THE DON'S COLLATERAL BEAUTY

Chapter1

Gabriella's pov

I woke up to my mum's yelling voice,sorry I meant my “adoptive mum”. I was picked by these couples just as what they've told me, they saw me in a fire incident,so they picked me. But I wasn't grateful, they would have left me there at least my life won't be this miserable. I was brought back to my subconsciousness by mum who hit me hard on the rib.I have many broken ribs and bones, I was made to stay in the store house where we pack our dirt, I barely had a one square meal. “Go wash those plates”,she ordered.

My dad was standing there, looking mad. He slapped me in the face,I stumbled back, tasting blood in my mouth. I'd learned not to cry, it only made things worse. After I washed the plates, my adoptive mum handed me the mop, “ clean the floors, don't slack off”,she said.I took it and started mopping, I hated cleaning but I had to do it. The day was long and hard. I was tired and hungry, but I could not do anything about it. They did not care about me, they just wanted me to do the chores while they beat me.

After I finished mopping, she told me to start on the laundry,I trudged to the backyard,where I saw a hip of clothes. I went to the place where the washing machine was kept, it was old and creaky, I loaded it with the clothes and started its circle.

As I waited for the wash to finish,I thought of my life, why did my parents leave me?I was tired. I pushed the thoughts away and went back to the washing. The wash was done, I rinsed and hung the clothes out to dry. The sun beat down on me making my skin hot and sweaty, I felt like I was going to collapse from exhaustion. When I finished hanging the clothes, I heard my name inside, “Gabriella!!,start cooking dinner, we're having pasta”,she said. I nodded and headed to the kitchen. I heated cooking,but it was one of the few things I was good at. I started boiling the water and preparing the sauce.

As I cooked, I winced in pain. My rib still hurts from the last beating dad gave yesterday. I tried to move quickly but every movement felt like a knife stabbing me. My brother Luca, and sister Clara, were nowhere to be seen. They were the favourites in this household, always getting treats and parents from our parents. Meanwhile,I was the punching bag ,the one who took the blame for everything. I was made to clean and work myself out while they play and even blame me for what I did not do.

Clara was especially cruel, she was the daddy's girl, always matching her mum's nastiness with her own brand of venom. She loved to see me hurt, loved to see me cry and even in pain. Luca wasn't much better, at least he didn't take pleasure in my pain. I remembered the last time I got beaten, Clara had stood by watching me, she even kicked me. Luca had looked away, but I knew he was just as guilty.There were both part of my problems, part of the reason I was stuck in this hellhole.

As I finished cooking the dinner, mom called out,

“Gabriella, bring the food to the table”,I carried the pot of pasta and carried it to the dining room, my family sat down,and I served them trying not to make eye contact. As I served dinner, Clara smirked at me, her eyes gleaming with superiority. Luca avoided me instead, and continued with his food. I took my seat, forced to join them, mom handed me a small portion of pasta, barely enough to fill my stomach. I ate quickly, trying not to draw attention to myself.

After dinner, mom announced “Gabriella, you're doing the dishes tonight”, she talks like I am not the one always doing it. And don't break anything, she said before she left. I nodded in relief that the meal was over. As I washed the dishes, Clara stood there “ supervising”, like she always did. Luca grabbed me from behind and flung me, “why I haven't you made my bed?”, he asked angrily,

I..l was doing the dishes, I stammered. He kicked me and told me to go lay his bed first. I was in real pains. I felt like taking my life at that moment. I was tired of living this way.

I lay on the floor, my brother kicks and punches still resonating in my body. I was tired of this life, tired of being treated like dirt, tired of being beaten,tired of being belittled. As I struggled to catch my breath, I heard my brother's voice, cold and detached, “Gabriella, get up, you're not going to sleep all day”.I didn't move, I couldn't move. I just lay there feeling the pain and hopelessness wash over me.

My brother's face appeared above me, his eyes flashing with anger. “I said, get up”, his foot meeting the side of back, I cried out in pain. I quickly got up, “Go back to your room”now he ordered, I scurried off. The pain was so intense that I could not feel my back anymore. I took the last painkillers I had. I'll have to sneak out and get a new one.

The next day wasn't so good. I had bruises all over my back. I dusted the mat I was using, the store was already leaking, the water wet my clothes. I had to hang them one side for it to dry. I went to the kitchen to watch the dishes, when I had someone banging the door. Mum and Dad rushed out. They were shaking; I was scared. Clara and Lucas also came out. Before we knew it the door was broken and removed. We just heard the fall of our door on the floor. What followed made

Me was frightened.