Chapter 6 The Price Of An Unwanted Promise
Nathan was still in the living room watching TV when the doorbell rang. He opened the door himself—it was James.
“Mr. Larson? What are you doing here?”
“Good afternoon to you too... Call Elizabeth.”
Nathan turned, and his daughter was already coming down the stairs. She wore dark jeans and a checkered shirt tied at the waist. Anyone would say it was a country style, but in truth, it was her brother’s shirt—hers were too old to wear outside, and the blouse her father had given her wasn’t appropriate.
“Uncle!” Elizabeth exclaimed, hugging James.
“Let’s go, Eliz…”
“Where do you think you’re taking my daughter?” Nathan asked.
“I’m taking her out. Her eighteenth birthday is this Saturday—it’s important. I won’t have time to go out with her then, so I’ll give her gift today.”
Nathan snorted and shrugged. He couldn’t say no to his boss, though he always feared Elizabeth might say something that would get him punished later.
Once they were in the car, James finally had the chance to ask what he needed to know.
“Elizabeth, I’ve always defended you and done everything for you. What were you thinking, going to a nightclub with another man? Jonathan is furious with you.”
“Uncle, I didn’t know Jonathan, or Ralph—he’s the one who took me there.”
“You went out with a stranger? And drank? You’re not even eighteen yet.”
“I just didn’t want to make my father angry... I—”
Elizabeth stopped, realizing she was about to blame her father—and that could bring punishment for both of them, especially for her.
“Why would your father get angry?” James asked. She didn’t answer. “Eliz, answer me. Did your father send you out with that man?”
She nodded and began to cry softly.
“Don’t cry. You’re not in trouble—I won’t do anything. But don’t do that again. Jonathan isn’t patient; he despises betrayal. I told you from the start he’d be the first man in your life. This marriage was meant to protect you from your father. He agreed willingly, but people have been talking. You’ll need to change the impression he has of you.”
“I was scared... He kissed me, yelled at me, and—”
“Wait. Jonathan kissed you?”
“Yes... I’d never been kissed before. I thought it was very inappropriate of him.”
James chuckled. Without realizing it, Elizabeth had stirred something inside his nephew. Now he’d have to teach her how to nurture that feeling.
“Jonathan said you were drunk. Had you ever drunk alcohol before?”
“I’d never gone out or drunk before. I didn’t even finish half a glass. Ralph was respectful — we just talked and watched people dance. Then he asked my age. When I told him, he got upset and said he had to take me home immediately. That’s when we met Jonathan.”
“I see…”
James realized the young man had likely been as deceived as Elizabeth. Though she was young, she looked like a woman—tall, with long, light hair, and warm hazel eyes that shimmered like honey. Her body had already taken shape; slender, yet with soft curves and full breasts. She was beautiful. Every time James looked at her, he saw Stephanie—her mother—in every detail, even in the beauty that had once conquered his heart.
They walked through the mall, and Elizabeth chose a light blue dress—long, with sleeves that reached mid-arm.
“Eliz, I know I asked for something modest, but you’re young. You could wear something a little more revealing.”
Elizabeth blushed. She’d love to show her arms, but her pale skin bore the marks of her father’s and brother’s beatings.
After choosing the dress and shoes, they went to a casual store, buying all kinds of clothes and footwear. Before heading to the food court, they passed a jewelry store. James noticed Elizabeth still wore a small pink bracelet — the one he had given her as a child. It seemed to be the only piece of jewelry she owned. She never took it off; years later, when it got tight, she’d asked him to adjust it rather than replace it. It was her most precious gift.
“Come on!” he said, gently pulling her inside the store.
“Uncle, this place must be absurdly expensive.”
“Eliz, you can’t keep wearing children’s jewelry. You’re a woman now. Choose something that suits your age.”
“Uncle, my father... he won’t let me keep these things. The dress was already enough.”
“Elizabeth... how I wish you were my daughter. You’d be covered in jewels,” James said sadly.
Every time he realized how poorly Elizabeth was treated, his chest tightened. He had loved her mother so deeply that he never married. His dream had been to be Elizabeth’s father, but his own father had forced Stephanie to marry Nathan—and James had been there to see her die in his arms.
After lunch, they went home. As soon as Elizabeth stepped through the door, loaded with shopping bags, her father stopped her.
“You know you’re not keeping any of that, don’t you?”
“And why not?” James asked as he stepped inside.
“Oh, Mr. Larson…” Nathan’s face went pale at the sight of him.
“Listen here, Nathan. You’re hanging by a thread! You don’t take proper care of Elizabeth, Adam is nothing but a shadow in this house, and now you’ve endangered your daughter’s life. How could you send her out with a man who wasn’t Jonathan? What did you think he’d do to her? Do you want Jonathan to kill her?”
“Elizabeth is an adult. If she went out with another man, that’s not my problem.”
“Be a father, Nathan! You know my brother will destroy you if Elizabeth ends up hurt or dishonored before marrying Jonathan. Don’t create situations that will make your daughter suffer!”
James gave his warning and left. Elizabeth stood frozen in the living room—she knew exactly what would happen next.
“Go upstairs, Elizabeth! Put away that junk your uncle bought and come right back down. Don’t even think about locking yourself in your room—you know it’ll be worse if I have to come up there!”