Austin was the name I had chosen.
When I had dreamed of holding my child, I had thought of the name Austin for a boy… Daisy if it had been a girl.
Even this. Even my dead son’s name was stolen.
It was as if he had never existed at all.
“Don’t throw a tantrum…It’s just a name Amelia. You have been the madam of this mansion for so many years but you have still so much to learn. To think you are jealous of Victoria at this petty thing!” Alexander’s voice boomed as he glared at me disapproving of my behaviour.
Before I could take another step forward, my mother-in-law’s gaze snapped to me. Her expression twisted into fury.
"You demon!" she shrieked, rising to her feet and rushing towards me enraged.
The room fell silent and just as her palm was about to strike my face, it froze mid-air.
Her eyes locked onto my arms, covered in bandages and bruises from the fire in horror.
"Filthy!" She recoiled, covering her nose in absolute disgust as if I carried a contagious disease.
"How come you are still not dead! You dare endanger your own child in fire?!" Her voice dripped with venom. "If it weren’t for Victoria, Austin wouldn’t be alive today! She operated on him and saved him in time and now that he is alright, you want to attack Victoria, this innocent girl?!
Somebody make this evil woman kneel right now!"
“Auntie, sister has her grievances from me, even if she slaps me I will not resist...”
“Really? Then how about you come here so that I can slap you hard.” I shouted in rage feeling absolutely furious making Victoria's smile fall.
“Amelia!” Alexander’s cold voice boomed throughout the mansion as he reprimanded me harshly.
“God damnit! what the fuck are you even doing?! Haven’t you already committed so many mistakes and now you are even bullying Victoria?!” I turned to Alexander, my misty eyes full of indignation but he glared at me sharply.
“Don’t forget that you time and time again failed terribly as a mother.” The words were like acid cascading and corroding my soul.
“I? I committed a crime?” My voice trembled as I could not believe how Alexander could say such words without guilt gnawing at his insides,
“Do you..do you even have a damn conscience?!” Tears dribbled down my eyes as I looked at Alexander in rage.
“Shutup! You are just being jealous and creating trouble, as always!”
My husband strode towards Victoria, his expression dark as he stood infront of her crying figure protectively.
“I am being jealous when this woman has tried to snatch everything I ever had?! If I didn’t knew better I would have thought you were her husband and not mine!”
“Amelia! Haven’t I told you Victoria is my most precious friend! It is only you with a filthy mind who can find dirt everywhere!
No wonder you parents hated you!”
Silence covered the surroundings as Alexander did not even hesitate a single moment and clawed at my most vulnerable wounds.
“This unlucky woman!” My mother-in-law interrupted loudly in rage, her gaze filled with disdain. “Apologize to Victoria now.”
“I would not do it.” I spat in tears, my throat burning as all the servants and maids watched me with utter disgust.
My heart twisted in devastation, yet due to years of fear and submission accumulated in my body, my body wanted to automatically obey them like a machine.
“Kneel! Now! Or I will make others drag you down!”
When I still refused to cooperate two maids pushed me down with force, with trembling knees, I lowered myself to the cold marble floor feeling so much humiliation that death felt better.
Victoria smirked behind Alexander looking at me with her head high.
“Sister Amelia, we are twins, anything between us can be solved with an apology, please don’t take this as if I am being prideful…I-I will stay away from Austin from now on so that you can feel comfortable.. .” she cried, her voice sickeningly sweet.
“No need! See how sad you made this sweet girl!
Apologise right now or there will be no food for you!” My mother-in-law snapped in rage making it seem like I was the villainess.
“No!” I spat, my nails digging into my palms as hot tears continuously fell from my eyes.
“It’s okay sister we don’t need any formalities between us. Just don’t do it again.” Victoria said,
Dinner that evening was silent, except for the occasional clinking of glasswares. Sitting in the very corner with my head bowed, I barely ate with the constant pain making me wish I could disappear, each bite felt like I was swallowing stones.
“Ahh!” At that moment a sudden burning sensation shot through my arm making me gasp in horror.
“Oh dear Amelia, are you alright?” Victoria called in fake concern “I-I can’t believe I am so clumsy.” Her voice dripped with remorse as she glanced at the boiling pot of soup overturned on my arm, right where my burned skin was still healing.
“Amelia, are you alright?” Alexander stood up quickly in concern.
As I tried to hurriedly get up, Victoria’s leg shot out from beneath the table making me fall on the ground with a thud.
I bit my lip hard, swallowing back a cry of pain.
Alexander came rushing but before he could touch me, Victoria let out a small cry of pain.
“Alexander!… it hurts…it hurts so much!” She clutched her stomach artificially, doubling in terrible pain.
“Victoria!” Alexander’s expression changed instantly as he was by her side in a moment, forgetting all about me in panic.
He did not look at me, didn’t even spare me a glance.
“I don’t know…it feels like I am dying…” Victoria cried with tears brimming in her eyes, she looked at me from her position and a small smirk played on her lips.
“No, don’t say such things! Hurry up and call the best doctors in the city immediately!”
Without a single hesitation, he picked her up into his arms bridal style, cradling her like she was the most fragile thing in the world, too busy to notice my agonizing condition.
For three long years I never saw the truth and foolishly thought that Alexander was my saviour, that even if the world is against me he will be my rock, my anchor.
But all my stupid dreams were shattered.
I watched the scene unfold, cradling my wounded arm which was long forgotten as I stood up with pain blossoming in each pore of my body.
“Don’t worry! I am with you!”Alexander did not even turn to glance at me as he quickly carried Victoria upstairs, his voice filled with concern.
The door shut behind them, leaving me alone amidst of disdainful gazes in the dining hall, my skin still burning, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.
I had never been loved.
My husband who once promised to love and cherish me was the one to trample on my heart with such cruelty.
The marriage I thought was my salvation turned to be my hell.
I had enough.
Not anymore.
