7. FORCED STARVATION

BRANDY

Something was poking me.

I quickly scrambled up, ready to fight.

Music blurred, vision blurry, with everything aching on my body.

I pushed up, pulling the headphones from my ears, leaving them throbbing from the abuse.

“Shit.” I huffed out.

“We are leaving at six, be ready with your packed bag.”

I jumped, turning around to find a huge man standing next to me. I couldn’t help but scurry back, only to stop and realize he was my husband.

I was married now.

I sighed, a hand running over my face.

I felt as bad as he looked. His under eyes weren’t better at all, as if he hadn’t slept at all.

“Okay. I will borrow a packing bag. I doubt you will be lending me your card anytime soon.” I gave him an eye, testing my luck in case he changed his mind and gave me the card again.

My smile wasn’t returned, Husband turning and walking away.

He looked pissy as hell, leaving me fearful for those who would spend the day with him.

“Have a great day!” I screamed as the door closed.

My back hurt, sprawled on the carpet and luckily my screen sharing had disconnected so he hadn’t seen my work.

If he found out I had a business he would shut it down. I did not want to depend on him and besides I loved my work, it was everything to me.

I stood to take a shower, eat some more pizza before I crumbled onto the bed he made so perfectly.

It smelt of him, so good and all I could dream off were abs, kissing them, and touching them.

My underwear was soaked when I woke up, prompting me to take another shower.

I pulled on jeans, a sweater and sneakers, no clue where he was taking me. More pizza was stuffed in my mouth, sitting down to continue with my work, so absorbed to snap out as the door opened.

I pulled off my Airpods, turning with his eyes running to me. He looked worse than he left, tie twisted around, sleeves folded, eyes red and hair messy.

Did he get into a fight?

I bit my tongue, his eyes telling me his mood.

I pushed up, turning off the television. I folded my laptop over, tucking it in the work bag I had set besides me. My case was packed, ready to go.

Husband turned as I stood up, him walking out of the apartment, letting it be known he was in a hurry.

I pulled my things, rushing after him.

The car ride was even worse, the tension deep. He kept staring at me now and again as if I did something bad and he was about to punish me. A chill went down my spine, pulling my Airpods max up, my iPad up with my pen, working away.

My phone buzzed, a message from Findmy.

“Shit.” I shook my head, having left my Airpods pro back in the house.

The drive took over an hour so imagine how uncomfortable I was. I could only let out a breath as we stepped out in the driveway of a humongous house, having arrived in our destination.

Was it our house?

Were we going to stay there?

The lights were on, looking so glamorous.

It was a mansion, more like a castle to me.

I swallowed, my bag on my back, making my way behind Husband.

The large doors opened, a butler! A whole butler there.

“Sir.”

“Steward, how are you?”

“Good sir. The family is already seated.”

“Thank you Steward.”

Husband walked past and I smiled at the butler, giving a wave. He smiled back brightly, the first person to smile so brightly since I arrived from school.

“I can take your bag to you room Ma’am.” He said.

“Oohh, thank you.” I pulled it down, stuffing my Airpods,  pen and iPad in.

He gave a bow, me smiling to walk quickly as Husband went through large double doors.

Where were we? The family? I was going to meet his family?

My stomach turned to knots. A warning would have been appreciated.

I quickened my steps, my eyes moving to the large dinner table as I walked in.

Three heads I counted, barely taking in their faces as I moved to the seat next to Husband.

“Good evening, Ma, father, Ruth.”

“ Ooh, son, you look terrible. Are you okay?”

The mother cooed. I stared up, talking her in. Pearls sat around her tall lovely neck, matching with her earrings. Her hair was pinned up. She was class and elegance, polished and proper.

The man next to her wore a suit, making me feel under dressed in my jeans.

“ I am fine mother, nothing to worry about.”

“ Well, lets get on with dinner then.” His mother said.

A knowing look passed between father and son.

The last was Ruth, a baby in her arms who she was feeding a bottle.

Movement was observed, maids walking closer, each plating for a certain person on the dinner table.

I never even had time to say hello, it feeling awkward as conversation sparked suddenly between son and father.

“No Lily, don’t serve Brandy, she is on a diet.” My mother-in-law suddenly said, snapping my head to her.

“No, sorry, I am not on a diet.” I clarified. I was hungry, I needed food.

Mother giggled in a way that had my heart drum faster. It was that sadistic evil laugh that stuck in my head.

“Oohh dear, don’t be silly. Of course you are. Weight loss by dry fasting. And before I forget, I got you a personal trainer. She will be here by nine.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was such a good joke but my laugh quickly turned to cry for help, my eyes wide in shock.

Was she serious?

“No, please, I am okay.” I tried again.

She just waved her hand.

“Don’t worry child, in a month you will be down to size zero.”

My eyes went wider. I didn’t want to be size zero! Lose a bit of weight, maybe, but not a size zero. I would die trying that.

My mouth opened to close.

The silence spread in the room.

My head turned, staring at my husband who just picked up his fork and began eating.

A bloody traitor.

I suddenly wished I had stuffed some pizza in my bag.

Somehow I still had hope. They wouldn’t just eat while I starved.

My tongue darted across my lips to stare as they ate, chatting with me just sitting there.

My daggers went straight to the man next to me until he put his fork down. He couldn’t just eat while I starved. What kind of a husband?

“I think I will be taking my leave now.” He suddenly said, pushing his chair back.

“Ma,” He continued, walking to kiss his mother’s cheek.

“Ruth.” He waved with the woman waving back.

I couldn’t believe this, my heart in my throat.

He turned, heading for the door.

I pushed my chair back, quickly getting up.

I rushed after him, his strides long and fast. I could not even speak. The door opened, him out and I after.

“I need to get my bag.” I said loudly.

He did not respond. I cursed. I should have not departed with my bag. Now I was at odds; leave the bag and go with him by force or stay.

“You can’t just leave me!”

The guard opened his door, him sliding through the seat.

“I am your wife.”

Did that mean anything at all to him?

The door closed, the guards walking around.

I wanted to bash his window but I couldn’t so instead, I pushed both middle fingers up just as the cars began moving.

---

Loud banging.

“Wake up!”

I groaned out, pulling the pillow to bury my head under.

“Wake up, you have training in ten minutes.” My mother-in-law, more like dragonhead, was my worst nightmare. I had worked through the night even with the hunger. I needed more sleep or I would die.

“No.” I groaned out only for the sheets to be ripped from my body then nothing.

I sat up, turning.

The room was vacant with the door left open. I was afraid what she would do if she came back and found me still in bed so I did the bed, went to take a quick shower, and pulled on a gym outfit.

My body was sore all over, the hunger killing me.

To her promise I had a trainer, my mother-in-law seated by the bench press in the home gym, watching.

“You will not embarrass my son.” She said as I entered the gym.

Water was all I was allowed through the day.

What I thought was an hour exercise was actually a day long exercise. Even I knew that wasn’t healthy.

Being forced to exercise and lose weight, I never saw that coming.

By the time I reached my room all I could do was shower and collapse on the bed. My heart sank because I had so much work but I was so exhausted.

The next day wasn’t any better.

The hunger would bury me alive. It felt as if my insides were eating each other up.

My head was pounding, my body aching. I couldn’t move a single part of me and I thought I was dying on the fourth day. I could barely breathe.

“Get up.”

I couldn’t even force it, not even able to speak. My limbs were limp.

A guard was brought up, trying to pull me from bed and that when it was decided I was terribly ill.

“Maybe we should let her rest today.” I heard my Dragonhead say, “Oohh my poor son. This can't be the rest of his life.”

I was fat, not impaired, nor terribly looking.

My heart ached, closing my eyes as they all left me, the room silent. I pulled the blankets over my head to drown away in sleep.

There was no way I would stay another day in that ratchet place.

As painful as it was I got up at the break of dawn, pulled my clothes on and my bag over my back. I carried my case down the stairs, Stewart at the door with a smile on his face.

“Miss?” He questioned.

“Open the door Stewart, I am going home.” I said, ready for a fight even though I could barely carry the case in hand.

“Should I get a car then for you?”

“If you can do that without letting your mistress know then yes.”

“I am afraid I have to inform her first.”

“Then no thank you Stewart.” I smiled, walking past him.

From there I dragged my case, my phone showing me the map to my Airpods which were in my husband’s house.