Trapped In His Shadow

Episode:1

Chapter one:

Hannah's new life:

You’re home late? Hannah asked Ac. He entered without glancing at her. Took off his coat and threw it over the back of the sofa. Heading straight to his bedroom. He looked tired and exhausted, and his body stinks of alcohol.

He stepped forward to Hannah’s direction. She took a step back, her body shaking in fear as his voice erupted with anger.

“Don’t ever in your entire life ask me that question again” He shouted at her. You are nothing but a common piece of trash to me. Your family should thank me for taking the burden of someone like you off their shoulders.

Ace looked at her one more time with disdain, before turning his back and disappearing to the room. She stood there and watched him with sorrowful eyes and a heavy heart filled with anger, hate and regret.

Is this how we are going to live the rest of our life?

“ My uncle has ruined me” I practically lived my life in fear not knowing what will happen next.

“God please help me.”

She quietly moved back into the guest room, crying and trembling, feeling lonely and unwanted.

After a while, she felt an intense nausea. She quickly ran to the toilet and started vomiting, panting trying to get herself together, wiping her mouth with the back of her hands.

No! No!! No!!

Am probably reacting to the recent events. I blame the overwhelming emotions for my situation, I have been stressed out lately. She went back to the room exhausted and confused. Lay down the bed and covered herself with a blanket, rolling her eyes to the ceiling hoping and waiting for Ace to come by the room and ask what was wrong with her.

She woke up the next morning a little bit tired. The morning light was staring through the curtains, the doorbell rang, quickly, she ran to the door hoping it was Ace who came for an apology or maybe for an explanation to what happened last night.

Low and behold, it was her best friend. Sarah. Good morning my beautiful friend.

What are you doing here this early?

Hmmm!!

Don’t tell me you are not excited about my presence here? okay now let me start going back to my house.

“Sorry”

That’s not what I meant, you know you are always welcome here any day anytime because you’re my best friend. Hannah said to Sarah and they both laughed.

Tell me the truth. I can see it, you don’t look happy!!

Sarah asked Hannah in so much curiosity. I’… she paused. Tears rolled down her eyes, she continued.

“I am tired of this marriage”

“you deserve to know the truth.”

Ace has been abusing me since we got married

He beats me up at every slightest provocation or is it the late nights, the constant physical, emotional and s****l abuse. I feel like a slave in my own husband’s house. I don’t feel loved or seen, I don’t want to die here, I am done with this hopeless marriage.

Every other night, I cry myself to sleep. have prayed, cried and begged for him to change but he keeps getting worse by the day. I need to leave before he kills me. the betrayal, the unbearable pains I go through. He doesn’t have any form of love for me.

It’s all me! me!! alone in this marriage!!!. Hannah said to her as the tears streamed down her face before she could even stop them.

“Ace isn’t just distant. He has destroyed my life and everything we have built.”

But, I don’t blame him. It’s all my uncle’s fault, he sold me out for his own selfish reasons to this monster.

If only my parents were to be alive, I wouldn’t be feeling this way, they would have protected me. My own uncle who is supposed to be there for me is the one hurting me.

“Oh! my darling friend”

I had no idea you were going through all of this. Why haven’t you said anything?

Clean up your tears, he doesn’t deserve you. You are a good woman and don’t deserve to be treated like this. No one does. Ace is an animal in human form.

Dry up your tears. Crying doesn’t suit your face. She held her tightly and tried to make her smile.

“I know”

“Honestly, thank you for being here. I really needed to pour out my heart before I could explode.”

However, after Sarah left, a sound voice echoed. and it was Don. Ace, is my breakfast ready? He asked Hannah. Stepping down from the staircase, ye! ye!! yes!!!. She said come down and have some.

He stirred at her as he moved closer to the dining area, he sat down on the chair and ordered her to bring him a cup of coffee.

On bringing the coffee to him, she mistakenly spilled the coffee on his cloth.

You are unbearable, Hannah. So clumsy and doesn’t know how to do anything. He gave her a resounding slap on the face.

you have ruined my designer clothes, do you know how much this caused me?

“Am sorry” it was an honest mistake, I didn’t mean to hurt you.

She quickly grabbed his arms in desperation before he could leave for work.

Ace, please! What is happening to us? Why are you so cold towards me? Her voice trembles with so much fear and anxiety.

You are incapable of understanding anything. Aren’t you? Leave me alone, He shouted at her with his voice filled with so much anger.

He pulled her aside with disgust, you disgust me.

I don’t want to see you again, leave my way, I don’t want to be late for work.

He walked past her like she didn’t exist. She ran after him, he entered his car and drove off. She stood there feeling lonely and regretful in her own pool of tears.

Hannah went up to his room to clean it up for him, but when she got there, something caught her attention. There was a beautiful black box under the table. She opened it, and it was a diamond bracelet.

She smiled, I knew Ace bought this for me, to make up for all the horrible things he has done.

I think I have ruined the surprise, no, let me pretend I saw nothing until he gets back home.

Meanwhile, this is beautiful, I love it, she placed it round her hand and continued to smile. With a glance of hope, thinking it’s going to be the end of their war.

Suddenly, the door opens and she hurriedly pulls the curtain and tries to hide the box.

What are you doing here Hannah? I came to clean up your room. I never asked you to do that for me, if I needed help I would have asked the maids, get out of here this minute. I have some important things to do. He went straight to the wardrobe to pick up his clothes and noticed that something was missing from where he kept it. He had a feeling that someone touched his stuff! and it’s no longer where he kept it!

He hurriedly rushed downstairs, screaming with his loudest voice. Hannah. Who asked you to touch my stuff? She started shaking as his eyes were red like he was going to strangle her to death, he was so furious and agitated.

“Panting like she was taking her last breath. Hannah. What are you talking about? Don’t act dumb with me, where is the diamond bracelet?”

Oh! that? Yes! that! Talk now before I do something stupid here.

I…., thought you got it for me, she tried to explain, but Ace didn’t give her the chance to. You thought wrong my darling. How many times have I told you to stay clear of my things. Stop sticking your nose where they don’t belong, mind your own business.

Let me see your hand, Ace. Forcefully tried to take the diamond bracelet off her hand, let go of my hands, you are hurting me, let me go. He held her tightly until he took the bracelet off her hand and pushed her away.

She screamed with her loudest voice as she tried to hold herself back from falling down. What is wrong with you? I honestly thought that you got the bracelet for me. Hoping you want to make up for all your mistakes, but now I know that it’s all in my head. She turned her back to leave, but she quietly looked at him and asked.

Who is she? What are you talking about? Ace asked in surprise as to why she was asking him the question. I mean the other woman, your mistress, is she more beautiful than me? What does she have that I don’t? That made you find her worthy and deserving of a diamond bracelet, while I don’t.

“Am I not enough for you?”

What have I done to deserve this cruelty from you?

You are my husband and I love you so very much, does that not mean anything to you?

“Love? You don’t get it Hannah, you’re just a little commodity to me, I bought you with my own money.”

“In other words, I own you completely”

Therefore, I have every right to use you whenever I want, however I want and wherever I want. So get that into your head and never ask me dumb questions again. Each word deliberately wants to hurt her and make her feel less of herself.

“Enough, I am not going to cry over you again, She tried going into the room to pack her bags and leave, but Ace stopped her. Where do you think you are going? Am leaving for good, I no longer want to stay here and be mistreated by you.”

You are not leaving this house. I married you in full, your entire existence belongs to me, only I decide when it’s over.

You are sick, let me go, Hannah screamed for help but there was no one to help her.

Ace beat her up so badly with his hands and she fainted.

“His eyes opened in shock, he screamed her name, two times, Hannah! Hannah!! Wake up.”

But there was no response from her, His face gripped with fear, in total confusion as he stood there and wondered if or not she was dead or alive.