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I fought with everything I had, but I couldn't get to my feet.
Gabriel's fingers dug into my shoulders so hard I started to cry from the pain.
Gabriel and I had been classmates in college. We'd fallen in love on campus, and married right after graduation.
He'd always been gentle and refined, endlessly attentive to me.
We'd already held one wedding back in the city, but Gabriel insisted on holding a second one at his hometown.
The way he put it, he'd landed such a wonderful wife that he had to bring me back to show all his friends and family, to give his parents some pride.
And he'd made a point of telling me it was fine for me to come back with just him alone. No need to bring my parents or relatives.
He said country folk were rough and unpolished, and he was afraid my parents would look down on them.
I loved Gabriel with all my heart, and I agreed without a second thought.
But I never could have guessed that once we got here, he'd turn into a completely different person.
The pig slop had already been carried over, sitting right in front of me.
The villagers whooped and jeered. "Eat it! Go on, eat it!"
Some of them held up their phones to film me. "First day married, of course she's gotta make a fool of herself."
"The more shame at the wedding, the more obedient after."
"City people just have too much pride. Humiliate her good today, and she won't put on airs anymore."
My in-laws pounded the table, pushing me on. "Eat! What are you sitting there staring for?"
I clamped my mouth shut.
Gabriel lost his patience, gripping both my cheeks and forcing my mouth open to pour the slop in.
I bit down hard on his finger.
He howled in pain and slammed his fist into my head.
The blow left me dizzy, and I dropped to the floor.
Bitter with rage, I reached out and flipped the table over.
The villagers around me scrambled back.
I seized the chance and ran for the front door.
But there were too many of them. They blocked me and shoved me back in no time.
Gabriel came toward me, his face dark, like he meant to keep hitting me.
I screamed, my voice breaking. "Let me go! I'm not marrying you!"
I thought Gabriel would regret it, be shocked, panic.
Instead his face didn't change at all. There was even a hint of smugness in it.
He sneered. "Renata, you're already at my house. This marriage is happening whether you want it or not."
His mother folded her arms. "My son's a college graduate. He's a real catch."
"You think you can divorce him? If you two split up, doesn't that make my son a divorced man? Can you afford to pay for that?"
She gave Gabriel a shove. "Son, consummate it with her right now. Once the deed's done, it's sealed."
Gabriel came straight over, wrenched my arm, and dragged me toward the bedroom.
Terrified and furious, I cried out, "Gabriel, what are you doing?"
He gave a savage grin. "Consummating the marriage."
He threw me onto the bed and pinned me down with his full weight.
He didn't close the door or draw the curtains, as if he didn't care whether the villagers watched.
And those villagers had no shame about it at all.
Not only did they not leave, they came swarming in.
"Hahaha, early start on the bridal chamber!"
"This is my favorite part. Gotta liven things up good today."
"City women really are so pale. Way better than that Betty down the road, and smooth to the touch too."
"Cry, go on. I love watching a bride cry, especially a pretty one like this…"
Many of them took the chance to reach out with their filthy hands, and in a few seconds my clothes were torn out of place.
I sobbed until I couldn't catch my breath, fighting as hard as I could, but I couldn't break free at all.
And Gabriel, he had no intention of helping me at all.
