AVA
I worked in the kitchen, preparing a light lunch of avocado toast for myself. It's been more than a week since I got married into this family, and my situation hasn't improved. Clara doesn't spare a moment to slander my name in the presence of various guests that grace the mansion, demeaning my place in the family and undermining my worth by addressing me with scornful remarks such as the illegitimate daughter, Liam's babysitter, and a gold digger. It beats me why she dislikes me so much. I have never said anything or attacked her from the very first day I stepped into the mansion. But she and her lecherous brother have chosen to make my marriage insufferable. Uncle John does little to stop his children from tormenting me. But I will never let them break me. I've endured too much to fall now. Sometimes I wonder if this is how Liam is always treated because of his mental illness. Liam—I really am married to a child in the body of a man. He had a doctor's appointment, so he left with one of his personal workers assigned to take care of his health. As I made lunch, footsteps approached me from behind. I rolled my eyes, already imagining it to be Clara or Davies, but upon pivoting, I was met with the features of one of the housemaids, Tamy. She was my only friend here, treating me with respect and honor, unlike the majority who seem to side with Clara. "Mrs. Tyson, good afternoon. You have visitors, ma'am," she announced to me. My brows creased. Visitors? Since when? I barely had any friends; I didn't have a social life, so who could the visitors be? "I think you are mistaken. For me or for Clara?" I questioned. A warm smile spread across her lips. "For you, ma'am. Your family paid you a visit, and they are in the living room waiting for you," she explained to my greatest shock. My eyes widened at once, my features appalling. My family? They were the last people I ever thought could visit me. Why? Without wasting any more time, I turned off the toaster and ambled quickly to the living room. True to her words, my entire family had really paid me a surprise visit. Their faces lit up upon seeing me, taking me aback. What could possibly prompt them to visit me? "Father, stepmother, uhhh, Amelia. What a surprise. I was never expecting any of you. I hadn't prepared anything." Amelia stood to her feet and embraced me mildly, "C'mon, you don't actually have to do anything. We just came to check up on you. How does getting married to Liam feel like?" Her words carried a sinister intent. I wasn't buying this plastic display of kindness. "Now we all know that's a lie. You all have never bothered about me since I lived under your damn roof...." I spat. "Ava, that's not a nice way to talk to your elder sister. You know deep down we actually are very concerned about your welfare," my stepmother, Isabella, cut in. "Oh, really?" I chuckled darkly, my tone laced with mockery and sarcasm. They have always cared about me? In what sense? Ever since I was little, I was looked upon as an outcast and a plague. Even the maids at home were empowered by my own family to humiliate me. "Ava, stop all this fuss. I thought you'd be extremely grateful to us for marrying you into a rich home, but I guess I expected too much from you. Ungrateful and bitter," Amelia snapped at me. I smiled wryly, nodding my head. "Now, this is the Amelia I know, the rude, selfish, and cunning stepsister of mine, not that facade you were trying to put up. If you all don't tell me your main purpose of coming into my home, then believe me I'd have you all thrown out like the uninvited guests that you are," I warned them, my eyes glaring at every single person. "Ava," Isabella gasped, a hand on her chest. "There's no use being cordial with her. She doesn't deserve it," my father snarled at me. "Says the man who never saw me as his daughter but instead as a curse and a slave," I mumbled to myself, not loud enough for them to hear. He then cleared his throat, marching towards me with a stern determination. "Ava, you owe us a favor, and we came to collect that favor." What favor? My brows furrowed, my facial expression filled with confusion. "When we arranged your marriage to Liam Tyson, it wasn't without its benefits. The Tysons promised us a partnered corporation and investment between our two companies. This was to begin almost immediately after your marriage. But it's been close to two weeks now, and John Tyson doesn't pick up my calls or respond to my emails or texts," he meticulously explained. I was amused, trying to stifle back a laugh. "Wow. So I was the sacrificial lamb used to fulfill your needs. You know I actually wondered why I was suddenly trapped in an arranged marriage to a wealthy but mentally unstable man. You needed money from the Tysons, and you didn't think twice before selling me off to get what you wanted. What a father," I snapped. "How dare you talk to me in that manner, you ungrateful thing!" An earsplitting slap landed on my cheek, instantly leaving my eyes stinging with tears. My hand subconsciously held the now-reddened cheek, tears threatening to stream down my face as I gazed at my father. "You just slapped me," I breathed. "And you deserve even more of it. If not for my kindness and compassion, you'd have been rotting in the slums of this city, with that whore you call a mother. I took you into my family; everyone accepted you. I showed you luxury and got you married into luxury, and this is what you can say to me?!" he bellowed, his voice reverberating in the stillness of the mansion. Could he hear himself speak? My eyes flickered towards Amelia, and an impudent smile spread across her lips. "Don't you dare act like you were some sort of savior to me, father. I was mistreated and belittled every single day I spent living in that house! I didn't beg any of you to accept me into that hell called a home," I retorted. "And if we didn't, who would have accepted you? Your stupid mother that abandoned you? You would have died a long time ago, Ava. You are an illegitimate daughter, and you owe this family your entire life," Amelia snarled, stepping forward. All the while, Isabella remained quiet, not saying anything to the rancor going on. Suddenly, my father gripped my chin in such a way that it settled between his thumb and forefinger, the intensity of his dislike for me hot against my skin. "Father, let go of me," I winced in pain as his nails dug deeper into my skin. Fuck. What sort of a man is this? "Now listen here, you little brat. I am your father, like you said, and I have the power to crush you, best believe so. You will talk to your in-laws and convince them to help us. You owe this to us," he sneered before roughly pushing my face away. I glared at him. "I don't owe shit to you. You got me married into this family, to a mentally impaired man for your own selfish interest, and now you want to guilt-trip me into doing your bidding? Do your worst, but I won't be your puppet. Get out of my house. All of you, else I'll have the guards outside drive you out," I commanded them harshly. "Ava," my stepmother Isabella finally made her voice known, her steps gentle towards me. "We brought you into this house, into this wealthy family. Just have it at the back of your mind that we can as well send you out of this family and back to the streets. Think about that," her words were acrimonious, her eyes flashing with a bit of resentment and yet...concern? "Let us leave. We know when we are no longer welcome," she pivoted, muttering to Amelia and father. Amelia hissed at me before walking away, escorting her parents outside. If my family really thinks they can wake up and all of a sudden expect me to be their puppet and sum it up by threatening my stay in this house, then they are dead wrong! I won't be bullied by anybody.AVAAs I approached the grand dining table, the opulence of the room seemed to amplify the tension already palpable in my body. My family’s sudden arrival and threat to my stay in this family were still very fresh in my heart. I can’t believe how low they would go just to make sure I become their puppet but I won’t be subjugated by anyone. My steps were calculated as I ambled towards the table, pulling out a chair beside Liam. Liam stood near the head of the table, his gaze darting around as he hummed softly to himself, occasionally picking at the fabric of his chair. His uncle, John Tyson, sat at the opposite end, his gaze cold and calculating, as if he was already poised to cast his judgments upon me. "Good evening, Ava," John's voice sliced through the room, drawing everyone's attention to my entrance. "Nice of you to join us." I mustered a polite smile, trying to ignore the underlying edge in his words. "Thank you, John. I am sorry if I was late” Clara looked up from her ph
AVA "Liam no cheating now," I chortled as Liam tried peeping at my bundle of cards. We were playing an indoor card game. Liam shook his head at me, "I am not cheating" I flashed him a warm smile and leaned my face closer to his, "But then I saw you trying to peep at my card", I said with a whisper. Liam gazed at me for a while, his eyes boring into mine while our faces were in close proximity with each other's. Suddenly multiple knots got tied in my stomach and I pulled back a bit, before raking my eyes through my selected cards and placing them on the floor. "Now your turn. Let's see if you can beat me" I smiled triumphantly. Liam laughed, "Ava I can win you. I, uncle John, Clara and Davies play this game all the time and I always win. Watch me win" Just the mere mention of those names wiped the smile off my face. To think that I expected John Tyson to atleast stick up for me but he follows his children to throw condescending remarks at me. And all because of what? Because
AVA I left the mansion with a heavy heart, each step weighed down by the burden of my circumstances. The thought of the upcoming function filled me with dread. The idea of facing Clara and the rest of the family in a public setting made my stomach churn. But I couldn’t afford to let them see me falter. I had to present myself with grace and dignity, even if it meant borrowing it from somewhere else. I made my way to the local boutique, my mind racing with worries. I didn’t have the money to buy new shoes, but I hoped I could rent a pair that looked elegant enough to pass their judgmental scrutiny. The bell above the door chimed as I entered, and the shopkeeper, a woman who looked like she was in her early twenties with sharp eyes and a tight-lipped smile, glanced up from behind the counter. “Good day Miss, how can I help you?” she asked, her tone clipped and professional. “Yes, I’m looking to rent a pair of heels,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. She raised an eyeb
AVAThe day of the family’s event arrived far too quickly. I dressed carefully, putting on the black heels that Liam had bought for me. I chose a simple yet elegant dress, hoping it would be enough to hold my own in front of Clara and the rest of the family. My nerves were a tangled mess, but I knew I had to face this with as much dignity as I could muster.As we descended the grand staircase together, Liam held my hand tightly, his presence a reassuring anchor. The mansion was abuzz with activity, the sound of laughter and chatter filling the air. We stepped into the main hall, where the guests were already mingling. I could see Clara across the room, her eyes narrowing as they landed on us.We made our way through the crowd, exchanging polite greetings and forced smiles. The room was filled with opulence, the guests dressed in designer clothes, their conversations laced with wealth and privilege. I felt out of place, a mere imposter in their world.Clara approached us, a sly smile p
AVAEventually, the time came to serve the cocktails. I moved through the crowd, offering drinks to the guests, all the while feeling the piercing stares and hearing the whispered judgments."Sweet girl, what's your name again?" an elderly lady, who seemed to be in her early fifties, asked as I handed her a glass of cocktail."Ava, ma'am," I replied with a curt nod."Aren't you the new daughter-in-law of the family?" She cupped my chin, a doting look on her features.I nodded once more, a warm smile spreading across my face. "I am, ma'am," I politely replied.At once, a sorry look washed over her face. "Then why are you doing this? Serving the guests like a waiter? This isn't befitting of someone of your status as the daughter-in-law of this family," the concern in her voice was evident.Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. What could I tell her? That Uncle John literally forced me into serving like a waiter because it was the only thing I could do that was fitting for my status?
The morning after the disastrous party, Ava woke up feeling a sense of dread. The memory of the previous evening, the judgmental whispers, and the pointed glares lingered like a dark cloud. As she descended the grand staircase, she couldn’t shake off the unease. The mansion was unusually quiet, save for the distant sound of someone humming in the kitchen.“Good morning, Mrs. Tyson,” Tamy greeted her with a warm smile as she passed by.“Morning, Tamy,” Ava replied, trying to muster a smile of her own. She appreciated the maid’s kindness in a household where it was in short supply. "Is breakfast almost ready?" Ava asked Tamy to which she nodded, a warm smile on her lips."Yes. Your favourite actually," Tamy responded, a bright smile on her lips.Ava chuckled at her words. Apart from Liam, Tamy was another person who actually displayed kindness to her in the house.It was like she was a sheep in a den of wolves.Just as she ambled out, reaching the bottom of the staircase, her phone
AVAAfter the unexpected news from Uncle John, I felt a surge of hope and determination. Finally, I had a chance to prove myself and make a difference. The idea of managing part of the family’s income was both exhilarating and daunting. It felt like a step towards being acknowledged, even if it was a small one. But I was ready to take on the challenge.That evening, I decided to familiarize myself with the financial documents and reports Uncle John had mentioned. I spent hours in the small office room allocated to me, poring over spreadsheets and account statements. The figures and terminologies were overwhelming at first, but I was determined to understand everything.As the clock ticked closer to midnight, I decided to take a break. I stepped out of the office, intending to grab a glass of water from the kitchen. The mansion was eerily quiet, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by a serene stillness. As I walked down the corridor, I noticed a faint light coming from one of the room
AVA I was strapped in a car which rolled into a villa nestled in the quiet suburbs, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was supposed to be serene, but all I felt was a growing sense of dread. I just got married today. No wedding ceremony. No vows. No rings changing and kisses. Just an official marriage document which I was forced to sign. And a car is currently sending me to the suburb villa, together with my parents and sister. Don't get me wrong. They are not escorting me like a loving family, but to meet my husband's uncle, Mr John Tyson and other inlaws. As for my husband? Yes he is the heir to the Tyson family fortune but he is mentally unstable, a man who acts like a child. He is a fool and stain in his wealthy family, just like me, an illegitimate daughter in my family. As my older sister says, 'a fool and a bastard, what a perfect match.' My eyes glistened with unshed tears as the reality of my predicament dawned on me. "Smile and wipe your face. We don