Kaia was busy mincing a carrot on a cutting board when she heard the familiar sound of heels hitting the marbled floor. The clacking of heels was fast, and becoming louder as the seconds went by. Kaia knew right away.
"She's coming! Kaia, what do we do?" Jan, one of their helpers came running at the kitchen looking distressed, the sound of her voice filled with so much panic yet she kept her voice low just enough for Kaia to hear.
Her mind went racing, trying to guess if she forgot an important task today, but nothing came to mind. The sun had just risen, and Kaia wished she could just tell herself that there was nothing to worry about. But she knew better. She knows everything's wrong when it comes to her mother-in-law.
"Jan, it's fine, go to the backroom and bring me some green peppers." She kindly asked Jan.
Kaia watched as Jan quickly followed her order. Kaia could hear the clacking noise almost nearing the kitchen's entrance so she stepped back from the counter, dropping the kitchen knife beside the crooked chunk of carrots that lays on the cutting board.
Kaia braced for whatever is going to happen.
In her mind, she's already enacting what to say to her mother-in-law as she sees her entering the kitchen, wearing a fitted dress, hair in a tight bun, looking far from pleased. Olivia's lips were tight, and a familiar look of disdain in her eyes as she looked over to Kaia.
Just apologize, and keep your mouth shut. A small voice in her head said.
But before Kaia could even utter an apology Olivia's free hand landed on her left cheek. The slap was so strong that she almost lost her balance, and could no longer feel her cheek.
"Is it really that hard to iron Edward's uniform?!" Olivia's voice thundered in the kitchen.
Kaia remained her eyes on the marbled floor. She stopped herself from crying out loud when a drop of blood fell on the floor.
"You're going to iron his uniform. And if my son would turn up late in school, you will not only get a slap from me." Olivia said in her cold voice before she stormed out of the kitchen
Kaia's head hung low, her hand went to her numbing cheek as she listened to the fading sound of Olivia's heels. She closed her eyes tightly, dragging her feet to the kitchen counter like nothing happened and returned from slicing the carrots thinly, while doing so, she tried her best not let a single sob escape from her trembling lips.
Someone gasped loudly in the corner. Kaia looked up and saw Jan whose eyes are wide open.
“Your nose is bleeding!" Jan exclaimed, hurriedly placing the green pepper on the counter and rushed to get some clean towels in the cabinet.
Jan then grabbed Kaia in the shoulders, grabbed the knife out of her hand and carefully wiped her bloodied nose clean.
"What happened?"
"It was nothing. I, I... it's my fault. I forgot to iron Edward's uniform last night."
Jan couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth, neither did she.
Edward was the sixteen-year-old brother of her husband, Levi Croft. Edward was not, in any way, a disabled individual. Though, his mother probably thinks he is because she lets other people do such a simple task instead of just asking her fully able son.
"You don't deserve this family, Kaia. You really don't. And I hate that you pretend to not know it. Look at you." Jan muttered, concern floods her face.
What Jan said about her was true. Kaia did pretend to not hear anything. She kept a poker face though deep down, she felt like a sandcastle that was about to crumble at any second.
Jan insisted on helping Kaia cook breakfast for the Croft, which Kaia accepted. Then as they finished serving it, Kaia headed to the second floor, and went to iron Edward's uniform.
She kept on glancing at the time as she ironed Edward's polo shirt. She endured the grumbling of her stomach and the stinging pain on her cheek like how she endured all the hurtful and degrading words she got from her husband's family.
Like what Jan said, she pretended like everything is normal. She tricked herself into thinking she's deserving of this life she lived in now. That this is what she wanted since she laid eyes on Levi, now her husband-- who hadn't stood up for her, not even once. Instead, he let his parent mistreat and verbally abused her.
But he's been good to you. A small voice whispered.
Indeed. One might come across Levi as someone who's intimidating, brooding, and worse, cruel. But Kaia, and the people who know Levi would beg to differ.
All throughout their five-year marriage, Levi never hit, let alone abuse her physically. His touch never felt heavy despite his big and callous hand. He never treated her as his servant like how his mother and sibling did.
He was good to her even though he said it over and over again that he will never love her.
And for Kaia, that statement cannot stop her from loving him. If anything, it made her want to prove him wrong.
And she is willing to put up with anything, including the harsh treatment his family gave her. Anything.
Even if she had to iron every clothing that Edward owns. She'll do it.
Kaia made her way to the dining room. Not because she will have to dine with Olivia and Edward, but because she was told by Olivia to stand in the corner so she can order her around while the mother and son eat their breakfast.
The only time she can join in is when Levi is present. But at the moment, her husband had left the house early for work, the reason why she was surprised when Olivia called for her to sit down.
She was too stunned to speak as she made her way to the dining chair. Olivia's eyes followed her.
At first, Kaia thought this was Olivia's way of making up for slapping her hard earlier but then... Kaia realized she ought to know better than that.
"Guess what? Tessa will be discharged in no time. Do you know what that means, Kaia?" Olivia announced, a smirk on her face.
Kaia felt her heart drop. A huge stone suddenly dropped from the sky and crushed everything she worked for.
"That means you better pack your things before I ask someone to throw it out," Olivia said through gritted teeth.
No matter how hard she tried, a tear fell from her eyes. Her heart was just too heavy to handle.
"Do you really still think you're a good fit to my son? You are a good-for-nothing woman with a social standing lower than us!" Olivia's loud voice was like a salt that gets rubbed on Kaia's wounded heart.
"Do yourself a favor. Get lost!"
That, she did. She got up from her seat, her hunger subsided, replaced by a force tugging at her heart. She ran past the room she and Levi shared, and went to Jan's room instead.
There, she stifled her cry with her hands. She cried for herself. For her future with Levi. For what's about to happen.
Later that night, Kaia waits for Levi in his study. She put on a brave face when the door clicked open.
Levi entered the room, the look on his face tells her that he was not expecting her presence at all.
He tugs at his tie to loosen it, his dark eyes locked with hers, his stride purposeful.
In one swift motion, he grabbed her by the wrist. His grip was so tight that it made her flinch with pain.
"Lev, you are hurting me." Kaia said, tears clouding her vision.
All along, she was wrong to think Levi won't hurt her at all. He is inflicting her pain. He knows he's hurting her.
"Why are you still here?" Levi asked, Kaia could feel his controlled anger.
"Please, Kaia. You have to leave. I don't want to hurt you like this so please, leave. And don't show yourself to me ever again." Levi said, almost begging.
That really hurt her more than anything. But Kaia stood her ground even when she could see the curtains slowly closing between them, and it's clear to her that everything is about to end, still she fights for her love one last time.
"No." She firmly said.
His brow arched. "No?"
"I am your wife, Levi. We--"
"Did you lose your mind or something?" He asked like I just said something hilarious.
He stepped closer and leveled his face to her ear.
"We're only married because you forced me to, Kaia. I never wanted this. I never wanted you."
