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Stephanie shuddered as she relayed her story to Sean, who listened with sympathy and surprise.
Obviously, the relationship everyone had believed to be perfect was far from it.
The brunette spilled more tears, her black mascara pooling and smudging as she explained all of it - the verbal and mental abuse, the possessiveness, and the fact that there was not one shred of love between Stephanie and Paul Levesque.
"Paul doesn't love me and never has," the General Manager revealed. "His sole reason for being with me is the power he gets from it - the World championship means more to him than life itself." She sniffled as she met O'Haire's blue, piercing eyes. "You know, I wouldn't even mind being with a man who just liked me... But Paul doesn't even like me! We don't even have a friendship! All he wants from me is sex and the power my name brings him..." She broke down again, her slender shoulders crumpling under the weight of her sobs.
Sean reluctantly released the brunette's hand and rose to retrieve a tissue from the box on her desk. Then, returning to sit beside her on the plush leather loveseat, he handed it to her. She accepted it and gingerly wiped at her eyes.
He cocked his head to one side as he examined her sad face, his heart nearly breaking. It was so sad - this beautiful woman deserved a man who would be her best friend and cherish her. He couldn't understand how a guy like Levesque had ever won her over in the first place. It also angered him that assholes like that always seemed to get the girl when nice guys like himself seemed to get shafted.
"I-I'm sorry, Sean," the brunette finally said.
"For what?" the shaggy-haired man asked, a brow arched.
"For dumping all over you about this. I know it's unfair of me to burden you with my own problems," Stephanie spoke, the crumpled tissue in her hand as she gestured. "I know we don't know one another too well and you probably don't care-"
"Stop right there," O'Haire cut in, one hand raised as though to ward off her speech. "That's where you're wrong, Stephanie - because I do care..."
The tall brunette gazed into his eyes for a beat before speaking again.
"You do?"
"Yes, I do... You seem like such a nice woman, and you don't deserve shit like Paul Levesque." He ran a hand through his dark hair. "Which brings me to one question," he continued, his blue eyes hardening as he spoke. "Why haven't you left the asshole?"
"I... It's because..." Stephanie swallowed hard, then bit her lip as she lowered her gaze. The answer to his question actually embarrassed her. "...I'm scared."
Sean nodded, as he'd suspected as much. He knew the statistics, that most women in abusive relationships - even if their signifcant others were only verbally abusive - tended to fear escaping.
He kept his gaze on her intensely as he thought of how to proceed with his next words. Then, "Do you want out of the relationship?"
The brunette nodded.
"More than anything..."
Sean reached for Stephanie's hand again and gave it a gentle, and what he hoped she'd find reassuring, squeeze.
"Good..." he said. "Because you're not alone in this anymore, Stephanie. I want to help you. I'll be there for you every step of the way - even if all you need is someone to talk to."
She stared into his blue eyes silently for the longest time, disbelief intially coursing through her at the fact that she had found herself an ally - an ally who was strong and tough and would stand by her side...
Despite herself, the brunette somehow managed a small smile.