"Mr Steele? I'm afraid he won't let me go that easily. Since he has only few house-helps in the house, I'm sure madam Steele is the one to do everything and he must be very angry right now."
"April, you don't need to worry, I'll look for good lawyers that will take up your case, I'm sure we'll win. There are many of evidence available." Aunt Sophie assured but April isn't convinced knowing well that her husband has connections with high level lawyers that will help him with the case.
"Aunt, it's not that easy, I just want to go with you for now. I don't want to stay there anymore, it won't be easy to divorce him, let's just lay low for now and look for solution later." April pleading in tears as her swollen eyes becomes even more sore.
"Don't cry, your eyes will hurt even more."
"It's nothing aunt, this is less than what I've endured in the past." April smiled slightly.
"How could you have endured so much pain all by yourself, at a young age."
She smiled but deep within her, she could feel her bones cracking inside her body hurting so much. With these new bruises on her body and face, it cannot be compared to the things she has gone through in the past two years of marriage with Jake Steele vividly remembering all the promises her mother made so she could agree to get married.
Lady Carter promised to convince Jake Steele to allow April continue her studies in university along with sponsorship if she obeys her instructions, that was how April fell into misfortune.
Tears began rolling down her cheeks, her life feeling like it was over just at 23 years of age.
"April!" A loud female voice called at the entrance of the room.
"Ruby?" April smiled widely as her best friend approach her in tears.
"April! How… how could he have done this to you? It– too much." Ruby in tears.
"I'm fine, I'm just glad you're here with me."
April hugged her friend tightly before letting go. Her best friend didn't wait too long before taking pictures of her bruises as evidence. But soon April explained everything to her friend, since it wouldn't be easy to deal with a businessman like Jake Steele, laying low would be the best solution.
"But what if he comes back to find you at Aunt Sophie's place. He's so much more capable of doing that and I'm sure he won't let you off that easy." Ruby proposed.
"I don't know, I'm just scared of what he might do to me." April sighed.
Soon April was given warm bone broth to eat. Since her throat still hurt, liquid food is best to eat for a short while till she gets better.
****
TWO DAYS LATER......
After spending two more days at the hospital, April is now discharged by the hospital to go home and rest but coming back for further check ups is inevitable. As Aunt Sophie and Ruby goes out of the room to handle the bills and paperwork, while April is left alone to pack her things gently.
"And where do you think you're going, sweetheart?" A thick male voice sounding from the entrance of the room. At the sound of that, she shivered as her hands began to shake while rushing to pack her clothes in the bag.
She recognized the voice but instead refused to turn around and continued with her clothes in rush with her eyelids trembling.
"Ah!" April suddenly screamed with drop of tears falling from her eyes immediately as her hair is being pulled by Jake Steele her 38-year-Old husband. She continued to stare at him with her side eye while trembling.
"Didn't I tell you to answer anytime I call, uhhh?" Jake screamed into her ears causing April to tremble and scream even more.
"M-m– mr St— Steele!"
"Shut your f*ucking mouth! How dare you try to run away from me? You haven't finished your work yet and the marriage isn't over, so where do you think you're running off to?" Jake screaming even harder into her ears caused April to cry more while shaking.
She hasn't finished recovering from the last injury and now this is happening.
"Mr Steele! I— please let me go? I promise to pay back all the money you've spent. I— Don't want this marriage anymore."
"What! How dare you?" Landing a hot slap on April's cheek.
"Do you even know how much you're worth? You worthless brat!" He screamed before releasing her hair and strangling her by the neck tightly.
"M— mr– "April mumbled.
"Dear wife! You have to understand that you're trapped with me forever. Together just you and my family." Jake Steele whispering into her ears with his hand still strangling her neck.
Right now, April could only cry silently with her shortened breath as she continues to struggle.
I'm I that— Worthless? She thought in her mind before fainting.
"Jake Steele! What are you doing? Let April go right now?" Aunt Sophie screaming by the door struggling to enter the room because Jake Steele's bodyguards are blocking the entrance.
"If you don't let her go right now, I'll call the police. You've never loved her anyways, so why are you threatening her life?" Aunt Sophie screamed.
"Woman, you think all of this is for love. Ha-ah! You must be joking. April is the only one that can take care of my family for me." Jake Steele released his hand from her neck dropping her to the ground.
"Bring her back to me when she has fully recovered, two weeks should be enough." He made his way out of the room without turning around. "And if you try to run away, I'll find you." He commanded and continued in steps.
"April? April?"
"Call the doctor, hurry!" Aunt Sophie ordered..
April Carter lost her consciousness for three days. During that time, Aunt Sophie and Ruby took turns watching her at the hospital. Just when they had thought she has recovered, she has to go through another series of treatments.
Lady Carter didn't check on her daughter for those days she spent at the hospital since she has never cared so much plus April's marriage deals to Jake. .
On the fourth day, April finally woke up but weak to the bones. Her skin is pale added with the bruises on her body neck and face which she hadn't fully recovered from.