Thanks for all your requests guys. This one topped the list and for all you younger readers out there, I'd better do my bit and warn you that there is a little bit of violence in this one. :)

Chapter 28

She'd spent most of last night waiting to confront him. Now that moment was here, Stephanie felt her courage start to slip.

Letting out a shaky breath, her footsteps faltered on the pathway to Mark's house. The accusations she'd worded perfectly in her mind were suddenly jumbled and confused as the gentle morning breeze blew through her hair. God, she hated this. She hated confrontations which was probably the reason she was in this mess in the first place. If she'd just had the guts to be straight with Mark like Paul had asked her to. He'd warned her Mark was trouble and she hadn't listened to him. Still, it had been hard with the guy just losing his daughter. Mark had needed someone to lean on. His emotions were all over the place and she was sympathetic to that. His head was a mess too. Although not such a mess that Mark didn't know what he was doing to her and her marriage. The photograph alone was proof of that.

Feeling her anger towards Mark start to bubble to the surface once more, Stephanie strode purposefully up the remainder of the path. Her fingers gripped the photograph in her left hand tightly as her right hand reached to ring the bell and her feet shifted impatiently as she waited for the door to open. As she stood there, Stephanie's eyes absently darted towards her own home. The red tiled roof hovered above the tall oak trees and Stephanie hoped she was back before Linda returned from the school run and a quick visit to her home. Thankfully she'd offered to take Jake with her this morning allowing her to do this without raising her mother's suspicions. She didn't want her to know she was here. Her mother would only try and stop her if she knew she was coming to see Mark but she wouldn't be stopped. She couldn't even though her nerves were shot. The man was emotionally a potential walking time bomb. She didn't have a clue how Mark would react when she confronted him with the truth but it was something she had to do. Making Mark admit what he had done was the only way she could save her marriage. It was her only chance to make Paul come home to her and their family.

Ringing the bell once more, Stephanie rubbed her sweaty palm on the leg of her denim jeans as her mind drifted to her husband. She wondered where he was right now and what he was doing. God knows she missed him so much. Her heart physically ached without him yet at the same time part of her was so angry and disappointed in him. After all the years they'd been together and everything they had endured as a couple, Paul had refused to trust her making her question the strength of their marriage and their relationship. She'd always thought they were rock solid. She thought there was nothing they couldn't get through together. As it turned out, she couldn't have been more wrong especially when Paul had bolted on a month long tour at the first sign of trouble.

"Stephanie."

She jumped as Mark's voice slightly startled her. She'd been so lost in her thoughts of Paul she hadn't even heard him open the door to her.

"This is a nice surprise." he smiled as Stephanie turned to acknowledge him. Her determined blue eyes narrowed in his direction.

"We need to talk." she told him abruptly.

Mark's brow raised in surprise at her unusual tone with him. "Sure. Come on in." he said as he stepped aside to let her pass.

Stephanie felt the blood beat in her ears as the door clicked shut behind her and she followed Mark into the large sitting room. It was surprisingly neat and tidy and the low rays of the winter sunshine filtered through the open blinds. As Stephanie's eyes darted around in front of her, she was aware of the absence of the baby and the eerie stillness she could feel in the house making her momentarily wonder where the child was and if she was okay at least.

"Is Chloe still asleep?" she asked curiously.

"Oh she's not here." Mark informed her as he hovered by the sofa. "Debbie's parents offered to keep her overnight. They're bringing her home later today."

Stephanie nodded somewhat relieved as he gestured to the large wingback chair she lingered beside.

"Take a seat."

"Actually I'd rather stand." she told him as she raked her fingers through her hair nervously and she could see Mark's mouth down turn into a troubled frown as he watched her.

"Is everything okay?" he asked her.

"Actually no." Stephanie said pressing her lips together in a tight smile.

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."

"Are you?" Stephanie shot back.

"Of course I am. Steph what's going on with you? What's this about?"

"Oh I think you know." she said as her foot tapped beneath her, her movements betraying her careful facade. She was so angry with Mark but she had to stay calm somehow. Flying off the handle wasn't going to achieve anything and it wasn't going to get her any answers either.

"Know what?" asked Mark as he raked his hand through his short dark hair clearly confused about what was going on. Stephanie shook her head as she glowered in his direction.

"Look, don't try and play the innocent with me. What was the idea of this?" she asked as she thrust the photograph in his direction.

But Stephanie was left even more frustrated when Mark observed the picture for a moment before lifting his left shoulder in a casual shrug. If he was flustered in any way at being called out, he concealed it well. "I saw it and thought it was a nice photo of you. I thought you should have it."

"What?" she snorted incredulously unable to believe the excuse he was giving her. The guy was full of shit and he must have thought she was zipped up backwards to fall for his pathetic lies. She honestly couldn't believe the audacity of the fucker. "If you wanted me to have it can you explain why you would address it to Paul and sneak it under the door?"

"Did I? I can't remember."

"Bullshit Mark!" she screamed.

Mark's eyes widened in shock at her outburst and Stephanie cursed herself under her breath. She was supposed to be staying calm here. She had to stay in control. It was the only way to get Mark to confess to anything. Letting out a slow breath, Stephanie tried her best to compose herself.

"Look, I know the truth, okay? So why won't you just admit it?"

"Admit what?" Mark shot back.

"Admit that photo never happened.

"But it did." he replied simply, smiling. "I'm holding it in my hand. I can see it with my own eyes."

Stephanie shook her head emphatically, furious that he was trying to play her for a fool here. What kind of moron did she think she was? All she'd ever done was show him some compassion and kindness and be a friend when he had needed one and how had he repaid her? He'd lied to her. He'd tried to break up her marriage. Well not any more. She was sick and tired of his endless games.

"Look Mark don't treat me like some fucking idiot." Stephanie said in a tight controlled voice as her blue eyes glared in his direction. "You know what I mean. That picture isn't real. You've rigged it to make it look like there was something going on between us."

"And why the hell would I do that?"

"You know why! You wanted to get to Paul. You wanted him to think you and I were together. Well congratulations! You succeeded! He's gone! Are you happy now?" Stephanie cried as she threw her hands in the air in frustration. Her fingers raked through her hair as she began to pace the floor in front of her, her anger building to the point that she couldn't keep still. This was all such a mess. A horrible fucking mess!

"You know Paul warned me about you but I stupidly refused to listen." she continued. "See I thought you were a friend. A friend I knew and grew up with. A friend I thought I could trust. How wrong was I?"

"Of course I'm your friend, Stephy. Look, you've got this all wrong."

"No I don't!" Stephanie shouted interrupting him as she whipped her head in Mark's direction. Her blue eyes were hard and cold and glinted with her rage as she stopped pacing to look at him. "You rigged that picture, Mark. I know you did."

"Yeah? Well where's your proof?" he sneered.

She fought the urge to slap the ugly grin from his face as she paused for a beat, holding onto her composure. "I found the original photo you used." she informed him. "It was a picture of me and my daughter. One you took by the way and I know that you've taken Ellie out and replaced her with yourself."

"Don't be ridiculous." Mark snorted as he shook his head but his grey eyes dropped to the floor and Stephanie knew right there and then she had him.

"Ridiculous? Oh I'm not the one being ridiculous!" she said as she took a few steps closer to him confronting him. "Just quit with the lies already and fucking admit what you did!"

"Like hell I will!"

"Fine! I'll just have to get the proof for myself."

Before Mark could even process her last sentence, Stephanie had pushed past him running out the door and towards the staircase. Her heart raced in her chest as she bounded up the steps two at a time.

"Stephanie!"

Her name echoed behind her and the sound of Mark's footsteps quickly accompanied it. He was coming after her. Panic gripped Stephanie's chest as she headed along the long narrow hallway and towards the spare bedroom where she knew his computer equipment was. Christ, she hoped the room had a lock on the door or she was in serious shit. She could feel Mark was right behind her but she didn't dare look back in case it cost her some valuable time. But fuck, what on earth was she doing?

Stephanie pushed that thought from her mind as she approached the door. Now wasn't the time to doubt herself or her actions. She was grateful to see the door was open a crack. The way her whole body was shaking, she didn't trust herself to even turn the door handle. The blood was beating hot in her ears as she pushed the door open and entered the spare room slamming it shut behind her. Her eyes searched frantically for a lock and she was never more grateful than when she saw the shiny gold snib in front of her. Her trembling fingers reached for it and somehow managed to turn it as Mark's fist pounded on the door. She jumped back, startled and frightened.

"Let me in, Stephanie. I'm warning you!"

Stephanie let out a slow shaky breath as she began to back away from the door. She tried her best to ignore the persistent banging on the white laminated wood as she located the open laptop on the large computer desk. She raced over and her finger jabbed at the power button switching it on.

"I'm going to break this fucking door down if you don't open it up right now." Mark threatened through the door.

Stephanie looked anxiously at the screen as she waited for it to spring into life. Her stomach was a mass of tight knots. It was safe to say she was pretty fucking terrified right now and coming up here had definitely not been on the agenda. It had been an impulse. An impulse she had followed the second she realised Mark wasn't going to admit the truth. So this was her only choice. This was her only way of getting the proof that she needed to convince Paul she wasn't a liar and that she wasn't cheating on him. Please God, he believed her and this whole mess could finally be over and she swore down she would stay away from Mark for good this time. His pain and his grief over his daughter wasn't her concern. Not any more. Not after this.

The door shook behind her once more as Mark screamed her name. Stephanie felt the chill up her spine as the logo flashed up on the screen and the desktop appeared.

"Thank God!" she cried as she pushed back the seat and her blue eyes quickly scanned the icons in front of her as she began her search. Her finger clicked on the mouse frantically as she looked for the files she desperately needed. "Come on. Where are you?" she muttered to herself.

Suddenly there was a loud thud at the door and Stephanie let out a terrified scream. She spun in her seat and her eyes went wide when she saw the cracked wooden panel.

Mark was literally breaking the door down and a frightened whimper escaped from her lips as he hit it again splitting the wood even further.

"Please no!" she whispered as a tear escaped from her lashes spilling down her cheek. She could hear Mark scream in rage and fear clutched at her chest as she questioned her own sanity for coming up here. He was clearly closing the plot and God knows what he was capable of. But she had to try and focus. She had to get what she came here for.

Another tear trickled down her cheek. Stephanie blinked furiously batting away the rest that threatened to fall as she turned back to the computer beginning her search once more. She was strong damn it. She could do this. Behind her she could hear the wood splintering but she tried her best to blot it out as she located the folder marked photos. Her whole body was shaking and her finger struggled to click on the mouse as she opened it up. As the thumbnail images appeared on the screen, the door burst open behind her and Stephanie jumped out of her seat in shock. Her knees felt like jelly as she slowly backed away from Mark who was approaching her with a triumphant look on his face. He was like a predator stalking his prey as he walked towards her, his eerie smile making him look almost maniacal.

"That was a stupid thing that you did, you know." he said as he shook his head.

Stephanie's breath hitched in her throat as he stopped in front of her, his grey eyes appraising her carefully. She could feel herself quivering as she reached the corner of the room, now trapped by the walls behind her.

"I mean it's not like you were going to find anything anyway. You really think I'm that dumb?"

Stephanie flinched away as his hand reached for her face, her cheek pressing against the cold wall in her attempt to distance herself from him. Mark's amused laugh echoed in the silent room as he shook his head.

"Stephy, Stephy. Why do you insist on fighting me?" he asked as he reached for her once more, this time cupping her cheek as Stephanie's tears washed down her face. His thumb grazed her skin wiping them away making her stomach churn nauseously as she stood before him, helpless. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, its beat frantic with her fear. For the first time in her life, she felt absolutely terrified. God, how she wished Paul was here to save her. She needed her husband more than anything. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know how to make this all go away.

"If you'd only accept we're meant to be together, you and I." said Mark as his thumb now found her bottom lip pulling across the soft flesh roughly and causing Stephanie to wince in pain.

"We are meant to be together, Stephanie. I had to make you see that. I had to make you see that no one loves you like I do."

"Paul loves me!" Stephanie spat back defiantly. In spite of her fear, her natural instincts had taken over, the natural instinct to defend herself and survive. Whenever she felt threatened, she came back fighting with every breath in her body and if Mark thought she was going to take this laying down, he was sadly mistaken.

But that bravado only lasted for a split second as Mark's fingers clutched Stephanie's face in his hand, gripping her jaw tightly and pressing her head against the smooth wall.

"Fuck Paul! And don't you ever say his name to me again, you hear me?" he shouted.

His angry cry intimidated her and Stephanie squeezed her eyes together tightly as underneath her, she could feel her legs tremble.

"He doesn't deserve you, Stephy. He doesn't care about you like I do." he told her gently.

His quick shift in demeanour creeped her out making her momentarily think of the Jekyll and Hyde character she'd read about years ago. It was like two people were in the room with her. The calm, calculated man she knew and the crazy whack job that seriously thought she could ever care for him. As Stephanie felt Mark's forehead rest against hers she found herself praying to the man upstairs, bargaining with him to help her out here. She'd even go to church seven days a week if it meant getting away from this house and away from this man, this freak that had made her life a living hell.

"I mean look at what he did. He left you, baby." Mark continued as his free hand brushed back a loose strand of hair that had fallen into her eye, tucking it behind her ear and making Stephanie scream inside. "He abandoned you and the kids without a second thought. I would never do that to you because I love you, Stephanie. I need you."

Stephanie could feel Mark's grip loosen and the wave of relief she felt at her temporary reprieve was replaced by disgust as his lips brushed over hers. She deliberately turned her face away breaking the kiss and pushing away from him as much as she could.

"Please. Let me go." she gasped.

Mark's fingers squeezed on her skin as he forced her head back in his direction and his grey eyes narrowed as his heavy breaths chilled her skin. "Not until you say it."

"Say what?"

"Say you love me." he told her in a controlled voice but his facial expression was anything but. His eyes were big and manic. His smile was wide yet detached.

Stephanie's own blue orbs pleaded with him as her fear got the better of her. "Please Mark. I need to get home. My baby….."

"Your baby?" Mark cried silencing her as he looked at her oddly. "Since when did you give a fuck about the baby? I mean you left us, Deb! You fucking left us!"

As he glared at her, Stephanie felt her blood run cold. He had called her Deb, his ex-wife's name. The same woman who had walked out on Mark months ago abandoning her children and for the first time since she had found out that, Stephanie could sympathise with her because if this is what Debbie had to out up with, it was no wonder she bailed. Mark clearly had a screw loose or something. He was acting crazy and even Jamie's death was no excuse for his delusion right now.

"How could you do it Deb? How could you walk out on us like that?" continued Mark as he watched her. Again his expression had shifted and his earlier madness had been replaced by a visible sadness. It was enough to let his guard down and his hand dropped as he took a step back from Stephanie releasing his grip on her.

"I loved you. I thought you loved me too. Doesn't this mean anything to you?" he asked her as he lifted his hand.

His wedding band glistened as the metal rim caught the rays of daylight that shone into the room and as his head turned to look at the jewellery, Stephanie took her chance to make her escape. Her hands shot out to blindly push him aside as she bolted for the door. But she wasn't quick enough. Mark grabbed the ends of her hair making her scream in pain as he pulled her back towards him.

"You stupid bitch!" he cried as he shoved Stephanie back into the wall. As she let out a frightened gasp, it caught in her throat as Mark's hand swung out connecting hard with her cheek. Her head was violently thrown to the side with the force of the blow.

"How dare you run out on me?" he spat angrily. "How fucking dare you!"

His voice was a blur to her, like some distant echo as Stephanie felt the hot darts of pain in her face. Tears threatened to fall but she blinked them back defiantly determined not to cry. Although her face hurt like a son of a bitch, she wasn't going to give the bastard the satisfaction of seeing her broken. God knows her pride was about all she had left right now.

"You do know I have to teach you a lesson don't you because it's your fault Jamie's dead! If you'd only been here Deb, if you'd only been her mother, she might still be alive."

Stephanie lifted her head, shaking it slowly as she pleaded with him once more, hoping that somehow she could get through to him and make him see sense. She had no choice. There was nothing else she could do. "Please Mark, I'm not Debbie. I'm not your wife."

"Don't lie to me!" Mark screamed causing her to visibly jump. As their eyes met, she could see his face was contorted with his anger as his fingers reached for her hair. They threaded through the long brown strands before he tugged on them hard, yanking Stephanie's face towards him as he licked his lips. "I know who you are. Maybe you're the one that needs reminding."

Mark's mouth crashed hard against hers and Stephanie pressed her hands against his chest trying her best to wriggle free but his grip was too strong. The struggle was too painful as Mark clutched her hair even tighter and the palm of his left hand pushed her back into the hard wall. As her shoulder throbbed in protest, Stephanie's body began to shake with her sobs as Mark's mouth moved from her mouth to trail along her jaw.

"Don't resist me, Stephanie." he told her softly. "You'll only make it worse for yourself."

A strangled cry escaped from her lips as the sound of her own name echoed in her head. Mark no longer thought she was his wife but that still didn't stop him from kissing her or touching her. As he assaulted the column of her throat, Stephanie squeezed her eyes shut and a tear slipped through her lashes as his tongue licked her niche skin, tasting her.

"You taste incredible baby. Just the way I remember."

His big hand moved from her shoulder and Stephanie felt her stomach lurch in protest as it skimmed down the length of her body. Mark pressed himself against her as his mouth travelled further, following the v-lined neck of her sweater. Suddenly it became clear to Stephanie what his intentions were and she was hit with an overwhelming sense of danger as the reality of her situation came crashing down around her. Mark was going to attack her. Mark was going to strip her of her pride and her dignity in the worst way possible and she was powerless to stop it. After all what she could do? He overpowered her by at least a hundred pounds. Not only that, no one would hear her distress. They were here alone and she had been so stupid for coming here in the first place without at least leaving her mother a note or something. She would have no clue she was here. No one did. There was no one to stop Mark from taking what he wanted except for herself so somehow, some way she had to find the strength to stop him. But how?

Just then Mark's hand reached under her jumper and she could feel the heat of his fingers through the fine lace of her bra as he squeezed her breast hard before seeking out her nipple and pulling on it. Stephanie closed her eyes pushing back the nausea that rose from the pit of her stomach. His touch repulsed her and she could feel herself screaming inside. And that screaming only intensified as Mark pushed the hem of her sweater up her body. His mouth tasted her skin once more, licking the creamy mound of flesh that poked above her lingerie.

"Do you know how long I've waited for this?" he told her softly.

Stephanie whimpered in fear turning her head from him. Her eyes were still firmly shut as she felt his hand skim down her body once more. His mouth quickly followed, making a trail of wet kisses down her cleavage and that was when she felt his grip on her loosen. Mark's hand had dropped from her hair as his lips travelled even lower towards her stomach and Stephanie's eyes flickered open knowing this was her chance. This was her only opportunity to somehow get the fuck out here.

Clenching her teeth and grimacing at the feel of Mark's hands and mouth on her, Stephanie ignored the bile that rose to the back of her throat as she summoned every ounce of courage and strength she had. Tilting her gaze downwards, she quickly appraised where Mark was positioned and glaring at him hatefully she shot her foot out connecting hard with his groin.

His tortured cry of surprise and pain delighted her as Stephanie pushed him backwards and she didn't even stop to see where Mark landed as she blindly ran past him and towards the direction of the door. Tears blurred her vision and her heart pounded in her chest as she dashed out along the hallway.

"Come back here, you stupid bitch!" Mark screamed after her as his footsteps quickly followed.

Stephanie could feel her body tremble violently as she ran and panic gripped her chest as she bounded down the stairs hearing Mark right behind her. She swore her legs nearly gave way as she finally made it to the bottom and her hand reached for the door knob.

"Oh no you don't."

Stephanie shrieked in terror as Mark grabbed her arm preventing her escape as he hauled her back in his direction.

"You're not going anywhere you whore!"

His hand struck her across the face for a second time and Stephanie's neck jerked backwards as she felt the force of his blow. Her cheek burned with the pain and she swore she saw stars as tiny dots of light flashed across her eyes momentarily blurring her vision.

"Do you think I want to do this? Do you, huh?" Mark shouted and Stephanie became aware of a clanking of metal. Blinking furiously, she watched as Mark's hand unbuckled his belt.

"No!" she cried out in distress.

Mark's reply was a confident grin as he pulled down his zipper and stalked slowly towards her like this was all a fucking game to him. Stephanie let out a frightened whimper as her eyes frantically searched around her and she hazily registered a vase sitting on a small table next to the phone. It was definitely within her reach and right now, it was her only chance at stopping Mark.

"You're making me do this, Stephy. You're forcing me to teach you a lesson and to show you just how much I need you."

Stephanie flinched back as his face moved towards her. Her breaths were frightened pants as she realised Mark was going to kiss her again but knowing this was her only opportunity, she let his mouth meet hers. Stephanie ignored the brief metallic taste of blood and the stabbing pain in her bottom lip as she quickly glanced out the corner of her eye. Seeing her weapon, her hand blindly reached for it and with every ounce of strength she could muster, Stephanie bashed it hard against Mark's skull screaming in rage.

Mark stumbled backwards, his body falling against the bottom step of the staircase. Stephanie didn't look back as she pounced for the front door and fumbling with the handle, she eventually managed to open it. Her hair blew behind her in the wind as she bolted down the path and across the street. By the time she made it home, her chest burned with her laboured breathing. She briefly registered her mother's car was still missing from the driveway as she reached in her pocket for the house keys. Her hands were shaking and her fingers were trembling violently as she stabbed the key at the lock. It somehow opened despite her awkwardness and Stephanie was never so grateful to make it inside as she slammed the door quickly behind her, locking it once more.

Her feet scurried through the house as she bolted for the stairs. Stephanie's hand lifted covering her mouth as she felt her stomach lurch. Her dry heaves echoed in the silent hallway and Stephanie just made it to the bathroom in time to throw herself on the floor and vomit into the toilet bowl. Once her stomach was empty, she slid to the tiles and her body curled into a tiny ball as it shook with her strangled breaths and tears.

Stephanie didn't even hear the telephone as its shrill ring rang out in the bedroom across the hallway. The answering machine picked it up eventually and Paul's voice was drowned out by the sound of his wife's sobbing.

"Steph, hey. It's me. I thought I would catch you before my flight but I guess not. Anyways, I need to talk to you so will you call me when you get this message? Please. It's important."

There was a pause for a few seconds as Paul's heavy sigh crackled down the line.

"Bye Steph."

The loud clicking signalled the end of the call but Stephanie didn't hear that either as she continued to cry out in pain.