Shadows of Enigma

Private Matters

My heart sank as I watched Alexander and Ella approach the mansion together, their hands intertwined as if they were the perfect couple. It was a cruel reminder of the reality of my situation, of the sham of a marriage that had been forced upon me.

Lucas had focused back to his gardening, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I couldn't shake the feeling of frustration and helplessness that was building within me.

But I couldn’t let them see my vulnerability. Not in this life or the next. I didn’t expect much from Alexander by the way, but I felt that he should at least show some face.

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself as I watched Alexander and Ella had entered the mansion.

I went to my bed to have a glimpse of sleep to comport myself . A few minutes later, Jace knocked on the door to tell me that I was being called by Alexander. The odd thing was, I was being called to his room.

I took a deep breath and stood up to go to his room. I walked down to his bedroom with all manner of thoughts clouding my mind. When I remembered that Ella might be in there, an unexplainable anger rose in me.

I could take anything from Alexander and not be pained, because, “Who gives a f**k?”. But infidelity is not my thing and I hate it with passion. Probably because it was what separated my parents, who knows?.

As I approached Alexander's room, I could hear their laughter from down the hall. They were enjoying themselves, reveling in their cruel games. My anger boiled within me, but I had to maintain my composure.

I knocked with force on the door, to the extent that my hand hurt, and without waiting for a response, I pushed it open. The sight that met my eyes was as expected but no less painful.

Alexander and Ella were on the big bed in the middle of the room, locked in a passionate kiss. It was as if they had forgotten I even existed. I felt like an intruder in my own marriage.

Alexander was squeezing her boobs, which I had to acknowledge looked hot. And she was giving off a stupid moaning sound.

"Isabella," Alexander finally acknowledged my presence, with Ella looking at me then kissing his neck, ears, his face generally and his lips still dangerously close to Ella's. "What do you want?"

I refused to let their antics unnerve me. "You summoned me, Alexander. I'm here as you requested”, I said annoyed.

Ella pulled away from Alexander, her lips curling into a malicious smile. "Oh, Isabella, we were just discussing some... private matters. You shouldn't interrupt."

I clenched my fists, trying to maintain my composure. "Then perhaps you should have summoned me at a more appropriate time."

Alexander's eyes bore into mine, cold and unfeeling. "We'll get straight to the point, Isabella. Ella and I have decided that you need to be taught a lesson for your behavior at the banquet."

I felt a surge of anger at his words. It was unjust and infuriating. "My behavior? You and Ella were the ones flaunting your relationship in front of me, embarrassing me, and what do you expect me to do, smile with you?"

“I’m not vexed that He’s with you or anything, don’t get the wrong idea, but at least not outside, for people to start pitying me!”

Ella let out a mocking laugh. "Oh, darling, you really are clueless, aren't you? You don't understand your place in this marriage. You're nothing more than a pawn in the game."

I refused to let their words break me. "I won't be treated like a pawn. I demand respect and dignity."

Alexander's expression darkened, and he took a step toward me. "You will learn your place, Isabella. Starting now."

Before I could react, he grabbed my arm roughly, his grip like a vice. I winced in pain, but I refused to show weakness. Ella watched with a cruel smile, relishing in my humiliation.

Alexander dragged me out of the room and down the hallway, his grip still strong as ever.

Ella followed with joy. I could feel the eyes of the mansion's staff on me, their silent judgment weighing me down. It was as if the whole world reveled in my misery.

We reached a corridor and turned into a small, dimly lit room that I had never seen before. It wasn’t empty. All sort of equipments of torture were there.

Stakes were set up, ropes were hanging around with hooks, a hot coal was burning with a rod inside, sledge hammers, pincers, you just name it. A single chair sat in the in the center.

“Alexander, let me go!”, I shrieked as I entered the room which was surprisingly having a clean kind of smell. Alexander pushed me into the room, and I stumbled, nearly falling to the floor.

"Sit," he commanded, pointing to the chair. I hesitated for a moment, my pride warring with my fear, but in the end, I had no choice but to obey.

As I sat in the chair, Alexander turned to me, his eyes filled with a cruel satisfaction. Ella also rushed in grinning.

“So you’ve got a big mouth, right?”, he asked. “Well, I can’t deny it bails me out in many situations”, I replied with a straight face.

“Still got the liver, huh?, he continued “Ella, why don’t you decide what to do with her, since she seems to love picking a bone with you”

“Whip her until she cries for mercy, I think that’s fair enough”, she said still grinning. “Is that it, baby?”, Alexander asked and she replied with a nod. “Okay”, he said and she jumped in joy then kissed him hotter.

My heart sank at her words. It was a cruel and unusual punishment, designed to break me. But I couldn't let them see my weakness. I couldn't let them win.

“In your dreams, if you’ll think I’ll actually beg any of you people”, I replied, as Alexander unlocked from the kiss and reached for a whip on a table.

With a steely resolve, I met Alexander's gaze. "I won't be broken so easily, Alexander."

He smirked, his face inches from mine. "We'll see about that, Isabella."

With that, he closed the door, leaving the three of us in the dimly lit room. “f**k you, Alexander”, I screamed.