Getting physical

I reached for my phone on the bedside table. The moment I unlocked it, my stomach tightened.

There are several missed calls from Martin, my mother and my stepfather.

I stared at Martin's name for several seconds before dialing my mother’s line.

She seemed to be alone and unlike how quiet she would be when my stepfather is present, she spoke with care and listened to me rant about everything that had happened the previous night, everything except the night with the stranger.

I expressed my wish to cancel the marriage arrangements. She agreed to try her best to convince her husband.

I doubt that man could be convinced by my mother though. But at least whatever steps I took to end the goddamn engagement, my mom already understood my reasons.

She's the only one whose opinion truly matters to me.

The next day.

By the time I returned to my home, the atmosphere in the house was suffocating.

My stepfather was waiting for me.

The moment I walked through the door, his expression darkened. His face looked twice its size, having bloated from anger.

“Where have you been?” he demanded, swiftly getting up from the living room sofa.

I didn't answer immediately. And simply stared as he stepped closer. “Your mother told me you want to cancel the wedding despite what I told you.”

“I do.” I replied curtly with a blank expression.

His face hardened with resolve after realizing his anger isn't doing much on me. “You're going to marry Martin.” he said with finality in his voice.

“No, I won't." My voice was quiet, but firm. “I won't marry a man who doesn't love me."

My stepfather's jaw tightened.

“Do you have any idea what you're throwing away?” he asked grimly.

“I don't care about his family's money.” I said. Who is he to always talk like I'm lacking funds? I'm also an heir to my father's business, which is thriving.

“You should care!” He barked. His voice thundered through the room.

“Martin is the heir to one of the most powerful families in the city. Do you think opportunities like this come every day?”

“Opportunity?.” I scoffed at his face. “All I see here is your endless greed. You're trying to use my father's company and me to form connections you couldn't afford with your own effort. I do your bidding because Mom believes that you're doing everything for the goodness of the family, but I refuse to be a sacrifice for your ambition!”

The next thing I felt was the sharp sting across my cheek. My head snapped to the side.

For a moment, everything went silent. I slowly raised my hand to my cheek. I couldn't believe he had hit me.

“Stop!” My mother rushed from wherever she had hidden and put herself between us.

“Don't touch my daughter!” she said through gritted teeth. Seems someone is finally hitting the wrong nerve on my obedient mother.

My stepfather glared at her.

“You've spoiled her enough.” He said but seeing that my mother's demeanor didn't falter, he turned away.

“This is not over.” he said and stormed out of the room.

I stood frozen.

My mother immediately turned toward me.

“Monica… my baby girl” She gently touched my cheek with tears pooling in her eyes.

“I'm fine, Mom.” I said, fighting back tears.

“You're not fine.” Her voice trembled as she led me toward the sofa.

She called on a maid to bring an ice pack and carefully held it against my swollen cheek. As she leaned closer, I noticed something.

Her sleeve had slipped slightly. There were faint bruises along her arm.

I froze. “Mom…”

She quickly pulled her sleeve down.

“What happened to your arm?” I asked with fury burning in my eyes.

“Nothing.” She said, quickly shaking her head.

“Mom.” I reached for her wrist but she tried to pull away, but I caught sight of another bruise near her elbow.

My stomach dropped.

My step father had never done this before. The slap had come as a shock to me, so is the proof that my mother had also been manhandled by him.

Well, we have never disagreed with him this intensely before. He had simply walked into our life and taken charge of everything my father once owned and made them his. All for the greater good.

“What happened?” I asked, holding in my rage.

My mother gently squeezed my hand. “Please don't fight him anymore. I went overboard with my method of insisting he let you walk away from the marriage agreement. He simply grew too upset, however he had promised to never let that happen again.”

I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell her that we should leave. But she looked so frightened that the words died in my throat. The only times they had fought was due to my disobedience.

Perhaps I should navigate my rebellion in a way that wouldn't drag my mother into this sort of mess. And then I will deal with my stepfather as he deserves.

I understand fighting him right now will only make him become more toxic and dangerous. With the power my mother had obediently let him acquire in our personal life and my inheritance, I need to be smart with my actions if I want to remove him.

“Listen to me mom. I will handle this my own way. I don't want to be the reason he gets physical with you again, because the next time I see another scar on you, I swear to God that I will murder him and wouldn't care about the consequences.” I said to her and left the living room.

I refused to pick Martin's call all through the rest of the 2 weeks he spent away for his supposed business.

I focused on my work during the day and at nighttime, I found myself reminiscing about the night I shared with the stranger, which left me wanting and needy. I will wake up from dreams about the event and find myself helplessly wet and aroused.

I need to see a therapist before I lose my mind over what should have been forgotten.