Rumours

Bella came out of shower when she saw five missed calls from her aunt. She got worried and called back. It was picked up instantly.

"Hello, aunt?" Bella asked.

"Come back home now." Her aunt said before cutting the call, Bella was muddled about what was happening. But hearing her aunt's worried tone, she was sure something was wrong.

She put on her clothes and was about to go out, when Emma came in. She saw Bella going out.

"Where are you going?" Emma questioned seeing her.

"I have to go back home, I will call you later." Bella patted her shoulder, to reassure her before leaving in a hurry.

Emma was worried about her, her family will do no good but what can she do, if she goes with her they will be good until she has to leave. She can't stop worrying about her.

Only thing she could do was wait for her or call. She sat down on her bed, clasping her hands hoping nothing happens to her.

Bella sat down inside the cab, afraid of what will happen. She reached her home and took a deep breath before going in.

The atmosphere inside was tense, she walked forward, as she walked her family's eyes scanned her. Her grandparents were sitting on the sofa, drinking the tea.

"Grandpa, grandma." She bowed a bit in respect.

"Kneel down, you disgraceful child." Her grandfather yelled at her.

Bella's heart skipped a beat in fear, she gulped before kneeling down in front of them.

"Grandpa, I don't know what I did wrong?" Bella said in utmost respect, even if they hated her, she knows that they are still older, she should still show respect towards them no matter what.

But before she could say, a slap landed on her face,"You ungrateful bastard, how dare you talk back?" Her mom yelled at grasping her hairs.

"Helena, let go of her." Her grandmother said calmly while drinking her tea.

Her mother wanted to say more, but her father pulled her back.

Bella was already used to it, her mother never liked her, she just wanted a reason to beat her.

Her grandmother took out some pics and threw them at Bella, and Bella's eyes went wide open.

They were pics of Jack and her, she picked up the pictures and looked at it.

First picture was from the library where he was helping her with the homework, second was the one from the cafe, then drinking and laughing, third was of them walking together towards her dorm.

"Grandma, it's nothing like this, he is just my classmate." Bella tried to explain.

"So shameless." Her cousin mocked her. Hearing her comment, Bella stopped explaining, knowing that they already believed in the photos, no matter how much she explains, they will never believe.

"What? Not more excuses?" Her grandmother asked, getting up from her place.

"I told you, if you want to study, you should have no rumours, and what's all this, just the first week and already complains." Her grandmother walked closed to her.

Bella didn't say anything, she kept her head down and listened to it, as sobs left from her mouth knowing what would happen next.

"Grandma it's nothing like that." She for the last time tried to explain, hoping that they would listen. She looked up at her, and before she could realize a slap already landed on her cheeks, her fair skin started to turn red.

"Bring the stick!" Her grandmother ordered the maid. The maid immediately bought the stick and gave it to her grandmother.

"Mom, give Bella a chance to explain first." Her aunt came forward and held Bella in her arms.

"What is dare to explain? She just ruined our family's reputation, she should learn her lesson, if you try to protect her, fine." Her grandmother raised her stick, and it landed on her aunt's back instead of her. Sobs left seeing it, her aunt was trying to protect her but her family stood in their place and watched her.

"Fine, I accept." Bella said, she looked at her aunt, she was already in pain from the beating, that stick was two fingers thick. Last time she was beaten, she knew how painful it was.

Her aunt looked at her, knowing what she wanted to do, she shook her head to stop her. But Bella just smiled to reassure her.

"Fine, take Rose away." Her grandmother asked the maid to take her aunt away. And as her grandmother ordered, they took her aunt away forcefully.

Bella let her aunt go, after she left. Bella turned and looked at her grandmother,"It was my fault, I should not have contact with the opposite gender." Bella said as sobs escaped her mouth.

She clasped her hands tightly in fear,"Since you accepted you should know your punishment." Her grandmother said before raising the stick again.

Bella stayed silent during the whole time she got beating, no one came forward to help her. She will never understand why her family was so ruthless towards her.

What did she even do wrong, to be treated like that. She learned everything her family wanted, from being a top student to how to be a perfect housewife but why they still hate her.