“Jesus, Aria.” Reece wrestled his emotions.
“I hid in my room and prayed he’d stay away. Hoped every day he’d change his mind and leave me alone. That wasn’t his plan. He wanted a virgin as his wife. There was no escaping the inevitable. My stepmother spun an idiotic story to the family that I’d gone to London to study. The day I turned twenty-one, she forced me to marry Jay. Meena arranged a private ceremony at home with people she considered her consorts, and who’d toe the line in the event anything went sour. My dad was compelled to watch the whole thing while his tears reflected his sorrow. He died not long after, about two months. Even though I missed him, I’m glad he passed on. I don’t think he would’ve been able to stomach the suffering I endeavored.”
“Didn’t you move in with Jay?”
“No. My stepmother decided it best if we lived with her. It gave her more control over me, and Jay agreed. At first, I assumed he wasn’t so bad. Jay never forced himself on me on our wedding night as expected. He waited for an entire month. With each passing day, he’d come bearing gifts and sweet talk. Under the impression I had an ally, I eventually relented. The first night we made love, he took my virginity. His gentleness surprised me. Idiotically, I believed I could fall in love with him, and we’d have a good marriage.” Aria took a sip of her drink. “The next morning, he left on a four-month business trip. My stepmother, however, kept me locked up during his absence. She feared I’d flee and tell someone about her activities.”
A soft laugh escaped her pursed lips as Aria recalled the paranoid exertions of her stepmother. The woman ranted non-stop about why it wasn’t a good idea for Aria to roam free. Over time it dawned on her that Meena worked hard to convince herself rather than Aria. Meena probably realized her actions were criminal if someone discovered the truth.
“There’s just so much reading, and television one can endure. After a little persuasion, my stepmother allowed me into the rest of the house but trailed by a guard. The bathroom became my only place of solace. I spent quite a bit of time in there with a tummy ache and constant nausea. Our housekeeper smuggled in a pregnancy kit. The test confirmed my suspicions. I’d fallen pregnant but kept it a secret.” She took a bite of her steak.
“What about Jay? Did he not ask her to let you go?”
“When Jay returned, let’s just say another man took his place.”
“What do you mean?”
She uttered a sarcastic laugh. “The gentleman I slept with turned into a perverted abuser. Pampering and making love became a thing of the past. I became his toy, sex slave if you must. I stayed married to the man for eight years but had sex with him four times a year.”
“I don’t understand?”
“Jay had another wife. Well, two, actually. A fact I found out after my escape.”
“Damn.” Reece’s blue gaze burned with anger.
“He never had vaginal sex with me except when he took my virginity. Anal became his only desire, and with it came malicious abuse that left scars, both physical and emotional. Each time I cried out in pain, it turned him on,” as the words left her mouth, pent up tears fell.
“Oh, God, babe.” Reece jumped to his feet, skirted the table, and pulled her into his arms.
The caring warmth and his soft words boosted her despair. Her tears flowed unchecked. She’d never experience this level of belonging before. The power of his embrace calmed her heaving body. Aria wasn’t sure how long she cried until he stepped back, placed a finger under her chin, and tilted her head back.
“Are you okay?” The compassion in his words matched the affection in his gaze.
She nodded before he dropped a soft, lingering kiss to her lips. When he pulled away, an overwhelming rush of emotion filled her as she slid back into her seat. Her appetite disappeared. She pushed her plate aside.
“You want to leave?” he asked. Aria shook her head. “More wine?” At her nod, Reece poured her a refill.
“Prisha’s birth was the miracle I needed. She became my world, my strength, and gave me the willpower to carry on living in that godforsaken home. I found a reason to smile and be happy again. Until Jay set his eyes on Prisha, he made it clear she’d be the perfect whore and intended training her from a young age.”
“Holy shit.” Reece slammed the table with his fist in undisguised anger. “Damn, the bastard was sick. His own kid? Jesus.”
Aria laughed. A caustic one filled with bittersweet memories of Prisha as a baby. “Her mother didn’t care so I vowed I’d never let anything happen to her—”
“Wait.” Reece leaned forward. His brows jumped together in puzzlement. “Her mother?”
She nodded. “Prisha isn’t my daughter, Reece.”
“Huh?”
Beth’s return forestalled a reply. “Is everything all right?” her cheery voice snuffed out the gloom that had filled the air. “Aria, sweetheart, you haven’t eaten much.” The older woman’s brow puckered in concern. “Was the steak not good?”
Reece answered instead. “All good, thanks, Beth.”
“Are you ready for dessert?”
Aria nodded. “If it’s your famous pecan pie, then yes, please.”
“Coming right up.” Beth chuckled and strolled back into the kitchen.
