...We need you to marry Samuel!

Anna Edgewood sat in the small, cozy sitting room of the Idris farmhouse, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was familiar, filled with the scent of fresh bread and the warmth of a fire crackling in the hearth, but today, it felt different. There was a tension in the air, a weight that pressed down on her as she waited for Mr. and Mrs. Idris to speak.

She had lived with the Idris family for years, ever since she had wandered away from her wealthy grandmother in a busy market and found herself lost and alone in the vast city of Los Angeles.

Mr. Idris cleared his throat, drawing her attention. His weathered face was kind but serious, his eyes filled with concern. Beside him, Mrs. Idris sat with her hands folded in her lap, her expression unreadable.

"Anna," Mr. Idris began, his voice gentle but firm, "you know how much we care for you. You've become like a daughter to us. But... there's something we need to discuss."

Anna nodded her throat tight with anxiety. She had no idea what was coming, but she sensed it was an important, life-changing event.

"We've always supported your dancing," Mrs. Idris said, her voice softer than usual. "We know how much it means to you, and we've been proud to see you grow and succeed. But... there's a condition."

Anna's heart sank. "A condition?"

Mr. Idris exchanged a glance with his wife before turning back to Anna. "You know our son, Samuel. He's not the easiest person to get along with, and I know you've had your differences. But... the truth is, our family has always believed in traditional values, in the importance of family and marriage."

Anna felt a cold knot form in her stomach. She had always known that the Idris family was traditional, but she had never imagined this.

"We need you to marry Samuel," Mrs. Idris said bluntly, her eyes locking onto Anna's. "If you want to continue being a part of this family, if you want our support in pursuing your dance career, you need to marry him."

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Anna's mind raced. Marriage? To Samuel? The man who had made her life difficult, who had gone out of his way to remind her that she didn't belong? The thought was almost unbearable.

But then she thought of the dance competition, the opportunity of a lifetime that was just within her grasp. She had worked so hard to get there, to prove herself as a dancer, and now it was all being held hostage by this impossible demand.

"I... I don't understand," Anna stammered, her voice shaking. "Why now? Why this?"

Mrs. Idris sighed, her expression softening slightly. "Because it's time, Anna. Samuel needs a wife, and you're the best match for him. You've been with us for so long, and it's only right that you become a true part of this family."

"And the competition?" Anna asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"You can still go," Mr. Idris said, "but only if you agree to the marriage. The wedding will be quick, within the week, so you can still make it to the competition."

Anna's mind was in turmoil. She felt trapped, cornered by circumstances she couldn't control. But what choice did she have? The thought of leaving the only family she had known, of losing their support and her chance at the competition, was too much to bear.

Taking a deep breath, Anna nodded slowly. "I'll do it," she said, her voice trembling. "I'll marry Samuel."

Mr. and Mrs. Idris both sighed in relief, and Mrs. Idris even managed a small smile. "Thank you, Anna," she said. "You won't regret this."

The next few days passed in a blur. The wedding was hastily arranged, with only the closest family and friends in attendance. Anna felt like she was in a dream—or rather, a nightmare—as she stood at the altar beside Samuel, saying vows she barely understood. Samuel, for his part, was cold and distant, barely looking at her as they exchanged rings.

But the deed was done. She was now Anna Idris, wife of Samuel Idris. The marriage was a formality, a means to an end, but it weighed heavily on her heart.

                                                ***************************

After the hurried wedding, Anna returned to the Idris farmhouse with a heavy heart. The once familiar and comforting surroundings now felt alien. The wedding had been a simple affair, devoid of the joy and celebration one might expect. Samuel, stoic and indifferent, had hardly spoken to her, and their interactions were awkward and strained.

In the days following the wedding, Anna tried to find her place in her new role as Samuel’s wife, but it wasn’t easy. Samuel remained distant, treating her more like an intruder than a partner. He would often leave early for work at Edgewood and return late, barely acknowledging her presence. The few times they did interact, his words were curt, his tone cold. He seemed to resent her, and Anna couldn’t help but feel the weight of that resentment.

The pressure from Mrs. Idris only added to her struggles. Mrs. Idris, who had once been kind and supportive, now became strict and demanding. She expected Anna to fulfill her duties as a wife, to manage the household, and to live up to the Idris family’s expectations. The warmth that had once been extended to Anna was now replaced with a cool distance, as if Mrs. Idris was testing her, waiting to see if she would falter.

Anna’s only solace came from her dancing. She poured all her emotions into her practice, using it as an escape from the harsh realities of her new life. The competition was looming, and she was determined to win, not just for herself but to prove that she hadn’t made a mistake in marrying Samuel.

But even in her dance, Samuel’s presence loomed. He would occasionally come home early, and she would catch him watching her practice from the doorway, his expression unreadable. There was a tension between them, a silent battle of wills that neither was willing to acknowledge.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day, Anna returned home to find that Samuel had trashed her dance clothes—an act of cruelty that left her devastated. It was as if he wanted to remind her of her place, to show her that he had power over her. Anna cried herself to sleep that night, feeling more alone than ever.

The sight of the destruction made her feel like she had been punched in the gut. These were more than just clothes; they were a symbol of her dreams, her escape, and her identity.

Fighting back tears, Anna called out for Samuel, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. “Samuel! Why did you do this?” she demanded, her hands clutching the remnants of her clothes.

Samuel appeared in the doorway, his expression cold and unyielding. There was a cruel glint in his eyes that made Anna’s blood run cold. He didn’t say anything at first, just stood there, watching her with a look of disdain.

“I asked you a question!” Anna repeated, her voice rising in frustration. “Why did you destroy my things?”

Samuel took a step toward her, his face darkening with anger. “Because you need to be reminded of your place,” he spat, his voice low and menacing. “You think you can just prance around in those ridiculous outfits, pretending to be something you’re not? You’re nothing, Anna. You’re here because of us, and don’t you ever forget that.”

Anna recoiled at his words, her heart pounding in her chest. She had known that Samuel resented her, but she hadn’t realized the depth of his hatred. “Samuel, I’m your wife,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Why are you doing this? I haven’t done anything to deserve this.”

Samuel’s eyes narrowed, and without warning, he lunged at her. Anna barely had time to react before his hands were on her, pushing her to the ground. She cried out in pain as he struck her, the blows raining down with a fury she hadn’t known he possessed.

She tried to defend herself, to push him away, but he was stronger, his rage overwhelming. “You’re nothing!” Samuel snarled, his voice filled with venom. “You think you can just walk in here and take over my life? You don’t belong here!”

The room spun around Anna as the pain became too much to bear. Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the blood from the cuts and bruises he had inflicted. She could barely breathe, the air knocked out of her with every hit. All she could think about was how everything had gone so wrong—how the marriage that was supposed to secure her future had turned into a living nightmare.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Samuel stopped. He stood over her, panting, his chest heaving with exertion. Anna lay on the floor, curled up in a ball, her body wracked with pain. She didn’t dare move, too afraid that he might start again.

“You stay out of my way,” Samuel said, his voice cold and detached. “And maybe, just maybe, I’ll let you keep living under this roof.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Anna alone on the cold, hard floor. She lay there for a long time, too shocked and hurt to move. The pain was overwhelming, but even worse was the crushing sense of betrayal and despair.

She had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. The family that had once felt like a haven had become a prison, and the man she had been forced to marry had revealed himself to be a monster.

As the tears continued to fall, Anna knew that she couldn’t stay like this. She had to find a way out, to escape the nightmare her life had become. But in that moment, all she could do was lie there, broken and alone, wondering how much more she could endure.