"Stand still and stop embarrassing yourself. Do you want to let everybody know that you are just stepping into the world of opulence?" Victor said sharply as he tried to adjust Emilia's dress.
She was standing in front of the mirror, checking out the dress for a party she was to attend with her husband, later that day, in the biggest store in the city.
"I-I can't breathe in this..." Emilia muttered, her hands brushing against the tight fabric at her waist.
"If you can't breathe, you can simply hold your breath till the party is over." Victor replied casually.
"What? How could I possibly hold my breath till the..." Emilia was going to protest but he cut her off sharply.
"Find a way, just wear it. It is what I like." He maintained sharply, his tone leaving no room for further argument.
Emilia wanted to argue, to complain that the cleavage of the dress was too revealing but swallowed her words. She knew better than to argue.
"Good girl! Now, put these on..." He said, handing over a pair of fancy high heels. Emilia's eyes widened in fear as she saw them.
"I don't think I can w..wear those. They are too high for me. I won't..." She was saying but couldn't finish before Victor cut her off sharply again.
"I don't care about what you think. You will wear them." He told her firmly with a glare that immediately silenced Emilia.
~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening:
Emilia walked beside Victor into the grand hall, heavily feeling the weight of his choice for her.
"My chest feels so exposed..." She mumbled under her breath, looking down at her chest. The neckline dipped too low and the corset squeezed her ribs. Then the heels... Her every step in them felt like walking on knives.
"Smile, Emilia. That is what I bring you here for." Victor whispered through gritted teeth as they entered.
She nodded, forcing her lips into a faint curve.
"Oh, here comes my friend! It has been so long." A loud voice exclaimed, walking towards the duo.
At that moment, another man joined him and they approached them, glasses of champagne in hand. Their eyes darted to Emilia, scanning her from head to toe.
"And who is this stunning lady?" The first speaker asked with a grin.
"My new wife, Emilia." Victor said proudly, his hand resting on her lower back.
"A new wife? Man, you have been hiding this gem, right? Because how come I am just knowing about her?" Another man laughed, nudging Victor playfully.
All along, Emilia stayed quiet, forcing a small smile to stay on her face.
"That is rich coming from you that had been away from town for over two years, Morrison." Victor replied.
"I know, right. Don't mind me. But she is really beautiful and young. Fresh blood, huh? How did you manage that, Victor?" Morrison asked lightly. That earned a laugh from the other man besides him and Victor chuckled too and his grip on her waist tightened.
"Gentlemen, what can I say? I have good taste and most importantly, I am more than capable. Every woman can be bought with money, have you forgotten that?" Victor asked smoothly and his friends chuckled, nodding in agreement.
Emilia's cheeks burned with embarrassment but remained quiet.
"Now I am feeling bad that I missed the wedding, because I know it would be so fun." Morrison said.
"It was a grand event." Victor replied, puffing his chest.
The conversation blurred into background noise for Emilia. She shifted uncomfortably, her feet screaming from the heels, her chest constricted by the dress.
Later, a waiter passed by, offering drinks.
Victor took a glass, then turned to her.
"Here, darling. Have one."
"I'm not in the mood for any drink." She said, shaking her head gently.
"Of course, whatever you wish." He replied. Although, his smile stayed in place, there was something dark in his eyes.
The men laughed again, and Emilia drifted further into her thoughts, silently counting the minutes until the night would end.
~~~~~~~~~~
Few hours later, they were back at Victor's mansion.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Victor asked as he followed Emilia into the bedroom, his voice low.
Emilia frowned, confused.
"It was fine, I guess." She replied and noticed how Victor had fixed her with a cold glare.
"Fine? After you embarrassed me in front of everyone?" Victor stepped closer, his tone dropping. Emilia's eyes widened.
"Embarrassed? I don't understand..."
"Don't play dumb with me, Emilia." He cut her off.
"You didn't smile. You looked miserable the entire night. You even refused the drink I offered! Do you have any idea how that made me look?" He snapped at her.
"I--- I was uncomfortable—"
"Is that your excuse for humiliating me?" He cut her off again, sharply.
"I didn't mean to—"
"Don't talk back to me!" His hand shot out at that, shoving her backward, roughly.
She gasped as her back hit the wall.
"Please..."
"You can't even do one simple thing right, can you?" Victor spat, stepping closer.
"I'm sorry. I will do better next time..." Emilia trembled.
"Do better? You should have done it tonight." He snapped, letting out a bitter laugh.
Her breathing grew erratic as he approached her. His presence was suffocating.
Out of fear, she stumbled, falling against the dressing table. Her arm twisted awkwardly beneath her, and she cried out in pain.
"Argh..."
Victor smirked, watching her struggle.
"Look at you. So pathetic." He spat. And as Emilia tried to stand up, she stumbled again and hit her leg on the table. The injured part started bleeding.
"I didn't..." She was saying but got cut off again.
"Silence! Clean that mess immediately." He ordered before heading for the door.
When the door shut behind him, Emilia managed to stand up from the floor. Her arm throbbed and her left leg bled.
As she made to start sit down, her phone in her bag.
With shaking hands, she reached for it, wincing as her injured arm protested. She opened the message and froze.
Her breath quickened, and her teeth clenched.
"No… not now. Please!!!" She whispered, her voice breaking.