Arranged Marriage: Part One

Chapter Two : The Day Everything Changed

Six days after the incident, Sophia’s maternal grandparents came to the hospital to take their daughter home. They believed she had endured enough. After sixteen years of pain and abuse, they decided her marriage was over.

Sophia and Steven left with their mother, hoping they would never have to return to that house.

However, their father’s family refused to let the marriage end. They pleaded with Sophia’s grandparents, promising that such a tragedy would never happen again. Soon, church elders and respected community leaders stepped in to mediate.

After several meetings and countless promises, the families reached a settlement.

Against her parents’ wishes, Sophia’s mother returned to her husband with her children.

To everyone’s surprise, peace finally returned to the home.

For the first time in years, laughter slowly replaced fear.

A year later, Sophia’s mother became pregnant again. This time, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl whom they named Silvia.

Life seemed different.

The arguments stopped, the beatings disappeared, and hope returned to the family. Sophia, now fifteen years old, allowed herself to believe that perhaps the worst was finally behind them.

She was wrong.

When Silvia turned two, another argument erupted—one that would change their lives forever.

That morning, Sophia’s mother was helping little Silvia get dressed when her husband called from the dining room.

“Serve my food,” he demanded.

Without looking up, she replied calmly, “I’m dressing Silvia. I’ll serve your food as soon as I’m done.”

Her response only fueled his anger.

His voice grew louder.

“Why are you shouting?” she asked, trying to calm the situation.

His face darkened.

“So now I’m shouting?” he snapped.

Before anyone could react, he grabbed a large decorative globe from the living room and hurled it across the room.

It wasn’t his wife who was hit.

The heavy object struck little Silvia on the head.

She collapsed instantly.

Blood began to pour from the wound.

For a split second, the room fell silent.

Then Sophia’s mother let out a heart-wrenching scream. Overcome with shock and grief, she lunged at her husband, grabbing him by the neck and biting him in desperation.

He shoved her away with brutal force, slamming her head against the wall before storming out of the house.

Sophia and Steven screamed for help.

This time, the neighbours rushed in immediately.

Mother and daughter were hurried to the hospital.

But it was already too late.

Silvia was pronounced dead on arrival.

Their mother, however, was still alive—fighting for hers in the intensive care unit.

As Sophia stood outside the ICU, tears streamed down her face.

In a single afternoon, her family had been shattered once again.