CHAINS

Chapter 26

"This looks beautiful on you. What do you think?" Rhea asked habang tinatapat sa akin ang isang wedding dress. 

"Yes. Pwede na yan." walang gana kong sagot. 

Napabuntong hininga siya sa sinabi ko bago binaba ang dress na hawak. Kanina pa kasi niya ako hinahanapan ng damit pangkasal. Kanina pa pabalik balik ang mga maid na may mga dalang sandamakmak na wedding dress. 

"Are you, okay?" She asked looking worried.

"What do you think?" hindi ko mapigilang pataray na balik sa kanya.

Bumuntong hininga ulit siya. 

"I'm sorry, Rhea. I just don't feel good today." umupo ako sa isang velvet sofa at bumaluktot ng upo duon. i hugged my knees at pinikit ko ang mga mata ko.

Last night, the hope i had for the future faded immediately. If I don't accept Ashton as my husband, Raven will have me killed. I understand what he said to me. I  have no say in my life anymore. I have been branded as one of the Bjorne's wife. Hindi pa kami kasal ni Ashton pero wife na ang bansag sa akin Raven. And I'm done crying. Wala na din naman akong iluluha pa. Kung ano nalang gusto nilang gawin sa akin, tatanggapin ko nalang. I'd rather live for my son kesa lumaki siyang walang ina. Yun nalang siguro bibigyan ko ng pansin. Gagabayan ko nalang ang anak  ko para hindi siya lumaking walanghiya katulad ng tatay niya. My love will be enough to keep him from becoming a monster.

"I understand what you're feeling." 

I felt her sit next to me at hinagod ang balikat ko. "You are not the only one who suffered, you know." aniya. "But we learned to accept it and how to handle it. We can't escape so might as well get the best of it." 

I opened my eyes. Alam kong nababasa niya sa mukha ko ang pagkadisgusto sa sinabi niya.

"You see, we have found a way to turn the table around. Believe me when i say that Ashton is not the worst Bjorne."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Umayos ako ng upo paharap sa kanya. She took that as a que to continue what she was saying.

"They are violent no matter how submissive you are, we all know that. But they are still men. And you have the weapon to control Ashton."

"What do you mean?" i asked curiously.

She looked at me and then her gaze went down. "If you use it wisely, you'll have him in the palm of your hands." aniya na may makahulugang ngiti sa labi. "We all learned some tricks, you know. It wasn't easy but it was worth it."

I know my face turned red when i realized what she was saying. 

She stood up. "You may not notice the difference when you see us but in our home, my husband will do everything I say." she said proudly. 

"Come. We'll have a meeting with the ladies. " hinila niya ako patayo at giniya sa kung saan man.

We entered a room at nakita kong nandun nga sina Penelope. 

"Ladies, it is time for Molly to know the 'Hows'." Rhea announced pagkapasok na pagkapsok namin.