SHATTERED DREAMS

CHAPTER SEVEN

The following morning came too quickly, the thin streams of sunlight casting long shadows across my room. Sleep had eluded me for most of the night, my mind tangled in a web of fear and defiance. Sbanisethu's threat echoed in my thoughts, replaying over and over. But fear was no longer enough to keep me bound. I had to be brave. For myself.

I pulled on a simple outfit—jeans and a light sweater, my favorite from before my life became entangled with his family’s expectations. No more silks and delicate fabrics that made me feel like a doll in a glass case. I wanted to be the woman I was before—unapologetically myself.

As I made my way downstairs, I half-expected an ambush. The quiet of the house made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I wasn’t sure if MaDlamini would still speak to me, or if Mthandeni’s protection would hold, but I had to press forward. I was done hiding.

I found MaDlamini in the dining room, her hands smoothing over the tablecloth in preparation for breakfast. Her back was to me, but I could feel the weight of her disapproval before she even turned around.

“I heard what happened last night,” she said quietly, still focused on the table, as if the words cost her something to say.

I hesitated at the doorway. “I had no choice, MaDlamini. I’ve been living a life that isn’t mine. You must understand.”

She finally looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and sorrow. “It’s not about understanding, my dear. It’s about consequences. Sbanisethu may not be the man you hoped he was, but leaving him will not come without a cost. Do you really believe you can walk away so easily?”

Her words struck deep, but I forced myself to stand tall. “I know it won’t be easy. But I can’t live this way anymore. Not with him. Not after what he’s done.”

MaDlamini sighed, her shoulders sagging with the weight of knowledge she wasn’t ready to share. “You think it’s just him, don’t you? You think this is a simple matter of a marriage gone wrong. But it’s so much bigger than that. You’re tied to this family in ways you can’t even imagine.”

“What are you saying?” I asked, a cold feeling settling in my stomach.

She took a deep breath, folding her hands in front of her. “Sbanisethu’s family is powerful, Hlelolwenkosi. You may think this is a battle between you and him, but the truth is, his family will not let you walk away unscathed. They see you as an investment, a link to their legacy. To them, you are not just his wife—you are a means to an end.”

I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself. “I’m not property. I’m a person, MaDlamini. I don’t care what they see me as.”

“That may be true,” she said softly, “but they do not think like you. And they will not let you leave without ensuring their interests are protected.”

“What does that even mean?” I demanded, my voice rising. “I’ve done nothing but try to adapt to this life, and all I’ve gotten in return is betrayal and isolation.”

MaDlamini’s eyes softened, but the concern remained. “It means that if you leave, they will come after you. And not just for your marriage. They will ensure that you have no way of rebuilding your life, no way of making a future outside of their reach. They control far more than you realize—jobs, connections, reputations.”

I felt the walls closing in around me, suffocating my newfound resolve. “So what? I’m supposed to just stay here and let them destroy me slowly? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No.” MaDlamini shook her head. “I’m saying that if you truly want to leave, you must be prepared. You need allies. You need a plan.”

The door creaked open behind me, and I turned to see Mthandeni standing in the hallway, his expression unreadable but his presence reassuring.