Chapter 4

Andrew pulled out one of his canvases and presented it to her with a wide grin on his face.

"This is my favorite piece," Andrew said, his eyes fixed on the painting. "I call it 'The Beauty in Imperfection.'"

Sophia smiled as she looked at the painting, taking in the vibrant colors and the intricate brushstrokes. She couldn't help but be drawn in by the emotion it conveyed.

"It's beautiful. Why is it your favorite?" Sophia asked.

Andrew smiled and remained silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then he turned to Sophia and said, "Because it's a reminder that beauty can be found in imperfection. We don't have to be perfect to be beautiful."

Sophia smiled.

Andrew remained silent for a moment, then he changed the topic. "So, how did you meet William?" he asked, his eyes brightening.

Sophia turned away from Andrew as she took a deep breath. She felt her heart rate increase as she tried to steady herself. She felt very uncomfortable with the topic.

She turned back to face Andrew, hesitating for a moment before responding. "I married William because...because he saved my step sister," she said quietly.

Andrew's hands, which had been resting on the armrest, suddenly moved to her shoulders. Sophia shivered at the sensation, feeling her heart race even faster. 

She couldn't explain the way Andrew's touch made her feel, but it was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.

As Sophia turned slowly to face him, he met her gaze. There was something in her eyes that he couldn't quite place. 

He couldn't explain it, but there was a sense of understanding that passed between them. Even though she didn't say anything

After a moment, Sophia looked away and took a step back. She took a deep breath before turning back to face Andrew.

"I want you to paint me," she said softly.

Andrew's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Paint you?" he asked. "Are you serious?"

Sophia nodded, her eyes fixed on the floor. "Yes," she said. "I want to see myself in a portrait."

A smile spread across Andrew's face. "Of course," he said. "I'd love to."

He gestured to a nearby chair. "Take a seat," he said.

Andrew smiled wider, gesturing towards a chair that was set up in front of his easel. 

Sophia sat down, her heart racing with excitement and nerves.

Finally, Andrew turned to her with a smile. "Ready?" he asked.

Sophia nodded, her eyes shining with anticipation. 

Andrew moved towards Sophia and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, adjusting her position slightly. As he moved her, he looked into her eyes, his gaze intense and focused. Sophia held his gaze for a moment before looking away, feeling a flutter in her chest.

With her position adjusted, Andrew walked back to his seat and picked up his sketch pad and pencils. He studied Sophia for a few moments, taking in the curve of her jawline and the way her hair fell over her shoulder. Then, with a gentle smile, he began to sketch.

As Andrew drew, Sophia stood still, watching him intently. She was mesmerized by the way he worked, the way his hand moved across the page with such ease and grace. She could feel the tension in the room, the intensity of the moment as Andrew captured her on paper.

Andrew moved forward to Sophia, his eyes still fixed on her as he gently adjusted her position. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with an unspoken tension.

He walked back to his seat, his gaze never leaving her as he settled back into his work. The room was silent once more, safe for the scratching of charcoal on paper.

Sophia remained still for a few moments, her gaze fixed on Andrew's as he drew her. 

Suddenly, the peaceful silence was shattered by the sound of a man's voice screaming her name.

"Sophia!" the voice called out.

Sophia's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the voice of her husband, William. She hadn't told him she was coming to Andrew's studio, and now she feared the worst.

Before she could react, William stormed into the room, and the studio doors burst open. His face twisted with rage. "What the hell are you doing here?" he spat, his eyes locking onto Sophia.

Sophia tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat as William grabbed her roughly by the arm and pulled her towards the door.

Andrew watched in shock as Sophia was dragged away, his hand still frozen in mid-air. He had never seen William act like this before, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for Sophia's safety.

Sophia's cries grew louder, the pain and fear taking over as William continued to drag her up the stairs. She could feel her scalp burning as he yanked at her hair, and tears streamed down her face as she begged him to stop.

"Please, William, stop! You're hurting me!" she sobbed, her voice hoarse and desperate.

But William only laughed, a cold and cruel sound that sent shivers down Sophia's spine. "You think this hurts? You have no idea what I'm capable of," he snarled, his grip on her hair tightening even more.

Sophia whimpered as they reached the top of the stairs, her body shaking with pain and fear.

But as the cries grew louder, Andrew knew he couldn't just sit by and do nothing. Without hesitation, he rushed outside, his eyes locking onto William's furious face.

"Handle her gently," William barked, his grip on Sophia's arm tightening. "She's my wife, and I'll do what I want with her."

Andrew felt a surge of anger rise within him as he looked at the way William was treating Sophia. He knew he had to do something, but he wasn't sure what.

"Just let her go, William," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You're hurting her."

But William was having none of it. "Stay out of this, Andrew," he snarled, his eyes flashing with fury. "This is between me and my wife. If you're not comfortable with it, you can leave my house!."

William pushed open the door to their bedroom and shoved Sophia onto the bed, her cries filling the room. He stood over her, his face twisted with anger and frustration.

"You weren't comfortable with Andrew drawing your nudes, were you?" he spat. "But you still went to his studio, behind my back, to get a portrait done."

Sophia trembled, her tears streaming down her face as she tried to find the words to defend herself. "I...I just wanted something...something for myself," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

William laughed bitterly. "Something for yourself? You mean something to show off to your little friends, to make them trip over you? Is that it?"

Sophia shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest. 

As William moved towards the bed, Sophia's heart began to race. She tried to crawl away, but he was too quick, and he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back towards him.

She was tense as he climbed onto the bed with her, his eyes dark with anger and desire. As he loomed over her, Sophia pleaded with him to stop, her voice trembling with emotion. 

"Please, William, stop. We don't have to do this," she begged.

But William paid no attention to her pleas, his eyes dark and dangerous as he moved closer to her. Sophia felt her heart race even faster, her breath coming in short gasps as she tried to push him away.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson," he snarled, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't go to Andrew's studio without my permission. You belong to me, Sophia, and you need to remember that."

"N-no, Williams," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

But Williams wasn't listening. He pushed her down onto the bed, his hands rough as he ripped her clothes off her body. Sophia cried out in pain, but Williams didn't stop.

Her body shook with fear as he took off her bra, exposing her firm breasts to his gaze. She felt violated and exposed, and she wished that she could disappear into thin air.

William wasn't done yet. He squeezed her breasts and spanked her ass, causing her to cry out in pain. She felt like she was nothing more than an object to him, a toy for him to use and abuse as he saw fit.

And then he kissed her forcefully, his tongue invading her mouth as he thrust into her hard. Sophia's body jerked in pain as she gripped the bedspread tightly, her mind screaming for him to stop.

But William didn't stop. He continued to move inside her, his breath hot on her neck as he took away her innocence in the most brutal way possible.