From The Grave: The Ex-Wife's Vengeance

"You worthless whore! What I requested of you was quite easy to understand, but for some reason, your feeble intellect was unable to do so! Would you be willing to shoulder the blame if you drove away a potential investment due to your own idiocy?"

When the angry image of her husband repeated over and over in Mira's mind, she instinctively covered her eyes. Even though it had been a few of hours already, she could still feel her body quivering and her chest was still pounding, as a result of the acute anxiety she was experiencing, particularly as Lawrence lifted his hand to smack her.

And instead of covering her face to avoid being slapped by her husband, Mira did nothing and remain perfectly still, shut her eyes, and wait for the nightmare to overtake her.

She felt exhausted and weak, so she was no longer capable of pleading for her husband's forgiveness since she had shown him over the course of three years that she was incapable of doing either of those things.

Yet to her astonishment, she did not feel the customary sting of his hand, and when she opened her eyes and glanced at him, his attention was transfixed on the crimson patches that ran from her neck down to her chest.

Fresh bruises. Bruises that were brought on by the boiling coffee that Lawrence spilled on her by mistake when he was intoxicated the night before.

Mira thought she saw a shadow of remorse emerge on his face for a split second, but it was immediately erased by further curses, which were what she had for breakfast this morning. And she was used to it.

The sudden ringing of her mobile phone jolted her out of her contemplation about the excruciating experience she had at the hands of a man who was legally obligated to love and protect her.

She had been tormented by the fact that the man was her own husband. The ringing sound of her phone was an alarm, prompting her to remember the things that she needed to focus on for the day.

“I need to get ready. He must be waiting,” she said excitedly as she stood up.

Mira turned her back to the full-length mirror so that she could examine every part of her body.

She unzipped the one piece of clothing that was hiding her nakedness, and as she did so, the pink robe with the silky texture dropped off of her shoulders and landed in a rumpled heap on the ground below her.

She looked at the mirror in great detail, and an audible sigh came out of her mouth almost immediately.

She still had the appearance of the lady who had a large number of men falling on their knees and worshiping her as if she was a deity.

Despite the hideous burn on her face, her light skin continues to shine like the moon on a dark night, and her long jet black hair with its silky texture is still a valuable commodity that other young women find impossible not to want.

She never allowed herself to ignore her shape, even after she became a full-time wife, and she worked out on a regular basis in order to keep the curves that her husband constantly tripped over.

Mira’s physical appearance is indeed the definition of being an attractive and ideal woman, yet none of that would have mattered as she lacked the qualities that define a true woman at her core; being incapable of actually conceiving a child right off the bat.

“One day, maybe one day. Once you arrive, I would treasure you for sure, and love you with all my heart.” Mira caressed her tummy, as if there’s someone living inside her womb.

Three years had already gone, and she had not yet attained the one desire that she held to, for her husband to return the love that she had given him all these years; or, at the very least, to make him stay with her, forever.

Mira hoped that he would love her as much as she loved him. Even if she didn't take the birth control pills on a consistent basis or if he used her throughout the evenings of making love, she was unable to get the results she desired.

Yes, Lawrence had ordered her to take the contraceptive tablets in order to prevent her from being pregnant.

“Why, Lawrence? Why are you avoiding having a child with me? Was it too much for you? To have a child with the woman who had love you for all these years? Or was it because until now, you still see me as someone who would steal your wealth?” Mira smiled bitterly as she wiped away her tears. Life was really tough for her, but how long could she endure?

Mira was now dressed in a long black dress with sequin accents that reached nearly all the way down to her sandals. It covered practically all of her flesh.

“This would do,” she whispered as she tied the ribbon of her dress.

Ever since they settled in together, Lawrence imposed complete authority over every area of her life, even to small or minor things, such as the clothes and shoes she wore or use.

Whenever she wore a bit of revealing clothes or outfits, Lawrence would insult her, call her a whore, a prostitute, and such lowly words or description. He would always tell Mira that it was inappropriate for her to display any part of body.

Lawrence treated her as if she was a property item that was intended only for his use, on his belongings, rather than a person who was capable of having her own ideas and feelings.

A person who was worthy of his love and care.

Mira opted to wrap a grey satin scarf over her neck, and after that, she applied a bright-colour scarlet lipstick to conceal the pallor of her trembling lips. She smiled at her reflection on the mirror.

Every time that other people see her in events where Lawrence would take her, they would tell her that without a doubt, she was doing well and that she was contented and delighted with her life.

They would comment that she was well taken care of by her husband, Lawrence.

If only they knew. Mira was just an expert at putting on an act, but she has decided that for today she’s going to let herself be herself, as she should be. She wanted to be truthful with the one and only person who had ever loved her for who she was, rather than putting herself on an act.

“I missed you,” it was the last words she uttered before grabbing her bag and walked out of the house.