Chapter 1

VERA's POV.

The loud sound of the blender resonated inside my head yet my own heartbeat overwhelmed the grating sound, it was almost time, I would soon be free from this hellhole. 

This cage of a marriage. 

This personal hell my father dumped me, the bruises on my neck and my back didn't ache more than the ones in my heart. 

Four years, four fucking years I have waited for this day. I have waited for all of it to end. 

God knows I'm still holding on to a thread of my sanity. 

The door in the living room creaked open and I flinched, turning off the blender, rubbing off the water in my hands on my apron. I turned off the gas cooker and rushed to check my cake in the oven. 

"Vera!" His loud baritone voice boomed, and I quickly abandoned what I was doing rushing to his aid. 

He stood in the middle of the living room with a beautiful blonde hanging on his arm, she looked younger and had sparkling eyes. I knew he would dim in a week if she stayed. 

Just like he did mine. 

"We have a guest, prepare dinner and make enough" He ordered coldly. 

The 'or else' hung in the air like an expensive cologne and I nodded. 

As he led the girl away she turned back to look at me appearing smug, I looked away unbothered. 

I have other things to worry about than Richard cheating, if anything I wish she would stay so he would forget about me and start venting his anger on her instead. 

But he never hits his whores outside the bedroom, that abusive side is preserved for his wife. 

Vince walked in and bowed, I nodded meekly heading back to the kitchen aware of his footsteps behind me. 

"Is there anything I can help with, Mrs Constantin?" He asked. 

"No, thank you" I replied, he was one of the men in the clan who showed me little kindness in hopes that I would spread wide for them someday, apparently it's a thing to want to fuck the boss's wife. 

I hate this world, but I was born into it. 

My father owns one of the most ruthless cartels and I was trained to be submissive right from when I was ten. My mother died from an overdose when I was eight and ever since then my father has made it clear I won't be slacking off, he believes he gave my mother too much freedom and she started doing drugs. 

I have been betrothed to Richard since I was sixteen, he's forty-four years old and I'm twenty-three. My father didn't care, he was only interested in using me as a means to ally. 

Fucking mafias ruined my life. 

"Are you sure? I can help you-"

"I said I'm fine, Vincent, your boss wouldn't want to see you in here, that would send a message he might misunderstand and we will be killed. Unless you want to die young, I certainly do not have anything to live for but I'm guessing you do. Now get out of my kitchen before I stab your fucking throat" I threatened in a calm voice, his eyes widened and he left in haste. 

That's it. 

I have never spoken to him in that manner but today is all about showing my wings. I should be ready for the flight. 

After all, it took me four years to grow these wings. 

The powder in the blender had turned into a smooth paste and I scooped it out, checking my stew I poured the contents in and stirred. 

After I was done setting the table I went back upstairs to take a bath and change the dirty maid clothes I usually wear, my reflection in the bathroom mirror stared back at me, my eyes empty, the once shining blue orb had faded. 

My chest was covered with purple marks and my pale skinny body looked like that of a malnourished child, I hate how they ruined me. 

I hate that I allowed them to ruin me. 

I despise my father and I wish I were born into a better family, maybe a poor one would have been better than having so much money and protection only to be miserable. 

Here's the thing though, I'm Remington by blood, my father's daughter. 

There's so much I can take before I break. 

"Today's the day Vera," I muttered and tears blurred my vision. I carried the razor staring at my wrist. 

Maybe I should just end it all. 

I brushed off the thought and left the bathroom, picked up the dress from my bed, and put it on. 

There was a knock on the door and I made a sound of approval, and one of my husband's men walked in. 

"The boss requests that you come downstairs immediately," He said.

"Tell him I will be there in a minute" I replied curtly and he lingered. 

"Ma..." 

"Get out of my room" I ordered harshly, he left and I slumped on the bed. 

The weight of what I'm about to do weighed heavily on me, so I waited for two more minutes before leaving my room. 

Richard was at the dining table with his whore when I got down, he sneered seeing the dress on me and I walked to his side bowing to the waist like a maid. 

"I'm sorry, I was bathing," I said meekly and he stood up fuming, his palm landed on my left cheek and the slap resounded in the air leaving me blind for two seconds. 

Good. 

He's upset. 

"Who permitted you to speak?! And what are you wearing?" He demanded his disgust showing, the whore watched us with delight sparkling in her eyes. 

The blade on the sleeve of my dress dug into my hand, I hissed as blood started dripping down the rug, tears streaming down my chin. 

"Get out of my sight!" He barked and I nodded rushing to the kitchen, I leaned on the island taking a deep breath. 

I did it.

I stopped the bleeding using a torn napkin as a bandage to make it look serious.

It wasn't up to thirty minutes when the whore started screaming, my lips stretched into a smirk. 

After waiting for ten minutes I walked out of the kitchen, call me a coward for not shoving a knife in his chest earlier and using this method but I don't care. 

I will do anything to get my freedom. 

My dear husband was sprawled on the floor gasping for breath, his skin red, the whore beside him wailing, when he saw me he stretched his hand. 

Amusement filled me as I tried stifling my laughter. 

"Do something!" She screamed, then she saw how I stood there watching, it dawned on her. 

"Help! Help!" She rushed to get up and I didn't waste any time taking the gun I slipped off Richard earlier when he was raging like a gorilla. 

"Get the fuck down, now!" I snapped, she shuddered getting down beside him. 

"You killed my husband?" I took a deep breath and willed the tears to start flowing again. 

My husband took his last breath and went limp. 

"How could you?" I half sobbed and laughed as the tears flowed down my chin, just then his men returned. 

They usually leave when he hits me, and the house is soundproof. 

Vince rushed to his boss's side. 

"What happened?" He asked. 

"This bitch killed him, I just came back to meet them and she... He was like that" I burst into tears. 

Before the girl could say another word I screamed and pulled the trigger shooting her in the head. 

She dropped down dead. 

"Miss Constantin!" They rushed to my side taking the gun from me.

I acted hysterically.

"Is he okay? Is my husband going to be okay?" I asked sniffing, when I took a step closer his men held me back shaking their heads. 

"No. No, it can't be, No!" I screamed struggling while they consoled me. 

They aren't surprised to see me crying for him because I have always given the impression that I loved him regardless, he always boasts about it claiming I loved the abuse. 

As I sobbed on one of the guy's shoulders I peered at the dead body of my tormentor, warmth and relief flooded my entire being. 

Good fucking riddance.