Chapter 7 Scars Beneath The Silk
Elizabeth went upstairs and put away the shopping bags, then came back down with tears already in her eyes. In the living room were Adam and Dave, standing beside their father.
“Choose!” Nathan barked.
“Adam…” Elizabeth’s voice trembled. She always chose her younger brother for punishments. Adam never liked hurting her and tried to be gentle, while Dave seemed to enjoy it, hitting her without mercy.
Every time Elizabeth spoke out of turn to James or failed to finish a chore, she was punished. At first, Nathan himself had beaten her, but when he noticed the bruises took too long to fade, he started ordering his sons to do it instead. Adam was weaker and always tended to her wounds afterward. Dave, on the other hand, was as cruel as their father. When she was fourteen, he had once thrown her down the stairs and broken her arm. Since then, Elizabeth never resisted when punishment came.
“Not today. Adam goes too easy on you. Tonight, it’ll be Dave.”
“Father—” she tried to plead, but his glare silenced her.
“You wanted to talk back? Then deal with the consequences.”
By Saturday, Elizabeth dressed for her engagement dinner. She wore the pale blue dress, a simple necklace, small earrings, and her hair loose. On her wrist was the little pink bracelet she cherished most, even if it didn’t match her outfit.
“I’m ready,” she said as she came down the stairs.
“Turn around!” Nathan ordered. “Cover your shoulders—I can still see the mark.”
Despite the long sleeves and high neckline, the bruise on her back still showed faintly. Dave had pushed her, and she had fallen against the stairs. Adam had cared for her after, but the wound was still deep.
She went back upstairs and returned wearing a wool sweater Adam had found in the school’s lost-and-found box.
“Keep it on. I’m not explaining anything to anyone,” Nathan said.
They arrived at Ronald’s house, where the entire Larson family had gathered. Jonathan’s mother was young and elegant; Marvin, James, and Noah were there as well.
“Let’s eat first, then the couple will have their turn,” said Marvin Larson.
During dinner, Elizabeth stayed quiet, afraid of making a wrong impression in front of such a refined family. As she ate, Jonathan’s mother noticed her bracelet.
“Does it have sentimental value?” Anne asked, gesturing toward her wrist.
“I’m sorry?” Elizabeth blinked, confused.
“The bracelet. It looks like a child’s piece—it doesn’t really match your look. So if you’re wearing it, I assume it means something to you.”
“It was the first gift I ever received. I’d say it’s my most precious possession, given by the only person in this world who truly cares about me.”
Elizabeth glanced discreetly at James, who smiled softly in return.
After dinner, everyone moved to the living room. Jonathan and Elizabeth had a small engagement ceremony led by Marvin, the family patriarch. Jonathan slid the ring onto her slender finger. She found it beautiful, smiled, and thanked him.
Later, while the others talked, Elizabeth slipped into the garden. The place was filled with flowers, an oasis amid the city’s gray chaos. Jonathan noticed her leaving and followed. She was sitting on a bench, looking at her ring with a shy smile.
“I picked it myself,” he said, sitting beside her. “My uncle told me you have simple taste, so I chose something elegant but modest.”
“You chose perfectly. I love it.”
“From now on, you can’t be seen with other men. You’re mine now. I expect loyalty and fidelity.”
“I never go out anyway, so that won’t be hard,” Elizabeth replied with a small smile.
“I know you, Elizabeth. Don’t lie to me. If you plan to lie, better stay silent.”
She frowned, offended. She wasn’t lying. She had only gone out once—and he knew exactly when. She stood up to leave, but he grabbed her arm.
“Ow!” she winced.
“I didn’t even hold you that hard. Are you always this delicate?”
“Maybe a little,” she said with a forced smile. She couldn’t tell the truth—it would only lead to another beating later.
Jonathan pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She tried to move away, struggling against the pressure. The pain in her shoulder burned.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, placing a hand on his chest.
“Take off your sweater.”
“Jonathan, that’s not appropriate.” Her eyes widened.
“Either take it off yourself, or I’ll do it for you.”
Elizabeth hesitated, then slowly removed the sweater. Jonathan turned her around, pulling the fabric down slightly.
“What the hell is this? Who did this to you?”
“Oh, I… I fell down the stairs. It was an accident.”
“Damn it, Elizabeth! How many times do I have to tell you I hate lies?”
She lowered her head, trembling.
“Jonathan, please… forget about this. Don’t tell my father. I’ll be punished if you do.”
“Your father hits you, doesn’t he? He does this to you?”
“Jonathan, I’m begging you. Just forget it.”
“You may fear your father, but I don’t. I’ll deal with this right now.”
He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her back inside.
“Father! Let’s talk in the office,” Jonathan said firmly, dragging Elizabeth with him.
“Yes, son, what is it?” Ronald asked as they entered.
Jonathan turned to Elizabeth.
“It’s time to show that you trust me. Turn around and lower the top of your dress. I just want my father to see what Nathan did to you.”
Elizabeth began to cry; the situation had slipped completely out of her control. What terrified her the most was the thought of having to go back home with Nathan—her father would never let it go unpunished.