Bound To The Powerful Brother

The sound of shattering glass filled the room. The housemaids stood in a straight line near the wall, their heads lowered. Broken plates and bottles littered the floor, but nobody dared to move. "Who touched my things?" Sebastian's voice made the maids exchange nervous glances. Nobody answered. He picked up another glass from the table and threw it against the wall. "I asked a question!" One of the younger maids flinched. "Sir, I don't know what happened," she answered nervously. Sebastian turned towards her. "You don't know?" She shook her head. He looked around the room again, his breathing heavy. He had returned home expecting to find Isabella waiting for him, only to discover that she had packed her belongings and left. No explanation. No goodbye. Only a message. Don't look for me. We're done. He had read those words so many times that he could almost recite them from memory. Sebastian crumpled the paper in his hand. She thought she could walk away from him? After everything he had done for her? "Get out!" he shouted. The maids hurried out, leaving him alone with the mess. He pulled out his phone and called Isabella. It went straight to voicemail. He called again. Nothing. "Pick up, Isabella." He walked towards the window and tried a third time, but the result was the same. For nearly four years, Isabella had lived under his roof, followed his rules, and endured his demands. He had never imagined that she would leave without his permission. He opened their message conversation and typed a message. Where are you? He stared at it before deleting it. He wasn't going to beg his own wife to come home. If Isabella thought she could walk out of his life and escape him, she was mistaken. But Sebastian didn't know where she had gone, and for the first time, he had no way of making her do what he wanted. Three years earlier Derrick's residence "Sebastian, please!" Isabella struggled to keep up as Sebastian dragged her away from the ballroom. She held the side of her gown with her left hand to keep from tripping. "Sebastian!" He released her arm when they reached the courtyard. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, pointing at her. Isabella stepped back, rubbing the spot where he had held her. "What did I do?" He stared at her as though she had deliberately embarrassed him. "What made you think I brought you here so you could behave however you wanted?" She looked towards the ballroom. The guests were still celebrating Derrick's wife's thirty-fifth birthday, and the sound of music drifted into the courtyard. Derrick had invited several wealthy business owners and influential families to the event. Isabella had spent most of the evening trying to make herself comfortable among people she barely knew. She had thought speaking to Mrs. Lisa would make the evening less awkward. Instead, it had brought her here. "I was talking to Mrs. Lisa," Isabella explained. "I don't understand why you're angry." "Mrs. Lisa?" Sebastian repeated with a humourless laugh. "And what exactly do you think you have in common with her?" Isabella frowned. "I was only having a conversation with her." "Do you even understand who that woman is? She controls one of the biggest technology empires in this country. She associates with families you can only dream of being part of." He moved closer. "Comparing you to her is an insult. Know your place, Isabella. You're my wife, not someone who belongs in her circle." Isabella looked at him, trying to understand how a simple conversation had become a reason for him to humiliate her. "Why do you always do this?" she asked. "I didn't ask her for anything. We were just talking." "I don't care." "Then why did you bring me here if you don't want me to speak to anyone?" Sebastian's expression changed. "Watch what you say to me." She swallowed, but this time, she didn't immediately apologise. For three years, she had learned to measure her words around him. A simple disagreement could ruin an entire evening, and refusing to follow his instructions could lead to days of insults and accusations. Money had become another way for him to control her. He monitored her spending and made it difficult for her to access the funds she needed without going through him. Whenever she considered leaving, she remembered how little control she had over her own finances. But tonight, she was tired. "I've tolerated enough of this," she said. "I came here with you because you asked me to. I spoke to someone, and you dragged me out as if I had committed a crime." Sebastian stared at her. "Are you talking back to me?" "I'm telling you what happened." "Don't forget who you're talking to." Isabella looked away briefly, trying to steady herself. "I want to go home." She turned and walked towards the entrance. Sebastian watched her leave, unable to believe that she had dared to walk away while he was still speaking. "Unbelievable," he muttered. He took out his phone and checked the time. He had no intention of remaining at Derrick's residence after what had happened. When he got home, Isabella would explain herself. He was certain of that. --- "ISABELLA!" Sebastian's voice echoed through the house when he returned. "Where are you?" He slammed the door behind him and loosened his tie. A few seconds later, Isabella appeared at the top of the stairs. She had changed into a red nightgown, and her hair fell loosely over her shoulders. "What?" she asked. Sebastian looked at her in disbelief. "What do you mean, 'what'? You embarrassed me at Derrick's house, and now you're acting as if nothing happened?" "I didn't embarrass you. I spoke to someone, and you dragged me away in front of everyone." "You should have known better." "Known better than what? Talking to another woman?" "Watch your mouth!" Isabella held the railing. "Or what, Sebastian? What are you going to do? Insult me again? Remind me that I don't belong among your friends?" He walked towards the stairs. "Have you forgotten who provides everything for you?" "No, I haven't forgotten. You remind me every day." The words came out before she could stop them. Sebastian paused. Isabella had disagreed with him before, but she usually backed down when his anger became difficult to manage. Tonight, she seemed unwilling to do that. He climbed the remaining steps and stopped in front of her. "Repeat what you just said." Isabella's fingers tightened around the railing. "You heard me." He grabbed her by the throat and shoved her against the wall. She gasped, immediately reaching for his wrist. "Sebastian! Let me go!" His grip tightened. "Have you forgotten who you're talking to?" She struggled to pull his hand away, but he was stronger. "You're hurting me!" For a moment, he continued staring at her. Then he released her. Isabella stumbled forward, coughing as she held her throat. Sebastian adjusted his shirt. "Next time, think before you speak to me." He turned and walked away. Isabella remained where she was, trying to catch her breath. She could hear him moving around in their bedroom, behaving as though nothing serious had happened. She touched her throat and looked towards the bedroom door. Something had changed. She had spent years trying to understand him, making excuses for his behaviour, and convincing herself that if she were more patient, things might improve. But he had just put his hands around her throat because she refused to accept another insult. What would happen the next time she disagreed with him? Would he hurt her again? She didn't have an answer. Instead of following him into the bedroom, Isabella went downstairs and sat in the living room. She took out her phone and opened Rachael's contact. Her fingers hovered over the call button. She wanted to tell her friend what had happened, but she hesitated. She had hidden so much about her marriage that she didn't know where to begin. After a few seconds, she locked her phone. Tomorrow, she will speak to Rachael. She couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine. --- Later that night, Isabella returned to the bedroom. Her eyes settled on the wedding photograph hanging on the wall. She remembered how happy she had been on their wedding day, believing she had found someone who would love and protect her. She walked over and took the photograph down. Sebastian's smile looked almost unfamiliar now. She placed the picture on the dressing table instead of returning it to the wall. Then she opened her wardrobe and looked at her clothes. For the first time, she didn't wonder how she could make her marriage work. She wondered how she could leave it. The thought frightened her. She had no clear plan, and Sebastian had made sure that her life depended on him in more ways than she wanted to admit. But she couldn't ignore what had happened tonight. Isabella sat on the edge of the bed and took out her phone again. This time, she sent Rachael a message. Can we talk tomorrow? I need your help. She placed the phone beside her and lay down without waiting for a reply. She didn't know how she would leave Sebastian or what he would do when she tried. But she knew one thing. She could no longer live as being his wife gave him the right to hurt her.