When Victor returned in the evening, he took off his shirt and went in for a bath. After he was done, he reached for his towel and dried himself. He opened his wardrobe and suddenly remembered that he had left Mia's gift inside. He brought it out, then wore his shirt.
When Victor opened the gift box he had bought for Mia, he smiled, then his jaw tightened. He said to himself, This has always worked for me before. Why didn't she accept the gift?
He started thinking. What does she want? She didn't want his money nor his gifts. That unsettled him. Victor thought of a way to keep Mia, because he always got what he wanted.
Victor took the gift back to Mia's room. Luckily, she was there. He walked in and sat on the couch.
"You shouldn't have returned my gift," he said. "I am your husband, and I will do as I please."
Mia scoffed. "You literally love to remind me that I am your property," she said calmly. "Your maid."
Victor smiled faintly. "You must be really bold and fearless. I know I hurt you. The gift is my own way of saying sorry."
Mia didn't say much. She took the gift and tossed it into her wardrobe.
Two weeks later, Victor had a business meeting with a new client. The client believed strongly in family values and asked Victor to come with his wife. Victor didn't like the idea, but he would do anything to secure the contract. When he got home, he told Mia to go to the boutique and get something nice for a dinner meeting.
When the day of the meeting came, Mia dressed beautifully. She knew how to put outfits together, and they always came out elegant. Victor was stunned, though he pretended not to like what she was wearing.
When they got into the car, he warned her never to say a word during the meeting unless she was spoken to. Mia agreed, as long as she was allowed to step out of the house that day.
At the venue, they met the client, had dinner, and discussed the contract. The client was amazed by Mia's appearance and manners that night. She accepted the compliments politely. When the meeting ended, they went home.
Instead of appreciating her, Victor said, "You were overdressed tonight. You drew too much attention, and I didn't like it."
Mia smiled at him but said nothing. She simply went upstairs and took off her clothes.
The next morning, Mia woke up weak and in pain. She didn't come down for breakfast. When Victor asked after her, the chief maid informed him that Mia was ill. Victor sent for his personal doctor. After examining her, the doctor said she had gone through stress and needed rest.
For a moment, Victor felt afraid.
After the doctor left, Mia ate, took her medication, and soon fell into a deep sleep. Not long after, Victor came in to check on her. He entered her room and noticed a strand of hair covering her face. He sat beside her and gently moved it aside.
Mia's beauty was indeed untouched and unstudied. She was very beautiful.
Victor smiled briefly, then walked away.
Within a few days, Mia regained her strength.
One day, she went for a stroll around the estate. When she returned, she noticed her room was empty. Shock ran through her. She thought she had been robbed in broad daylight. She immediately summoned the chief maid and demanded an explanation.
The chief maid replied respectfully, "Mr. Hale instructed that you are no longer permitted to sleep alone."
Mia was left speechless.
She went straight to Victor and demanded to know why he would make such a decision without her consent. When she confronted him, he said angrily, "This is my house. I decide who stays and who goes. You are my wife, Mia. I decide where you stay. I ordered your belongings to be moved to my closet. You will share my bed with me."
Mia felt hurt but spoke calmly. "You may never stop seeing me as property, I understand that. But taking decisions without my permission is something I cannot accept."
She rushed upstairs, went into Victor's room, took her clothes, and packed them back into her own room.
When Victor noticed what she had done, he realized something unsettling—Mia could not be owned. She wanted her consent to matter. She wanted her voice to be heard.