Chapter 3

The previous night was unbearable and i barely slept.

Feeling Karl turn and twist in his sleep to get comfortable, hearing his soft snore and his breath in all made me stiff the entire night.

I was too scared to move, thinking i might accidently wake him up. Every time he moved, i would tense, fearing he was going to grab and hurt me. But the night went on without him waking up even once.

When the sun was about to come out, my eyes got heavier and sleep took me, only to be startled away by the blaring of an alarm i didn't set.

Turning around, i saw Karl shut the alarm off and sat up straight. I turned back around, hoping he doesn't realize that i was awake.

I can feel Karl moving his body around on the bed, probably stretching and then for a good of five minutes, he stopped all movement and just sat there.

For some reason, it felt like he was watching me. Refusing to move a single muscle, i laid still and waited for him to leave.

Soon enough, Karl left the bed for the bathroom. Taking that as my cue to wake up, i got off the bed and looked around the room.

I don't know what to do. I could go to work even though i was given the week off, but that would require asking Karl for permission. And that is simply a no, no.

Looking at the large bed, i realized that the spot i slept on was not even close to being wrinkled while his side was completed destroyed.

With nothing else to do, i decided to make the bed. I've been raised to leave all the cleaning to the maids but i didn't mind making my own bed. It was the one thing i knew how to do without being a bother to anyone.

Once i was done, i sat at the edge of the bed, exactly where i was last night, and waited for my turn in the shower.

Karl doesn't take long to walk out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and another in his hands to dry his hair. He stopped outside the closet door and turned to me.

I was trying to ask him if i could go to work and he clearly saw me hesitate.

"What?" He asked in a cold tone and i immediately regretted even looking up at him.

I shook my head and looked down at my lap but Karl wouldn't let it go. He walked closer to me and just like he did last night, he lifted my head with a single cold finger under my chin.

"Don't make me ask again." Hw commented.

"I..." I hesitated "I wanted to go to work. I wanted to ask you if... If i can go to work."

Karl tilted his head to the side as he studied me. After a short seconds, he let go of my chin and smiled.

Not the kind of smile that can melt a woman. It's the kind of smile that can stop a heart from beating with fear. It was a cruel smile.

Karl shook his head as the smile faded away.

"Not today." He said before he leaned closer to me until his breath fanned against my left ear.

"Today, you'll meet the family...Wife."

***

The drive to the Thompsons mansion was quite and tense. Karl and I sat in the back of the car while his driver drove us to the house.

After telling me that we would be visiting his family house, Karl told me to get dressed and waited for me in the living room of his penthouse.

I had to look through the suitcase they'd packed for me and found some dresses. None of them were elegant but they were cute and bright.

I picked a pale pink dress with full sleeves to cover the bruise on my right arm and shoulders. The length of the dress falls down my lap and stops just under my knees. With a little lip gloss to make it look like the red bruise was just part of the look and combing my fingers through my long black hair, i had finished dressing up

Running my thumb against the bruises on my right hand, i looked out the window.

All i want to do right now is go to work, sit behind my desk and spend another day being useful. But now, stuck in this car, about to meet my husband's family privately for the first time, i felt trapped.

Quietly breathing in and out, i tried to calm myself and think of anything that would make me feel better.

Glancing at Karl, i made sure that he wasn't looking at me before i skimmed his clothes with my eyes.

Karl, unlike my imagination wasn't wearing a suit. Instead, he was wearing blue geans with white shirt and a dark blue Jacket over it. Other than his family necklace, there was no more accessories.

I couldn't see what kind of shoes he was wearing but if he had on some Jordans and then a silver watch on his wrist, his look would be perfect. But with my pale pink dress, we don't look much of a match in fashion.

I quickly looked away when Karl's pale blue eyes snapped to mine. Thanking God that he didn't call me out on it, i watched as we approached a large gate leading up to a huge Mansion.

The car pulls up infront of the mansion after the long drive way and Karl waited for the driver to open his car for him while i quickly opened my door and hopped off before the driver could round up the car. Little did i know, the driver was already leaving after opening Karl's door for him without even thinking to open mine.

It's fine.

Karl walked up to the door without hesitation and opened the large wooden door. Without waiting for me, he walked into the mansion, leaving me to rush after him.

As soon as i walked in, i saw a painful reminder of how imperfect my family was. All the Thompsons who were in the main sitting room, rushed over to Karl and greeted him with love and open arms while i never knew what it felt like to be welcomed home.

Strangely enough, i don't feel the need to bully or hurt Karl for having a better family than me, not that i could even if i wanted to. I only felt pity for myself.

His brother and sisters all greeted him before they turned their eyes over to me. They each looked at me as if i was absolutely nothing. With some glares and scoffs, the Thompsons took Karl and led him towards... Somewhere, except for one.

A girl that looked my own age, if not younger sayed and stared at me, studied me carefully. I don't remember seeing her at the wedding last night. The ones' i saw were Karl's younger two sisters and brother. This girl does look like them and even though she wasn't at the wedding, it felt like i knew her.

"Hey." I greeted her with a little wave of my hand but she just looked at me with her eyes narrowed.

"I haven't seen you last night." I commented with desperation for someone to talk to. The long silence was killing me. "I'm Lucy, Lucy Chaw."

The girl just looked at me with a frown on her face. She looked confused and...sad?

Karl came from behind her and held on to her shoulder.

"You okay, Kaily?" He asked her with a voice filled with concerned.

The girl, Kaily, looked over her shoulder before she nodded her head and left. Karl's soft gaze immediately turned in to a glare when he turned his eyes to me.

"That's my baby sister." He commented.

His anger confused me so i just nodded my head and whispered "okay."

My answer seemed to have angered him even more as he suddenly staked closer to me. Watching his large figure walk towards me in such a scary way, i couldn't help but walk backwards.

Karl followed each of my steps until my back was flat against the large wooden front door.

As soon as he was infront of me, he swings his hand and slam his fist against the door, right next to my head. Scared as i was, i let out a little cry as i shielded my face with my arms.

For a second there, i had really though that his fist had landed on my face, but when i realized that it landed in the door instead, i slowly let my arms fall to my side and look at him with shock.

Karl was shaking with anger. He looked like he was ready to rip me apart and the fear squeezed my chest until i couldn't fight the tears anymore.

"Karl." I heard his name being called from behind him and even though i couldn't see who it was, i recognized the voice to be the girl i spoke to just seconds ago.

Karl looked over his shoulder before he looked back at me. I can feel my face twitch with every tear that escaped my eyes. Karl leaned down and looked me straight in the eyes before he snarled his next words out.

"You are nothing but a bully. Don't you fucking dare pretend to be anything else."

Karl pushed away from the door and disappeared into the room he came out of. His baby sister looked at mw for a few seconds before she followed after him.

I deserve this.