A smile appeared on my face at the family warmth of my parents' home.

Warmth that was never brought by my mother. But more by Christine who practically raised me. My mother could only see her as an employee but she was more to my father and myself. She always single-handedly prepared and organized all family event and dinners all on her own.

My eyes landed on the man that always brought a smile on my face. A man who never hesitated before putting me before anything and anyone.

The man for who I'm letting myself being tormented and humiliated for every day.

But just seeing him healthy makes it all worth it.

"How are you?" I smiled lightly taking a seat in front of my father. I took his hand in mine.

His eyes moved and he just looked at me warmly not moving.

His eyes were always expressing. He hasn't been able to move in years, so his only way of expression was through his eyes.

I looked at him and then at his hand in mine holding back my tears. "You look good."

I won't let them come out. I won't let my father see me sad or in distress.

Not when he is like this. I believe that every hardship and every pain is just a step to the peace and happiness we all seek for. Every bad luck and every tear should be seen as a step closer to greatness.

And that's why I am patient.

Patience is the key. My father always said.

He didn't really attach himself to material things. So how would he feel about my marriage. A marriage my mother pushed me into because the man could bring my father's company and work back to the stability it used to have before the accident.

My father had a car accident ten years ago, which ended up paralyzing him. He doesn't move. He doesn't talk. He just stays there looking around. He notices everything but can't react.

We're sure that some tried to kill him. But the truck that hit his was abandoned by the driver. The police investigated for a few months, but then just closed the case, not having enough proof about it being an accident.

Some things just don't add up. That car came out of nowhere and my father was always careful and a slow driver. He never liked testing limits on the road.

My mother says the doctors are still trying everything they can without any result and it's fair to say that I don't believe a word she's saying. She doesn't spend time with him. She would rather have other people taking care of her husband while she goes out, spending what's left of his money.

Christine every hour of the day by my father's side, making sure that he's okay. She the only one that can tell me something about his condition that I would believe.

I'm twenty-three and my mother forced me to stop my studies on my last year in university, because she didn't find it useful.

What she thought useful was to push me into a with a man that I didn't trust at all. She has been pressuring me and I wish I knew she wanted me to marry this man.

For his money. That wouldn't surprise me.

"Marriage is an investment." She kept repeating, and after all these years, I'm surprised that I still find ways not to believe her.

I know I shouldn't think bad because she is my mother, but there is still that small part in my head warning me from her. I want to believe that she is not the person I think she is, but the way she is so attached to this luxury life and the lack of attention to my father and myself saddens me.

She keeps telling me how bad it was going for my father's company if I didn't marry Kaden. She told me how much we needed Kaden, my husband.

"You can't be selfish, Maya.Your father'swork can't be ruined before you wouldn't give this man a chance."

And like a little girl I listened to her. I always did.

Just then I heard the front door open and slam shut. It was not long before my mother, Camilla, made an appearance with a radiant smile on her face. She always acted so calm and happy, as if she would be able to stop the sky if it was falling.

She looked at me. Her skin glowing and her hair looked soft and silky. Her cream-colored dress matched her heels as she walked closer to us.

"Great. You're already here. Let's go". She said and I nodded standing up.

Christine came to my father's side like she always did. She smiled at me warmly and I returned her smile.

"I'll see you later dad". I said softly kissing his forehead.

His skin, once warm was always cold now.

I nodded at Christine, knowing that she will take good care of him and followed my mother out of the room.

"How is your husband?" She asked as we walked in the dining room.

"He's fine. And I'm fine too mom. Thanks for asking." I said quietly taking a seat and she followed.

"I hope you're being a good to him." She replied ignoring my statement.

I licked my lips before looking at her. "I am doing my best."

She looked at me disapprovingly. "You have to do more that. Don't forget that he is our future. If you want to assure that your father and I have a good future, you can't go against him". She said making me clench my jaw lightly.

"You have to be good. You have to know how to be patient and understanding. You can't just be throwing tantrums. Don't be selfish Maya. You're not a child anymore."

Here it is again.

I looked at her. "He hurts me." I said, my voice shaking a little. "He's not a good man, mom."

She looked at me for a moment looking a little taken aback, before shaking her eyes at me. "What did you do to anger? You should stop. He is a very collected man who knows how to control his temper".

"Mom." I looked at her shaking my head.

"Sweetheart." She sighed placing her hand on my cheek softly. "You have only been married for four months and it's hard sometimes." She said moving her hand away.

I clenched my teeth as my eyes started watering in frustration at her words. "I don't want to be with him."

"You think you can afford to lose him. Don't forget that he is paying for your father's treatment. He is the one who making sure that your father's business doesn't fall." She snapped. "If you leave him. Your father and everything else will be lost."

"Mom". I said lightly. "You don't understand. He is n-".

"No, you don't understand. If you leave him. We'll lose everything." She said standing up.

I watched her walk way and tears silently start coming out of my eyes. I wiped them away, slowly standing up playing with one of my hair slowly. I took my purse and went back to my father's room.

I walked back in my father's room forcing a smile on my face.

"Dad." I smiled walking in. "I have to go." I said walking up to him and kneeling in front of him.

"Already. Why don't you stay for dinner, baby." Christine smiled lightly.

I forced a smile on my face looking at her. "Kaden will be home soon. I have to be there". I said looking at my father who was giving a hard look.

He clenched his jaw as if he was trying to speak. I placed my hand on his cheek stroking his jaw lightly using my thumb.

"I will come to visit you soon, dad. I promise." I smiled before softly kissing his cheek. "I will come visit soon". I sighed standing up. "Bye Christine."

"See you soon, sweetheart. Just call if you need anything". She smiled moving closer to pull me into a tight hug.

I glanced at my father one more time before walking out of the room.

*******

I parked my car before looking at the house I am supposed to call home. The house I'm always scared to go to. The house I am scared to call home, scared that I could possibly call it home forever.

A mansion that felt more like a prison to me.

I slowly got out and make my way to the house while looking for my keys.

I slowly opened the door but his voice startled me before I even got the chance to close the door.

"Where were you?" He asked making me jump out of my skin.

I slowly around to look at the man I call my husband. He looked at me waiting for an answer as I closed the front before facing him.

"I... I went to see my parents." I said trying to keep my hands from shaking.

What did he always make me feel like I was committing a crime, with the simplest things, like visiting my parents.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked slowly walking up to me.

"I told you yesterday." I said lowly moving further against the door, praying for it to swallow me.

"I called you. Where is your phone?" He asked.

"I... I forgot it here." I said lowly. "It's in the room. I'm sorry."

He stood right in from of me, He softly ran a hand though my hair before he fisted his hand into them. "Your phone should always be with you". He growled lowly pulling hard forcing my eyes on him. "When will you learn?"

"I'm sorry." I said holding my tears and trying to keep my voice steady.

I am not going to cry.

Don't cry.

He looked at me unamused before pulling my hair harder. I don't want to cry in front of him.

Not right now.

I know the power it gives him. He feeds off of it. I know that.

"Go upstairs." He ordered pushing me away harshly. I groaned lightly when my back hit the front door.

I didn't wait a second and quickly ran upstairs. I walked in our bedroom before taking my heels off and sat on the bed.

I placed my hand on my chest trying to calm my beating heart and my breathing. My hands started shaking again and fear took over my body with each step I heard him take in the hallway.

He is going to be here soon.

The bedroom door slammed open and I quickly turned to face him. He closed the door slowly looking at me.

"Take your dress off." He ordered and my body tensed even more and I started feeling light headed as I slowly stood up to move further away.

"Please. I'm sorry." I pleaded as a sob escaped me and just realized how hard I was shaking.

I let out another sob when he suddenly took quick steps toward me, making me immediately regret not listening. He roughly grabbed my arms slamming me against the wall.

"You do as I fucking say." He growled.

"I am your wife." I said looking at him with watery eyes. "I... I am trying my best. I want us to work and I want us both to be happy. W... Why do you keep doing this?" I said and I cried when he backhanded me.

"Don't tell me what to do". He snapped taking a hold of my dress.

Next thing I heard was a ripping sound as he started tearing the material of my dress and I let him.

I am tired.

He pushed me on the bed and started taking his clothes off and I lead there not moving, finding a place in my mind that I could go to, so I wouldn't feel any pain.

I felt his weight on me and I closed my eyes tightly, trying to block his voice, his touch.

Block him.

"So beautiful." He said huskily. "You're so perfect." His lips moved to breast as he took my nipple in his mouth. "So soft. You were made just for me, baby."

He groaned again twirling his tongue around my bud while moving his hands to my hips, and I closed my eyes tighter.

Stop. Please! My mind screamed but I couldn't find the voice anymore.

So, I let him use me, as he always did.

"I'll always be there for you, princess." I let my body relax as my father's voice came to mind. "No matter what, mommy and I love you so much. And Christine loves you too."

"Make him happy, Maya." My mother's voice came as usual to push away my positive thoughts.

What is happiness, really?

Is his all about bringing me pain and misery?