We arrived at the mansion, the grand gates opened for us as we drove up the winding driveway. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pain mixed with anger as we pulled up to the front entrance. The mansion was exquisitely designed, every detail oozing luxury and elegance.
Too bad, that despite how beautiful the mansion was, the owner was awful, and probably the actions behind the walls of the mansion was terrible as he was too.
The chauffer and awaiting maid quickly got the door for us, eagerly helping me with my bags. I silently followed beside Paulo, my eyes wandering over the black exterior of the mansion. It was a stark contrast to the greenery surrounding it.
As we stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat. The foyer was stunning, with marble floors and pillars adorned with intricate designs. A grand chandelier hung from the high ceiling, giving off a soft glow that added to the eerie atmosphere.
"Welcome to my humble abode mi amorè" he spread his hands with a corny smile. I looked around the large living room and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
Welcome to my humble abode, he had said. But to me, it was nothing but a gilded cage, and I was determined to find a way out.
"This is your place now, Isadora," he continued, gesturing towards the house. "And you want to know what happens here." His lust-filled eyes roamed over my face and I felt a shiver go down my spine. I wanted nothing more than to stab him repeatedly.
But instead of showing my distaste, I remained silent.
"I see you don't have any manners," he chuckled darkly. "We'll have to work on that."
I resisted the urge to slap him, knowing that it would only make things worse for me.
"The room is ready, sir," one of the maids reported fearfully, keeping her head down.
"That's great," he said, his tone dripping with excitement. "It's time to spend the day with the newly wedded bride. Make sure no one disturbs us, especially Amanda." He spat out the name with disgust before grabbing my wrist and pulling me up the grand staircase.
I followed him down a long hallway, the walls lined with paintings of somber-looking individuals. I couldn't shake off the feeling that their eyes were following me, even as we approached the room where I would be staying.
The door opened to reveal a lavish bedroom, one that could only be described as opulent. A king-sized bed with a canopy draped over it took center stage, with plush throw pillows scattered on top. The walls were a warm beige color, adorned with ornate gold designs, while the furniture was a rich olive green.
Ddespite the luxurious furnishings, there was an underlying sense of darkness in the room. The shadows seemed to linger in every corner, watching my every move. The large bay windows offered a view of the sprawling grounds, but even the sunshine that spilled in couldn't chase away the feeling of unease.
"I'll let you unpack, and have a good rest. But one thing is sure, we'll consummate our marriage later tonight," he whispered in my ear as he left the room.
Fury, pain, and a desire to kill him all surged through me. And it pained me more because I was helpless, I couldn't do anything about it.
As he walked out of the room, I collapsed onto the bed, my sobs racking my body. All of the pain and hurt that I had been feeling since the day began came rushing out with my tears.
'What did I ever do to deserve this?' I screamed at the top of my lungs, my anger directed towards no one in particular. 'If you truly exist, then why did you do this? If you truly love us, then why am I being put through all of this?' I shouted at the sky, cursing the supposed God who had allowed this to happen.
After minutes of crying and feeling sorry for myself, I forced myself to stand up and face the reality of my situation. I couldn't let this man and his cruel actions break me. I had to be strong and fight this journey.
With a deep breath, I wiped away my tears and began to unpack. As I unfolded the last piece of my dress, I found a black book and a pink novel tucked inside. 'A Moment with God' was written on the cover of the pink book. Hold on.. this is no novel, it's a..... devotional'. I murmured. While the black book was the Holy Bible and between the pages laid a note from mom and Astra.
'You'll find solace and comfort in here. The Lord will help you on this journey,' the note read.
'Solace and comfort?' I couldn't help but scoff at their words. How could their God allow everything I've been through happen to me? I whispered, my anger and hatred towards him growing stronger.
I rolled my eyes with deep anger and loath, I was about to throw them away in my anger, but something made me pause.
Despite how I felt about God, my mom and sister beliefs, the Bible and other things concerning it, I felt myself withdrawing from doing what I was going to do. Reluctantly, I kept the Bible and devotional in a place out of my sight and moved on to unpacking the rest of my cosmetics and toiletries.
I found a pile of papers in the bottom of my suitcase. With furrowed brows, I opened the envelope, and immediately I recognized them as fake medical reports.
A mischievous and satisfied smile grew on my face and I took the fake medical reports from my box. I left it on the bed and went into the bathroom.
I stayed in the tub and let the hot water wash away my anger and frustration. As I laid there, I made a decision to not let this man ruin me. I would fight for my happiness and my freedom, no matter what.
After what felt like hours, I finally stepped out of the bathroom, feeling a little calmer. I went through my night routine and changed into a silk nightgown, wrapping a matching robe around me, I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for him to arrive.
"What the fuck do you mean you can't have sex, Isadora?" He yelled, his nose flaring in fury. I shot my glare at him and fisted my hands, trying to control my emotions, but I also couldn't deny how badly I wanted to laugh.
"It's written in the paper, Pablo," I said through clenched teeth, trying to keep my composure. "I can't have sex because I have UTI."
His eyes bored into mine and he grabbed my neck, his fingers digging into my skin. I could feel my anger rising, but I knew I had to keep my cool. I managed to push him away, and I stood up, glaring at him.
"Disrespect and poor manners are two things I don't tolerate, little girl, and this" he spat, pointing at the test paper in my hand. "Is bullshit. I'm still going to fuck you, and that's final."
I couldn't believe his audacity. Who did he think he was, trying to force himself on me? I took a deep breath and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I'll make one thing clear, Pablo," I said, my voice shaking with anger. "Don't think I'm weak. Don't think I'm the kind of girl who will sit and let you abuse me. Over my dead fucking body."
I could see the surprise in his eyes, but it quickly turned into rage. He raised his hand to strike me, but I quickly grabbed his wrist, holding him back.
"I'm warning you, Pablo," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "I will burn you with the fire in my heart. Until I get treated, go ahead and sleep around. Isn't that what you're good at? You know, that's one good thing?, because, you won't miss out on sexual satisfaction, but if you want to have sex with me, that's great, at least I get to share my disease with someone, and we can both die together"
His expression turned from anger to shock. I could tell he was taken aback by my fierce response. But I wasn't finished yet, this was just the beginning.
"You'll regret your actions soon, Isadora," he threatened, anger detectable in his voice.
The fear that sparked inside of me quickly turned into determination. I wasn't going to let Pablo or anyone else intimidate me. I won't give into my fear. I wasn't going to embrace his threat and wallow in fear, I am going to fight.
"As for whatever the fuck that is, I'll ensure I get the best doctor to treat it as soon as possible" he gritted out, and I shrugged my shoulders.
"Good luck with that" I muttered and turned my back to him.
This is the beginning Pablo. With a determined mind, I shut my eyes and let sleep consume me.