(Ladies POV)
"Nice heels, Gie, almost made my feet hollow!" Dee said.
"You urged me to press harder," Reggie said.
"At the very least, you can manage the pressure," Dee said.
"I'm sorry!", said Reggie
"I had to injure myself merely to get back at that woman," Dee explained.
"Did you hear that, Dee? Your hard work has paid off," Indy replied.
"Ladies, the show began", Dee said.
"The noises we've been waiting for", Reggie sat cross-legged.
"Someone learned a valuable lesson," Beth remarked.
"I wanted to go in and see her pretty face!" said Reggie.
"No, we can hear her desperate screams from here," Dee explained.
"Why not? We charged in, pretending to end the argument, and voila! We witnessed an extraordinary sight", said Beth.
"Let's do it!", asked Reggie.
"I don't want to ruin my son's mood, and I have no intention of ending the argument," Dee explained.
"Holy Shit! I nearly wrecked the show", Reggie stated.
"It's all because of you!", she gestured to Beth.
"I'm just offering you an idea, take it or leave it." Beth said.
"What are we going to do now?" Indy asked.
"Keep your eyes on the TV, and let your ears enjoy her painful voice," Dee said.
Luke stormed out. He drove away in his car.
"The fight is over", said Indy.
"He didn't even bid us goodbye," Beth remarked.
"How can you expect a madman to bid you goodbye? He's not even mentally stable" Dee said.
"Enough. That's not the topic we need to discuss, let's take a peek at her", said Reggie.
"A peek? Really? Should we go that far? I don't think we...", said Beth.
"We should, let's check what's inside that room," Indy cut Beth off.
"We know what happened there, they were fighting, what else?", said Beth .
Delores rolled her eyes.
"Up your ass! We don't have time to give you a thorough explanation", Dee said.
They walked silently to Luke's room.
"Wait! Peek at the hole first", Dee stopped Reggie before she reached the doorknob.
"But.. fine!", said Reggie
"How could I see through this peephole?", said Reggie.
"I don't see anything", her eyes darted across the room. Then her attention was drawn to something.
"Now I see everything", said Reggie.
"What did you see?", asked Beth.
She got to her feet and faced them.
"We can go in", said Reggie
"Are you nuts? She's in the room!", said Indy.
"She won't notice anything," Reggie remarked with a sneer on her face.
"You don't want us to be caught, do you?" said Beth.
"I'm not stupid, come on in, we're safe", said Reggie.
They walked in. They found Sarah unconscious on the floor. They drew nearer to her.
"Don't touch!", Reggie whispered to Beth, preventing her from touching Sarah's face.
"Find something", said Reggie.
She grabbed the magazine on the dresser.
"I found this", said Beth.
"Give it to me", Dee softly rotated Sarah's face with the magazine.
"WOW!", said Reggie.
"She's prettier than ever", said Indy.
"We're done, let's get out of here", Dee said.
"Don't you want us to put her on the bed?", asked Beth.
"Yeah, she's bleeding", asked Reggie.
"No need, it's just a drop of blood, she can treat herself once she wakes up," I explained.
(Sarah's POV )
The light poured in through the window. A blaze of the sun blasted my face. I gradually opened my eyes. I was weak on the floor, and my entire body ached.
I forced myself to get up. I pressed my palms firmly against the ground. I leaned against the wall.
I stared at the empty bed. He hadn't been home since the previous night. I pushed myself up till I was standing again. I picked up my towel and walked past the mirror, avoiding seeing my wounded self.
I stepped out of the bathroom. I gathered all of my strength to look at myself in the mirror. I touched my bruise from the hard slap, I wiped the dried blood from my nostrils with a damp tissue.
My bedroom door is open. He comes in, my husband! He placed the paper bag on my dressing table.
I took out the ointment. He plainly knows how my face ends! I applied it to my bruise.
I lay in bed. Tiredness lulls me to sleep.
"Wake up, we're having brunch," he said, startling me as if nothing had happened!
"They're waiting for us in the dining room", said Luke. He exited the room.
This has gone too far! I've had enough. I have to stare at my scars every time I get naked. TIME TO END THE VIOLENCE!
I emerged from the room with no makeup on. I walked behind Luke.
We strode into the dining room where all the Abrams were waiting. The first thing I saw was them, the B****** behind all the problems I had! The source of lies. They saw me coming in.
"The prince and the beast," Reggie said, giggling along with the others (Delores, Indy and Beth).
"Good morning Sarah, you're late again", said Delores.
"Come join us", said Reggie.
Delores and the ladies approached me. I curved my lips upward, "Good morning mother, ready to end the day?", I smirked.
"I know you're all behind this. I heard everything. I blacked out, doesn't mean I'm deaf" I said into their ears.
They glanced at each other, stunned.
Silas Abrams motioned us to a seat while he studied my face.
"Let's dig in! before the food gets cold", said Reggie.
"Hold on", said Silas.
They looked inquisitively at Silas.
"Why is your face bruised?", asked Silas Abrams.
"Who did that to you?", asked Scott Abrams.
"Before I answer your questions, I'd like to show you something," I said.
The ladies turned pale, except my husband looked utterly calm.
I ripped the long sleeves off my dress. I trimmed my white dress to sit just above the knee.
Silas jolted up from his seat, staring at my bruises. Seth, Scott, and Shane impulsively rise from their chairs.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?!", said Shane (the third brother of Silas).
"I hit her", said Luke.
They were taken aback, except for the women behind his actions.
"How come you did that?" Silas asked..
"She made a mistake, so I taught her a lesson," Luke explained.
"What did you do, Sarah?", asked Silas.
"I did nothing. I spoke up for myself and told him the truth," I explained.
"He began striking me for the lies he heard," I explained. They gave me a puzzled look.
"Dad, I've been here for a couple of months. When I joined the family, I believed I would be in good hands, yet I was wrong", I said.
"There are some ladies who don't like me because I'm being myself", I said.
Luke attempted to interrupt me, but his father restrained him.
"The bruises on my body are from both my husband and the women in this house," I explained.
"Are you accusing us, Sarah? Do you have any proof?" Reggie rose up from her seat.
"I've proof, dad. If you allow me...", I said.
He nodded.
"Ruth..." I called her
She showed up with a box.
"What's in that box?", asked Seth.
When Ruth raised the lid of the box, I pulled out the whip Reggie used to lash me with.
"Do you remember this thing, aunt Gie?", I said.
The women watched in awe, particularly Reggie, who was visibly terrified."I...", she ran out of words.
"I'm sure you remember", I said.
"What has my little sister got to do with the whip?" Silas wondered.
"She lashed me with this whip, with the support of my mother-in-law, aunt Indy, and Beth", I said.
"I know it's hard to believe, you can ask Luke or test the blood that sticks to the whip," I explained.
"What in the name of God is going on in this house? My skull is ready to blow apart!" said Silas.
"Would you mind explaining it?!" Silas
Reggie is deafeningly quiet.
"Dear, it's not what you think, it's only a minor issue," Delores explained.
"A MINOR ISSUE, LOOK AT SARAH'S BODY, DEE!", said Silas in high tone.
Delores clammed up.
"Dad, let me explain", I said.
"Please!"
"It had been happening to me for months. My mother-in-law, who used to be kind, completely changed as soon as I walked into this house," I explained.
"They don't like me. They accuse and they treat me cruelly." I explained.
"I can no longer stand it. Today was my chance to reveal everything", I said.
"That's a lot!", said Scott Abrams.
Silas sighed, "Sarah, I don't know what to say, I feel ashamed", said Silas.
"Don't be, dad", I said.
"I've one more thing to say", I said.
"Say whatever you want to say," Silas instructed.
"I won't totally blame my husband for the incident, but it would be wonderful if he could see the reality behind what they said," I added.
"However, it seems he can't discern the difference between fact and lies", I said.
"The most awful part is when they create a lie and tell it to their loved ones in order for people to see they are right, and only for their loved ones to hit me!", I exclaimed.
"WOW, Dad, you have such a great family!", I said.
"YOU BETTER SHUT UP! before I hit you again! You don't want your whole body filled with pain, do you?!", our eyes locked.
"They never lie to me, or perhaps you lied!" exclaimed Luke.
"You speak ill of my family. I ought to give you another lesson!" he exclaimed.
"ENOUGH LUKE!", said Silas.
"I'm sorry for everything, Sarah. I know I can't turn back time. I'm sorry once more, and I swear it won't happen again," Silas stated.
"YOU APOLOGIZE TO HER?!", said Luke.
"I can't accept your apologies, dad, it wasn't your fault," I explained.
"Your family has a good reputation in society. You don't want bad things to spread out of this family and harm your excellent reputation, right?" I asked.
I smashed my hand on the table. "AS A NEWCOMER, I DEMAND TO BE RESPECTED!" I exited the dining room.
"Back to the office", said Silas to Luke, the grumpy man leaving the house.
"I'm leaving now! We'll have a serious discussion when I get back!" stated Silas.