Mia slide to the floor in tears as Liam yelled at her. She hugged her legs, bleeding at different points, her panic attacks kicking in. Her blonde hair was drenched in her own blood, matting to the side of her face, reddening. Her once soft porcelain skin was now filled with tears and cuts and had darkened a shade from stress. Her red lips were drained of any life or colour and her once bright emerald eyes had dimmed shades darker with no spark in them.
She was hurt, her heart felt foreign, like it wasn't hers, like she was in some loop in between living and dead and somehow she was trying to reach out to the dead. Her name was Mirabelle Wilbur. She was just eighteen and lived with her betrothed, Liam Edwards. She'd been living with him since she turned nine and her mom had died. Her father had suffered great loss and emotional trauma and instabilities when her mom had died so the Edwards had decided that he was incapable of taking care of their 'wife' and Liam had been causing trouble, going to every bar and fucking ever girl he could. They needed her to be his cover in the media's eyes, portraying him as wonderful, they needed her to be his sex toy so he'd stop chasing others, they wanted her to be his slave where he could show off all his prowess and dominance. The Edwards were rich, they owned the country's economy and market, they held most of the political positions. Being their daughter in law meant money unlimited, fame and the craved lifestyle. When she was little, her father had been their equals and she'd been their family, coming to visit every weekend and going to school with them, they'd been next door neighbours. But now she was just a respected maid, or honoured slave. She was a pity object and apart from his youngest sister, Michelle, they all mocked her and treated her like a low class. Liam defended her because an insult to her was regarded an insult to him as well, he gave her gifts every day because he was obsessed over her, over his little pretty doll and gifts were his own definition of love. But she'd trade it anyday for a soft kiss or a cuddle. He never did that. His love was rough and painful.
Today they'd gone for a gallery, the whole family, and he'd wanted to flaunt her so he'd taken her with him but she'd a fever and he didn't know, didn't care to know. At the party as they danced she'd told him she was feeling sick but he'd ordered her to keep dancing as everyone was awed at her graceful steps and delicate beauty. As they'd continued her stomach had gone weak and she'd puked, over his new tuxedo. He'd immediately pushed her, sending a stream of curses. Everyone had been watching and on seeing his reaction speculations had risen, rumours that had long died had awoken again with this incident to feed it. It'd already been too late when he realised it and nothing could be done to justify himself so he'd walked out of the party leaving her there. She'd walked home alone, scared and in the blistering cold. By the time she'd gotten home, her soles were bleeding, her skin had long paled and her lips were bleeding from frost bites. She'd barely entered the mansion when she collapsed. Michelle was the only one who worriedly rushed over. Madame Edwards looked at her in scorn while Mr. Edwards simply sighed and walked out, he stopped next to Liam, "Resolve this or I'll have to take away your company and all your owned shares... to avoid media blacklisting." He walked away and so did his wife and first two daughters. Michelle helped Mia ordering the standing maids, "Quick! Take her to her bedroom and call the family doctor." Mia didn't sleep in the same room as Liam and was immediately carried. Liam watched as they carried her, his eyes filled with contempt. Michelle stood up annoyed at Liam's behaviour, "If I could clearly remember Liam, you said you loved her. You used to beg to sit next to her in highschool!" Liam removed his suit, throwing it at her maid as he waved at her, "Burn it." He turned to Michelle, "Mind your business Ellie. You do not know what love is." Ellie chuckled, "I do Liam and I do know that what you have for Mia is just an obsession. That's why dad can control you with her but you can't even treat her right." Liam closed in the space within them in seconds, gripping Michelle by the neck, "She's my wife, I can fucking treat her anyhow I want to. Stay away from her Ellie, don't think I've forgotten what you are and why exactly you're this nice to her." He let go off her neck as Ellie coughed, trying to gasp back the air, "You bastard!" Liam smirked, "The world would be easier if you didn't always interfere Elle, some things have to be overlooked." He walked up the grande stairs stopping to just glance at her, "Goodnight sister."
Mia was crying to herself, hugging the sheets when her door was violently thrown open. She knew it was Liam without even looking, "Look Liam..." He dragged her out of the bed, pushing her to the wall, "What did you think you were doing? Pulling up a facade and throwing a show for everyone to see how annoying and disgusting you are and how less charming I am. You can't ruin me Mia, you're nothing without me." In the privacy of their room Mr. Edwards was receiving several calls. His wife sighed doing her night facials, "That unruly girl. What're we going to do now?" Mr. Edwards sighed, turning off his phone, "Your incompetent son is going to kill her before he can even achieve her assets. Just two years for her father's wealth to be officially hers and he can't even contain himself. We need her alive." Madame Edwards replied, "Then we'll keep her alive. Get her a bodyguard, someone to follow her around." Mr. Edwards replied thoughtfully, "But that could be risky, what if he ends up being a spy from our adversaries or the media picks up on it or worse, she flees with him." Madame Edwards scoffed, "She wouldn't dare, she's been trained to know her master and besides, she thinks this was her mom's dieing wish. And you'll personally select someone suitable. We'll handle the media, create a fake ambush and bring him to save her then we'll claim the couple needs protection and bring him to be their guard. I'm sure Liam wouldn't want to have a caretaker so he'll leave the guard to the girl. Settled." Mr. Edwards smiled, "What would I do without my smart wife." Madame Edwards smiled to herself, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing." She glanced at the cup of tea on the side table, "The maid brought your tea, you should take it, the doctor recommended it for your health." Mr. Edwards smiled, "Ofcourse."