A caged Princess

Ariana POV

My day started like any other day from the storeroom of this house. This house belonged to my dad and aunt. My dad was not my actual dad, but he brought me up, so I called him dad. Dad, Michael loved me like her daughter Ainsley mason. That’s why he gave me his family name, mason.

But my aunt Helen forbade me to call her mom as Ainsley called her.

Aunt and Ainsley didn’t like me from childhood. That’s why I have to do all the household work from morning breakfast to dinner, laundry, and cleaning each and everything.

But it’s alright because they paid for my school fee and gave me shelter and food to eat.

They were not my actual parents but provided me enough, and I couldn’t pay for their kindness even if I had to work like a machine all my life.

It was 6 am, and before going to college, I had to make breakfast and do the cleaning. So after doing morning chores, I moved to the lounge and started cleaning.

Cleaning was done at 7 am, and then I moved to the kitchen for breakfast.

I was preparing breakfast when dad came to the dining table.

“Good Morning Ariana.”

“Morning, dad,” I wished him and gave him his favorite pancakes and milk, which he took gladly.

“Are you free today and for some days?” Dad asked, taking a bite of his pancake.

“No, dad. I have to go to college, but after that, maybe I will be free.” I thought about Aunt Helen. If she wouldn’t give me any work, only then I will be free.

Dad nodded.

“But why, dad? Is it something important?” I asked, retracting the kitchen stuff and cleaning it because breakfast was ready.

“No, not important, but I was going to another city for some office work, so I thought to take you with me. Maybe you would enjoy yourself there.”

“No, she won’t go, and for how many days you’re going? You didn’t even inform me.” Coming to the dining table, Aunt raised her brow and almost yelled.

“Not informing you is not a big deal, and about Ariana, if she goes with me or not will decide by her, not you. So cut the crap and stop yelling at me.” Dad became ferocious, and I instantly spoke to calm him.

“Dad, Aunt is right. I can’t go. I told you I have college to attend, so I can’t.”

Dad stood and came to me. He caressed my cheek and exclaimed.

“Ariana, your dad is always with you, and you don’t need to feel pressured. If you don’t like something and you don’t want to, you can speak freely, and I’ll listen to you.”

I placed my palm on dad’s hand.

“I know that you’re always with me.”

Dad kissed my forehead and bid us farewell.

Aunt was showering daggers at me through her eyes, and I tiptoed to my so-called

room and took a college bag to go to college.

I was passing through the hall when Aunt exclaimed.

“Stop, today you’re not going to the college.”

I looked at her and wanted to ask, why? But nothing came from my lips.

“Today, some of my guests are coming, so you have to make lunch,” Aunt uttered, shaping her nails with a nail file.

I curtly nodded and took a step to go to my room when Aunt voiced out.

“I’m sending a dress to your room, and please wear that dress to look presentable. I don’t want to lose face before my friends.”

Aunt mocked, looking at my worn-out jeans and shirt that were not in the state to carry anymore.

Tears glistened in my eyes, but I ran to my room because I didn’t want to show her my pathetic self. She won’t have any mercy on me.

Reaching my room, I fell on the mattress and cried to my heart’s extent.

Why does Aunt Helen behave so rudely towards me? Ainsley and I are the same age, but she loves her so much even though she does nothing. Ainsley doesn’t even know how to do household work. Her room is so beautiful and big while she gave me a storeroom. Just because I’m not her actual daughter, she hates me and is so indifferent to me.

I was crying over my fate and sobbing why did my parents leave me? Dad loved me, but still I craved a motherly love and Ainsley for an outside world; she was my sister, but I knew how much she despised me.

I was whimpering and shedding my tears when Ainsley came into my room.

She threw the red dress on my face.

“Bitch, stop your drama and wear this dress after making lunch, and please don’t let mom get angry. I have to introduce Keith after lunch.” She walked out, and I again fell into the cruel reality of my life.

Keith, how can he do this to me. Besides dad, only he was the person who behaved nicely to me. He knew he was my crush. Then why? Every time I liked or loved, Ainsley took away from me, even Keith as well.

I sniveled for a while, and then my tears got dried.

I picked the dress from the mattress and checked it. It was a short dress, and I didn’t wear such a type of dress till now.

Placing the dress back on the mattress, I went to buy groceries for lunch.

I was picking grocery things when two girls standing beside me talked.

“Hey, did you see the news?”

“News? Which one?”

“Oh my god, you didn’t see. The most handsome bachelor of the city, Ryan Walter, is going to marry today.”

“What? Ryan Walter, the president of the Walter industries.”

“Yeah,”

“Who is the lucky one? You know he was my crush.” Talking to each other, they moved to the counter, and I wondered who the guy was, the most handsome bachelor.

Soon, I shrugged my thoughts and went to the counter to par for my grocery because, even though I knew who he was. It made no difference to my miserable life.

Reaching home, I became busy in the kitchen preparing lunch.

After getting free, I moved to my room and changed into that dress. The dress was hardly down my ass, and it hung on my body like a second skin. I felt uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to annoy Aunt, so I carried it. I did a light makeover and wore my heels, the only pair I got last year from dad as a birthday present.

I was doing my hair when Aunt came into my room. And yelled.

“Why are you taking this long?”

“Perfect. You looked like a slut. I want you to be,” she uttered, looking at me from head to toe.

Tears glistened in my eyes, but I stopped them before slipping because I won't show my vulnerable side to this woman who only enjoyed it more.

“Come downstairs and serve them champagne.”

“Me,” my voice was hardly audible, but Aunt listened to it.

“No, your bitchy mother who left you for fuck’s sake.”

“Aunt, please don’t abuse my mom.” I spoke because I couldn't listen to anything about my mother.

“What will you do? I’ll say this, bloody bitch. Like a mother, like a daughter.” I was going to say something when Ainsley came.

“Mom, they are waiting. Don’t waste your time.”

“Whatever, bring her to the guestroom.” Aunt ordered and walked out while I went downstairs and Ainsley gave me a champagne bottle. She told me to go to the guest room. I didn't want to go but I've no option. I didn't want to get beat by refusing them because dad was out of town and my aunt won't show any mercy to me.

I was nervous because the dress was short. However, by pulling my dress to cover my ass and legs, I ambled inside the room.

There, I saw a man in his 40s sitting on the couch, and beside him, Aunt was present alongside two more men who were in a bodyguard uniform.

“Come, darling, serve him champagne,” Aunt exclaimed in a sugary voice.

I shifted towards them and poured him a glass of champagne. But I felt disgusted by the looks that man was giving me.

After handing him the glass, I ambled to go out but Aunt stopped me. She told me to sit with them.

I wondered why she wanted me to sit with her friend.

However, I made my way to the couch opposite them but Aunt called me towards her. She made me sit in between her and that man. My heart started pounding faster. Something wasn't right. My gut feeling was telling me. However, I eased my beating heart, but I lost it when he placed his hand on my thigh. I stood in panic. The glass of champagne fell on his suit, and Aunt slapped me on my cheek.

“You bitch, do you know what you did? You know the price of his suit?”

“Aunt, he touched me.” I said, but what Aunt said in return dropped a bomb on me.

“So, what if he touched you? He is your master from now, and you have to satisfy him.”

For a minute, I fell in deep shock. What was she saying? My master and I have to satisfy him. What the fuck was this? I was in my thoughts processing what just happened when I heard Aunt muttering sorry to the man.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Elijah. Don’t mind her. She is new to this and knows nothing, but I’m sure you’ll teach her and guide her.”

“Don’t worry, Helen. I’ll talk sense into her on the bed.” Both laughed evilly, and I ran from there to save my life.

However, Aunt grasped me and held me in a firm grip.

“Aunt, why are you doing this? I’m like Ainsley. You don’t do this.”

Aunt slapped me again, and I fell to the floor because of the intensity.

“Don’t take my daughter’s name from your bitchy tongue.”

“Mr. Elijah, call your men and take her because I have already received the money.”

“No, Aunt, you can’t do this. Dad would be angry. He won’t forgive you. Aunt, please don’t do this. Please have some mercy.” I cried and begged her for mercy, but she stomped me.

I again tried to get free and run when two men came to the room, and they took hold of me from arms.

I begged again and again, but Aunt didn’t show any mercy, and they pushed me into the car.

One man went to the driver’s seat. But another and his boss sat on both sides of me. I shouted and cried to get free, but they drove the car towards their destination.

I was struggling continuously, and after a five-minute drive, the boss asked.

“Did you bring the injection?”

“Yes, boss,”

“Then what are you waiting for? Inject her and stop her flouncing.”

The man instantly took the syringe from the back pocket and filled the liquid in it. I panicked. I can't let them ruin me.

The man brought the injection close to me. He was about to inject me, but I bounced, and that syringe went into the thigh of their boss. He whined in pain, and his grip loosened from my hands. I took this chance and injected the liquid into his thigh.

The other man slapped me and took the syringe from my hand. But my work has been done.

“What the fuck is this? I told you to inject her, not me.” Saying this, the man blanked out.

The man in the driver’s seat stopped the car, and the man on my left side got off to check on their boss. Taking this chance, I ran to save my life.

The two bodyguards of that filthy man also chased me. I put off the heels and carry them in my hand. I ran for my dear life, but no man was present to save me. The car had stopped on a hilly road, so no one was coming or going. I ran into the woods, and the men were chasing me.

Running from one side of the road, I reached the other side. However, suddenly a car crossed and hit me slightly but I fell on the road, and the car stopped with a jerk.

I instantly got up and ran towards the car for help. However before I could reach, the car owner stepped out of his car to check whether the person was injured.

Seeing a man, I instantly begged for his help.

“Please help me. Two men are chasing me. Please help.”

The man looked at me when the goons said.

"Hey, you, hand over her to us."