I Can't Escape

 

The tug on Ruby's arm made her flinch in fear. The man was clearly not affectionate towards her, as evidenced by the cold stare and rough grip on the woman's arm that made her hiss.

"What, are you trying to escape?!" Eduardo snapped as he tugged on Ruby's body, nearly causing her to stumble. There was no warmth in his assistance at all.

"Don't be rough, Ed," the pastor tried to calm, but the warning merely passed by.

"How dare you try to run away!" Eduardo dragged Ruby inside, while Ruby trembled in fear. Eduardo was intimidating, not just because of his face but also because of his demeanor. Ruby was more afraid of his nature than of his current appearance.

"I'm not running. I just..." Ruby tried to defend herself, but it was futile. Eduardo didn't want to hear any words coming out of her mouth. The impulsive decision Ruby made earlier is now endangering her safety.

Eduardo continued to drag Ruby, who stumbled because of her flowing dress, into the living room, passing by several people who were chatting and drinking.

Ruby felt ashamed as she caught those people's gazes, especially with her disheveled appearance from the fall. It seemed none of them dared to question Eduardo's actions. They merely watched as Eduardo led Ruby up to his private room.

"You're just like your father, trying to betray me when I'm not looking!" Eduardo growled, tossing Ruby's slender body effortlessly onto the bed.

"No. I... I just got lost, Eduardo," Ruby sobbed. It wasn't just his angry face; it was Eduardo's voice, slicing through, that made her even more afraid.

"You're crying? You can still cry, it seems," Eduardo laughed mockingly.

"Save those disgusting tears for someone else!"

Ruby flinched as she felt Eduardo's grip on her chin, forcing her to look up. His green eyes looked at her so coldly, tainted with red in the whites. The party's abundance of beer appeared to have slightly intoxicated Eduardo. Ruby could smell the alcohol on his breath.

Ruby's trembling body became more apparent. Even when Eduardo was sober, he wasn't gentle, let alone when he was drunk.

"I won't let you go, even if you beg. You have to pay for all your father's sins!" Eduardo shook Ruby's shoulders.

Ruby wanted to say that it had nothing to do with her, but this was the core reason Esli paid her. Ruby now understood the true motive. Esli wanted to save Liz by sacrificing herself. A stranger girl who happened to look like his daughter, to deceive the man who hated him. There was no accident or coma. Esli's deception was just enough to entice him.

"After this, forget your old life. Your father decided you'd be a sacrifice, so it's up to me what to do with you, and you have to accept it!"

The absolute ownership he expressed made Ruby feel even colder. The freedom to do anything to her body could mean harm.

"Open up!" Eduardo had let go of Ruby and stood about a meter away from her.

Ruby didn't move except to tremble. She didn't know what to do—too scared.

"Open your dress! I need to see how worthy you are to be a wife who can fulfill my desires." Ed shouted while pointing at Ruby's dress.

Ruby knew she had sold herself for fifty million pesos. But she never imagined she would experience something as miserable as this. She was not only terrified for her life, but she was also facing humiliation. But all the regrets were too late; she couldn't retreat or escape.

She might die at Eduardo's hands before she can leave the house, and even after leaving, Esli will kill her mother.

"You're quite the actress. You look like you're suffering. I almost believed those tears. Is it your father who's instructing you like this?" Ed taunted while removing his jacket and belt.

Ruby indeed started crying again, and for Eduardo, those tears were worthless. They didn't soften him, let alone evoke any pity. Such was the extent of his hatred for Esli and his family.

"I...I'll open it." Ruby didn't know what Eduardo would do with the belt in his hand, but she didn't want her situation to get any worse.

"Fifty million pesos... Mama..." Ruby murmured very softly, choosing those two words as her resolution to lower the sleeveless white dress. She had to endure to get what Esli promised her.

Ruby could feel the cold AC hitting her exposed back as she lowered the white wedding dress sleeve. For Ruby, the boutique had prepared white lingerie with a sheer design. A type of clothing that only half-heartedly fulfilled its function because many parts of her skin were visible, even when worn.

"Not bad so far. I didn't lose too much. Keep going."

There was no yelling. Ed's voice became deeper. His hands opened the jacket and the buttons on his shirt, and his eyes never left Ruby's body in front of him.

Ruby knew that tranquility wouldn't last long. If Ruby stopped, he would yell again and become intimidating.

With trembling hands, Ruby pulled the string that tied the front of the white lingerie, exposing her front body as well as her arms and shoulders as the lingerie fell off. There was still another piece of cloth attached, but Ruby's curves and smoothness of skin were more noticeable.

"So far, so good. You've done well," Eduardo said, his tone surprisingly softer.