Last night I moped, but today was going to be different. Today was a new day and that meant a fresh start. I could not be grieving all the time about the fact I was alone, that would only make me sadder. No, each new day needed to be faced with a new ounce of happiness.
I got myself freshened up and picked proper clothes to wear for a proper lady. This meant a skirt, not too long, not too short. Matched with a blouse. I tied my hair in a ponytail and headed to the dining room for breakfast.
Normally I would be alone, but now I saw my brother already sipping at his coffee. With a smiling face, I greeted him. "Morning." I chirped.
"Good morning, little sister. Did you sleep well?" Xavier asked as he put his phone away.
"Yes, and you?"
"I always sleep well after being away from home so long." My brother said with a grin.
Right then, father walked in. "Good morning father." We both said in unison. He greeted us back and joined us for breakfast. Father and Xavier discussed some matters until my brother turned to me. "So how far along are you with your schoolwork?"
"I have now finished high school and Mr. Wright is letting me choose in which field I want to explore more. He said he couldn't help me with getting a college degree as he did with my high school diploma, but he said he could prepare me if I ever wanted to go to a top college." I said, quite proud of myself for finishing high school at the age of seventeen. Mr. Wright said that most students were done at the age of eighteen.
"Well, that's good to hear Ava. I'm proud of you." I smiled. I did not hear those words a lot, so it filled me with pride. Maybe a bit too much. As I had never the courage to ask what I was about to, but now I did. "Speaking of college... is it possible... for me to enroll in one, father?"
My father's forehead creased, his eyebrows going up. "What part of 'never leaving this house' do you not understand Ava?" He asked. Anger clearly evident on his face.
"You can't mean forever, right? At some point, I will have to be independent, like Xavier." I said as a matter of fact.
My father slammed both of his hands on the table. I flinched. "You dumb and naïve child! You think you can be independent, after being protected behind these four walls for all these years! You will leave this house when I give you permission to do so. And for your knowledge that isn't anytime soon!" My father roared.
His words hurt me. I knew I would lack some life experience because I have never been in the outside world, but that was not my fault. But then again, I never really showed my father how badly I wanted to leave this place, so maybe he was right. Maybe I am indeed dumb and naïve. Maybe I could not be as independent as my brother.
I looked down, at my lap. Trying to hold back my tears.
"Father, if I may-" My brother started but was cut off. "No, you may not! Do not try and meddle with this Xavier. Ava perfectly knows where her place is. Now go, do the assignments that were given to you." The latter was directed to me.
I stood up and made my way to the library to do my schoolwork. Well, I could not call it schoolwork anymore as I was done with high school.
I was trying to read the literature that Mr. Wright had assigned to me, but it was hard as more and more tears escaped my eyes. This was not supposed to be happening. It was going to be happy today. Tears would not help me.
As I was turning to the last page of the book, my brother walked in. I quickly wiped the remaining tears on my cheeks away. "Hello Xavier, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"To make sure you're okay. But clearly, you are not." He said with a sad face. No, we could not have that. He could not be sad. If my brother were to be here it had to be a time filled with happiness and laughter, not tears. "What do you mean? I'm fine."
"Ava, you don't have to pretend for me. Father clearly went out of line. He should not have spoken to you like that." My brother had now joined me on the couch I was sitting on.
"No, don't say that. Father was... is right. I could never live on my own." I said with a sad smile. I did not want my brother to have a fight with our father because of me.
Xavier put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a kiss on my head. "Father should have never kept you in here." That was all he said.
After a moment of silence, he was the first one to speak up. "I'm afraid to tell you that I'll be leaving, but don't worry. In three weeks, I'll be back for the party."
"What party?" I asked with a confused face. Never had I heard father speak about a party, but then again he did not talk to me a lot.
"Just a party father is giving for some friends. I'll be back then, okay?"
I nodded my head. He stood up, gave me one last kiss on my head, and left. The whole day I kept myself busy with the question: why was father planning a party?
After my punishment was over, I would never take going outside for granted. I felt so much better to be outside again than be cooped up in the house. With my privilege being given back to me, my days were much brighter, especially because I knew when my brother would return home, which was soon. In a week, the party took place, of which I still had not figured out what its occasion was. I made my way to the kitchen after my afternoon walk outside. Mary was eating a sandwich, which meant she was on her break. "Hello, Mary." I chirped. "Hello dear, how are you doing?" She asked with a smile. "Really good, in a week Xavier is visiting again. Again! Maybe he will have some time to listen to the last piece I have learned on the piano." I mused.
I was in a state of shock when I heard those words and not the good kind. My breath hitched. I was lost for words. I just could not grasp the fact I would marry a total stranger. I did not know a lot about social engagement and social activities, but what I did know was that two people marry out of love, not out of a deal. At least that is what all the romantic novels and movies told me.Sure, I had read about arranged marriages, but that was in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Not in the present.I knew I was too long too quiet. I had to say something, but what?"I-I am a-afraid I-I do not u-understand." I stuttered.When the words left my mouth, a sinister smile was plastered on the young male's face of Edric. A shiver ran d
The magazines felt like heavyweights on my lap. I could not speak. Silence filled the room. Time went by."Look Ava, I know you don't know my son, I can understand this might be difficult for you. But this wedding will take place, nothing can change that. So, I suggest you quit your whining about this and pick out a wedding dress." Miranda said stern.I looked at her. Her lips were pressed in a thin line and she had a deep frown plastered on her forehead. Her eyes were cold, telling me to obey her.I looked back at the magazines and slowly opened them. Looking at the white dresses. None of them were appealing to me. Nothing about all of this was appealing to me, but apparently, I whined, and I did not want to displease her. So, I started to act like a proper lady and listened to my elders."The pages with the folded ears are the dresses that might be fitting for you." I turned to the next page with a folded ear. "Oh, this is my fav
I was waiting in the foyer for the Verlice family. I was leaning back and forth on the ball and heel of my feet. Trying to calm down my nerves, only it failed. I tried to fumble with my dress, again it did not help. Xavier, who was standing next to me, grabbed my hand."Relax little sister. I am there to protect you, might Edric do something foolish." My brother whispered in my ear, tickling me.I sighed. "I know brother, but how about when we are alone." I looked up to him, showing my concern. "What do I do then? I have never been with a man alone, you excluded.""I'm sure... he has a good pair of eyes, to see you need to be treated like a queen." Xavier tried to assure me.Only it did not help me. The cold look in Edric's eyes had n
All week I was scared and confused. I even had forgotten about the fact I was now finally eighteen. The moment in the rose garden with Edric was absolutely terrifying. And to top that off I had all these questions in my head. What did Edric mean by mafia and underworld? I had tried to look it up on my laptop, but it had many restrictions on my internet access. A lot of websites I had no access to and I was too afraid to ask my father or my brother.The whole week I was stressed and today did not help. Today was the wedding.I was already sent to the bathroom to take a shower by Miranda. To say I was shocked was an understatement. She was the one to wake me up and was already yelling directions. Everything had to be perfect, was Miranda's motto today.I had hoped I would have t
The morning I woke up I felt awful. Memories of the last night were flashing through my mind. Tears streamed down my face. The way Edric treated me last night was not how a man should treat a woman. What did I do to him? What had I done to make him act the way he did to me?I turned to my side, creating as much distance between us as possible. Only it hurt, a lot. My whole body felt sore. I could already see the bruises on my wrists. I did not want to know how many more were painted on my body.I heard a grunt coming from the other side of the bed. My body tensed. Please go back to sleep, I thought."You awake?" I heard Edric asking me in a raspy voice.I did not dare to speak a word. I was afraid if I made a squeak, he might do somet
The next morning, I again, walked on eggshells around Edric. Fortunately, he did not bother me last night. But I had barely slept. My fears kept me awake. Just when I had managed to sleep, I was woken up by him, the evil man that is my husband.Quickly I made my way to the kitchen to get his breakfast, making sure his coffee was ready when he entered the room.Once again, I had hardly touched my food. Stress did not let me eat. I barely dared to even move. Afraid that with one movement I could make him set off.We ate in silence as there was not a need to make conversation with such a vicious man until Edric himself spoke up."We are going out tonight. So, no need in making dinner." With that, he left the house.When I heard the front door closing, I could breathe again. I sighed. I did not know when he would come home, but I knew I had some hours to myself, free from him. How ironically. All my life I wished for a friend, for company and now
We were driving back home, but my mind was still thinking about the conversation during dinner. Edric had not said no to Leo because I was his wife, he said no because he thought I was not pretty enough, and he was afraid of his reputation being damaged.To say I felt horrible was an understatement.When we came back, I immediately made my way inside to take the high heels off my feet. Slowly I headed upstairs as my feet were hurting. Entering the bedroom, I went to the bed to sit. I looked at my feet for the damage, it was not that bad. My skin was a bit red in some places, but no blisters, fortunately.I stood up after I had collected all my energy to make myself ready for the night when Edric walked in. "Where are you going?" He asked me in a dark voice. He loosened his tie and unbu