Chapter 6 You don't have a choice

"You will never walk away when I am speaking to you. Do you understand?" her father's voice rang out. He had also stood up from his chair.

Elisa stood frozen, her back still turned to him. Her pulse thundered in her ears, but she didn't flinch. Slowly, she turned around to face him.

"How can you ask me to do something like that?" she asked, her voice breaking with emotion. "You can't force me to marry him. Please, don't make me do this."

"You will marry him," her father said coldly, stepping closer. "It's not a request. It's a command."

"Well, I'm not marrying him." Her voice trembled but remained steady. "You can say whatever you want, but you can't drag me to the altar."

Before she could brace herself, his palm struck her across the face with a loud crack. Her head jerked to the side, her skin stinging from the impact.

"Don't you ever talk back to me," he growled. "Tomorrow, you'll go with your mother to prepare for your wedding. Understood?"

"I am not marrying him," she said again, more quietly but firmly.

Another slap. This time on her other cheek.

"I said," her father spat, "you will marry him."

"I won't," she said, standing her ground, though her cheeks throbbed painfully. "I am not marrying him."

His hand came down again, a third time, hitting the same cheek as before. Her vision blurred from the sting, but she didn't back down.

"I didn't hear you well," he said, his face twisted in rage. "What did you say?"

"Patrick, please! That's enough!" Her mother shot up from her seat, rushing to his side. "She's confused - she's scared! I'm sure I can help her see reason."

"She will marry him," he barked. "I don't care if she's confused or dying. In three days, she will walk down that aisle."

"I-am-not-marrying-him."

Another slap.

Elisa's legs wobbled under her. Her skin burned. Her ears rang. Her eyes began to sting, but she still held his gaze.

Her mother lunged forward, catching his raised arm mid-air.

"Enough, Patrick! This is enough!"

The next sound wasn't what Elisa expected. It wasn't a slap landing on her.

It was the thud of her mother hitting the floor.

Elisa's eyes widened. She looked up, stunned, and saw her mother crumpled against the tiles, clutching her cheek. A bright red mark was already forming on her skin.

"Don't you ever try that again, you ungrateful whore," Patrick hissed.

He turned toward her mother with fury in his eyes. "I see you've forgotten your place. I'll have to teach you again."

His fingers went to his belt buckle. Elisa watched in disbelief as he pulled the belt free in one smooth motion.

"No-" she breathed, panic rushing up in her chest.

Her father raised the belt.

"Stop!" Elisa's scream cut through the air. She stepped forward, her voice shaking. "I'll do it. I'll marry him. I'll marry Stefano. Just... just let her go."

Her father paused mid-strike. His chest heaved, but he lowered the belt slowly.

"See?" he muttered with a cruel smile. "It doesn't always have to be difficult."

He walked toward the door. "You'll go with your mother tomorrow for the final preparations. And fix your face. You look hideous."

The door slammed shut behind him.

Her mother still sat on the floor, shoulders trembling, her head bowed. Elisa stood there, unsure, her own face stinging with pain and humiliation. Her throat felt tight.

She took a small step closer, careful not to get too near. "Do you... do you need help?"

Her mother didn't look up. Her voice was quiet. "No. I'm fine. Go to bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Elisa stared at her for a moment, guilt curling inside her. She wanted to say something, to apologize but the words just wouldn't come.

She turned away and left the room.