Deals
930 Words
After Estefano left, Helena organized the kitchen and went back to sit in the living room. It was true that she had barely slept in the last two days, but she didn't have the courage to lie down in his room. She wished with all her heart that he would spend another night away from home; she didn't want him to touch her, but she saw the restrained desire in his eyes and knew she had nowhere to run or anyone to ask for help.
She was lost in her thoughts when she heard Estefano's footsteps as he returned. She noticed when he went to the bedroom, and a few minutes later, he reappeared with wet hair, indicating he had just taken a shower. It was already past 11 p.m. Helena stood leaning against the wall, her large green eyes glistening with tears.
The two stood in the living room, maintaining a tense atmosphere. Estefano, harboring the desire he had for months for that woman who had filled his most impure thoughts all this time, while Helena exuded fear from every pore.
Estefano knew the feelings he inspired in the woman who was now his wife. He was a man accustomed to inspiring fear in his enemies, an intimidating man; not even women desired him, as those who never received affection didn't know how to give it. Generally, the women who passed through his bed didn't venture there more than once. He broke the silence:
"It's late, let's go to bed."
The same hoarseness was there.
Estefano didn't wait for her response, he simply turned and went up the stairs toward the master bedroom, seeming certain he would be obeyed. Helena really thought about sitting in the living room and staying there, but memories of Otávio made her recall what happened when she didn't obey; the beatings were worse, and so were the things he forced her to do in bed. Thus, Helena followed him, entered the room with eyes brimming with tears, feeling chills throughout her body at the thought of what would happen there. She would give anything to never be touched by another man.
She sat on the edge of the bed and waited. Estefano knelt at her feet, yet he remained imposing, like a wall in front of Helena. Estefano grabbed her by the waist and buried his nose in Helena's neck, then moved to her hair. Helena began to cry and tremble violently. When he noticed this, Estefano stopped immediately:
"I have a thousand flaws, but I don't force women."
Helena, trembling, began to cry uncontrollably. In a fit of rage, she began punching him:
"Isn't that why you forged this marriage? To force me to sleep with you?"
"No, it wasn't. I've desired you since the first moment I saw you, but in my life, I've never forced a woman to accept me, not even the prostitutes I've been with. When one of them said no, it was no."
Despite this, Helena continued to punch him and, not satisfied, slapped him across the face. All the tension she had held for three years was released there. Immediately, the atmosphere became tense, and she realized the mistake she had made. She shrank back toward the headboard of the bed. Even in her fit of anger, she knew that men like him didn't receive a slap and let it go.
"What the hell, have you gone crazy? I've killed men twice your size for much less, without using a single weapon. Never do that again, do you hear me?"
Helena simply nodded in acceptance. She noticed his tension. He walked toward her but stopped abruptly, grabbed the bedside table, and hurled it against the mirror; the noise was deafening. Then it was the television's turn to be thrown against the wall. Upon seeing this, Helena got up and ran to the door, but Estefano caught up with her, turning her abruptly to face him.
"You attack me. And then run? Where's your courage now? Either I break the furniture or I break you, damn it, do you hear me? Answer."
"Yes."
"Why? And don't just look at me."
"I don't know, I think I wanted you to kill me. It was better than living the nightmare I had with Otávio again. I can't bear the idea of being r***d, beaten, and sodomized once more."
Helena replied with cries of desperation. And Estefano, who had never embraced a woman in his entire life, hugged her. At that moment, he regretted killing Otávio quickly; he deserved to die slowly for what he did to Helena. He took a deep breath and waited for her to calm down.
"In this house, you'll never suffer anything like that. I give you my word, but I expect loyalty in return. And promise me you'll never dare slap me again. Do we have a deal?"
"We do."
"There's one more thing."
Helena looked at him, expecting the worst, fearing she would have to give herself to him.
"I want you to sleep by my side every night."
She prepared to refuse, but his expression didn't allow it.
"Just sleep, Helena, I'm not asking for anything more than that right now."
"Okay, we have a deal, just sleep."
"Just sleep, little one, and we'll start this tonight."
When they lay down, Helena remained guarded, but soon extreme exhaustion overcame her, and she slept next to the man who was now her husband, with whom she had made an agreement, hoping it would be honored for the sake of her body and mental well-being.
- Writer
