A Father’s Kind of Cruelty

By the time I left my bedroom that morning, I had already decided that Julian would not get what he wanted. His threat still hung over me, but I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life obeying him. I would find another way off the estate, even if it meant waiting for the right opportunity.

The house was unusually busy. Staff hurried through the hallways carrying fresh flowers, polished silverware and neatly folded linens. Arthur’s parents were arriving, and everyone seemed determined to make sure the house was perfect before they stepped through the door.

A housekeeper handed me a list of tasks. I was expected to check the guest rooms, arrange fresh towels and help prepare the dining room. I took the list without arguing. I had learned that even the smallest refusal could become another reason to make my day miserable.

By late morning, a car pulled into the driveway. I was carrying a tray of glasses through the entrance hall when the front door opened.

Arthur entered first, followed by a tall older man in an expensive dark suit. His silver hair was neatly combed, and his expression was stern. Victoria, Arthur’s mother, followed them, looking around the entrance hall as though inspecting the house.

Arthur’s father barely glanced at me before turning to his son.

“Is this how you intend to receive your parents? I expected you to be ready when we arrived.”

“We weren’t expecting you this early,” Arthur replied.

“Then you should have been prepared anyway.”

Arthur’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

I stepped aside with the tray, hoping they would walk past. Instead, the older man stopped in front of me.

“So this is the wife.”

I lowered my eyes. “Good morning, sir.”

He examined me without returning the greeting. “You must be Sophie.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I was present when this arrangement was made. I know exactly who you are.”

The word arrangement reminded me of what I had become in this family: a solution to a financial problem, not a woman whose life had been turned upside down.

“Put those down,” he ordered, pointing at the tray.

I placed it on the console.

“Come here.”

I stepped closer.

“Look at me when I’m speaking to you.”

I raised my eyes.

“I hear you’ve been having difficulty adjusting to this family. Your husband has responsibilities, and this family has a reputation. I will not have you embarrassing us because you cannot accept your position.”

I kept my hands together. “I’m trying to do what is expected of me, sir.”

“Then do it without making excuses. You will attend family meals, respect your husband and keep whatever personal grievances you have away from outsiders.”

Arthur stood beside him, listening without making any attempt to intervene.

His father continued, “Your adoptive family understands the terms of this marriage, don’t they?”

My fingers tightened against each other.

“Yes, sir.”

“Their financial troubles were settled because this marriage took place. I would hate for your behaviour to bring those troubles back to their doorstep.”

I swallowed. He knew exactly how to make me feel trapped. My adoptive parents had handed me over to save their restaurant, and now his family was using that decision to keep me obedient.

“I understand,” I said.

“See that you do.”

He turned away, and I picked up my tray. Arthur’s mother asked whether the guest rooms were ready, and I told her they were. She instructed me to have the luggage taken upstairs before following her husband into the house.

Arthur caught my attention as I passed him.

“I’m leaving for my business trip this afternoon,” he said. “Make sure everything runs smoothly while I’m away.”

I looked at him, waiting for him to say something about his father’s behaviour, but he had already turned towards the stairs.

I spent the next few hours attending to the guests and finishing the preparations. By the time dinner was served, my feet ached, and my stomach hurt from barely eating. Arthur had left earlier, leaving his parents in the house.

I was clearing the last of the plates when a staff member informed me that Mr. Oliver wanted me in his study.

My stomach tightened.

I wiped my hands and went upstairs. The study door was open, and he was seated behind his desk with a glass of water beside him.

“You called for me, sir?”

“Close the door.”

I did as he asked, then remained standing.

“Come closer.”

I approached the desk, keeping a little distance between us.

“I’ve been thinking about your situation,” he began. “You were brought into this family under particular circumstances. Your adoptive parents had debts they couldn’t settle, and this marriage provided a solution. I assume you haven’t forgotten that.”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Then you should understand that you have obligations here. You are expected to make your husband’s life easier, not create problems for him.”

I stared at the carpet.

“Arthur has never been good at appreciating what is put in front of him,” he continued. “But that doesn’t mean you should make things more difficult.”

I didn’t know what he expected me to say.

He rose from his chair and walked around the desk. I instinctively moved back, but he stopped close enough that I could no longer pretend the distance between us was comfortable.

“Look at me, Sophie.”

I raised my head.

His gaze travelled over my face before his hand came up. He touched my cheek, then ran his thumb along my lower lip.

I froze.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Sophie. Arthur doesn’t appreciate what he has.”

I pulled my face away from his hand.

“Please don’t touch me, sir.”

His expression changed. For a moment, he simply stared at me, as though he couldn’t believe I had refused him.

“You’re very quick to forget who you’re speaking to.”

I took another step back, my heart pounding.

“I should return downstairs.”

He moved as if to stop me, but the study door opened.

“Oliver?”

Victoria stood in the doorway. Her eyes moved from her husband to me, then settled on the space between us.

“What is going on here?”

“Nothing that concerns you,” he replied.

“I was looking for you. They’re waiting for you downstairs.”

Her gaze returned to me. “Sophie, why are you still here?”

“I was asked to come up, ma’am.”

“Then you can go.”

I didn’t wait for her to repeat herself. I walked out, keeping my head down until I was far enough from the study to breathe properly.

I had barely reached the end of the hallway when Julian stepped out from the adjoining passage.

My body stiffened.

He looked at my face, then towards the study behind me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, though his expression suggested he already knew something had happened.

“Move.”

He didn’t.

“Something happened upstairs?”

“Leave me alone, Julian.”

His mouth curved slightly. “You should be careful about the people you upset in this house. My uncle doesn’t take kindly to being refused.”

I stared at him. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Perhaps not. But you seem to be making enemies everywhere you go.”

I tried to walk past him, but he leaned closer.

“Remember what I told you yesterday. I collect too, Sophie. Don’t mistake my silence for kindness.”

The words made my stomach turn. He wasn’t offering help, and he wasn’t warning me out of concern. He was reminding me that he had his own demands and expected me to be afraid of them.

I stepped around him without answering and hurried towards the East Wing.

When I reached my bedroom, I shut the door and turned the lock. I stood with my back against it, listening until I could no longer hear Julian’s footsteps.

My hands were shaking. I had spent the day being reminded that my adoptive family’s debts could be used against me, then been touched by a man who should have known better than to put his hands on me. And Julian had made it clear that he saw my fear as something he could use.

Arthur had brought me into this family and left me to deal with them alone.

I looked around the bedroom, at the expensive furniture and the clothes I had never chosen for myself. Everything in this house belonged to someone else. Even my future seemed to have been decided without me.

I had married into a family of monsters.

And if I wanted to survive them, I would have to find a way out before they took everything else from me.