chapter 8

Chapter 8

" Sometimes, everything cries in you expect your eyes"

Arabic quotes

We were driving into the compound when we sighted a black Toyota Celica parked in front of the house. I recognized it as the car the minister drove when he came to marry me, and my heart skipped a beat.

Was he home?.

"What brings him here ?" the head maid mumbled under her breath, a deep frown on her face.

This confused me, as I knew she had a soft spot for the minister,from the way she fondly spoke of him.

If he were the one, she wouldn't be wondering why he was in the house.

"Who is it?" I asked

She said nothing in response, but I was to get my answer very soon.

As we disembarked from the car, a tall figure emerged from the doorway.

I felt my blood run cold as I recognised who it was. Daniel.

"Where have you two been? I've been here for at least an hour," he demanded, his nostrils flared and his jaw set.

"Don't be angry. We had to go and buy a few things," the head maid answered, her voice quivering.

I looked at her, shocked to realize she too was scared of him.

His eyes focused on me, and a slow smile formed on his face. "My father's new wife. Zeynep, isn't it?" I nodded, unable to look him in the eye.

I increased my pace, so I could quickly get into the house and out of his presence, but he held me by the wrist.

"Where are you rushing off to? Don't you want us to at least chat?" he asked, his smile now a full-on grin. "You're my new step-mother. Surely, we should get to know each other better."

The head maid quickly scampered into the house, leaving me standing there with the imposing heir to this dynasty.

By this time, I was shaking like a leaf, no longer able to mask my fear.

From the smile on his face, he was taking a lot of pleasure in seeing the effect he was having on me.

Seeing the look of satisfaction on his face was all it needed to snap out of my irrational trepidation.

Why on earth was I afraid anyway? Why was everyone afraid? Why had the head maid behaved like a confused mouse in the presence of the house cat?

Even Mr Smith, the driver, had appeared nervous. What was it about the minister's first son that had everyone all tied up in knots? I could see he enjoyed it, and I was suddenly determined not to give him any further satisfaction. So, I took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye.

"You don't have to hold me to make your point."

His brows rose in his surprise. "A spunky one. Interesting. You didn't appear quite so brave the last time I saw you in your father's house"

"No fault of mine that you are scared of your abbu ," he said, the grin still on his face. "But we can talk about it more inside. Why don't we

go and have some tea on the patio and chat a little?"

I pulled my hand out of his grip, glaring at him.

The brief exchange had only served to reopen old wounds and remind me of the unfortunate

exchange that occurred the day my mother died.

"I think we know more than enough about each other," I retorted. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to my room."

"Does my father know about you and Yusuf ?" he called out as I started to ascend the stairs.

"Does he know how his new wife spent a whole afternoon with nobody in a seedy hotel?"

I froze mid-ascent and turned around, my mouth agape. How did he know about my afternoon with Yusuf ? And why did he make it sound like it was anything but an innocent date?

"I'll take it he doesn't," he laughed. "No problem. You can go to your room, Zeynep. I'll definitely see you soon."

I walked like someone in a trance to my bedroom. I could immediately see why everyone had been eager to flee from his presence.

There was something sinister about the man, which was in contrast to his smooth, good looks.

He was clearly bad news, and I was determined to stay far away from him.

Not ready to see him again, I decided to skip dinner. I'd had quite a bit to eat at the farmers market anyway, so missing a meal wasn't too much of a sacrifice in exchange for my sanity.

I was lying on my bed, reading a book, when my door opened. I sat up with a jolt, as nobody, not even the minister, ever let themselves into my room without knocking first.

"No need to look so scared. I don't bite," he said, walking in.

I pulled up my sheets, feeling self conscious of the chemise nightwear I wore. "How can you just walk into a woman's bedroom without knocking?"

"What you are trying to hide, I have seen thousands of times," he retorted, before cocking his head to one side. "Even though I have to admit, yours seems to be much more attractive than most. You've really blossomed since

the last time I saw you. Filled out in all the right places."

"Get out of my room!" I yelled.

"Not so loud, zeynep" he said, shaking his head. "You don't want me to tell my dad that he is actually eating from nobody's leftovers."

My face reddened in my embarrassment. "Nothing happened between Yusuf and I. He…he was just my friend."

"A friend you went to a motel with?"

"It wasn't a motel. It was a nice restaurant, and all we did was have a few drinks…" I stuttered.

"Does that even sound believable to you?" he chuckled. "And the love note he made me give you? Just from a friend, right?"

I looked away, no longer having any comeback for this awful man. There was silence for so long, I thought he'd finally left my room. But I looked up

only to see him still looking at me, his eyes narrow and all traces of laughter gone. I knew that look. I'd seen it before on several occasions with my father and other men. It was desire.

"You need to leave now," I said, standing up, no longer worried about my flimsy chemise.

He turned around and walked to the door, but rather than exit, locked it.

"What are you doing?" I cried. "Why did you lock the door?"

"I think it's only fair that I also have a taste of what my father have eaten, don't you think?"

Realization of what he was saying hit me, and I let out a loud cry, but he was on me before the sound could travel far, covering my mouth with his large hands.

"Any noise from you, and I am going to telephone my father tonight to let him know what kind of slut he has married," he sneered

"He knows I'm a virgin," I sneered back, trying to act brave even though tears were rolling down my cheeks.

"You're a virgin?" he exclaimed with a glint in his eye, and I immediately knew giving him that information was a costly mistake.

Mustering all the energy I could, I pushed him and tried to run to the door,but he caught me before I'd even taken two strides.

Before I could scream again, he silenced me with his lips, kissing me with so much force, I tasted

blood.

As he held me against him, I felt his growing erection, making me fight even harder. But the more I struggled, the more rabid he became.

He pushed me on the bed and was on top of me immediately, his large frame dwarfing mine.

With one hand, he pinned my hands above my head, and with the other hand, he pulled off my underwear. I let out a guttural scream when I felt his hand in my womanhood, my most intimate area that had never before received any attention.

I struggled and thrashed under him like a wounded animal, but it made no difference. When he let go of my hands to undo his zip, I tried to push him off, and got a deafening slap in

return.

But I wasn't going to go down without a fight, and so I bit deep into his chest.

Big mistake.

He punched me in the face; once, twice, ten, fifteen times.

Blood was soon oozing out of every orifice of my face, and I felt my strength start to fade.

But the most searing pain came from when he finally penetrated me.

I wanted to scream out loud over this agonizing, unfamiliar pain, but no sound could come out of my swollen lips.

As he thrusted, he moaned in ecstasy, and I knew he was stealing my most valuable treasure. My virginity. Tears stung my bruised eyes as his thrusting intensified. When he finally reached his climax, rolled off me, and lay on the bed, painting with satisfaction, I had never felt dirtier or more worthless.

just lay on the bed,motionless, unable to move.

Life, as I knew it, had changed forever

I wished for death.

I wished for my mother.