Chapter 1 - Punishment

“I'm not going to marry him even if you beat me to death today.” Alexandra spat, clenching onto her dress tightly to suppress herself from making any sound. 

She could allow them to bully and order her around like a maid but not to marry her off. She had swallowed it all hoping for when she would finally marry Kevin, the man she loved and have a family that would love her. It was better she died than let them force her into a loveless marriage. 

“Seems like I've been too lenient with you,” Robert, her father yelled, hitting her continuously with a whip.

“Dad, you're going to kill her if you keep going.” Charlotte, her younger sister said, her voice laced more with venom than pity.

“Isn't it better that she dies since she doesn't want to marry?” Robert fumed, still hitting her.

Melissa, her mother, stepped forward grabbing Robert's hand. “Who will marry Bryan if she's dead?” 

Robert flung the whip aside, glaring coldly at Alexandra. “Kneel here till daybreak and reflect on your actions.”

“Don't be so angry,” Melissa whispered, patting his back as they walked out of the room.

Once the door closed behind them, Charlotte catwalked before her, picking up the whip. “Why don't you cry and beg me as usual and I would let daddy bring you a doctor?” 

Alexandra pressed her lips together, suppressing the tears threatening to escape her eyes. She had endured this for twenty-four years, some hours more won't kill her. 

“Acting strong now?” Charlotte asked, circling her with the whip and before Alexandra could reply, Charlotte sent the whip across her face leaving blood dripping.

Alexandra sprung up amidst the pains stinging on her back, grabbing Charlotte's face. “How dare you hit me? Have you forgotten I'm your elder sister?” 

“Elder sister?” Charlotte mocked, shoving her hand away. “I would make you regret touching me.”

Alexandra staggered back, shutting her eyes tightly as Charlotte let out a sharp piercing cry. In seconds, their parents came rushing in. They rushed straight towards Charlotte who was already on the floor.

“What's wrong, Charlie?” Melissa asked, helping her up as she checked her body.

“It's-It’s Alexandra,” Charlotte faked a tear. “I was telling her to listen to you both and she suddenly slapped me.”

Melissa didn't bother hearing Alexandra’s side of the story before slapping her. “Is this how you want to become Gary's eldest daughter?” 

“Alexandra Gary is to remain confined and kneeling inside this room till her tomorrow night.” Robert ordered, turning to the bodyguards. 

Alexandra watched them walk out and locked the door after them, leaving her all alone with two bodyguards. This wasn't going to be the first or tenth time, her father was doing this but this time she wasn't going to let them control her anymore. 

She had expected them to lock her up so she told Kevin beforehand and he had promised to help her escape. But he wasn't going to be here till tomorrow afternoon so until then she has to endure whatever they throw at her.

The time ticked painfully slow and by the time, darkness began creeping in. She wondered if she would make it to tomorrow afternoon because her knees were already trembling, her throat scorching dry, her stomach grumbling so loudly that she wondered if the worms would show mercy to her intestines and her back felt like someone was stabbing needles in it.

Charlotte walked in soon after followed closely by a maid who carried a bowl of chicken soup. 

“What do you think?” Charlotte asked, letting the smell of the soup sink into Alexandra’s stomach. “If you kowtow and beg me, you would not only have this bowl but also a doctor to treat your wounds.”

Alexandra said nothing, she was barely managing the strength left in her and had no time for her troubles. Charlotte obviously wanted her to do that so she could video her and brag about it to her silly friends again.

“Fine!” Charlotte yelled, throwing the bowl on the floor and stomping all on the contents of the soup when she didn't say anything after a few seconds. “Suit yourself.” 

Alexandra watched helplessly as something her stomach was begging for was scattered all over the floor. She shut her eyes, blocking her sense from smelling or thinking about it.

“Alexandra, you would always be under my feet,” Charlotte seethed, storming out of the room. “I'll make sure to crush your existence.”

***

By the time the sun stood in the middle of the sky the next day, Alexandra was more of a ghost than a human being.

She was mentally counting down and praying Kevin makes it to her alive. Suddenly, she heard three quick knocks on the window and a sudden whiff of relief rushed through her.

She glanced back quietly and the bodyguards were fast asleep. It was meant to be suspicious but she didn't think much about it as she forced her feet to move and opened the window, falling into Kevin's arm.

“I'm sorry I couldn't protect you,” Kevin said, holding her gently.

Alexandra shook her head. “It's not your fault, Kevin. Our love is all that matters.”

Kevin nodded, helping her out of the room. “Let's get out of here. I will find you a doctor once we're outside.”

Alexandra smiled, leaning into his arms. Meeting Kevin a year ago was something she had been so grateful for, he was the only light in her dark empty world. 

She couldn't always leave the mansion so they found a secret exit where he can always follow to visit her and finally she was going to leave with him through that secret exit and never come back to this prison everyone else called her home.

The mansion seemed deserted as there was no bodyguard or maid in sight but Alexandra didn't think much about it after all her parents were meant to be preparing for a marriage that wouldn't happen.

They successfully made it into the secret exit but once they stepped out of the exit into the outer free world, Alexandra came face to face with Robert.

“Where do you think you're going?” he demanded, approaching her with a whip.