ONE DAY
Taylah received a call from the old mansion, inviting her and Arjan for dinner. Now she had to tell him, and the thought of going to his office filled her with dread.
After dressing carefully, she made her way to his company. Everyone there knew who she was. The rustling whispers around her only added to her anxiety. It was no secret that the whole city talked about Arjan's lover and her marriage troubles.
She felt like a third wheel in their relationship and was increasingly affected by the gossip. She used to be indifferent to such chatter, but now everything felt different. She was determined to confront Arjan, despite the whispers and stares.
Taylah took the elevator to his office, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She knocked on the door, and a deep voice called out, "Come in."
She entered his beautifully furnished office, with a view of the entire city through the glass windows.
"What brings you here? Make it quick; don't stay silent and waste my time," he said, his tone unchanged, making her heart race. He glanced up briefly to see who had entered, then quickly returned his attention to his work, not bothering to look at her again.
"Mom called and wants us to come home for dinner," she mumbled, but he heard her clearly. He looked up at her, his expression hardening. "So you came to tell me this useless thing, huh?" he shouted, making her flinch.
Her face was a mix of sadness and beauty, her bright eyes and trembling lips reflecting her distress. The words caught in her throat.
"I... I don't know when you'll be home, so… I came to inform you. If you don't want to go, I can tell Mom," she stammered, her voice breaking like fragile glass. He slammed his hand on the table, causing her to flinch again. "So you want me to take the blame for not going to the old mansion?" His voice darkened, filled with frustration.
Her heart shattered at his words, and she remained silent. "You can leave. I'll go to the mansion with you and wear a nice outfit. Just don't embarrass me at dinner," he added, each word cutting her deeper.
Without saying anything, she left the office quietly. He wondered how she would wear a nice dress when he hadn't bought anything for her. A smirk crept onto his lips.
AT EVENING
When Arjan arrived at the mansion, Taylah was already ready. She wore a light blue empire waist dress, her makeup subtle yet captivating. His heart raced at the sight of her; she was undeniably eye-catching.
"Wait here. I'll be back," he said, heading toward the stairs, and she nodded silently.
Within ten minutes, Arjan came downstairs in a suit that perfectly matched Taylah's dress. She was stunned, but deep down, she knew it was just for show. What was the point of expecting something meaningful from him?
They arrived at the old mansion, where everyone was waiting for them. Once inside, Arjan, Ethan, and their father went to the study to discuss business, leaving Taylah to keep her mother-in-law company.
"Is he nice to you?" her mother-in-law asked, looking at Taylah with pity. She couldn't bear the thought of her son being cruel to the girl, especially since she had noticed some scratches on Taylah's neck and hands, even though Taylah tried to hide them.
"Yeah, Mom, he's really nice. He took me to a movie, even with his busy schedule," she replied, the lie slipping out easily despite her reluctance. The weak smile she forced onto her face tugged at her mother-in-law's heartstrings.
The dining hall was beautifully arranged when they arrived, with all of their sons' favorite dishes laid out, including one of Taylah's favorites. Dia felt like an outsider, aware that she received no special treatment from her in-laws. She refused to accept defeat so easily.
Everyone ate in silence, and Dia's mood darkened as she sensed something significant was about to unfold, especially since everyone seemed to favor Taylah more. After all, Arjan loved Dia more.
AFTER DINNER
Taylah and Arjan had to share a room. She went to take a shower and, after a while, emerged wrapped in a white bath towel that clung to her silky skin. She opened the cupboard, only to find it filled with his shirts. Picking one up, she held it in her hand, feeling a mix of emotions.
"How dare you touch my clothes? Who gave you permission to take my shirt?" he shouted, slamming the door behind him.
Taylah's heart sank at his words. She had no clothes of her own in this house; when they moved to the villa, she had brought only her dresses. He knew that, yet he was still shouting at her.
He stepped closer, and the silk shirt slipped from her hand to the floor. Her hands began to tremble as he grabbed her neck, choking her. She struggled to breathe as his grip tightened.
"I... I'm sorry... I won't... touch... your things... please, let me go," she gasped, fighting against his hold.
Her words began to tremble. She lightly struck his hand, knowing it wouldn't hurt him, yet she did it anyway.
Tears streamed down her face. When he saw her tears, she thought he would let her go, but the opposite happened. It felt like her throat was about to break, and her consciousness was fading. She couldn't see his face; the air felt heavy, and she struggled to breathe.
She stopped her feeble attempts to escape and relaxed her grip on his hand. Suddenly, he threw her to the floor.
"My back hurts… ouch! It hurts!" she whimpered in pain. "Useless trash… always irritating me." He tugged at his hair in frustration. She got up from the cold floor, trying to walk away, but he yanked her back and pushed her onto the bed. The shock of what was happening left her dazed, and that look only fueled his desire.