Page 88 of Mafia And Maid
“I’ve told you that he beats me and the last time he went for Ethan as well.How can you think that I would ever return to a man like that and take my son back to live in that environment?”
“Really, Rosa.” Mother sniffs. “It can’t be that bad.”
“Mother, how can you say that?” I cry. My only regret is that I didn’t leave sooner. That I didn’t have the courage to do something before if not for me, then for the sake of my little boy.
Her eyebrows knit together in a frown. “Well, you’ve never looked like you’re suffering. I mean, you’refatterthan ever. Surely, if things were as bad as you claim they were, you’d be looking thin and haggard?”
I’m left utterly speechless and unable to speak for a few long seconds. I thought Mother asked me here today to talk about helping me, but it’s clear that her ‘help’ consists of trying to convince me to return to Grayden. A shudder runs through me. “He doesn’t want us home to be a family together. He just wants us home so that he can punish us—so that he has someone to bully and beat. But I won’t let him get near Ethan or me ever again—”
“For God’s sake, she’s being melodramatic as always,” my sister interrupts impatiently. “She’s always been the same—just an attention-seeker.”
My mouth drops open. Reagan’s always had attention lavished on her by my parents and everyone else. She’s thin and glamorous; she has the sort of stunning looks that turn heads whenever she walks into a room and makes people want to talk to her. I’ve never begrudged my sister getting so much attention. But just once in my life when I need some of my parents’ focus on me so that they can help me figure a way out of this mess and a way to keep Ethan and me safe, she doesn’t even care.
“It’s clear that you didn’t bother to think about how this will affect Reagan’s marriage prospects,” Mother chimes in, instantly taking her side as always.
“And do you appreciate how much trouble we went to in the first place to arrange this marriage to Grayden for you?” Father adds.
“Because the men certainly weren’t lining up to ask for your hand as you’ll remember,” Mother says. “Not a single man wanted you as his prospective wife.”
I can’t help but cringe as I’m reminded of my shortcomings.
“Reagan, of course, has always had lots of interested suitors,” Mother carries on. “But then, she works hard to maintain her beautiful, skinny figure. She would never dream of embarrassing us by looking fat like you. But you just don’t care—you let yourself go as soon as you became a teenager.”
I feel like yelling out that I didn’t. It wasn’t my fault that I suddenly found myself with huge boobs, child-bearing hips, and a big ass.
“Do you realize what an embarrassment it is having to be seen next to you?” Mother says. “Having people think that I have a daughter who’s fat, ugly, and lazy?”
I’ve heard variations of this all my life, but the tears still burn the back of my eyes.
“Grayden may refuse to do business with your father now. Please think carefully about how much trouble this is causing your family. Grayden has told your father that he’ll forgive you, so the best thing for you would be to go home to him.”
Tears are threatening to spill. “Excuse me,” I mumble, “I need the powder room.”
Rushing down the hall, I run into the powder room and lock the door behind me.
Taking deep breaths, I try to stop the tears, but they still fall.
I don’t care that Reagan’s more beautiful or more popular than me. Sure, I felt envious at times when I was growing up, but I’ve always loved Reagan and wanted her to have nothing but happiness in her life. But it’s clear that she doesn’t love me back—she doesn’t love me as a sister should.
And it’s not Reagan’s fault. Everyone loves Reagan, right? Not just my parents, but everyone else as well. So, it must be me.I’mthe one who’s got something wrong with her—something that makes me unlovable. I shudder as I recall the awful memory of my wedding reception…
It’s the reception now, and I look around and try to find where my new husband is. Shouldn’t he be at my side and celebrating with me?
The day has been going well so far, and although he’s been a little distant, I’m sure it’s just because of how busy it’s all been. But he’s been gone for ages now. So many people are approaching me with their congratulations, and I can tell they’re wondering like me where he is.
The reception is at my parents’ mansion, and I excuse myself to go up to my room to freshen up. And as I pass the guest room, I hear a sound and then a giggle, but I hurry on by.
Someone must have snuck up here, but I don’t need to know what my guests are getting up to in there. But then I hear a familiar voice…
“Oh yeah, just like that, oh yeah…”
“You know you won’t get as good as this with your new wife,” a woman puffs out…
I don’t recognize the woman’s voice, but I’d know the man’s voice anywhere.
He’s the man who I heard say ‘I do’ to me less than two hours ago…
My world stutters to a stop. It can’t be… Despite it being an arranged marriage, I thought he would be happy with me. But then I hear his voice again…