Chapter 2. Living In Hell

*Seven Years Later*

“Sofia, come to my room quickly.” Sofia heard her stepmother, Emma, calling her. She felt a pang of hunger in her stomach, but she knew she had to obey her stepmother's command. Sofia covered her plate and placed it on the slab before leaving. She couldn't risk facing the consequences of disobeying her stepmother.

After her mother's death, her life became a living hell. Her stepmother didn't provide her with enough food to eat or proper clothes to wear. Sofia wasn't allowed to enjoy any luxuries in her father's mansion; she was treated as nothing more than a housemaid. Emma, her stepmother, justified her actions by claiming she was disciplining Sofia, fearing that without her mother, Sofia might turn out to be whore due to her mother's poor family background.

Sofia was confined to the house and forbidden from attending any social gatherings or her friends' birthday parties. She wasn't even allowed to have any friends. Today after gathering all the leftover food from dinner, Sofia was relieved to find enough to satisfy her hunger. Otherwise, she had to sleep empty stomach most of the time. However, when her stepmother called her, she had to rush, or she would face severe beatings with burning iron rods. Even now, Sofia carried the scars and pain from those punishments. Emma was sly; she ensured no visible marks were left on Sofia's body, inflicting burns on her feet instead. Sofia had no choice but to endure the pain and continue her work, walking with those burnt feet.

Sofia's heart raced as she hurried towards Emma's room. She knocked on the door gently and opened it slowly, trying not to make any noise. She peeked inside and saw that her half-sister Kat, stepmother Emma, and father were all sitting together, deep in discussion. It seemed something serious was going on from the cold and indifferent expressions on their faces.

"Sofia, please come inside," her father said in his cold voice.

Sofia came inside slowly, bending her head down because she was not allowed to look into their eyes.

Her father came in front of her and said, "What took you so long? You know the rules of this house. You need to respect us and our authority."

Sofia trembled, nodding silently, feeling ashamed and small. Nevertheless, she knew she had to obey her father's strict rules.

"You will be getting married to Leonardo Morelli in ten days. I have fixed your marriage. You should feel fortunate to become a part of such a wealthy family," her father said abruptly.

Sofia's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She felt as if her world had been turned upside down in an instant. She had never even met Leonardo Morelli before, let alone thought about marrying him. Sofia's mind raced as she tried to process the news. She wondered if there was any way to avoid this arranged marriage and if she had any say in the matter at all.

Sofia seized the opportunity to inquire, "Wasn't Kat supposed to be his bride?"

Kat shook her head as she examined her fingernails. "I'm sorry, but I can't marry him. He's a playboy, and the marriage will last only three years. No way. I won't do this," she said firmly.

Emma sighed. "But we need this alliance to merge our businesses. That's why we have to have a marriage between our families." Sofia’s eyes widened in shock as Emma continued. "...and that's why we've invested so much into you. So, one day, you could be a valuable asset in a business deal."

Sofia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her family was discussing a trade involving her. Her father was willing to use her as a bargaining chip for a business deal. It was disheartening for Sofia to realize that her entire life was just a tool for their business ventures. She felt like she was an inanimate object in their household, and it was a heartbreaking realization for her.

Sofia took a deep breath and summoned all the courage she could muster. With a trembling voice, she spoke up before her father, something she had never done before.

"Dad, please don't force me into marrying someone, wealthy or not. I never asked for this. I promise I won't be a burden to you anymore. Just give me a chance to live my own life." Despite Sofia's heartfelt plea, her father's face remained cold and unyielding.

“I have made a decision for your life. There is no option for you but to marry Leonardo Morelli. Though I have done so much for you, I have hated you for so many years because you are that whore’s daughter who spoiled my life. I was forced to live with her against my will. So, think of this as repayment for your mother's sin. You don't have to live with him for the rest of your life, but only for three years. After three years, the contract will end, and you will be free,” her father said indifferently, looking at her with disdain.

She was feeling helpless and alone, thinking that no one cared about her. Even her own father didn't seem to prioritize her well-being. She was starting to lose trust in people. It seemed as though she was born under a bad star, destined to face these unfortunate circumstances.

Sofia’s half-sister, Kat, was older than her by two years. Apparently, Kat was born before Sofia, while their father was still married to Sofia's mother. Sofia later learned that her father was in love with Emma, Kat's mother, but felt pressured by his parents to marry Sofia's mother. After Sofia's mother passed away, her father didn't waste any time in marrying Emma and bringing her and Kat to live with him.

With a dismissive wave of her hand, Emma signaled that the meeting was over.

"You're free to go now," she said before adding, "We'll begin preparing for the wedding tomorrow. You should feel lucky to be marrying into such a wealthy and influential family." She couldn't hide the smug smirk on her face as she spoke.

Little did Emma know that Sofia had no interest in marrying a wealthy man, not now, not ever. Having witnessed her mother's suffering and eventual demise in misery, Sofia had made up her mind that all men were evil and heartless. Sofia walked back into the kitchen and noticed her plate was only half empty. But her hunger had died along with her thoughts.

Sofia glanced at the wall clock and saw that it read midnight.

She had just turned eighteen and no one else was around to wish her a happy birthday, not even her father remembered.  Sofia retreated to her room and grabbed her mother's photo frame, holding it close to her chest as tears streamed down her face. The night seemed endless as she cried about the unfairness of her life.