cted mind. Throughout the night, I kept thinking of my father’s cruel smirk as he gazed at me and called my existence wort

reaky door opened to reveal my brothers. Simon and Xavier, the brothers wh

s away from their face. I learnt from many hard sla

me with shame. “Have I not told this bitch not to be so familiar with u

my place by force. I was nothing more than a stain, an embarrassment to this family and I knew they hated me. I was

ped before me. I wished I could escape through the wall

as his belt descended on me. I screamed, almost biting my tongue as

otecting my head as the belt fell again. This

call my name?” He taunted,

but the assault did not stop. The more I begged, the angrier he got. He hit m

!” He bellowed lik

er. My eyes mistakenly met his and I shivered from the raw, unadulterated hatred I saw in those eyes. There was clear mur

Xavier stop at once. “We do not have time to waste,” Simon, the older o

with harsh words whenever he was upset but Simon – Simon was the more silent one, the one who would build you up only to break you because it was more sati

once wavering. It was not my place to look at him so I lowered my head even more as my en

all him the br

rned mute, they would not listen but I was desperate, desperate for someone to hear me. Why did I talk so mu

was even a slight chance that this burden would pass me by, then I was willing to be beaten a hundred times. T

d me hard. My head spun and I crumbled, my back cracking from how hard

I lived in a frying pan and now my father had cast me into a fire. Death, it seemed, was inevitable for me. My life which I

mon said and with one

room, slamming the door behind him. I was on the ground, cradling my head with my hands and ble

. “Stand.” I continued to shield myself. “I do not like to repeat myself.” I pushed my raggedy bo

lord and give him a son or you will die.” I nodded along to his words, my ears ringing, head banging and fingers twitching. “The Seventh Chief will see you this

ognize me not as a villain, but as someone drowning. I wanted to create a small gap in this life that had become like a

me, I do not think I would have ever survived this house. George had risked his life for me and even

onded, swallowing sali

els but stopped once he got to the door. “

at told the story of my pain. I gasped for breath when the physical and mental pain bec

y left side as it was the most battered part of my body. Unable to leave the attic I called my room, I stayed holed

e as much as their mistress. They scrubbed my skin so hard, the half-healed bruises on my body reopened. They dressed me in clothes

e the Kingdom of Gedeon, our little home which he once ruled over as king

d dismissively. I stood to the side while he discussed my dowry with my father. The discussion took t

n illegitimate daughter. If the Dragon ever finds out your real identity, your precious neck will be the fi

ords bo