CHAPTER 1

"Mommy, what happened to your face?" My attention was caught by Sarah noticing the wound on my cheek that my lush hair could barely hide.

"It's just a mosquito bite, Sarah. Don't pay attention to it." I signaled her to return to eating and just don't bother herself worrying about my face.

At her young age, she also cannot understand what I am going through at the hands of her daddy. I’d rather choose to make this a secret from Sarah. I think it’s better that way. I'm afraid of tearing down our family that I have almost died to save.

"Get up now, Sarah. You're going to be late for school," there was authority in the tone of Liam's voice that drove my daughter quickly to stand up from her seat. He then looked at me. "I'll tell you, Kris. Never leave the house. Understood?" And as if I have another option other than nodding my head as a sign of agreement.

I have been released from my imprisonment in a dark room... yet, still I'm a prisoner of my own house. Liam's job is at a hospital and working as the head doctor is good and smooth. He earns more than enough so he doesn't let me work anymore.

To act as his wife, I must stay in our house all day long... to be imprisoned here in my entire life... without even experiencing traveling outside.

"Should I be happy that I'm not locked in the room anymore?" I asked Mother Minda, who acted as my mother in the huge mansion where I lived. "Or, I must be sad because I just got out of that room, but can't get out of this house?"

She stopped putting away the plates, and on the vacant seat which she's able to face me, she sat. "If you are no longer happy with Liam, you can end your marriage with him. Options are always available for you, you might just have to consider picking them when you think you really need it. If you are tired of him keeping you locked up here at home, why would you choose to stay with him when there are other men out there who can treat you right that your husband couldn’t give you."

I bowed with sadness. "I can't leave Sarah here. I'm sure Sarah won't be doing well here when I decided to be separated with Liam. That's why even though it hurts and I'm struggling, I didn't file for divorce."

"Even though Sarah is not my real daughter, I love her very much, Mother Minda. Even though she didn't come from my womb, I still loved her like my own flesh and blood. And the moment I leave this house without bringing her with me, I will put my daughter in danger."

 "You can't blame Liam if his treatment of Sarah changes. We know he’s just being good to Sarah because you're here. But if you decide to leave, what other reason does Liam have to treat Sarah like a decent child when she’s not even his daughter, is it?"

She held my hand firmly, wearing her worrying eyes. "Make a decision that will be good for you and your daughter. Run away from him, Kris."

I wiggled my head constantly. "I couldn't do that. I didn't have any capacity to escape this house with her."

"It's like you don't know that pet of yours, mom. I think there are a hundred bodyguards watching me just to ensure that I don't leave the house. How do you think I could escape from those fvcking guards?" I just laugh as I keep wiggling my head.

Escaping this hell will never be possible. I have long accepted since my soul was tied to Liam that I will die right here in this place. A few cuts and bruises, maybe tomorrow I'll be able to sleep overnight… and then die.

"If only I had the power, dear… I would have helped you." She brushed my hair which made my body calm for a moment. "With just a flick of my finger, your skin is back to being smooth."

And that makes me sad even more. How I wish to turn back time…. and how I wish myself to become those famous runaway brides on the day of their wedding. If I were to be, I wouldn't be in this sad life now.

"It's funny when he says he won't ever make me feel regretful for accepting his proposal, and this happens..." Droplets of tears just got started streaming down my cheeks. "I once became the happiest woman in the world when the man I love kneeled down in front of me, asking me to be his bride. And with how fast the night changes, I'm probably the saddest woman in the whole world, regretting that I accepted him as my husband."

He promised to give me a good and happy life. Is this what he says is a good and happy life? This is hell. He literally brought me to hell!

"The only thing I can do for you is to pray that one day your life will be in order."

"But remember that only you have the ability to draw your own destiny, Kris. If you want to get out of the hellish life that Liam has given you, you must act."

Mother Minda gave me a small smile before she continued to put away the dishes on the sink. And I was like... Oh? This is the choice I make. It's only natural that I have to face the consequences even though I didn't expect it to be as bad as the consequences I did when I said yes to Liam.

*****

"Why did I see all the Chinese herbs I just bought in the trash?"

I was busy reading a book in our room when the door opened, and Liam's blank face appeared to me with the lab coat he was just undressing on his arm. His face that used to always smile whenever I was with him and the excitement on his face when we're traveling together, since we became a couple, I haven't seen that again.

"Those are expired, honey-"

I gasped as he tossed his lab coat on the bed. "Are you trying to single me out, Kris? I just bought those, how can they expire so soon? I'm not stupid enough to buy herbal meds that are bad for your condition to take!"