Chapter 3

Eleanor 

I kept musing as I staggered. I couldn't believe my eyes. Right in front of me was my boyfriend, and….and my fucking step sister both naked and in the middle of what you'd call sex.

"How'd you get in," Augie said, behaving white awkwardly. Jess on the other hand was smiling and it seemed like she was enjoying this. 

" Augie" was all I could say as I stared at him.

" Dear sister, you interrupted us. You should turn back, be a nice girl and leave" Jess blurted out

" Augie" and that was the first time I'd cry in front of Jess.

" You weren't beaten and you're crying, this is a new discovery. And while we beat you at home, you never shed a tear. August Never traveled you know. He was with me all these while and we have been having sex, what you couldn't give him." She smiled.

" You've been beating her?" Augie seemed surprised as he looked at her. But everything didn't mean anything apart from the fact that Augie was having sex with my sister. I sobbed quietly.

" You really can cry huh," Jess said and threw whatever she saw at me. Augie stopped her and I took one last look at Augie.

" Augie. Goodbye," I said and left. I didn't even mind now. I walked quietly down the street. I had no idea where I was heading as I cried. 

I changed my mind and went straight home. Couldn't hold it. The pain keeps getting worse. I went home, ignoring Van who was trying to block my way in. I pushed him and ran off to my room. I locked the door and wailed. I never thought Augie would do such to me. The pain I felt was twice all I had endured. I scattered my room. 

" Argggggggghhhhhhh" I screamed. It's unfair. Everything is unfair to me. I cuddled my pillow and kept on crying.

I sobbed and sniffed. I felt a slight headache as I sat up on the bed. Robbing off my face of every tear, I looked through the window and it was already evening. I didn't know I had been crying for so long. 

That was it, I'll give it all up. I felt like a zombie, there was nothing in me. I opened the door and went down to the kitchen, took a chilled soda and biscuit. As I was going back, I saw Stepmom.

" Sorry to break it to you, but you're grounded," she said and I nodded. I walked past her with heavy eyebags and went straight to my room. I don't have anywhere to go anyway.

It's been two weeks since I've been inside. All I did was clean and do anything they wanted me to do. It's been the first two weeks without an argument with my stepfamily.

I was going down to get some junk when I heard my stepmom and Jess talking in the kitchen. I hid behind the wall and listened.

" You just have to get married to him. He's really rich and I need to get this contract. He's a very nice man" Stepmom told her

" Mom, I don't want to get married to an old man" Jess grumbled

" Jessica, listen to me, this contract is important to me and you'll love it there. You'll have everything you want-"

" Mom, why not allow Eleanor to get married to him? She can't say no." Jess said and I gasped.

" Why didn't I even think of that? I'll make her do it. Sorry for bothering you baby" her mom said and kissed her. " Eleanor dear, do not turn me down.

I had heard enough, so I quietly went to my room. So they now want to sell me off to an old man for some silly contract. I might have taken everything they had done but I won't allow this. 

I went back and forth in my room. I wouldn't cry this time, I had to do something. I can't watch them get me married to an old man for money.

I looked over to my wardrobe and saw my clothes, my pictures.. everything. I decided to leave. I would leave this house and I will do so for good. Speaking of which, however, It turns out to be, I would come back and get what is mine.

I couldn't figure out what to take. After minutes of endless thinking, I decided to take my mom's picture, every other thing brings bad luck. I put the picture in my bag and went out of the house unnoticed. 

The west side of London was a place I seldom frequented. Not because I didn't want to but because I never went that way. It was the place mom had her accident and died. Took a deep breath and kept walking. Ignoring the memories the road was bringing, I shut my eyes tight. It was really hard not to cry, soon I started pacing up. Mom used to buy me ice cream from this particular ice cream Van that I passed by. 

I burst into tears, I didn't want to hold back anymore. Everything my family had done to me, sometimes I'd think they weren't human.

People are so cruel. Everybody is cruel. Even Dad doesn't want to come back, he never calls me. My life is ruined. I have nothing left to lose. I'll not return to that home. Not until I get back all that was taken from me.

My tears turned to stream and my sobs turned to opera as I cried out loud on the spot. I wanted it all out, all the pain, everything I have endured, I screamed at the top of my voice and slowly walked north crying. I couldn't stop myself from crying out loud. I don't mind whoever sees me or anything.

Walking a few steps more, I bumped into someone. I didn't even look at who he was as I crashed on him, wailing and asking for help. 

" Why! Why is everything so wrong for me? Why can't I have peace? '' I cried. I poured out my heart and mind. I needed someone to tell me not to worry, someone to tell me everything would be okay…then I felt this soft hand patting my back. I didn't realize I was in a man's embrace. 

"It's okay, everything is fine '' he said in a low and soft voice. My rage cooled down and I wondered how I stopped crying. The man or whoever took my hand and led me to his car. I didn't even care, I just followed him. There in his car, he asked what happened to me.

" I don't know you but I need to tell someone. My mom died while I was a child and dad married someone else and he's been on business trips for as long as I can remember. My stepmom and siblings treat me as though I'm as useless as a mad person. I have different bruises and I endured everything for 15 years. And my boyfriend who we've been dating, I caught him cheating on me with my step sister". That scene keeps on coming to my head, it keeps on taunting me. Not talking about the marriage they wanted to arrange for me, I continued " I'd rather die at this point. I don't want to live again" I said and sighed. 

I looked at the man and I could see sympathy in his eyes.

" What's your name?" He asked.

" Eleanor" 

" Eleanor, what if I could help you, and you help me in return? How about that"

What he said made me active again. Did he just say he was going to help me? Did he mean it?

" H..how…did you just say help me?" I stuttered.

" Yes, you see, before I bumped into you, I was looking for a young lady I had seen earlier. My boss needs a Lady that is up for a contract marriage and that's why I'm out here. So if you think you can do it, that's fine. Works for both of us"

Now what he proposed is something I never thought of, but I don't have anything left to lose. But first, I need to let Emil know

" Can I make a call"

"Yh sure, take your time"

I stepped out and saw about 10 missed calls from Emil. I called him back and he shouted, I had to take the phone far away from my ear.

" Cool down, I'm fine. I wanted to tell you something" I told him about me catching Augie with Jess. And how I walked down a place I do not know and how I met a strange man who is proposing a contract marriage.

" Are you sure he's not a kidnapper?" Emil said which was totally out of line

" I don't care about that now, Should I accept it or not"

." Eleanor, I don't know but you should take it. You've been through too much and I can't allow you to go back to that house. Give it a try"

With that, I had a full go-ahead. I went in to meet the man.

" I'm up for it," I said. The man seemed so happy as he drove me away

" Where are we going?" I asked, hoping Emil wasn't right about kidnapping stuff

" Your new home," he said and I smiled. I was so eager to know what it was like.

Maybe a more interesting chapter of my story has just begun…