Chapter 3

I quickly stood up and tried to dodge him. My mother blocked the door when I tried to run out. She even pushed me back toward Boris.

My mother turned out to be an obstacle I was not prepared for. I was not able to avoid her push, and I fell to the ground.

Boris crouched to the floor. He grabbed my hair and pulled my face up toward his. He forced me to look at him.

His fat, oily hand patted my cheek. There was excitement in his eyes.

Boris was fat and muscular. I struggled hard to get away from his grip, but I could not stop him from dragging me into the room.

I suddenly felt a hot flow from my abdomen. The rusty smell of blood started to spread from behind my pants.

Titus and Boris were taken aback. It took my mother by surprise as well. Her shrill voice rang in the air.

"Are you menstruating, Raven Charleston? Why didn't you tell me earlier that you're on your period? What bad luck!"

Her shrill voice sounded like music to my ears. I curled up on the ground while hugging my stomach. I was relieved. I did not even realize that my back was wet from cold sweat.

Boris kept cursing as he released me. He got my mother to lock me up in his room. He wanted her to watch me and prevent me from escaping.

My period had come suddenly, and my pants and shirt had turned red from the blood. My mother flung my luggage into the room and told me to change.

She spent the next few days watching me like a hawk. My food and movements were limited. My mother would bring my food to me, and when I went to the washroom, she would stay close behind.

I thought about getting my phone back from her, but she glared at me and punched me hard on the arm.

"Do you think I have no idea what you're up to? You want your phone because you're planning to call for help. I won't give you that chance."

I had no chance of escaping. It made me anxious, and my voice eventually turned hoarse from the panic.

"Mom, I'm your daughter. Why are you doing this to me? You know I'm married. My husband and I have been married for three years. Why are you doing this?"

My mom looked down at me. She was not even listening.

"It doesn't matter if you're married. You can get divorced. You should get pregnant with Boris' child first. We'll have your wedding after your child is born. After that, you can live a married life with Boris. We're a family, anyway. We don't even need to pay any dowry."

I questioned my mother for doing this, but she said she had her reasons. "Our family will relocate soon. If you get pregnant, your unborn child will make up the number of people in our family. That means we will be compensated with an extra house and millions more.

"Besides, your husband of three years has never shown up before. You might just be making this up. You might not really be married. Since you're home, don't even think about leaving. Just stay here and live the rest of your life here obediently. Marry Boris, have children, and take care of your in-laws!"

My heart had chilled toward my mother long ago, but those words completely broke it.