Once I made it down Syris’s winding staircase, I stopped in front of the grand dining hall, and the guards opened the door for me. I entered like the bad bitch that I was as the sound of my designer pumps reverberated throughout the dining hall and all commotion ceased. Syris stopped eating and stared at me lustfully as I took the seat at the end of the table facing him.
The muscle in his jaw flexed because Temi always sat to his right, and I sat to his left, but today I wasn’t feeling that shit more than usual. The expensive long oak table was filled with his kids and other family members, and I rolled my eyes because as usual all the attention was on me. My butler, Paul, handed me a cloth napkin, then placed my breakfast plate in front of me.
“Good morning, Paul, and thank you. How are you feeling?” I questioned while spreading the black napkin over my white high waist, wide leg palazzo pants.
A small smile covered his face as he poured me a mug of my favorite peppermint tea. “Good morning, Mrs. Hopes. These old bones ain’t what they used to be, but nonetheless, I feel good. Thank you for asking.”
I grinned at him and picked up my silverware. “That’s good to hear. Have a good day.”
“You as well, ma’am.” Paul bowed, and exited the dining hall, using the domestic staff entrance.
“Remove those shades from your face,” Syris spoke as I forked up a serving of my omelet.
Exhaling, I laid the fork to rest and removed my shades as he instructed. “Happy now?” I quizzed, then savored the serving of the delicious cheesy vegetable omelet on my fork. I wasn’t a vegetarian at all, but during the morning time, I preferred not to eat as much meat as regular people did. It was simply a preference of mine.
“At the moment, I’m not happy because the energy radiating from you and it’s screaming you want to pick a fight, and I’m not going to give in today.”
“Whatever, Syris.” Temi’s eyes widened as she stopped feeding Syris’s youngest.
As soon as Poppy and my eyes connected, she smiled then climbed down from her chair and headed straight for me. Her chubby two- year- old legs carried her as fast as she could go. The other kids knew to stay away from me, but this one was always overstepping my boundaries.
I sat back in my chair in a frustrated manner and waited for her to make it to me. As soon as she did, I stopped her right in her tracks. I wasn’t in the mood to be making bonds with anyone, and that went for every age.
“Lil girl, stop right there, and gon back over there with your mommy and daddy.” Her smile instantly faded as her bottom lip trembled and eyes watered. I felt bad, but again, I didn’t want to be here.
She stood there and silently cried until her little feet inched closer towards me. “Poppy, I’m warning you. Don’t come any closer to me. Go over there with your parents.”
Syris slammed his hand down on the table then stood from his seat. “What the fuck did you just say!” he shouted, and everyone at the table flinched but me.
“I told her to go back to you and her mama because I don’t want to be around you or your classroom full of children.”
Syris walked away from his seat and stood behind Temi. “Butterfly, why can’t things go back to the way they were? You’ve been here for two years now. I don’t know why you’re still resisting my family or me? I miss my Butterfly,” he stated sadly. Everyone spared him a sad look, and I couldn’t believe they felt sorry for this crazy ass man.
“You’re holding me against my will, nigga!” I screamed. “I don’t give a shit about how y’all do shit in this backwards ass country, but where I’m from, men cleave to one wife, not a harem of them!” I spat then stood from my seat.
I rubbed down my face, cleared my throat, and relaxed some because I really wasn’t in a fighting mood. “Syris, baby, I’m begging you. Please just let me go. I just want to go home. I’m not made for your world. If you ever loved me, then please just let me go.”
“No!” he yelled as spit flew out of his mouth, and this time I did flinch. He raced from behind Temi, and in a flash, he was in front of me with his hands wrapped tightly around my throat.
“I will never give you up. Never! You belong at my side until the day I die. That’s the only way you’re getting out of this marriage. Are you catching my drift?”
He squeezed tighter as my coffin shaped nails clawed at his wrists, but the animalistic look in his eyes displayed he was in savage mode. Syris wasn’t going to let up until I agreed, and I would rather die before I gave in. Mustering up some strength, I kneed him in his dick, and he quickly released me and bent over. While gasping for air, I fumbled and picked up my porcelain plate, then cracked him over the head with it.
Blood trickled from his head, but that nigga ate those licks. Syris stood and backhanded my ass so fast, I thought he was a Marvel character. There were sharp intakes of breath as Poppy and a few other children began to cry. I fell over my seat, and he was on me in seconds. “You about to learn today to stop fucking disobeying me.” Syris grabbed the top of my hair and dragged me out of the dining hall, kicking and screaming.
“Let me go, Syris! Let me go!” I screamed and cried.
He wasn’t for the bullshit today because that maniac dragged me up every damn stair of our spiral staircase. My lower back and ass connected with each step as Syris trekked up the stairs. When we made it to the top, my guards stepped out of the way, but the muscle in my two personal guards’ cheeks flexed as they reluctantly stepped out of his way.
My tears and cries were full on screams now because his grip on my hair felt invincible and vice-like. Syris entered my room, then tossed me onto my bed. He kicked the door closed behind him then undressed.
“Wha—what are you doing?” I stammered.
“About to take what’s mine. Strip, or I swear, I will beat you unconscious, Butterfly. I don’t want to, but I will. Now strip!” he hollered.
I climbed out of my bed as I sobbed and slowly undressed. My tears fell because my body ached like a bitch. My sobs were from the humiliation I’d just endured, but most importantly, I cried because the last bit of fight I had was beaten, and nowabout to be sexually assaulted out of me. The identity I fought so hard not to give in to, had finally won.
As soon as I slipped out of my last article of clothing, Syris pushed me back onto my bed and hovered over me. With lightning speed, he slapped fire out of my ass, and my head snapped to the left. I didn’t even scream. I ate that shit like he did earlier.
