Evelyn crossed the marble floor and looked out at the balcony. It was a beautiful clear warm day, and a group of traveling horses had stopped along with two carriages outside of her home. Looking out she then saw him. A huge smile spreading across her face she turned around and hurried downstairs. Nearly tripping in her boots, Gina one of the housemaids raised an eyebrow.

Flinging open the door she laughed as her husband walked down the stone pathway. Having been traveling and working for the last six months, she dreamed that this day would finally arrive. Being only married a year, she now found herself hating the time he spent apart from her. But she understood it was all part of him turning his life around. He found honest work and now served in the country's arm again. Using his skills he tried his hardest to prove to her he could be a better man. Now walking forward, his skin so tanned from the sun he smiled at her. Jumping into his arms she kissed him deeply and laughed.

"I've been waiting for you…"

Evelyn whispered.

Just then Beni stood back a little, his face filled with pain as he held onto his side. Evelyn looked down concerned.

"What's wrong?"

Beni waved, taking a second to breath.

"Nothing to worry about my love, just a little stupid argument."

"What?"

"It seems I ran into your first husband at our last port."

"O'Connell?"

Beni nodded.

"He's joined the force to, the second he saw me…let along found out we were married, well it's safe to say he was upset."

Beni gave his whinny little laugh while Evelyn pulled up his black shirt.

"Let me see!"

There across his ribs were ugly looking bruises. Evelyn gasped while Beni shook his head.

"I got a few hits in…"

"We need to call the doctor!"

"It's nothing my love, I'm just pleased to see you…leaving my bride like that, something I will always dread to do."

Evelyn smiled at him before slowly helping him inside. Calling for Gina to make them something cold to drink, she laid him back on the leather couch and slowly opened his shirt. Kissing his chest, along with his golden chains, she held back all her emotion.

"I hate him, I wish he would just die!"

Beni laughed a little, trying his hardest to get comfortable.

"He has every right to get mad."

"That isn't the point…you're a different man now."

"Thanks to you."

Evelyn smiled, looking straight into his blue eyes and softly kissed him.

Seven months later.

Beni and Evelyn burst into the study of their home in the middle of arguing. The two had been married for almost two years now, and plenty of stress was piling on them. Beni had changed since the moment he married Evelyn, but now they were clashing on a new topic. Beni was working now, every two years he would report back to base. Meanwhile he worked in the city, making good money and a solid name for himself. No longer the thief, he was turning his life around and putting every last ounce of energy to please and make Evelyn happy.

But O'Connell kept coming around, causing trouble and harassing the two of them. Evelyn now tried to pretend it didn't bother her, but Beni was getting angry. Why couldn't he just forget about the past and please the one woman who was ever good to him.

Now they were fighting about moving. Evelyn wished to return to London where her brother lived. But Beni claimed his work was here and didn't think leaving the desert would help them. Evelyn just wanted to forget everything here, but Beni was being stubborn. She knew deep down inside he was trying to prove something to O'Connell that he could be a better husband.

"Why are you so distant, why aren't you happy?"

"I'll be happy when you finally give me a son!"

Beni shouted across the room. Evelyn crossed her arms shaking her head.

"All we do is fight now, I can't even tell if we can stand each other…what's happened?"

"Just face it, your disgusted by me, I'm nothing but a disappointment."

"Beni…"

Evelyn remembered first falling in love with him. Watching as he changed his life around and worked hard. Slowly she watched him turn into a better person and both couldn't stand being away from each other. As much as people looked down on them, she felt happy and alive for once in her life.

Now all Beni seemed to care about was their wellbeing and her getting pregnant. Both were trying and still all this time later nothing happened. Beni seemed exhausted whenever each month went by and no child came. Evelyn didn't know what to do, she wished so badly to give Beni what he wanted.

But it just didn't seem to be happening.

"It takes two of us to make a son, or didn't you forget that?"

"Shut up!"

Beni then threw her against the bed. Evelyn cried out as he began ripping her dress open. Trying to move, she struggled underneath his weight.

"Let me move, let me pleasure you…"

She said, trying to get out from underneath him. Sweat rolling down his face, he pinned her down.

"Lay still!"

Evelyn thought back at their time as husband and wife. Thinking of how those beautiful blue eyes studied her, and how her heart pounded in her chest whenever he held her. Now he seemed an empty shell of what he turned himself into. She missed the man she first married…willing to do anything for her. The man she often fell asleep with her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat in the silence of the night. He made her feel safe, he made her feel loved.

Spreading Evelyn's legs, Beni undid his belt. Moments later he leaned down.

"You will give me my son if you love me."

There he entered her with full force. Screaming out, her entire body became stiff as he started pumping into her small body. Watching his head tilt back and forth as he groaned, he started a steady pace and kept thrusting into her without any stop. Feeling the pain as he entered her, Evelyn shut her eyes and held back from crying.

Why did she trust him? Why did she take a chance and fall in love with him?

His thin shoulder kept flexing as he moved inside her. Huffing out he began to slow down, after a few seconds he rocked back and forth and climaxed. Lowering his head he gasped for air and then pulled out of her. Evelyn laid there, stunned and unable to move.

Beni pulled his pants up before going to the bathroom to draw a cold bath this muggy evening. Evelyn stared up at the ceiling fan and felt her heart pound as tears came.

Glancing down at her wedding band she began to cry.

She had just been raped.