Chapter 2. Maltreatment
Anna focused on the documents in her hands, burying herself completely in her work.
"Ma'am, here's ur coffee", her assistant said with a smile and Anna raised her head. "Thank you Julia", she said with a warm smile and the assistant nodded before walking away.
She was running her own company. It wasn't large or known. Just a Little office, she was managing. Before she knew, it was evening and most of her workers had left. Anna stretched her body tiredly, and gazed at the ceiling. She didn't feel like going home. The beatings and insults she receives every night was taking a toll on her and she didn't want more of it. But she had no choice either.
"Ma'am I'm leaving, Goodnight". Julia informed and Anna smiled.
"Have a goodnight Julia, see u tomorrow", she replied. Unlike others who looked down on her because of her unattractiveness, Julia didn't mind and always treated her like a sister which warmed Anna's heart. After working some more, she finally decided to go home, it was getting late and she didn't want Michael to lock her outside.
After checking that the doors were closed, she flung her bag on her shoulder and walked on the quiet street. It was 9pm but since it was an isolated area, the streets were empty, indicating everyone had gone home. As she walked, Anna reminded herself not to close late again.
She quickened her steps and from the corner of her eyes, she could see a stout man, walking behind her. Anna's heart raced and she quickened her steps but the man caught up to her. Her body was still recovering from her bruises and she was weak putting her at a disadvantage.
"Heyy pretty", the lousy man murmured as she gripped her neck and Anna screamed for help but the man burst into laughter.
"There's no one here, my dear, just you and me".
After hearing that Anna's heart raced and cold sweat appeared on her forehead.
"Let me go, let me go", she pleaded but the man didn't seem to budge as he dragged her down an Alley. Anna's eyes widened and she hastily pulled out her hairpin. The man was oblivious to her actions as his mind was filled with all the dirty things he would do with her. Anna dipped the haipin into his neck and the man's eyes widened as he felt the cold blood trickle down his neck.
You…. He stammered but Anna wasted no time in hitting his groin and freeing herself.
The man stumbled in his steps and Anna began to ran. Her body was covered in sweat and her heart raced as she turned around and saw the man trying to follow her. She ran as fast as she could, not paying attention to the pain in her body and the numbness in her feet.
Her wounds have reopened and it was quite painful but none of that stopped her from making an escape. Finally, she stumbled into the mansion and miss Sarah rushed to her side.
" Madam, what happened to u"??. She asked worriedly as she stared at Anna.
Water.. she whispered and Miss Sarah quickly rushed to get it for her. Anna's throat was dry and she was breathing heavily. Miss Sarah handed the glass of water to her but before she could drink, A hand yanked it from her causing the glass to shatter on the floor and Anna flinched in fear.
Before she could process anything, a heavy slap landed on her cheeks and she found herself being dragged away by Michael.
"Sir, the madam is not well, please spare her" Miss Sarah uttered worriedly and Anna gave her a small painful smile before disappearing into her room. Miss Sarah could only keep quiet and pray for Anna in her heart.
"Why did u come back late, which man were you having fun with"??
Michael growled as she hit Anna's head on the wall. Tears welled up in her eyes and she had no strength to talk. Michael tool her silence as an answer and hit her until she passed out.
The next day, Anna couldn't get out of bed, Miss Sarah took care of her but she could only open her eyes. The pain in her body was unbearable, every inch of her body was in pain and she couldn't bring herself to get up. She stayed in bed for three days and she was quite grateful Michael didn't show up this days.
He must have thought she would die and saved himself his energy. On the fourth day, when Anna got better, she decided to meet her sister Ava. It was a bustling afternoon, as Anna made her way to the Gray mansion. Upon arrival, she saw her family seated in the sitting room, having a lovely discussion and their faces filled with smiles. Anna felt a lump in her throat and wondered why she was the only one living such a pitiful life. After what seemed like forever, they noticed her.
Juliet and her mother couldn't stop themselves from laughing at her appearance and she saw how her younger sister Ava shifted in her chair, probably embarrassed of having a sister like her and that broke Anna's heart.
She walked straight to her sister and poured out her grievances. "I want a divorce, Ava pls help me, Michael will kill me, you are a successful model, you have what it takes to help me out of my situation pls", Anna held her sister's hand, tears trickling down her face.
But Ava simply withdrew her hand and stepped back. "I'm sorry Sister but marrying Michael was ur own choice, I know u
you did it to free me but there's nothing I can do for you now and please try to appear more presentable the next time you meet me, I'm a celebrity and I don't want the paparazzi getting a hint of me being associated with you, it will damage my reputation".
Anna heard her sister's speech and every word felt like a knife cutting her heart. She grew up with Ava thinking they shared an unbreakable bond but it seems she was the only one having such thoughts, Ava did not care about her. Anna's anger got the better of her and she snapped, "I did it for u, I got Married to Michael to give you a free life, Ava I'm ur sister".
Enough, Ava cut her off. Her round innocent eyes filled with hatred.
"I don't want to have anything to do with you, Anna, you,disgust me, do you even even look in the mirror"??
Ava mocked with a smile as she looked Anna from head to toe. "You are ugly Anna, and I regret having a sister like you.
Her words cut deep, breaking Anna's heart and she stumbled back. She raised Anna alone, their parents passed away when she was eleven, she denied herself a better life just to have Ava live it. But now it Seems, she wasted her love.
"You heard ur sister Ava, pls get out, from now on The Gray family has nothing to do with you", Angela Gray remarked, a victorious smile on her face.
Anna glanced at her Uncle hoping he would say a word for her but he nodded in agreement to his wife's word. Juliet Gray took a step forward and slapped Anna, "bitch, you are a disgrace to the Gray family, we don't want to See you anywhere around us"
with that she pulled Anna's hair and dragged her out of the villa.
Anna lay on her bed, her mind filled with thoughts, when her sister had come crying to her, she dropped everything and helped her but now that she needed her, she happily turned her back on her. Anna smiled bitterly and wiped her tears. She spent the rest of her days working hard, she tried to avoid Michael as much as she could and so far she was doing well. She woke up at dawn, have miss Sarah prepare breakfast for her, which she was grateful for and then go to work. When she came back she would lock her self in her room and she was enjoying her peaceful life so far.