People laughed and chatted happily. I moved through the crowd with a fake smile plastered to my face. I had wandered away from my husband during the party and now I faced glances of other women as they studied me. Everyone knew of my wedding and that I was now an Evenson. I could feel the envy as thick as a blanket as I tried to get away from it; I envied them as much as they envied me. There had to be something wrong with that.

"Oh Esme, I love your new hat!"

I looked up and smiled to the naïve young woman who had spoken. This wasn't the first time someone has complimented me on the overly-expensive, new hat that worked as a cover-up for my husband. Everyone looked at it like another advantage of marrying rich.

But the hat reminded me, of the other deal that had been made. Just the fact that I was supposed to be by my husband at all times, and I had wandered off.

I quickly walked towards the center, where he was most likely to be. I pushed through a group of people in deep argument of a pointless subject that I didn’t care about to listen. I soon saw Charles standing elegantly gossiping among the other guests.

When he caught my eye, he motioned for my to come stand by him, as his perfect little doll. When I perched myself I made sure not to make eye contact to him and busied myself with watching the other guests. He slowly leaned over and whisper in my ear. “Has anyone seen it?”

By “it” I knew he referred to the bruise on my temple he had given to me the day before.

“No” I whispered, never removing my gaze from the people in front of me.

He nodded and returned to his chat while I stood next to him, obedient. In some ways I wished what happened last night was just a dream but when I woke and saw my bruise I knew that this was only the reality of my situation. Now my only prayer was that it wouldn’t happen again. But in the back of my mind, I knew even that was hopeless.

Charles suddenly grabbed a hold of my arm and squeezed down tightly, pulling me with him as he quickly moved towards the exit.

“What’s wrong?” I asked quietly, looking around for any dangerous glances.

He glared at me, but never stopped moving.

It wasn’t until then I caught a glimpse of my parents. But before I could object I was outside and being pushed into Charles’s expensive Model T. He got into the drivers seat and sped away from the party, heading to the house.

“Why did you do that!?!” I shrieked at him, fighting back tears.

He glared at me again, then spoke slowly and menacingly. “No, you are not allowed around them, they are dangerous to us.”

“What?! How can they be dangerous?”

The car stopped and I looked out the window noticing we were at the house. He got out of his side and opened my door, giving me his hand like a gentleman, but it was only for show since we were in public. His eyes glared down on me, daring me not to take his hand. I knew I had no other choice, but to go into the house where no one could see the monster he was.

I gave him my hand, and he quickly pulled me into his house. Once the door was shut he slapped me across my cheek, hard enough to hurt me, but light enough that it wouldn’t make a bruise.

“They will tell you things that you shouldn’t hear darling.” He whispered urgently as if he was still trying to protect me.

“You can’t keep me away from my parents!” I shouted, feeling a flicker of anger in my chest.

His eyes almost became red with enrage and he punched me in the stomach, that one would leave a bruise. I fell to the ground trying to catch my breath, but he kicked me hard, all in places that would never be seen in public.

“Never defy me.” He growled, pausing to make sure I understood.

I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t want any more wounds that I already had, but I wasn’t going to bow down to him, and he wasn’t going to keep me away from them.

My silence seemed to make him angrier. And he gripped his belt, slowly undoing it. As he raise the belt over his head I made one single prayer.

Let him kill me fast.