[ Rain Anderson Blackwood ]
"Come here and eat the dinner with us. We need to talk on an important matter."
For a moment, I can't believe on my ears, did he really ask me to have my dinner with them when pure hatred is clearly dripping from Blackwood siblings' expressions.
"Are you planning to stand there and starve us?" This time, Nicole hisses in a low tone. Her eyes are shooting daggers at me.
I am wondering now why she hates me so much? I mean Nicholas' hatred is justifying but what did I do to earn hers? Nevertheless, I take slow steps in the dining table's direction, still not matching their disdainful stares.
I drag the farthest chair and about to sit but he stops me.
"We're not going to murder you, Rain. Come here and sit beside me. As I said, we need to talk and your silly behavior isn't helping much." Nicholas says in a deep voice but I can't miss how he's trying to refrain himself from shouting on me.
Perhaps, he's cautious of a child's presence in the same house and she'll definitely not like her uncle yelling on someone.
Sighing in surrender, I did what I was told. My appetite is long dead but I can't tell this to him. Praying to all the Gods' that this dinner would be over soon as the thick tension in the air is suffocating and I am sure, they can feel it too.
I sit quietly and wait for any of them to speak. Meanwhile, the maids come with our food and serve us.
"You all can take your leave now from today's work." Nicholas dismisses them.
"But Sir, the dishes-" One of the maids tries to ask him with fear dripping from her voice.
"Mrs. Blackwood will do it tonight. Now leave if you want to work here." Nicholas glares her. It was enough for all of them to run on their heels.
My heart sinks more, he wants to punish me by forcing me to do household chores. Not that I am complaining but he belittled me in front of his house staff, it pains me to bear humiliation at every step in this marriage.
"Now eat, the food is getting cold and I do not want it to go in trash bin. I earn with hard work not like your family who only knows to leech on other's wealth." He taunts me but this time he accused my family of something I would never accept.
My Dad built his business from scratch. He'd never want Blackwood's money even if our family beg on streets. Tears brimmed in my eyes but I prevent them from falling and giving these two heartless people the satisfaction of breaking me.
You have to try harder, Nicholas because Rain Anderson isn't built of straws.
I serve a very little portion of rice and chicken curry on my plate and with heavy heart, I take the first morsel. In other circumstances, I'd eat properly but tonight they fed me with their hurtful remarks.
"Nick, please tell her the matter and ask her to eat in her room because her presence is making me nauseous." I hear Nicole snort.
I gulp my half chewed morsel. What did I do to serve such treatment?
Why did you do this to me, Roselie?
"Nicole, please stay quiet if you want me to eat. I am already exhausted from today's events, so don't force me to sleep starving." He groans at his sister and by his tone, I can feel that he's frustrated about something and somewhere I am the reason.
"Now you'd misbehave with me for this Anderson slut. No doubt, these girls have tricked rich men in their charms to maintain their lifestyle." She sneeres at me.
I close my eyes and let the tears fall, I've heard many bad words from my bullies at school, Roselie's friends and our relatives but none called me a slut. It is the most derogatory remark that someone has ever given me.
And what hurts me more that he didn't try to correct his sister which means he thinks in the same way about me.
"Rain, there's a press conference tomorrow at sharp eleven in the morning and presence is mandatory there. You'll answer the media on our marriage, means you won't say the truth but the answers that my PR team will provide you when you reach at my office. Just remember, I do not want any controversies brewing against us in the future. This marriage has already done great damage to my image." He says with venom laced in each word.
"Okay, I'll be present there on time." I reply with no emotion.
"Good, there's one more thing I want you to imprint in your mind if you want to live your life at peace in my house or...you know the consequences." He stares deeply into my eyes, the hidden warning beneath his icy cold eyes.
"You have my word, Nicholas. I won't be a problem for you but I can't live like a piece of furniture, I too have a life for myself and I want you to treat me like a living person who feels emotions." I dare to express my sedimentated feelings.
His jaws clenched and his expressions hardened as soon as I finished.
"Really? Are you trying to blackmail my brother into your evil game?" Nicole arches her hooded eyes as if challenging me to say another word.
"No, I am not, Miss Blackwood. I just want him to treat me like a human not an animal. I promise you that I won't come across your paths." I reply to her.
"Enough! I have heard enough of your bullshit, you shameless slut!" She slams her fists on the table causing me to flinch on her outburst. My whole body started shaking with fear as she takes menacing steps in my direction and before I can prepare myself from her hostile approach, a slap landed on my right cheek.
" You messed up with the most horrible person on the earth, Bitch." She grips my hairs tightly, I feel my scalp being ripped from my skull.
"Plea..ahh..please..leave..me." I am crying now and try to get out of her deadly hold but she's way too stronger than me.
"You must learn your place in my brother's life. I couldn't stop your whore of a sister to ruin his happiness but I won't let your evil intentions to destroy his future, Rain Anderson. Get this straight in your thick skull. You won't be his wife but a liability imposed upon him by your manipulative parents. They'll rot in hell for trapping our father in their conspiracy." She whispered yells on my face and with a hard blow, she pushes me on the floor.
My elbow hit the floor causing me to whimper in pain, my teary eyes look up at my husband for any help but he stood like a statue unmoved and emotionless. He clearly enjoyed the whole scene when his sister abused me both mentally and physically.
"You have my word, Rain that I'd not interfere in your personal life. You want to work to earn your livelihood then you're free to do anything but I won't tolerate your infidelity. I do not want my wife to whore around and bring her lovers here, at my house. Do anything you wish but never dare to daint my image in the public or I won't waste a moment to destroy you and your family." With these final words, he storms out of the house.
"Fucking piece of shit." Nicole hisses like a black mamba and walks in the direction of poolside.
I cry more on my cruel fate. I never tried to hurt someone intentionally or thought bad about someone then why is the God punishing me like I did a crime against humanity?
Do I not deserve some happiness?
Am I this much cursed that my husband does even want me to come in front of him?
With these uncertainties, I cry more until my eyes give up. Tired and drained out emotionally, I struggle to stand up on my feet but fall down again as my lower back hurts terribly. I didn't realise that I fell down on my back and in the process hurt my spine.
When I was about to give up and sleep on the cold floor, two gentle hands wrap around my shoulders. I immediately recognize the person.
"Why Elle? Why they're treating me like I am a lifeless doll and they can take out their anger on me whenver they want?" I hug her tightly and let my tears pour out my pain.
"Shh..my dear, please don't cry." She rubs my back and tries her best to comfort me." Nicholas isn't a bad person, in fact he has a heart as pure as gold but your sister not just broke his heart but also his trust. He always faces difficulty in trusting someone but when he grows to like that person, he would do anything in his power to love them. Please don't mind his words. He's only taking out his pain on you because you share the same blood as hers. He thinks that hurting you will mend his broken heart but soon he'll realise his mistakes and then it will be your chance to tame his heart, make him yours. Please just don't give up no matter how much he tries to push you away but just don't surrender. I know you love him unconditionally." She says with a faint smile.
I look at her with dejection.
"But he hates me, Elle and he himself made it clear that he has nothing to do with me nor I exist for him." I sob hard.
"He's only trying to save himself from falling in love with you and how do you that it didn't effect him when Nicole mistreated with you?" She smiles again as she wipes my tears.
"What do you mean, Elle?" I furrow my brows in confusion.
"You'll get to know soon, Rain just don't loose your hopes." She answers.
Her words left me in a myriad of confusion.