Chapter 2

I sat at the edge of the bed with me hands shaking. Pressing my palms against each other, i tried to control the shiver of my fingers.

My knuckles, where Karl Thompson had grip me are indeed bruised. The one flaw of my flawless pale skin was that it is easy to bruise. And tonight, i have sported four different bruises already.

My lower lip where Karl bit me was blood red. He didn't break the skin but he did manage to cause enough damages that I'm sure will be left in my lip for a week or two.

Everything about tonight was sickening. After that gentle kiss turned into a punishment, i had to suffer the reception of the wedding. The men congratulated Karl for his win in getting me as a bride while the women looked at me with pity. Some said it will be over soon while other told me not to fight him, fighting makes it worse.

My mother, to my shock kept her distance from me. She didn't glow under the attention of people and pretend to be in a happy marriage as she always does. She kept to one corner, only talking with some of the wives and didn't even bother to see me off.

My father on the other hand was different. He was glowing with the attention he was getting from the rich folks in their circle.

The Thompson, Karl's Father, Mother, Grandmother and three siblings were all there, shaking hands with my father and congratulating Karl while ignoring my mere existence.

I don't mind being ignored at home. The more ignore me, the less unease i am. I collected the attention i couldn't get from the outside world. I lived in the light whenever I'm away from my family. Being a bully was one of the few ways i used to get the attention and affection i yearned for but couldn't get from my family.

But tonight had been different. They weren't just ignoring me, they were showing me what my life would be in the near future.

Karl had refused to let my hand go, squeezing his grip tighter whenever i tried to move away from him. I wasn't allowed to leave his side yet i was also being treated as if i was nothing more than air.

Then, i was pulled to have the first dance with my husband. He still held my hand in a punishing grip while he slid his arms around my waist to hold me close. I had my other hand barely touch his shoulder as he swayed me with the music.

Everything about him screamed dangerous. He scared the living hell out of me. And with how tall and muscular he was, i was sure i wouldn't make it past this night.

I kept my gaze planted on his chest even though i felt his burning a hole in my head. My throat was still tight as i was sharing my first dance with him.

He doesn't say a word, which i was thankful for as I couldn't trust my voice to speak.

The pain in my hand was bringing tears to my eyes, tears i was fighting hard to stop from breaking free.

As soon as the first song was done, i stepped back from him only to feel his grip on my hands again. Before i could even whimper, my father stepped closer and asked to dance.

From the outside, he looks like a happy man that was proud of his daughter. But i know that deep down, he was proud of himself for making sure i didn't have a life good enough to take me away from the family. That way, he sold me off and got a big bone as a prize.

As my father and i danced, he kept his eyes trained on the Thompson family.

"You listen to me, Lucy." He whispered low, making sure he doesn't move his lips too much so no one could read what he was saying.

"You do everything that family wants you to do. They are a very important asset to our family. Don't you dare mess this up, Lucy."

After his warning, he pulled away and marched me back to the Thompsons. As soon as they see me approach with my father, their conversation dies down and insecurities rolled around my body as i wondered if they were talking about me.

I hate this. But...I deserve it.

Karl had once again taken ahold of my hand as if it was a leash strapped around a dog's neck. Swallowing past the giant lump in my throat, i had went through the rest of the night by Karl's side.

***

An now, i sat on the bed, waiting for Karl to come out of he bathroom, waiting for my next torture to begin.

Is this how everyone felt when i was bullying them?

I never went to the extent of getting physical with a person before as my words and a few ripped books of destroyed bags were enough to satisfy my twisted need of attention. But, did they still feel this scared to see me? To be near me? To even see my shadow loom over them?

I deserve this.

When the water in the shower stopped running, my heart skipped a beat. In few seconds, Karl would be out and i would be facing more humiliation that i have ever known.

Fighting against my shivering body, i tried to sit still and await my punishment. I don't know why i keep calling it punishment but the way Kal was looking at me felt like he indeed wanted to punish me for something, as if i had personally done something to him.

The hate in his eyes were clear to see and the need to see me hurt shone even more. He could easily break me if he wanted to and I don't expect less.

The door of the bathroom slammed open and i looked up to see Karl glaring at me with his pale blue eyes. His glare looked so effortless, as if he wore it everyday.

Drying his wet, silver blond hair with a towel, he moved over to the walk-in-closet and disappeared again. Seconds later, he came back wearing only pajama pants and nothing else. From the corner of my eyes, i can see that mose of his upper body was covered with tattoos and he was wearing a glittery, silver necklace with a the capital letter 'T' on it.

I averted my gaze and looked down at my bruised hand when he walked over to me.

Dropping the towel he dried his hair with next to me on the bed, Karl snatched my hand and looked at the bruise it was forming. Admiring his handy work, i saw darkness flash across his eyes and i quickly looked down to avoid the heated death glare.

But he doesn't let me escape.

Karl placed a single finger under my chin and raised my head up. His eyes gazed over my teary eyes and then down my lips. His thumb brushed against my lower lip right were he bit me and i couldn't help but winch at the pain.

Watching the anger in his eyes was scaring me, so i looked down at his chest. The silver necklace shone against his skin, showing off his family name around his neck.

Before i could even register what was happening, Karl let go of my chin and stepped back from me. I looked down at his bear foot, waiting for him to do what he wanted to.

To my surprise, he walked away from me, rounded the large bed, and sat at he other side with his back to me. After a few minutes of silence, i saw him lift the covers and slid under them. Living the cover just below his abdomen, he laid back with his hands pillowed under his head and closed his eyes.

He didn't say a work or told me what to do. So, still in my wedding dress, i sat still on the edge of the bed and waited for him to tell me what to do. I didn't move a single muscle, fearing that I'd anger him by doing something i wasn't supposed to do.

Seconds turned into minutes, which turned into three hours. At this point, my back hurts from sitting in the same position without moving and the pain in my lower lip got worse.

"Your clothes are in the closet."

His voice made me jump and i turn around to see that he was still awake and looking at me like i had grown three heads. His cold glare was still in place, but he also looked... Confused.

With out wasting another minute, i nodded my head and got off the bed. Walking up to the closet, i could still feel his eyes on me as i walked in through the doors.

The closet looked like a store filled with different brand suits and luxury. And at the very corner of the large closet, lay a familiar suitcase. Looking around the closet, i realized that none of my clothes were hung. Assuming my suitcase was my closet, i walkd over and opened it.

Indeed, my clothes were folded in the suitcase. Pulling out a night pajamas i love so much, i closed the suitcase and walked out the closet.

Karl was still awake and had his eyes trained on me like a hawk. Without looking at him, i walked over to the bathroom and closed the door softly.

Leaning against the bathroom door, i sighed before walking over to the mirror. My reflection made me sad. It's day one and i already look like i'v been through hell and back for an entire decade.

Placing my clothes down on the counter, i took off my wedding dress. The white fabric slid off my body and exposed my pale shoulder pained with deep blue bruises from where my father held me. My eyes landed my my lips and i leaned closer to the mirror to see the damages done.

My lower lip was a little swollen and looked like it was painted red. Pressing the tip of my finger at the wound, i hissed at the pain.

The night was horrible and the pain only reminded me that there was more to come. The tears i fought against finally break dam and slipped down my cheeks.

It doesn't take long for my face to turn red as a tomato. I tired to cover my lips and block the sob bubbling up my throat.

I deserve it