Do Not Fail

HANNAH'S POV

My back ached all over from the lashes I received, tears continuously stream down my cheeks till my eyes were clouded blood red.

My uncle put away his lash ignoring my aching body.

This was a familiar routine so it didn't faze him.

"You better keep quiet or you'd be crying blood any moment." I instantly went mute. It's been months since I got a lashing. Unfortunately I'm 24 years old ant I get treated like a beast.

"Do you have an idea of why you got a lashing ?" My uncle asked me. I tried to bear the pain and not answer in a way that could earn me more lashes.

"I honestly expressed my feelings, I forgot that this family doesn't like to hear the truth." I tried, I really tried but I just had to say it like that. "No, try again." My uncle insisted.

"No." I answered. "You want me to say I disrespected Lilly ? Earlier they made jest of me and all they got was a glare. I let out honest emotions that you intentionally triggered and I get a lashing how unfair is that ?" I yelled at the top of my voice.

"Hannah…" my uncle quietly muttered but I didn't hear my name, I didn't give a care to what he wanted to say if I was going to get a lashing I was going to let it all out. "I served this family for more than a decade admist the abuse and torture. I kept quiet, I did what you said. I murdered people who were a threat to you. I stole information that helped reformed this family. Let me get a pat on the back at least. I deserve to be free from this horrid family after everything I went through." I yelled but I couldn't stop there, my uncle didn't interrupt that means I had permission to go further. "I didn't live a normal life like my peers I was trained unethically just to get this family where it is. This family is where it is mostly because of me, not Lilly, not Christian, not James, it was all me. If I don't get your love and validation then I deserve my inheritance. Uncle please it's the least you could do after murdering my father." My face fell to the earth.

"Please, I earned it." I yelled. The wicked man, my uncle stared at me coldly. A heavy weight disappeared from my chest, everything I bottled up was finally out. "You want nothing to do with this family ? How long did it take before you concluded this ?" My uncle asked. He was closer to me than I expected, I felt his hand on my hair as he pulled up my face to his. "It must have been a long time, Hannah." His fingers run through my hair, down the side of my face. He picked up my chin.

"If you wanted the abuse to stop, why didn't you say anything ?" I slowly morbid my view I couldn't dare glare at my uncle even if I wanted to.

"What did you do when I called out Lilly ? Gaslighting won't work this time uncle. Try another tatic." I smirked at him, he was pissed and I didn't care what he was going to do at this point.

"Fine.." he pushed my face away in annoyance.

"Here is a compilation of suitors. Pick one." My brows arched, I got up collecting the attachment. It was a journal of seven different men in a book, with their information and pictures. "Why is Christian here ?" I looked at my uncle's smug expression.

"Isn't my son worthy to be a suitor of your choice." I ignored my uncle and still glanced through the rest of the men. "What is this ? Why am I picking a suitor?" I asked.

"I will not permit letting you go for now. But I will grant you your inheritance as long as you marry a suitor from that compilation. They are very important and will help further business connection's. I suggest you pick wisely." My uncle explained. Of course he wasn't going to let me go. I should have requested for my inheritance alone and said nothing about disappearing.

"Can I opt for a divorce ?" I asked scrolling through the list. "None of them seem like a potential mate ?" I laughed so hard when my uncle mentioned that. It sounds like he care for a moment. "Exactly. I don't see myself spending the rest of my life with these morons. Most of them hold a grudge against me. Can't you sort other candidates ?" I asked.

"No. They are up to Seven at least one should catch your eye." My uncle insisted. "If I do marry one of them back to the question, can I opt for a divorce ?" I pushed my question foward, my uncle sighed and nods.

"You have to spend at least 18 months with them before opting for a divorce. You have a month to pick one candidate." I nodded understanding my mission. "When do I get my inheritance ?" I asked. That was the most important thing to know for now.

"At the end of the 18 month." Before I could argue my uncle glared at me. "After what you pulled tonight if I grant your inheritance sooner you'll disappear faster unknown to me. I still need you to do things for me admist your mission. After the 18 months you can get your money. Opt for a divorce and disappear as you wish. The Mendova will turn blindly to your existence." The deal seemed fair but I had to bear a year and a half knowing that The Mendovas still exist.

"Can I get a written agreement, so you don't take back your words uncle." He laughed pulling out a form and writing down our conclusion. He stamped it meaning it was important and he couldn't take it back. He signed and passed the form to me.

I signed as well. I gave it back to him

"I'll give this to my lawyers to make a more formal one. There will be amendments so be aware that you'll be signing again as well. Have you picked a suitor ?" My uncle asked, I shook my head. I didn't have a clue who I would pick

"Very well. Lilly's birthday is coming up. Everyone on that list would be invited you will have a night to talk to each one of them and pick a suitor. At least I made it easy for you." I wish I could roll my eyes. He just made it unbearable, I would have to conversate with each of this men who could pick a gun and shoot me if given the chance.

"Can I go ?" I asked, I got a nod and went on my way.

"If you fail to get one to court you. Christian automatically courts you." I turned in disdain.

"So Hannah, do not fail."