Chapter 2 Vulnerable: Hearts intertwined
The sunlight peered through the window, casting a bright light across the bedroom.
I didn't recall falling asleep last night. I had slept on a stand before the strange man, checking every minute to make sure he was still breathing.
I blinked and slowly lifted my head from the bed.
My lips parted in shock as I saw him wide awake. “I…I thought you were asleep.”
It was the first time I saw him in pure light since it was dark last night. He seemed to be in his late twenties.
He lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the wound I had bandaged; blood seeped through it. “You are horrible at this,” he groaned as his head fell back against the pillow.
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I did all the tutorial said,” I said in a low tone.
I noticed his adam's apple move as he swallowed before he spoke. “Do you live alone?” His voice was hoarse.
I quickly shook my head. “I live with my parents and sister; this is the attic.” I looked around as if seeing it for the first time. “It's also my bedroom.”
His brow raised, “Why?”
I wiped the sweat off my face. “Why what?” I asked and suddenly understood his question: “Ohhh, Mia would never share a room with me; she said I would make it dirty. She's right.”
His gaze turned to pity. “She's…right?”
I nodded. “I clean around the house a lot, so I'm always dirty.”
I paused.
Words cannot explain how much I wanted to ask who he was and where he was from. But it was probably too early; I could always ask him that later.
I gazed at the clock beside me; it was 7:30 in the morning. I quickly stood up. “I have to go and clean around the house now; I'll sneak some food back to you later.”
“You don't have to do that.” His face twisted with pain as he struggled to get up but failed.
“Are you not hungry?”
“I have to go,” he groaned in pain, swallowing hard.
“Fuck,” he cursed as he finally sat up, his hand resting over his wound.
“You cannot leave until you have healed.” I quickly said, “You have to stay.”
“I can't.” His green eyes looked up at me, his jaw clenched tight.
“Charlotte, get downstairs now!” My mother yelled.
I looked at the door and back at the man. “You'll be gone by the time I return, won't you?”
He said nothing, but his eyes told me all I needed to know.
I parted my lips to speak but stopped halfway as my mother shouted out to me again.
“You can't go through the front door until it's late,” I quickly said to him. “Can you just stay?” I hated the fact that he might leave before I got the chance to get to know him.
He finally pushed himself off the bed.
I swallowed hard as he stood before me, his tall figure making my knees tremble.
“Thank you for saving my life, Charlotte.” His gaze flickered to the window and then back to me. “I'll be gone by the time you return.”
My heart dropped as he said this.
“My family can't see you,” I said, hoping he would change his mind.
“Charlotte! Don't make me come up there!” My mother shouted, her tone getting impatient.
I quickly turned around and rushed out of the attic.
In a few seconds I arrived at the living room; my sister and my parents sat before a man in a red suit.
He seemed to be in his late forties; he had light blond hair and an earring on his ear.
My gaze narrowed as I caught a distinct tattoo on his neck, the same S symbol on the strange man's neck.
“How many times did I have to call you, Charlotte?” My mother hissed through her teeth.
I could tell she was mad.
“Is this her?” The man asked, pulling out a file and placing it on the table before him.
“Yes, she is,” Mia responded.
“These are the documents you have to sign to be married to Mr. Davenport. Come sign them immediately.” My father instructed.
My fingers clutched tightly onto my hoodie, my feet heavy as I pushed toward it; as I got closer, I picked up the file.
Once I signed this, I would be married; it would all be over, all the freedom I had…gone.
It said only one thing in the document: once I married him, I was to submit myself to him, or else my father's debt would be doubled.
Tears formed in my eyes as I picked up the pen the man had also placed on the table and signed the document.
“That should be all for now,” the man said, taking the document and placing it into a thick brown file. “She will be taken to her new home tomorrow,” he said and stood up.
“We won't miss her,” Mia sneered.
I watched the man walk out of the house, forcing myself to accept my new reality.
A sharp pain escaped my lips as the harsh whip of my father's belt hit my back.
I spun around, my fingers scratching profusely. “I did exactly what you asked,” I cried.
“How many times does your mother have to yell for you before you respond?” He barked in anger.
“Is this how you will behave in your husband's house?” My mother yelled, her hand crossed over her chest. “If you misbehave, how will he give us money? Do you hate us after all we have done for you?”
I quickly shook my head, tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Get back to me when you finish your chores; you need to be taught a lesson.”
“Please, Dad...” I quickly shut up as he moved angrily towards me.
Mia suddenly walked in, her heels clicking against the hard wooden door. She was dressed in a purple dress. The loud sound of chowing guk popping filled the air as she chewed violently. “I have to date them,” she announced, flinging her eyes at me.
I sighed and headed to the kitchen to cook and clean.
It was 6:00 pm, and I had just finished the chores.
I slowly walked to my father, who sat in the living room with my mother, his hands crossed over her shoulder as they watched a football game together.
The sound of roaring fans exited the television.
There were a few on his face; his team seemed to have lost.
I'm done, Dad; I did all you asked.”
Without wasting time, he stood up. “Take off your jacket,” he instructed. Tears formed in my eyes again as I realized that I would soon get the needle punishment.
They would jam needles in my back whenever I had offended them greatly.
Mom stripped off my clothes, leaving me shirtless, and pinned me down to the ground, and with a stern look on his face, Father put a needle into my back over and over again; my voice could be heard across the street.
When he was satisfied, he tossed the needle onto the floor. I picked up my shirt and covered my shirt with it, and quickly I ran upstairs to the attic before he changed his mind. My eyes were red from tears, with tiny blood drops on my back as the wound had begun to bleed profusely.
As I pulled the attic door open, I froze; he was still there, dressed in his suit pants and still shirtless.
The room was dark, and only the ray of sunlight peered through.
I shut the door behind me and took a step forward. “Why…why are you still here?” My breath came in shaky little shudders.
His face twisted with concern. “You asked me to stay"
My heart raced as he began to walk towards me.
I quickly clutched tightly onto the shirt pinned against my chest to cover my breasts.