A marriage from hell

Charlene Maximus POV 

"Get ready for the party tonight," My husband, and the devil himself, Dominic Maximus, threw a sequined red dress at me. "It will look good on you," he whispered into my ears, his husky voice sending shivers down my body. 

"Why do I have to go?" I asked him and dropped the dress on the white marble floor of our bedroom. "Your mother doesn't like me and..." I bit my lip and couldn't say anything else because I was powerless. If I tried to say anything else, he might get angry, and most of the time, his anger was difficult to control. It's the life I had to live.

 A life of pain and shame

Dominic laughed and grabbed a handful of my hair. He dragged me out of our king-size bed, and the brown blanket around me followed. "What did you say?" He asked and pushed me to the ground. "You dare refuse me?"

I trembled in fear and wrapped my hands around my body. I barely wore anything, and the red nightie that shows my belly could not be considered a piece of clothing.

"You don't want to go because you used to be a star there. you know, the best dancer in the world," he laughed. "Listen to me, you whore!" His voice grew louder. "You will do what I have told you, or else I'll make sure you never have legs to walk anymore!" he threatened, and I flinched. "Do not render your leg useless, Charlene," he said, releasing my hair and grabbing my throat.

"Why are you doing this?" Hot tears streamed down my face, and I hated that he had to see me weak. I should have gotten used to everything he was doing to me, but I couldn't cope with it even after two years. 

I thought he married me for love, but a week after the wedding, he showed signs of emotional abuse, and since he was my savior, I couldn't leave him. When everyone turned their backs on me, Dominic Maximus came to my rescue.

"Why am I doing this?" Dominic laughed and tutted. You haven't seen anything yet, Charlene. I'll make sure that you regret every day of your life! " He threatened That wasn't the first time he'd said that to me. 

On the night of our wedding, he said that to me and every day of my life. I had no idea why he hated me so much. When he saved me on the bridge when I tried to end my life, I thought that we were meant to be forever, but my life was far from happy.  Dominic's daughter Zenobia, from his ex-wife, also hated me, and as if that wasn't enough, Dominic's mother abhorred me and rarely spoke to me. The whole family had something against me, and I didn't know why. 

"If you just tell me why you hate me so much, then I'll change for the better," I yelled. 

Dominic tightened his hands around my throat and laughed. "You can't change what's already dead!" That statement alone caused my heart to stop for a second, and after that, it started beating faster.

What's already dead? I thought. I had no idea what he meant by that, so I decided to ask him. 

"What do you mean?" I asked. 

Instead of replying, Dominic let go of me and stood up straight. He heaved a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "Don't worry about that, Char," he grinned." When the time comes, you'll know why I hated you so much," He ruffled my hair and walked out of the room. 

I stared at his back as he walked away and muffled a scream. It's been going on like this for two years. One minute he is yelling at me and the next he is smiling and acting like a perfect husband, especially if we are among friends or in public. Dominic suddenly became the perfect husband. "Why me?" I grabbed a handful of my hair and screamed out loud, then I lay on the marble floor and started crying. 

"I don't deserve this," I cried out and thought about how my life had turned out to be in the past few years. My dreams of being the best worldwide dancer were destroyed. I also got married to a man who hated every second spent with him. I had no idea why the world was against me. I had no idea why I had to suffer because of the mistakes of my past. 

I lay on the floor for over an hour, lost in my thoughts about my life. If I had known that Dominic would turn out to be like this, I wouldn't have gotten married to him two years ago. It was my fault, and I already despised the humiliation I had experienced in my marriage.

Evening came and I got ready for the gala event hosted by Caroline Maximus, Dominic's mother. It was an event for ballet dancers, and while I was still a popular ballet dancer, I got an offer from Caroline's management, but I turned it down because I was already signed up for management at that time. It made me wonder if that was why Caroline hated me so much. 

A petty avenue for revenge. 

"You look nice," Dominic commented, as we walked down the grand staircase. He wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me closer to his side. "You know how we do it, Char. Don't make me lock you in that cold room for days, "he warned regarding the party. 

I stared into Dominic's green eyes and smiled. "You look good too," I said through gritted teeth, pointing to his blue Tuxedo suit, which fit like a second skin around his muscular body.

Someone cleared their throat behind us, and when I turned, I was met by the glaring green eyes of Zenobia, Dominic's daughter. She was dressed in a red ball gown that was held by our nanny, Maria, as she walked down the stairs. She was a replica of her father. They had the same blonde hair, eyes, and height. Zenobia, who is only thirteen, was already 5'7" and I was only an inch taller than her. "Move!" she shouted at me. 

I smiled and stepped aside as she walked past us and headed out of the house. 

"Let's go, my dear wife," Dominic said as he dragged me out of the mansion and into a black limousine already parked in front of it. Don't get me mad today, Charlene. "You know how terrible I can be," he said into my ears, and my body shook violently.

I feared the man I married and the things that he could do.