Painful Deception

“So, have you decided what University you’ll be attending at the end of the year?” Harry asked as he sat the tea he made on the coffee table in front of the couch.

“Yes, I decided on Hartford. They have a good program for the major I am interested in. Moreover, it’s as far as I can manage from Mark, but close enough so problems don’t arise,” Jacqueline said as she reached for the mug. Harry looked at her for a moment and sighed.

“So there are still problems then?”

Jacqueline let lax her deep blue eyes on him for a moment before lowering her gaze back to her tea. “Harry, you know as well as I that there will always be problems. Especially now that my parents have died, I will just have to wait until I turn twenty-one. Then I will be free to divorce him,” She said, almost at a whisper. There was silence for a few more moments while they contemplated the law that had put her into this situation.

The law stated that all that were fourteen and older were eligible to marry, but those whose ages ranged from fourteen to seventeen could not marry someone their age or younger. The government thought that would cause a problem because of the immaturity of the group. It also stated that once an individual in that age group accepted a proposal of marriage, they could not divorce until they were twenty-one, the legal age in the country. Basically, all rights in a marital union belonged to the older spouse. This was taken advantage of by mostly men, while most women did not find it appealing to marry men younger than eighteen.

However, there were the few exceptions. It was worse for girls that came from prestigious families like Jacqueline did. The families carried the ancient tradition of giving men all of the rights of women and stopping the women from finding a way out because if they got a divorce they would be left with nothing. Prenuptial agreements often stated that the husband had sole ownership of any property that the wife may have had when they were married and they kept the right in the event of a divorce. Most of the time women were also denied education. Jacqueline had been an exception. Her parents were two people who had loved each other despite the arranged marriage. And they both knew the importance of education. However, they could not protect their daughter from a misleading man such as Mark. When he had introduced himself he had seemed like such a gentle, caring, wonderful man, and her parents were happy that their daughter had found someone worthy. They never knew of his treatment afflicted on her; they died too soon.

“I’m so sorry I cannot help you Jacqueline,” Harry said with sadness.

Jacqueline looked over at him and gave him a small smile, “But you do help me Harry. These lessons and our talks get me through everything. You help me forget that horrible part of my life. You’re my escape.” She smiled at bit more and took his hand in hers, rubbing her thumb on his palm for a few moments before putting it down. She looked at him nervously. That was the closest she had come to admitting her developing feelings to him. She had surprised herself when she took his hand. However, she loved that she did. His much larger hand in hers was a small treasure for her.

Harry looked shocked for a moment while he felt Jacqueline’s thumb run over his palm. He felt the jolt of electricity that it seemed to produce and tried to stop the emotions that were springing up. He had been trying to stop his love for her from becoming too strong or too apparent. He could never have her; her husband would hurt her even more. Moreover, he would never live with himself if he were the reason. He looked up at her and took in her beauty once more; she had beautiful tan-bronze skin and startling deep blue eyes. Her brow was strong and it led into an aquiline nose, which led to full lips. Her curly black hair was pulled up today and he saw the curls held back by her headband trying to spring free. He sighed inwardly as he realized that her beauty is what caused her trouble. The wrong man wanted it and now had possession of it. His green eyes locked with hers and he felt his breathing speed up. He cleared his throat nervously. “I’m happy I can at least give you that. You deserve so much better. However, let us not talk about this. What are you planning on majoring in?” He felt stupid for changing the subject to something he already knew. Of course he knew what her major would be; he remembered everything she told him.

Jacqueline felt her small hope shatter at his words. He felt uncomfortable after she said that, he would never feel about her what she was starting to feel for him.

“Literature, they have an excellent program for it and the library is the most amazing one I’ve seen outside of Vatican City. Have you ever seen it?“ she asked, looking at him again. She caught his torn expression. “Harry, are you ok?” she asked, worried. Maybe her actions did more than she thought.

She saw him look up and give a quick smile, “Yes, I’m fine. I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting their library yet.” Jacqueline looked at him again and furrowed her brow. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I just thought I’d tell you know I felt about you,” she said quietly. She was not prepared to feel his hand on her chin as he lifted her face up to meet his. She looked in his eyes and saw the most serious expression she had ever seen on his face.

“Don’t ever think that you make me uncomfortable when you tell me how you feel. You have no idea how much peace it brings me to know that I bring you joy. I only wish I could please you more,” Harry said softly searching her face and piercing her with his intense gaze. Jacqueline felt her stomach flutter as he continued to stare at her. Then she closed the space between them and pressed her lips to his. She waited for a moment before smiling against his lips when she felt him return the kiss. She pushed herself up more and kissed him harder. She realized she was practically on top of him, but she did not want their kiss to end, ever. They were such a wonderful breakaway from the ones Mark forced onto her. She felt his hands on her back and felt one grabbed her side to pull her closer, but his hand went exactly where her bruise was. She let out a yelp of pain in his mouth. She was instantly embarrassed by her outcry and sad because of the loss of his lips on hers. His face came into focus and she saw the concerned look on his face. “Did I hurt you?” he asked.

She smiled at him. “No, You just pressed into a bruise.” She dipped her head lower and started kissing his neck. Her smile widened when he groaned.


Harry was in heaven; he felt a sudden weight on his lap and realized that she had straddled him. He pulled her head up and kissed her lips hard, wrapping arms gingerly around her waist. He rested his forehead against hers and smiled, “I’ve wanted to do that for so long.” He saw her grin and could not help but to return it. but then the doorbell rang and a knock was heard rapping at the door. He smiled at her again while she maneuvered herself off him and sat down properly. He grinned all the way to the door; he straightened himself out before opening it.

Mark waited for the door to open at Jacqueline’s tutor’s house. When the door opened, he looked at the man. He had a stupid smile on his face. “I’m here to pick up Jacqueline. I trust she is here,” he said impatiently as he watched the man’s smile wipe off his face.

“Yes, come in. I will go and get her,“ the other man responded. Mark noticed with a bit of distaste that he was Scottish and his voice was deep. Deeper than his own, he looked the man up and down and began to reconsider getting another tutor. He was what women considered handsome, with the white-blond hair that was cut short and a strong square jaw. His suspicions of an affair were only strengthened. He stepped inside the house and waited for Jacqueline. He heard their lowered voices and the sound of books being put away. He saw his wife walk towards him, a wary look on her face.

“Hello Jacky,“ he said, pulling her to him to give her a hug and kiss on the forehead. He felt her stiffen and she felt his anger. How dare she refuse him, she was his wife.

“Mark, I didn’t know you would be picking me up today,” she said slowly keeping her eyes down.

“I thought I would surprise you. Are you ready to go?” he asked keeping his hold on her shoulder.


Jacqueline felt anxiety arise upon seeing Mark. What could have compelled him to pick her up? She had not done anything wrong. She looked at Harry, who was visibly stiff at the sight of Mark. She looked at his jaw and realized it was clenched.

“Goodbye Harry. Thank you for the lesson, I’ll see you next Tuesday, “ she said trying to keep the fear out of her voice.

“See you Tuesday,” he said softly. She nodded in his direction, trying to keep the fear off her face and walked out the door. She felt Mark’s hand on her lower back and she kept walking down the steps to the car that was waiting for them.


“I have something to discuss with you Jacky,” Mark said, looking over the table at her. She chewed the piece of steak slowly and swallowed before she looked at him. When he had her attention, he put his napkin down and looked at her. “Are you taking birth-control?” he asked her. Jacqueline looked up at him, confusion etched in her face.

“Yes, why do you ask?” she said. He smiled at her and she felt apprehension in her stomach. “Stop taking it. It's time that we had a few children. I'm not getting younger and you are in your best years for child-bearing,” he said bluntly. Jacqueline felt her breathing become shallow. He wanted to get her pregnant! How could he even propose bringing children into the marriage when he treated her as he did? Moreover, what about her education? She was supposed to go to University in the fall, how could she do that with a baby? A baby, an innocent child brought into a world of abuse. Why would she want to subject her children to that? Harry…that would be the end of her relationship with him.

“Jacqueline, are you listening to me?” Mark barked. She looked at him; he never used her full name unless he was going to strike her.

“Yes, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about things. What were you saying?” she said.

“I already instructed the maid to remove the pills from your medicine cabinet,” he said, and let his gray eyes rest on her.

“What about University? I am to attend in the fall,” she said her brow furrowed.

“That will just have to wait until after you have the child. I am quite bent on you being pregnant by the end of next month Jacqueline and I will not tolerate any objections. I married you for this sole reason and I will get what I want. Besides, don’t women want babies so you can take care of them and such,” he added as he was getting up. Jacqueline felt the tears in her eyes, there would be no getting out of this marriage.

“But…the prenuptial agreement says that I am to be allowed to go to University,” she whispered, feeling the tears run down her cheeks.

“Yes and it also says that I have control over what you do when you’re pregnant and University will not be one of the things you are to do. You will be pregnant before the fall. I talked to the doctors and they all said that with your fertility you should be pregnant soon,” he said with malice. Jacqueline held in a sob,

“ But..the pre-“ she was cut off by her chair being thrown backward and Mark’s grip on her forearm before she hit the ground, he pulled her up until she was level with him.

“Do not argue with me on this. You make things so hard on yourself Jacqueline and you’re such a smart girl. You cannot honestly think I married you out of love. Though there are some things I love about you,” he said his fingers trailing down to her cleavage. Jacqueline shied away from him and regretted it instantly when she felt his sharp slap on her cheek. “I am your husband, you do not refuse me!” he yelled shaking her body with his arms. She cried out and started to sob quietly, and he sneered at her. She felt him drag her out of the dining room, down the hall to one of the guest rooms, and sobbed louder when she was forced onto the bed face down.

“Since you obviously aren't sure of who controls this marriage, I will have to remind you,” Mark said. She heard him unbuckle his trousers and cried into the bed. He pulled up her skirt and she felt her knickers get pulled off and he entered her roughly. She felt the sharp pain and it felt like he was tearing her in half, and with each thrust he spoke with the aim to make her cry even harder.

It went on for what seemed like ages, when she finally felt him stiffen up and she felt his warm release. “I’ll leave you to think about things,” he said as she heard him fix his trousers again. She turned onto her side and curled herself, when she finally heard his footsteps leave the hall. She cried aloud, the pain was still felt in her pelvis. She thought about the baby she would have to bring into the world and its abusive father she cried even harder.


A/N:Sorry about the long wait. I have a few injuries so I cant play rugby for the season and Ive been in and out of the doctor's office. Anyways, how do you like the chapter? Any suggestions on how I should make her realtionship with Harry? Should the baby be with Harry or Mark? I'd love suggestions. Im already on the next chapter and things should speed up a bit(time-wise) in the story.
Thanks, Naimahfosho