She Who Laughs Last

Chapter One: Silent Screams

The woman's heart pounded as she stared at the door. She wiped away another tear, steadying her breath. "Yes, baby," she managed to croak, her voice barely audible. "I'm... I'm okay." She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "Just give me a moment, okay? I'll be right out."

"But-"

"Kaia," the woman interrupted, her voice firm this time. "Please go. Now." She took another deep breath, steadying herself. "I'll be out in a moment. Just... go back to your room, and... and wait for me there, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy." There was a pause, and then a click of the bedroom door. The woman listened to the sound of her daughter's footsteps retreating down the hallway, her heart aching with every step. When she was certain that Kaia was gone, she wiped her face dry and straightened up, taking a deep breath to steady herself before she opened the bathroom door.

The stale scent of alcohol and sweat hung heavily in the air as she emerged from the bathroom. Pieces of glass crunched underfoot as she carefully made her way across the bedroom, wincing at each step. She forced herself to focus on the task at hand, to ignore the pain that throbbed through her body. She needed to clean up the mess, to make it look like nothing had happened.

As she picked up the first piece of glass, a horrifying image flashed in her mind: her husband throwing it at her, his face twisted with rage. Cole's tall, imposing figure loomed in her memory, his brown hair disheveled and his brown eyes burning with anger. Despite his handsome features, the fear he instilled in her clouded any attraction she might have once felt. The memory of his white-knuckled fists and contorted expression sent a shiver down her spine, and she had to force herself to breathe slowly and steadily. Carefully, she picked up another piece of glass, wincing as it cut into her fingers. Blood dripped onto the carpet, staining it a deep red.

Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the shards of glass, the overturned lamp, and the blood-stained carpet. The mess was overwhelming, but she had to clean it up. She couldn't leave it like this. Then, her eyes landed on a picture frame. There they were, her and Cole, on April 20th, 2016. The day that should've been the happiest of her life. But it... it had all gone wrong somehow.

They'd gotten married because of an unexpected pregnancy, their first child, Tyson. However, when she was four months along, she lost him. Not naturally, in her arms. Cole had hit her so hard that he'd caused a miscarriage. She had tried to tell herself that it was an accident, that he didn't mean it, but deep down, she knew the truth.

The woman shook her head, trying to push the memories away. But they clung to her like a second skin, a constant reminder of the nightmare she was trapped in. She finished cleaning up the room, careful not to step on any more glass or disturb the bloodstains on the carpet. When she was done, she collapsed onto the bed, her body aching from the physical exertion and emotional exhaustion.

Then there was a knock at the front door. The woman's heart skipped a beat as she forced herself off the bed and slowly made her way down the hallway. She slowly walked down the stairs and reached the entrance before stopping and taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. A quick peek through the peephole revealed who awaited her: his family.

"Serenity," Vivienne shouted, her voice muffled by the closed door. "Open this door right now!" Serenity sighed as she trembled, her heart racing in fear. She knew she couldn't hide from them forever. She took a deep breath and slowly turned the knob, steeling herself for the confrontation that lay ahead.

The door opened, and there stood her in-laws. Her mother-in-law Vivienne's brown eyes narrowed in anger as she stared at her. Vivienne Vale was a tall and stern lady who wore a neat bun of grey hair framing her pale, wrinkled face. Despite owning a successful boutique, she had always been rather lazy, often leaving the day-to-day operations to her employees and relying on her husband's money.

Beside her stood Roland, her father-in-law. He was a tall man, his frame towering over even his wife, Vivienne. His long, grey beard flowed down to his chest, framing his bald head. He wore a well-tailored suit that spoke of his affluent lifestyle, a result of his various business ventures. Most notably, he was the CEO of Vale Watch Company, a brand that catered to the wealthy and elite. However, beneath his successful exterior lay a rude and sharp-tongued man who didn't hesitate to belittle others to get what he wanted.

Behind them were Delilah and Liora, their daughters. Delilah was 27 with long brown hair that was always styled perfectly, often hanging in loose waves down her back. Her expensive clothing showed off her figure, which she maintained meticulously despite her sedentary lifestyle. Her brown eyes looked unbothered and uninterested.

Even though she was only 27, she had been married twice and divorced just as many times because of her infidelity. Delilah had always been the kind of woman who craved excitement and thrill, and she had found it in the arms of various men. Her first husband had been a successful lawyer, charming and ambitious, but she had quickly grown bored of his predictable routine and had sought solace in the arms of a younger, more adventurous artist. The second marriage had been to a wealthy businessman, who had promised her the world, but all she cared about was his credit card. Both men had been blinded by love, but in the end, they had seen her for what she truly was: a heartless seductress who used her beauty to get what she wanted. And now she lived off her parents' money.

On the other hand, Liora was 22, the youngest of the Vale siblings, and she had never known anything but wealth. She had short blonde hair that curled in an artful mess, which she often paired with a mini skirt and a crop top that accentuated her toned abs, a result of her obsessive workout regimen. Her brown eyes were usually glued to her phone, scrolling through social media with a bored expression that suggested she was searching for her next drama to stir up.

Liora had once dreamed of being a model, but her career had fizzled out before it had even started. Although she was beautiful, she had a lack of talent, and the way she treated others had earned her a reputation in the industry as a witch. Now, she basked in the attention she received from her wealthy friends and the men who were drawn to her. She lived in a bubble where she was the centre of the universe, and everyone else was a supporting character in her story.

"Serenity!" Vivienne shouted again, causing Serenity to flinch. Forcing a breath through her clenched teeth, she kept her head down. Today wasn't the day for this.

"G-good evening," she mumbled.

Ignoring her, Roland, Delilah, and Liora pushed past, entering the mansion. Serenity was left facing Vivienne. "My son came home upset," Vivienne spat. "What did you do to him?"

Serenity looked at her mother-in-law... was she blind? Couldn't she see what he had done to her? Her heart sank at the accusation. "I... I didn't do anything," she stammered. "But he-"

"He what?" Vivienne demanded.

"He hit me," Serenity whispered.

Vivienne scoffed, stepping closer. "Then you shouldn't have upset him." Her voice dripped with venom. "Your duty as his wife is to make him happy, no matter what the cost. You owe him that much, considering how much he's done for you and your family."

Serenity's breath hitched. "You... you think this is right?" Her voice trembled.

Vivienne narrowed her eyes. "What I think is irrelevant. Your duty as a wife is to make your husband happy, and if that means enduring a little pain, then so be it."

"Now, enough of this nonsense," Vivienne said as she entered the mansion, "I hope dinner is ready. I'm famished!" She shouted as she walked further into the mansion.

Serenity remained frozen, a statue of disbelief. How could they not see what had happened? Was this truly her life? A life where violence was justified, her pain dismissed? Swallowing back tears, she turned. At the top of the stairs, Kaia's worried eyes met hers.

"Mommy?" Kaia whispered, her small hands gripping the banister. At the top of the stairs, Kaia's worried eyes met hers. Kaia was only seven, with curly black hair that fell in soft ringlets around her mixed complexion and big brown eyes filled with concern far beyond her years. She was petite, with a bright smile that could light up any room, but today, her gaze was clouded with unease.

Serenity's heart ached. Her daughter shouldn't have to witness this kind of behaviour. Kaia was so innocent, so sweet. She had always been the light in Serenity's life, a constant reminder of the love and joy that could exist amidst the darkness. But now, even Kaia was beginning to see the ugliness that surrounded them.

"Kaia, sweetheart," Serenity said gently. "Grandma and Grandpa are here. Do you want to say hi?"

Kaia shook her head. "No. I don't like them." She turned and ran back upstairs.

Serenity's chest tightened. This wasn't right. Not for her, not for Kaia. But before she could follow, Vivienne's voice called out. "Serenity!"

Serenity sighed. Ignoring her mother-in-law had consequences, a battle she couldn't win today. She looked back at the stairs but sighed and made her way to the dining room. The dining room was huge, with a long table that could seat at least twenty people. Yet as big as the dining room was... she felt so empty.

"Where's dinner?" Vivienne demanded.

"It'll be ready soon," Serenity stammered, anxiety gnawing at her gut. "I just need a little more time." As she turned to leave, Delilah's voice cut through the air.

"Useless," she muttered.

Serenity's legs wobbled as she made her way back to the kitchen. In the kitchen, she grabbed the counter to steady herself, taking deep breaths to fight the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. Why? Why this life? A horrible husband, in-laws who saw her as nothing.

Taking a deep breath, she forced the tears back. A few more years. Until Kaia was at least sixteen. Cole was..."normal" when it came to Kaia. He had never laid a finger on their daughter, and Cole had a successful career as an executive in his father's watch company. He was cold...yes... but he provided.

And leaving... Where would she go? Back to her childhood home, the exact replica of her current situation. Her father was a replica of Cole. He used to beat her mother. She couldn't go back there. Cole, her supposed saviour at sixteen, had turned into a monster. A monster who had no place for a wife who had dared to speak up to defy him.

And her mother... was blinded by money. She didn't understand. Didn't care. Her mother had begged her to stay and pray for change that never came.

"The prudent see danger and take refuge," a Bible verse echoed in her mind. But where was her refuge?