Chapter 3 The Blue Dress

Natan was still in the living room watching TV when the doorbell rang. He opened the door himself, and it was James.

"Mr. Larson? What are you doing here?"

"Good afternoon to you too... Call Elizabeth."

Natan turned around, and his daughter was already coming down the stairs. She was wearing dark jeans and a checkered shirt, tied at the waist. Anyone would say it was a country style, but she was wearing her brother's shirt because her own was too old to wear, and the shirt she got from her father wasn't appropriate.

"Uncle!" Elizabeth said and hugged James.

"Let's go, Eliz..."

"Where do you think you're going with my daughter?" Natan said.

"I'm taking her for a ride. Her 18th birthday is on Saturday; it's important. But I won't have time to take her out and give her the present."

Natan huffed and shrugged. He couldn't say no to his boss, but he always feared Elizabeth would say something that would get him in trouble with James, and even worse, that punishment would be passed on to her later.

They left, and in the car, James would finally get some answers. As soon as he got in the car, he began questioning her.

"Elizabeth, I've always defended you and done everything for you. What got into your head to go to a nightclub alone with another man? Jhonatan is furious with you."

"Uncle, I didn't know Jhonatan or Ralph who took me there..."

"You went out like that with a stranger and even drank? You're not even 18 yet..."

"I just didn't want to upset my dad... I..."At that moment, Elizabeth realized she was almost blaming her father, and he could be punished by James. Even worse, that punishment would be transferred to her later.

"Why would your father be upset?" James asked, and Elizabeth didn't answer. "Eliz, answer me! Did your father tell you to go out with that man?"

She nodded and cried softly.

"Don't cry. You're not in trouble. I won't do anything, but don't do it again. Jhonatan isn't patient; he can't stand betrayal. From the beginning, I told him he would be the first man in your life, that this marriage was to protect you from your father. He accepted it willingly, but people have been saying things to him. You'll need to change the impression he has of you."

"I was scared... He kissed me, yelled at me, and..."Elizabeth was talking, and James interrupted.

"Wait, Jhonatan kissed you?"

"Yes... I had never kissed a man before. I thought it was very bold of him."

First, James laughed. He thought Elizabeth was unintentionally provoking his nephew. She had stirred something in him; now he would have to teach her how to cultivate that feeling.

"Jhonatan said you were drunk. Had you consumed alcohol before?"

"I had never gone out or drunk alcohol. In fact, I didn't even finish half a glass. Ralph was respectful; we just talked and watched people dancing. During the conversation, he asked my age. When I answered, he seemed angry and said he had to take me home immediately. That's when we ran into Jhonatan."

"I see..." James thought that the guy had been deceived just like Elizabeth. Despite her youth, she had the appearance of a woman. She was tall, with long, light hair, and her eyes were light brown, truly reminiscent of honey. Her body had already transformed; she was slender, but she had thick legs and ample breasts. Truly a beautiful woman. James always thought of Stephanie when he looked at her, as the girl was identical to her mother, even in the beauty that had captivated him.

They walked around the mall, and she chose a light blue dress. It was long and had sleeves that covered half of her arms.

"Eliz, I know I asked for something discreet, but you're young, you can wear something more revealing."

Elizabeth blushed. She would love to wear clothes that showed her arms, but her fair skin was marked with scars from beatings by her father or brother.

After choosing the dress and a pair of shoes, they went to a more casual store and bought all sorts of clothes and footwear. Finally, before heading to the food court, they passed by a jewelry store. James looked at Elizabeth's wrist, and she was still wearing the childhood bracelet with pink details.

"Come!" He pulled her into the store.

"Uncle, this store must be ridiculously expensive."

"Eliz, you shouldn't be wearing these childish jewelry pieces. You're a woman now; you'll choose things that suit your age."

"Uncle, my father... He won't let me keep these things. Just the dress was enough..."

"Elizabeth... How I wish you were my daughter. You'd be covered in jewelry."

James said with regret. Whenever he realized how Elizabeth was treated, his heart felt like it was being stabbed. He had loved her mother so intensely that he never got married; his dream was to be Elizabeth's father.

They had lunch and went back home. James dropped her off at home, and as soon as she entered the door with bags in hand, her father stopped her.

"You know you won't be keeping any of that, right?"

"May I know why not?" James said as he was passing through the door.

"Oh, Mr. Larson..."

"Listen here, Natan, you're on thin ice! You don't take care of Elizabeth as you should. Adam is a shadow in this house, and you're putting your daughter in danger. How could you force her to go out with a man other than Jhonatan? What did you think he would do to her? Do you want him to kill your daughter?"

"Elizabeth is an adult. If she went out with another man who isn't her fiancé, it's none of my business."

"Be a father, Natan. You know my brother will destroy you if Elizabeth comes to Jhonatan hurt in any way or if she's been with another man. Don't create situations where your daughter will suffer!"

James gave his warning and left. Elizabeth stood still in the living room, knowing the consequences of telling her uncle anything.

"Go upstairs, Elizabeth! Put away the junk your uncle bought and come back here... Don't even think about locking yourself in your room. You know if I have to come up there, it'll be worse."