"Hey! Clean that up!" Ben yelled at one of his maids who had spilled coffee on his dining table. His loud, arrogant voice woke Ella from the longest, most comfortable sleep she had ever had. Her bed was soft, bouncy, and massive, covered in crisp sheets and heavy duvets.
"Huh! Is it already morning?" Ella whispered, blinking against the pale light filtering through the curtains. "Uhhh! Another day to hear his arrogant voice again," she murmured.
She hurried to take her shower, letting the warm water wash over her, chasing away the remnants of sleep. Once she finished, she dressed quickly, each movement deliberate, her mind already bracing for the day ahead. "I need to get to work on time! I'm already late," she said to herself.
As she stepped out of her room and made her way toward the exit, she overheard whispers from the maids. Their soft, quiet voices carried a tinge of amusement, making fun of her in subtle tones, though none dared say anything directly to her.
"Get back here!" Ben's voice rang out sharply as he noticed her heading toward the door. "Where are you going dressed like you have a meeting?" he demanded, his tone cold and commanding.
"I am going to work," she replied, keeping her voice steady, though her heart pounded in her chest.
"You can't go to work today, nor ever. You're married to me now, so stay home and enjoy it," he said firmly. Ella froze, stunned. She wasn't comfortable with the idea of staying at home all day, but she felt she had no choice.
Later that day, Ben screamed at the top of his lungs, not giving orders but expressing raw fear, hatred, and frustration: "Why do you keep tormenting me? What else do you want? Haven't I done enough to please you? I hate you, and you've made me a monster I never wished to be. You're wicked!"
Ella froze as she heard those words from the man she thought feared no one. The words pierced her heart. "He wasn't as bad as I thought," she whispered. Ben was being controlled by his father, the same man who had betrayed her father, leading her and her family into the situation they were in. Unknowingly, she had married the son of a man who shattered her family's life. "This must be really tough for him," Ella whispered.
Morning came too quickly. At breakfast, Ella and Ben sat opposite each other. Ben's head remained buried in his laptop, his focus unbroken. The silence between them was heavier than an argument.
"Mm… mm… mm," Ella made a small sound, trying to speak, but Ben didn't lift his head. "You never say anything," she remarked.
"Shhhhh… I'm working. If you can't keep quiet, get up and leave my presence," he said sharply. Ella froze, swallowed hard, then ate her breakfast quietly, keeping to herself. Afterward, she returned to her room, feeling the heavy weight of the house pressing down on her. "Whew. I can do this," she whispered to herself.
Later, she visited her parents secretly, wanting to clear her mind and be around people who genuinely loved her. She ate, laughed, and felt happiness—a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. Before she knew it, it was late, and she had to rush back home to avoid Ben unleashing his arrogant attitude on her.
"What happened? What's wrong? Why are you in a rush?" her mother yelled, noticing her from afar. "I'll call you," Ella shouted, moving faster.