My heart clenched. Why are they here? I don't want to meet them. I'm afraid. I thought, marriage would free me from ever seeing them, so why are they here now?
Clenching my fist, I nodded and forced myself toward the room where my stepmom and sisters waited.
Standing in front of the door, dread washed over me. What would happen once I stepped inside? Would they slap me? Or beat me again? No no... They wouldn't, this was the Duke's mansion, and I was the Duchess; they wouldn't beat me. Right?
Either way, I had to face them; if I didn't, then people would gossip, and Shahr would misunderstand me.
With sweaty palms, I knocked on the door; it was a force of habit. From childhood, I had been taught to knock on doors; if I forgot to do so, I would be beaten for it.
"Come in." My mother's voice echoed outside. My hand froze on the doorknob, my heartbeat increased rapidly.
I patted my heart with my other hand and told myself not to fear anything. I went inside, as my eyes fell on my stepmom and stepsister, my body started to tremble with fear.
All the things they did to me came flashing before my eyes.
"Close the door." Said My stepmom.
I immediately understood what was coming to me. I lowered my gaze and shut the door.
"Sit." She ordered.
Layla laughed, the same sinister laugh I had heard my all life.
Following my mother's instructions, I sat on the floor. Quickly, a slap landed on my right cheek. It was so harsh that I lost my balance and fell sideways.
My chest tightened, making it harder to breathe.
"Hahaha..." Layla's laugh grew evil.
"Why did you take so much time to come? Do you know how long we have been waiting?" My stepmom barked.
She must have had a fight with her husband. She always beat me whenever father or something upset her. Actually, she didn't need a reason to beat me; she just did whenever she felt like it.
I sat there quietly. I knew saying anything would just anger her even more, and it's not like she can understand sign language anyway.
"Why are you not saying anything?" Another slap. Then a series of slap followed, until warm blood trickled down my chin from my mouth.
If a person who was abused since birth had been in my place, they would have gone numb by now, but I don't know why, I still feel fear, I still feel pain, I still feel emotions.
Mom raised her hand to slap me again, but before she could do it, Layla jumped between us, "Mom, stop. If the Duke sees this he will kill all of us."
Mom scoffed, "For this girl? You really think so? I heard he didn't even bother to show up on their first night. He doesn't care about her. If she dies he wouldn't even bat an eye."
From Layla's expressions, I could tell she felt satisfied hearing these, "Obviously, he is upset. Because the person he wanted to marry isn't her."
Her words cut deep and tears slipped down before I could stop them.
Seeing my tears Layla leaned closer and mocked me even more, "Oh, look, you have made our new bride cry. Mom, you are so cruel."
Holding my chin in a bruising grip, my stepmom, lifted my chin up and said, "Wipe those tears away before I slap you again."
Knock... Knock
Before I could wipe my tears, someone knocked on the door. I quickly wiped those tears away, adjusted my dress and hair, and sat on the sofa.
"Come in." Said Mom.
A maid came inside with a tray full of pastries, muffins, cupcakes and other desserts.
The maid served the pastries and tea to my stepmom and stepsister with a gentle smile on their faces, and when she turned to serve pastry to me, I lowered my head so she wouldn't be able to see my bruises.
"Here is your tea." She said, putting the teacup in front of me.
"Thank you," I said in a small voice. The maid without noticing anything, bowed and left.
Layla picked a pastry and stuffed her mouth, "Umm, Mom, this is so tasty. It is different from the pastries of our house."
"Really? Let me try."
Watching them eat, make my stomach twist in hunger. I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. My hands reached to grab one pastry that's when a tight slap landed on my hand.
"What do you think you are doing?" Asked my stepmom glaring me up and down. I wished that they would leave some, which I can eat later.
But contrary to my thinking all the pastries were eaten by them. My face came down, I really wanted to eat one.
"Hey, come here," Layla called me. I grew nervous, gripping my dress tighter, I went close to her, and before I could even react, she cleaned her dirty hands on my gown.
My eyes widened, this gown was given to me by my father before my wedding. This wasn't an act of love, but a show. He didn't want the world to know how poor health had treated his real daughter.
"What are you doing?" I asked taking some steps back.
"How many times have I told you not to use sign language in front of me?" Layla grabbed my hand in a bruising grip and pulled me closer to her, "The next time you do it again, I'll break your fingers in half."
I gulped and nodded yes.
"By the way, where is the duke? I didn't see him anywhere. He hasn't even come to greet his mother-in-law." Said My stepmom looking around.