Page 14 of Misconducts & Temptation

Thrilled? Hardly. I took another drag of my cigarette.

As the applause died down and people began to mingle again, Lola leaned in close, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Try not to embarrass me any further tonight."

I smirked down at her. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Chapter 5

Elodie

Iwatched Annabelle and Stephanie as they flitted about the room, their voices like the irritating buzz of bees. They twirled in front of the mirror, adjusting their elaborate gowns for the masquerade. Marion sat nearby, her hair in curlers, a smug smile on her face as she observed them. The smell of hairspray and perfume mixed in the air, almost choking me.

My mind kept drifting back to my stepmother's words from earlier. She planned to sell me to some old man to settle her debts. The thought made my stomach churn. How could this be legal?

“How did you like William?” Marion asked suddenly, her eyes glinting with a darkness that matched her soul.

I clenched my teeth, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Not enough to marry him.”

“Cheeky,” my stepmother remarked from across the room, where she was sorting through a box of jewelry. “I do hope he gets that out of you. A young woman should be docile and submissive to their husbands.”

Stephanie snickered as she adjusted her mask, a glint of malice in her eyes. “Oh, you know how she is, Mom. Elodie, always thinking she’s better than us. You’re lucky anyone would want you at all.”

Annabelle added with a smirk, “Especially someone like William.”

I forced myself to stay calm, my fingers gripping the edge of the chair until my knuckles turned white. Their words were meant to hurt, but I couldn’t let them see how much they affected me.

Marion leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face as she watched me struggle to keep my composure. “Remember, Elodie,” she said sweetly, “your place is beneath us. Always has been, always will be.”

The words stung like a slap to the face, but I swallowed down my anger and nodded. "And yet, I'm the only one that can pay off your debt."

Despite my words, she looked pleased with herself and returned her attention to her daughters. The conversation shifted back to the masquerade and who would be attending.

As they chattered on about their grand plans for the evening, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope deep within me. I had to find a way out of this nightmare before it was too late.

"Do you wish you could come?" Stephanie asked, her voice dripping with mock concern.

I furrowed my brow. "Why can't I come?" I asked, trying to keep my tone even. "The invitation is to everyone in town."

"Because you'll be working at the office, taking over our cleaning," Annabelle said, her eyes sparkling with cruel delight. "We can't all go. And since you already have a husband, we thought it was only fair that you take the shift."

"But that's not fair!" The words escaped before I could stop them, my frustration boiling over.

Marion stood up, her eyes narrowing into slits. "How dare you? You have someone willing to marry you. Do you know how grateful you should be? Look at yourself. Always covered in dirt. Your clothes are wrinkled. You smell. You might be pretty if you tried." Her voice dripped with disdain as she continued, "What could you bring to a marriage? My daughters still have a chance, and this masquerade is the perfect way for them to meet potential suitors who will take care of them, selfish girl."

"You mean like how you're taking care of me?" I didn't care about the consequences, not anymore. Not after everything.

The room went silent; the tension crackling like static electricity. Marion's hand flew faster than I could react, her palm connecting with my cheek in a stinging slap that echoed through the room.

"I shall tell William of your insolence," she hissed, her face contorted with rage. "And I hope he beats it out of you."

The pain in my cheek was nothing compared to the fire igniting in my chest. Without another word, I turned on my heel and marched out of the room. The sound of their laughter followed me down the hallway, each chuckle a knife twisting deeper into my resolve.

I wouldn't let them break me.

Not now.

Not ever.

I stormed down the hallway, the sting on my cheek still fresh. Tears threatened to spill, but I angrily wiped them away. I refused to cry. Not for them. Not anymore.

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