ONE.

FIVE YEARS LATER....

The Reed family ranked fifth richest in the world and today.... They're hosting their patriarch's 80th birthday. The old man is a known philanthropist and he chose to hold his grand celebration with the kids at an orphanage down in Deventon.

For years, the number one medical center in Deventon had remained the Sanderson's family owned hospital.

And thankfully, their hospital was chosen to accompany him to administer free health care services to the poor children. They would do that during the day and for the night afterparty, it was to be held in his new retirement mansion here in Deventon as well.

The Reeds owned the largest private equity firm and the Sandersons was looking to have them invest in the hospital. This was a huge opportunity.

An opportunity in a lifetime that kept Talia Grey busier than her father in law himself.

It hadn't been any more than three minutes Talia Grey shut the door behind her and grimaced in exhaustion, that his car zoomed into the compound. Her heartbeat escalated. Her eyes narrowed down on her wristwatch. It was 4:30.

"god no!" she cried.

The morning party at the orphanage was over.

Her fingernails sunk into her skirt's light fabric. Her eyes closed. She counted in her head. At exactly the number 30, he was twisting the door knob to their room open. She turned to him with a gestured greeting.

"You're back....." her voice croaked in murmur, she mentally slapped herself.

He hated murmurings. She didn't mean to.

"You're back!" She repeated immediately, sounding firmer. His tired brown eyes trailed up her figure, locking her gaze in his. Talia swallowed. The slow blink of his eyes was an indication he'd heard her, but he didn't bother replying. He simply walked away, disappearing into his closet.

Talia exhaled...her eyes and shoulders dropped. She thought she'd grab a little rest before he returns after being tossed around all day by his family, but that wasn't clearly happening.

He was going to undress, shower and be out again, all in ten minutes. She'd lived with him long enough to know that.

Dashing for the mini kitchen immediately, she quickly reheated the meal she'd prepared. Thankfully, it was ready just in time as she heard his door unlock. Step after step, she counted subconsciously again till she heard the chair creak against the floor and he sat in to eat.

Another fact she'd learnt in her five years of marriage?

Standing close to his meal made him gag.

She moved away, not completely out of the room, but definitely out of his sight. She stood behind him, leaning on the wall in the living room and watched him eat.

Talia Grey — the eldest and adopted daughter of the Grey family. She was only 23 when she was offered on a platter to the Sanderson family....solely for business.

The man her eyes were locked on?

Julian Sanderson — 29years old and monstrous.

A fifth generation doctor and only son to the Sanderson family, with three crazy sisters.

Talia didn't want to be here, but what choice did she have?

She was paying back her family's kindness for adopting her sorry ass — their scapegoat.

She couldn't see the plate from where she stood, but she had her wristwatch on. She'd mastered counting and working with time in this family. Everyone had a way and time of doing anything, and not once has Julian Sanderson been at the table for more than three minutes.

At exactly the third minute, her feet moved. Truly he was done eating but the moment she grabbed the plates and turned towards the sink, the question hit her.

"Are the paintings ready?" He raised the glass of water to his lips...

SHIT!!

Talia heard the bang in her head. Her hands wobbled. Goodbye to her peaceful night. A day wouldn't pass without her falling into one problem or the other.

The plates touched the sink just as Julian laid down his glass with soft thud...

"I'm sure I asked a question?" His eyes locked in with her figure, she felt the sting from it and the monster in him awakened.

The Sandersons lived in a huge mansion. Huge enough that each compartment seemed like a little mansion of its own... With a large living room, kitchen, bedroom, closet, bathroom, even a little storage area. And right in their own compartment, her back crashed hard against the dining table. Screaming meant death. She bit back the pain. Hot tears filled her eyes.

"Talia....." Julian drawled, completely bare chested and enraged. He shut his eyes and opened them again, staring down at her as she managed to sit up. "Can you...can you be a little understanding?"

"Talia....I... I'm trying my best," his tone was soft like he'd not just tossed her across the room like a bag of sack after gripping tightly onto her neck...his eyes...even softer like she was the devil and he was begging for his freedom.

"I'm trying my possible best to be nice but why can't you understand me? Huh?"

Talia coughed out tears. Her neck red from his grip..."I'm sorry," her voice came out in a whisper...her hands immediately wiping off the stubborn tears that fell. She has suffered so long to be stronger now, but maybe there are people that just can't hold their tears and she's one of them. Her tears flowed on their own command no matter her effort to bite them back. The more she'd struggle with her tears, the more the lump in her throat felt lethal and sore.

Her feeble frame whimpered beneath his towering build, not a single sound escaped her throat, but her body grew hot with pain. She'd gotten a good beating the night before, a stinging slap from her mother in law this morning and now, he wasn't anywhere near letting her recover when he grabbed a chunk of her hair.

"Hmmmm", she folded her lips in immediately, swallowing her scream.

Making a sound was as good as signing her death certificate. Screaming meant he'd gotten to her. It meant she couldn't hold it in. Though her tears disobeyed and disgraced her resolve, Talia wouldnt crack a scream. The pain was excruciating. It wasn't just the pain on her scalp or the pain in her back, the one in her heart cut deeper. Her heart bled. Every fiber of her being silently crying for help.

He dragged her by her hair into the living and sat on one of the cushions, pulling her forward to kneel before him. He yanked downward, causing her face to tilt upwards. Tears glistening her face like a skincare serum. He smiled ever so handsomely.

"you are sorry? Talia.. you're sorry?" His tongue ran over his lower lip into a smirk. He yanked on the chunk of her hair.

"Julian...." her voice whispered with fresh tears.

"Well ....sorry doesn't get the paintings on the canvas, do they Talia? Your husband is about partnering with the most powerful family in the world...the least you can do is contribute wifey! Why cant you understand that?" His grip tightened even more and subconsciously, Talia's hand moved to hold his, her eyes locked in with his. A plea to let her go.

"I'll get it done....i promise... I just had a lot to do. Your mom and your sisters needed my help with alot of things. I wasn't idle. I was really going to get it done... Please.. It won't ever happen again".

"You're blaming my family for your laziness?"

"No.....Never!" her lips quavered as she spoke, her tears flowing profusely, but he wasn't moved by tears: certainly not her tears.

The hatred in his eyes were full and overflowing....he hated her very existence and she'd been given to him on a platter to do as he pleased, but she hated him more.

His jaws clenched, his hand yanked again on the chunk of hair he held...her pain tripled...."are you trying to ruin me? Is that it?"

She shook her head profusely in the negative.

"Talia.... I really hate it when dogs think they've become human, neglecting the owner that holds its leash... Don't you hate it too?"

She nodded immediately...anything to let her go, but he wasn't done. Still holding onto his hand above her head, hot tears blurred her vision. This time she consented to the tears that flowed... Her body stung on every side.. It felt like she'd been thrown on the surgical table without anesthesia.

"it must never happen again Talia. It mustn't, but we're going to fix this.... Are you ready?" His smirk grew even more.

He left her hair and grabbed her top instead. She had on a knee length skirt and a blouse to match. He pulled the blouse over her head. Talia wasn't stupid to react. She just sat there in her skirt and bra, but he wasn't done... His hands reached behind for the skirt's zipper and he unzipped it, pulling it off.

Julian stood to his feet, tying her blouse's hand to the skirt's end. She didn't know what to expect, but definitely not what he did next.

Throwing the tied pieces over her neck, he pulled her with it like a dog and she followed on all fours, into the spare bedroom that was turned into her painting room.

If there was one thing Talia Grey was good at....it was drawing. A talent her family never approved of, but Julian was quick to turn it into his next source of income even though she never saw or knew how much was made off of them.

"you have two hours until the party Talia. Get it done and ready!" he growled and as though that wasn't enough.....he grabbed the AC's remote, increasing the cold air to his satisfaction and disappearing with it.

The cold air hit against her bare skin, she shivered all over. Talia rubbed her hands over her eyes, an attempt to get rid of the blur the tears had created, but the tears just flowed again and again and again.

Her mouth opened but her screams were silent.

Her heart wrenched in pains, she felt a million arrows piercing the feeble organ.

On the day of her wedding, she couldn't feel joy, but she felt lighter. She felt half her problems had been solved. She didn't want any part to this marriage but saying yes and accepting his ring was a deal she had made to protect someone.

She took comfort in the fact that she was leaving her hell, but since the night she drove in his car into this building with her single suitcase containing the little she took with her.. Talia had never stepped out without their permission. She thought she had it rough at her parents house, but this was greater hell. She was no different from their maids. She slowly picked up her brush.

Talia had tried in the first and second year of this loveless marriage to love and respect Julian. She'd tried to get him to atleast pity her if he wouldn't love her, but as days grew into weeks, months and eventually years.... She accepted the monster she married.

Not getting this painting done meant two things. The craziest beating of her life and manhandling of her soul...or he'd just tip her over the balcony to her death...but she knew the second option? He'd never do that. If she died, nobody would be his punching bag and his family's venting arena...and he wouldn't want that!

Talia froze with every passing second but in an hour and thirty minutes later, the painting was completed. Her hands rubbed against each other, her eyes resting on the art she created. She could see the difference. The little sketchings she made in secret at her parent's house bore so much live and purpose in it... What she stared at her screamed depression and a silent prayer to survive.

She looked away and stood from her stool, running to the door, she banged to get his attention.

"I'm done! Julian! I'm done!"

The door was unlocked and she jumped back in fear.

Julian walked in fully, his eyes staring at the painting. He'd always been amazed by her work but never showed it. He gave a fainty nod drawing the air conditioner's remote from his pocket, taking it back to normal.

His eyes travelled back to her. For a minute, it raided her body, taking in each and every curve. His member kicked, his feet moved in obedience to its command.

One step after the other, he stood just before her, Talia seemed to cower into herself as his hand met with her brunette hair...

Slowly his fingertips travelled down some more, sending shivers up her spine due to the cold. Those fingertips stopping just above her breasts....he smiled warmly. "I should reward you wifey."

Talia's heart flew out her chest...Julian was never nice anywhere....not even in bed. He pulled her in.