Forceful marriage

If I initially thought I was doomed, I was wrong. Raphael Lau was going to make my life hell.

“No-no. You can’t marry me to that monster.” I stuttered,

I thought I had exhausted the tears, but the fresh wave of hot tears that rolled down my cheek at the knowledge of being married to that woman beater was worse.

“My love, that is not how to talk about your future husband.” His voice interrupted our conversation.

I didn’t even hear him walking in.

My blood ran cold and bile rose in my throat at his endearment. I suddenly wished my father didn’t die. The middle-aged man had asked my father for my hands in marriage but my father had thrown him out of his mansion that day.

“She will learn. I know you will make her submissive.” My uncle assured him.

“In no time, trust me. She will learn all the manners her father had failed to teach her and she would become that timid little rabbit you want.” Raphael promised.

The first glimpse I saw through my blurry eyes was my husband-to-be’s sleek, shiny shoes. Slowly, I raised my head and was met with his black, slicked-back hair. His cold, calculating eyes made my skin crawl, and I realized that I would be the one to take my father’s punishment.

“Mother, please don’t let me marry him,”  I begged, hoping she would save me. However, after knowing what she had done, the word sounded heavy on my tongue.

Gripping my hair so I could meet his eyes, Raphael whispered “Do you hate me so much?” Something flickered in his eyes but it was gone as soon as it came.

“Well, it is not as if your opinion matters. Your mother already packed your things earlier and my men are done moving them. So, we will be leaving now.” Raphael shrugged.

“Now?” I suddenly asked.

“Yes. You are still grieving so I believe your husband’s consolation would help you a bit, ” My uncle exhaled.

For a moment, he sounded like he cared but I saw beyond his facade and knew he wanted me gone.

“No-no No-no. At least, let me stay till I am officially married to him.” I pleaded. My voice was hoarse and the tears wouldn’t stop falling. I am choosing to remain in my father’s house because it would be a more tolerable hell than Raphael’s house.

My chest tightened when I realized Uncle Xavier’s plan. He wanted to give me out to my husband like I was damaged goods? My father would have made my wedding the talk of the town. He would have walked me down the aisle with tears in his eyes. But he’s gone and so are my dreams.

I crawled in my uncle’s direction, hoping he would pity me, even as it didn’t seem like his black heart was capable of doing such.

“Stop being a brat. Leave with your husband immediately.” He spat.

I clutched his black suit pants and looked up at him.  There was not a single emotion in his green orbs as he untangled my hands and pushed me like I was infectious.

My chest grew heavy as I looked at Mother who looked like she was the victim, “So you are just going to watch me being given out because I am not your daughter?”

“Maybe that was why you couldn’t have a daughter. And if you have one, I hope she gets treated the way I am.” I spat, watching her shiver at my words.

“You know what is at stake if you keep up with this attitude.” My uncle threatened.

Reluctantly, I backed away and walked in Raphael’s direction. Maybe it was the way I looked that amused him, my hollow eyes and defeated expression or just maybe he was displaying a victorious grin.

As I walked out of my father’s room, the familiar scent of leather and cigar smoke dissipated. The tightness in my chest grew as I walked through the house I grew up in, knowing I would never be back here.

“How are they supposed to know you have become my wife if we don’t display it?” Rapheal chuckled threateningly.

As his hot breath fanned my neck, I felt repulsed and disgusted because I was getting married to someone who was almost the same age as my uncle.

As we walked out of my father’s house, I felt his cold hands slip into mine. I itched to snatch my hands from his but I didn’t want to act recklessly because I could still feel a particular set of eyes boring into my head from my father’s window.

The walk to his flashy chalk-white SUV was long and torturous. As he untangled his sweaty hand from mine to open the car door, a puff of breath escaped my lips.

I climbed onto the seat, the smell of leather and cigarettes mixed with the musky scent that clung to Raphael like a second skin.

In a fit of observing and being choked with the undesirable scent, I had forgotten to thank him for opening the door for me. Not like I asked him to, but the nails digging into my palm made me remember my manners.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

With a sly smirk on his lips, he leaned closer to me and his hot breath fanned my face. “You are welcome, my love.”

As he entered the car, the driver who had barely breathed loudly since we appeared ignited the car and my journey to doom began. Driving away from my father’s mansion, I couldn’t help but think how I would retrieve my father’s Mafia from my uncle.

But first, I have a lot to learn and plan then gather allies who can help.

I gazed out the window lifelessly, my brain barely processing the change of scenery. The ride to my hell was long, but not long enough for me to process my thoughts and come up with a solid plan.

I didn’t realize the car had stopped moving till he touched my face.

“Welcome to our home.”

This time, it was the driver who rushed over to my husband’s side to open the door before running to mine.

As I stepped out of the car, I almost got blinded by how flashy the house was. Looking at the white two-story building coated with gold touches, a sigh left my lips at the sight but I clamped my mouth shut.

‘This is your house, not mine.’

The house was too flashy, more reasons why it wouldn’t be my home. I would have preferred a beige or grey mansion, not this show-off.

I stiffened when he walked in my direction and suddenly gripped my hand. We walked to the main entrance and my eyes roamed around the house. However, I couldn’t help but notice the fewer and less scary guards watching over his mansion compared to my father’s.

I was trained like a Don’s heir and not a damsel in distress, but I wasn’t stupid enough to try to escape without a solid plan. Especially when I know that the butler’s children and grandchildren would have a sniper on them at all times.

The temperature in the house was hot, a hint that I had just stepped into hell. I didn’t look at the interior because it was blinding and would most definitely be hideous.

All I wanted to do was sleep, it was really a rollercoaster of a day for me.

Burying my father, discovering my mother’s infidelity, getting married and moving in with someone your father hated, all of these in one day!

I needed to be alone so I whispered “Where is my room?” My voice felt strange, so defeated and lifeless.

“You will see your room tomorrow. You are sleeping in mine today.” He waved his hands dismissively.

My stomach dropped as panic swirled in my chest. I had anticipated this since I heard I was getting married to him, but I didn’t know it would be this soon.

“Pl-please. We can’t do it today. I just lost my father a few hours ago.” I choked out.

His nostrils flared as he walked towards me, and I staggered backwards, fearing what might happen.

He closed the distance between us and gripped my hair painfully, his eyes blazing.“I don’t care about your father. Besides, what better way than to humiliate your father.”

“It’s either we consummate this marriage now, or I call your uncle and we both know what that would mean.”