I swear, Clara, I'll make them regret it."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe his love was going to be enough. But the fear in Lily's eyes, the shame of those handcuffs, haunted me.

I thought it was over but his family and other plans for me.

Two days later, as Lily played in the yard, a black car drove in. A woman stepped out, dressed in sharp grey, carrying a brown folder.

"Clara Evans?" she asked, her tone seemed friendly.

"Yes ?"

"I am from Child Protective Services. We've received an anonymous report that your daughter is living in unsafe conditions. We need to evaluate her placement."

I started coughing. I was coughing so hard that the Social worker offered me some water. I was coughing because I had mistakenly swallowed my saliva through my wind up.

"Unsafe? No! She's my child. She's safe with me. Who would ...."

But I didn't need to finish. I already knew.

Behind me, Lily ran into my arms, holding me tightly with confusion on her small face. "Mummy, who is she?"

I held her close, my heart beating fast. "No one, darling. Just... no one."

"Can we help you?" Mark had seen me talking to her from afar.

The woman looked at him sternly.

"We received complaints that your side chick here...." She couldn't continue speaking because I heard a thud on her cheeks.

I calmly looked around to understand what had just happened. It was then I realized that Mark hit her in the face.

I was dazed.

"Mark , why did you hit her?" I rushed to the side of the Social worker and helped her up, thankfully she wasn't bleeding.

Mark didn't answer me but looked at the social worker with anger washing all over his face. "Don't you dare call my Clara a side Chick again, you piece of worthless crap."

"Mark!!!!!" I screamed at him. "Get yourself together. Do you want to go to prison for battery and assault?"

That was when he calmed down. When he saw my angry face.

"Now apologize to her" I demanded. Even though his mother had sent the social worker to ruin my life, she was only doing her job. She didn't deserve to get beaten for doing her job.

"Clara.... I....." He was reluctant. But I stood my ground. He looked at me and realized I was dead serious.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am." He apologized and then looked away.

I helped the social worker back to her feet as she looked at Mark with disdain. I took her to a corner and begged her not to press charges. She agreed. But I wasn't sure she was telling the truth.

She walked back to where Mark and Lily were before she spoke again. I followed her closely behind.

"We still need to complete the assessment. The complaint filed is about neglect, insufficient housing, and... inappropriate relationships." The anger on her face was fierce but she kept her cool.

"This is ridiculous. Clara is a wonderful mother. You're just wasting your time."

"We'll see about that, Mr Mogul." She replied with anger in her voice.

Shame burned through me, it was hot and suffocating. They were calling me unfit. They were saying my love for Mark made me dangerous for my own daughter.

Pain stung my eyes as I whispered, "They're trying to take her from me."

Mark's arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me against him. "Over my dead body," he replied.

The woman eventually checked around and left after her inspection, but her warning to me was clear.

"If we find any evidence to support these claims, we'll have no choice but to remove the child. Have a nice day, Mr Mogul." She looked at him as if to say, I'll get my revenge then she left.

When the car drove away, I fell to my knees, holding Lily so tightly she said I was hurting her. I loosened my grip but I was scared that I would lose her.

"I can't lose her," I sobbed into her hair. "She's all I have, Mark. They can take everything else, but not her. Please, not her."

He knelt beside us and I felt a drop of warm liquid on my shoulders. I looked at his face, and I saw that it was wet and red.

Mark was crying too.

."You won't. I swear it. I'll fight them with everything I have. They won't touch her. They won't touch you." He said amidst tears.

I pulled him into the hug with Lily and we all stood there sobbing silently, under the pain of a forbidden and difficult love.

Deep down, fear filled my chest, because every battle we fought seemed to end with his family doing more evil things.

And I wondered, how much more of this could I take?