Chapter 3 Uphill Battle

Bryan, with a shy smile, teased her, "As long as the money is there, what more could you wish for? Everything you need is here, Laura; enjoy it while you still can."

Laura looked at Bryan with suspicion.

"Bryan, I need you to be honest with me. Is there something you're not telling me? Every time I talk about Daniel, you seem to be defensive over him."

Her brother kept mute for some seconds, "why would you say a thing like that? You are my sister and I won't do anything to hurt you. don't think too much about irrelevant things."

Laura began to feel like her brother Daniel was hiding something from her, discovering Daniel's secret proved to be an uphill battle for her. But she remained strong.

Laura needed to have a little bit of fun, so she asked Bryan if he would like to go to the park with her.

Bryan decided to go out with her despite the fact he felt uneasy at the moment.

They hurriedly left so they could return on time before Daniel got home.

Laura and Bryan left the house together and headed to the park.

Upon arrival, Laura felt a wave of excitement as if she hadn't been there in a long time.

Together, they walked around the park, having fun all the way. Laura even brought out her camera and took pictures to capture the moment.

Laura was so excited that she almost forgot about her pains and worries.

The day had been different for her, as she had just married Daniel Edward.

She was full of enthusiasm and couldn't stop glancing through the pictures she had taken at the park when she got home.

However, her mood suddenly changed when she realized that she was back to her old life. She felt trapped and her heart began to pound.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she wished that she never had to return to a life of sadness and anxiety.

After a while, she decided to make dinner

Laura walked into the kitchen with a sense of self-assurance to prepare a delicious dinner for her husband, Daniel.

She insisted on doing it herself and asked the maid to step aside.

As she set the table, she felt confident in her culinary skills and eagerly awaited Daniel's return to enjoy the meal she had created.

Laura had a cunning plan to win Daniel's trust and uncover his true intentions. She knew that playing nice was the way to get close to him.

It was almost dawn, Daniel Edward had returned home.

As Daniel Edward walked into the house, Laura's heart raced with anxiety.

She knew there was something he was hiding from her, and she was determined to find out what it was.

Laura's greeting was assertive as she looked Daniel Edward in the eye and asked, "How was your day?"

Daniel Edward responded in a low tone, "It was good," as he walked past her toward his room.

Undeterred, Laura picked up his briefcase and followed him to his room.

Laura approached Daniel with confidence and spoke clearly, "I have prepared dinner for us. Please freshen up now so we can eat together."

Daniel began undressing himself without a word.

"Just to be clear, I prepared dinner," Laura repeated calmly.

Daniel turned to her and responded in a tense voice, "I heard you."

Laura sensed his discomfort and decided to show more confidence, "Great. I know you're going to enjoy it. Now, go and freshen up."

Daniel hesitated for a moment before complying.

Laura watched him leave with a sense of pride and self-assurance, knowing that she had handled the situation with confidence and assertiveness.

They both ate together, Laura couldn't stop staring at Daniel Edward in the dining room as he enjoyed the meal.

She was bent on finding out his secret. Little did she know that the revelation of his secret would shake her to the core and change her life forever. What was Daniel's secret? Only time will tell.

Despite the luxurious surroundings, Laura began to feel confined in the mansion, like a bird in a gilded cage.

the effort it took to maintain a facade of happiness and contentment was slowly draining

Perhaps it was time to reassess her situation and make some changes.

One evening, Laura was alone in the room, glancing through some pictures she had taken with her family.

Daniel came out of the restroom, grabbed his nightwear, and Laura spoke up with a loud voice as he was about to leave the room.

"Daniel, we need to talk!" she said firmly.

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and asked, "About what?"

Laura stood up and came closer to him, determined to make her point.

"About our marriage. You can't keep treating me like I'm some kind of object. You're always so cold and mean to me, and I can't take it anymore."

Daniel ignored her and tried to walk away, but Laura held onto his hand.

"Look, Daniel, you can't just walk away from this. I deserve to be treated with respect, and I won't settle for anything less."

He glared at her, his temper rising. "You better watch your mouth," he said, pointing his finger in her face.

Laura didn't back down. "I won't be silenced by you anymore," she said, her voice rising.

"I'm not going to be your punching bag, Daniel. You can't control me."

This only made Daniel angrier, and he raised his voice.

"You're lucky to have me, Laura. You should be grateful for everything I've given you."

Laura didn't hesitate. "Grateful? I'd rather be alone than be in this miserable marriage with you."

Daniel lost his temper and slapped her across the face. He stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Laura was left alone, holding her cheek and crying. But she knew that she had finally stood up for herself, and that was worth everything.

Laura was determined to spend the weekend with her parents, as she hadn't seen them since her wedding.

When she told Daniel about her plans, he refused to let her go. But Laura was resolute and decided to go anyway.