Painful Deception

Two and a half months later Jacqueline lay crying on her side of the bed as she felt Mark get up after another painful 'session'. He walked over to her and sneered, “You make sex seem like a chore. Am I so unbearable? I think not, I can bring any woman I want into this bed. I have half a mind to do it. At least she would appreciate it. Do you know how many women would love to share a bed with me, to be my wife, bear my children?“

Jacqueline just curled herself into the fetal position. She hated herself for this reason, for being so helpless. All she ever did after he hit her or raped her was cry. She never fought back; strong and brave women do that.

“Do you hear me Jacqueline? Sometimes I wonder what is going on in that head of yours. Maybe you should realize that you bring this upon yourself! If you would act like a wife, we would not have to do this! Wives are supposed to love, adore and obey their husbands. Not disprespect or fear them, do you know nothing? Are you really such a silly girl?

"I remember the girl I courted, the girl who had such a fire in her eyes. Where is she now? All I see is this tearful excuse of a woman. I don’t know what your excuse is, you do not have to cook nor clean. You have everything you could ever want. You act as if I work you as a slave. You act as if I tell you to cook and clean for me as well as take care of children. You have it too easy! That’s what your problem is, Jacky!” he shouted at her. He sat on the bed so he faced her.

Jacqueline felt her sorrow being replaced by anger as he made it seem like she was treated like a queen. “You act as if I have everything! I have nothing, my parents are dead and I'm stuck in a love-less marriage with a monster of a man. How dare you make it seems as if life is perfect. You do not get raped or punched when life is perfect. Education and freedom are not denied when-“ she was cut of when a fist connected with the side of her face. She felt the familiar numbness following the shock of pain; his hand grabbed her head and he pulled her out of bed, dragging her along the floor of their bedroom. She screamed loudly, silenced only by a bark of-

“Quiet you stupid bitch! You think that I rape you now, that I abuse you? That wasn’t even a taste of it. I can’t even stand to look at you-“

“THEN LEAVE ME! DIVORCE ME!” Jacqueline retorted while she crawled back to the side of the bed. She weeped. ‘Why don’t you leave me’ became her mantra as she rocked herself back and forth. She looked up at Mark, who had put his robe on and was staring down at her. A malicious and slightly frightening look that she couldn’t describe was on his face.

“Because I own you now. You are to obey me, no one cares what happens to you. If you try to get away from me I will find you and I will hurt so badly that you won't dare to disobey me again. And if another man lays a finger on you, including that tutor of yours, I will make sure that he will never get to touch anything again. Do you understand me Jacqueline?" Jacqueline just stared back down at her knees and continued rocking herself trying to pretend she had not just heard his threats and closed her eyes trying to imagine that she wasn't sitting on the floor of her bedroom in a marriage that was a disaster.


The next morning she awoke to find herself in bed and feeling like she had been hit by a truck. She felt the bruises on her face, the stinging pain on her cheekbone that had most likely busted open. Her scalp was sore from her hair being pulled and she felt sick, absolutely sick. She was about to open her eyes when she felt something cold on her face. She opened her eyes and saw Mark and immediately flinched.

He sneered at her and she closed her eyes again. Maybe if she kept on sleeping she would eventually die and she'd never have to see his face again.

"Get up. Since our conversation last night, I realized that you don't appreciate this lifestyle that I have provided for you and to reward your ungratefulness, I'm making you do all the chores around here and hopefully you'll learn to be grateful," he spat.

She opened her eyes at this and looked up at him in shock, "What are you going to make me do?"

He glanced over at her casually as he slipped off his robe, "Well first you have to perform your wifely duties, then when you go down to the kitchen to make me my breakfast, you'll see the list. I'll be out today and when I get home I expect this house to be as neat as it was when the maids cleaned it. If it isn't, I'm sure you can imagine the consequences Jacqueline. But maybe, If you do as I say and act as you should, I'll bring the maids back tomorrow." She looked at him in disbelief; he had to be mad. The house was enormous, all of that work couldn't be done by one person in a day. Chuckling at her expression, Mark walked over to the bed and laid down, "You really should go to the bathroom and make yourself presentable for me." She got up quickly and walked over to the bathroom, at least she could have a few private moments to herself in there. In the middle of washing her face, Jacqueline felt a bout of dizziness come over her which was quickly followed by nausea, gripping the sides of the vanity she closed her eyes and willed it away. It had been occurring for the past week. Then without warning she felt bile rise up in her throat and she immediately ran to the toilet and emptied the contents of her stomach in it. Groaning against the cold porcelain, she took deep breaths. She had been telling herself for the past week that she wasn't what she feared. Her breasts were just sore from her monthly coming, her monthly wasn't on time because of all the stress she'd been experiencing, but she knew it wasn't true. She knew what her problem was, she was pregnant.

Just as she feared.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this one! Please read & review. I love hearing your suggestions and comments. And thanks a lot to my wonderful beta christine!