| Confronting the bad |

"Have you heard about the news-" I looked away, My chest was feeling heavy minute by minute, I was suffocating inside this huge venue. Maximilian continued his talks with his friends and family as I saw myself in the dark spot of the room.

Not one person seemed to give a fuck about his wife. Everyone was interested in him. Not me. I never saw anyone I could talk to. I was expected to smile and talk when I was being ignored by all. Mother did not come to this whatever type of party they held. My father only spoke a few words to Maximilian and never looked at me once.

His father was nice. But very distant, And his mother, Who was happy to see me run that day, was throwing dagger at me through her eyes. As if blaming me for marrying her son. She stepped on my dress the minute we walked in the room.

I was the black sheep.

"Excuse me" I whispered and turned around. His hand stopping me by my waist.

"Where are you going?" He whispered in my ear, It seemed like he was being nice to me, But Only I knew. He was the worst. I flinch at the sudden pain and blink my tears away. "The bathroom" I spoke through my clenched teeth in slight annoyance.

"Fine," He said sliding his hand off me, "Don't keep talking to anyone" I roll my eyes when he pulled me back and asked me for a yes. I was shocked I could still keep my anger inside me.

"How about you you stop acting like an asshole to me Maximilian? I am not gonna run away any time soon" I whispered, His face getting an annoyed expression all over it. As he looked away and let go of my waist.

I didn't need to use the bathroom, I just wanted a break. I washed my hands tapping them dry and sigh, staring at myself.

How pathetic.

I chuckled at my hopeless life. It is a week after the vacation. On his vacation, he was out having fun but I was in the room. The only fun I had was seeing him get pissed off was because some guys at the beach couldn't stop staring at me.

My fault I looked good?

It was creepy, weird seeing him get like that when there was no real reason behind it. He got protective as if I had someone who would take me away.

Hell, even he knew how pathetic he himself was, He knew I would take my chance and run away if I had the right person helping me. One thing stopping me was my friends. Or, I can say friends of my past. I could still remember the one thing my father said to me when we met after coming back from vacation.

My acts resulted in the punishments on my mother.

That was a great blackmailing strategy from him, Putting his own wife on the tip of a knife to show me how powerful they can be, It won't change the fact that both of them were pathetic, laughable, and stupid in my eyes.

They make ME feel pathetic and stupid.

"Evelyn ?" The sudden call of my real name brought me out my trace. No one called me that but my father. I look at the sweet girl behind me from the mirror and frown.

"I am sorry, I don't remember you," I said turning around when she smiled. "Oh, Lily, Brandon's wife"

Oh yes. I saw her at the wedding. She was very shy, quiet. I never saw her talking to him once.

"You look pale. Are you okay?" I asked. She chuckled softly washing her hands. "Ya, I-I don't do crowds. I get anxious. I told Brandon but he won't listen" I nodded. My eyes staring at her as she continued.

"Does he treat you well?" I asked out of nowhere catching her off guard.

"I know your condition so I can't fake being happy.-" I chuckle looking away. "Oh ya? I am famous, I didn't know" She smiled.

"He is nice. Not someone I saw myself with but nice, he respects me, that's all I can ask for. But His mother-"

"Ahh, the devil woman" She gasps, bringing down a second of silence between us before we both giggle.

"Isn't It medieval? Marrying us off two someone we didn't want and their mother haunting our lives now" She chuckled holding her hand to her mouth as we walked out.

"You look too happy for someone who was forced into this. Forgive me for saying that" She whispered as we stare at the unknown people around us.

"What else do I do? Cry? Frown at everyone and weep all day" She shook her head.

She sighs looking around, when my arm was, might I add painfully grabbed by Maxmilian, I snap my eyes at him as his angry eyes stare down at me. "What took you so long?" He asked his eyes falling over his sister-in-law right beside me.

"Why do you care what I do in the bathroom?" I whispered. He twisted my wrist behind our backs and his face smiled in front of Lily.

"Hope you are doing well Max," She said softly, "You too. Brandon was looking for you" She nodded waving a bye at me before leaving.

I finally snapped. Twisting my arm around more to get out his hold. My skin is now red. "What's your problem! Stop treating me like a fucking pet! I was talking! I can't talk!?" I yelled, but in a very lower voice.

He didn't have any of my soft yells as he pushed me towards him.

"You wanna starve for tonight?" He asked, My teeth grind together as he whispered that, "Or for the rest of the week" I looked away.

"You are torturing me, might as well try that to enjoy your game. NO?" I asked. His eyes glaring at me for a minute before dragging me to sit at the dinner table.

I stare at Lily and Brandon. They hardly spoke to each other through the evening. But even the small talks they held seemed relaxed. And normal. Unlike me, where every talk led to a drama between us. Which I create because he then leaves me alone all day.

I wake up, in the middle of the night. The door opening loudly downstairs and it slammed shut. I flinched looking at the clock not moving from the bed. It was three in the morning. I didn't wanna face him at all. He was gone for four days. No calls. Nothing. But that security guard outside his house sure did keep an eye on me.

I was brought all the food I could ask for but I couldn't leave. I spend those four days in the backyard planting or making random recipes mom once taught me. But nothing could stop me from fall on the ground and cry for hours.

The minute I heard the bedroom door open I closed my eyes.

"Evey" I heard him.

"Hey, Wake up." I didn't budge. His hands pushed away my hair strands. That hand which I wanted to dip in hot oil and burn.

"Eve!" He yelled, but not harsh. I groaned opening my eyes and looking at the flowers in his hand. " Sorry I was gone for long. I know it must have angered you that didn't bother calling-"

"No it didn't, Now can I go sleep?" I asked, His frown very visible. There was something wrong with him, I could smell the alcohol on him.

"No-No-I just wanna make you happy. I wanted you to have some time alone. Cool your anger down. Then maybe you can talk to me. These are for you"

"You leaving when I am angry isn't going to help cool it down. And you are no one to give me flowers. It would be an insult to them" I said looking away and grabbing the sheet to fall back asleep very he stood up. His eyes were on the ground as he kept the flowers on the desk near me.

When I thought he was done. When I finally thought he was done.

"You shouldn't make me angry like this Evey," He said. I flinch at the hand coming towards me and I shift back but he grabbed my face in his one hand. The next minute I was kissed without my consent.

tried.

I tried to push myself. Shove him out my way, kick him and run. But he was too strong. I didn't give up, pushing him back as he threw his clothes away holding my hands while my legs kicked his stomach but he didn't even budge.

He was drunk. But I couldn't even push him off. I was pathetic.

He dug his fingers in my neck and hands, trying to hold me back. It burned, It was painful. His fingers felt like they would break my wrist in half.

"Stop-"I cried as he dug his nails deeper in my neck.