The Rejected Wife

What happens when a girl is born into the mafia? Girls are protected, hidden until adulthood, and from an early age, their parents seek marriage agreements with advantages, whether they are financial or just a higher position within the organization. All the girls know their fate and hope to win the favor of a good husband.

But Elizabeth wasn't so lucky. They say that the middle daughter is forgotten, and how her father wished he could forget her in a convent; he remembered every day that he hated her. Elizabeth and her younger brother Adam were hated by their father and dreamed of the day they would find peace. Elizabeth suffered during her childhood, enduring abuse and lack of love. She held onto the hope that when the time came for her to marry, her father would choose someone kind who loved her, but that illusion was shattered when she met her fiancé, Jhonatan Larson.

The Larson family was known for producing the next mafia boss from within. James Larson was single, but he had the stern demeanor of a leader. He dreamed of marrying the beautiful Stephanie, but his father didn't allow it because he disapproved of marriage between first cousins. In the end, James had to watch his beloved be handed over to a cruel man and die at his hands, leaving only memories and the vivid image of Stephanie reflected in his daughter Elizabeth.

James feared for Elizabeth's future in the hands of the cruel Natan Wolf. To protect her, he made an irresistible offer to the man – an exorbitant sum in exchange for Elizabeth marrying his nephew Jhonatan. Natan considered refusing, but he couldn't. All he could do was poison Jhonatan's mind against his own daughter, Elizabeth.

**

Elizabeth was still a teenager when her younger brother started his training, albeit a bit late. She was 17 years old, and her brother Adam was 14. Adam allowed Elizabeth to read his school books; she hadn't attended school since she was 8 years old, but she knew how to read and write. She enjoyed science books and researching topics related to the human body. If she had studied, she might have become a doctor or a nurse. Whenever she was injured, it was these people who offered her care and kindness.

Elizabeth began to live with her father after her mother had passed away. The father would take Adam after school, and he would train with Dave or on his own. Alex always accompanied his son during the training sessions. Jhonatan, now 19 years old, helped his 11-year-old brother Noah. Jhonatan was waiting for Elizabeth's next birthday to set the wedding date.

"Hello, Jhonatan, how are you?" Elizabeth's father asked.

"I'm doing well. I see it's Adam's turn to train now. It took a while for you to bring him. He has a lot to learn, and I hate to say it, but he needs to improve significantly to survive in our world."

"I know... But not everyone has the same abilities."

"And how is Elizabeth? You know there's only a year left until the wedding, and I've seen your daughter only once or in photos."

"I tried to raise her well. I hope she becomes sensible after marriage."

Jhonatan became intrigued. Her father mentioned that besides being beautiful, Elizabeth was discreet and reserved.

"Mr. Wolf, I have to ask... What kind of woman is your daughter? My father promised me a girl who's not only beautiful but also respectable. He told me I wouldn't have any issues with her."

"I'll straighten her out before the wedding. I moved her to a different school because of the boys she was getting involved with, but it didn't help much. I keep an eye on her through Dave, but he's also learning about the family business. I can't leave him in charge of her all the time."

Jhonatan felt deceived. If her own father was saying this about her, she must be even worse.

"I'm going to investigate your daughter, Natan. I want to know exactly what kind of woman she is. I have a reputation to uphold, but I can't have just anyone by my side."

Natan had achieved what he wanted, sowing doubt about his daughter's character in Jhonatan's mind. When Natan got home, he found Elizabeth reading in the living room. She had a worn-out book that Adam had picked up from the school library. It was a book about plants and their healing properties.

"What are you doing?" Natan asked.

"I'm reading," Elizabeth replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"I just enjoy reading, passing the time..."

"Don't you have any chores to do?"

"Dad, I've taken care of everything. The house is clean and tidy, the food is ready, and the kitchen is organized."

"Great! Put this on, you're going out with someone tonight. Just enjoy the evening and come back home, understood?"

Elizabeth looked at the bag, and inside was an outfit that was definitely new; it still had the price tag on it. It was a pair of black jeans and a red blouse with long sleeves. Elizabeth's body was marked with burns and injuries from the beatings she endured. She saw the outfit and loved it. Her father never bought her anything, so receiving a complete look like this felt like a display of affection. She got up and hugged her father.

"Dad, I love it! Thank you for the gift."

Natan pushed her away. "Don't hug me! Just obey me."

Elizabeth didn't argue. She went upstairs, took a shower, and changed into the new clothes. The new outfit looked really good on her. She put on sneakers; she didn't have heels or feminine shoes.

She came downstairs, and there was a guy waiting there. He saw her coming down the stairs and smiled. At that moment, Elizabeth felt uncomfortable. There was a malicious glint in his smile. Even though she was confined at home, she knew that some men didn't respect women.

"Sweetie, this is Ralph. He used to study with Dave. He'll be going out with you."

"Dad, can we talk in the kitchen?" Elizabeth said, apprehensive, and Natan followed her.

"Dad, I don't want to go out with him. I don't feel safe."

"I'm not asking if you want to. I'm telling you to go, and that's that! You complain that you never go out, that you don't have fun, that I don't give you anything, and when I arrange a day for you, you turn your nose up at it? I'm trying, my daughter, trying to be a good father..."

Elizabeth felt guilty for reacting that way to her father's surprise. She kissed him and went back to the living room.

"We can go now, I'm ready."

Natan smiled as he watched Elizabeth leave.

Meanwhile, Jhonatan was at home and received a message from Dave.

Dave: "Hey, buddy, want to go out tonight? I'll pick you up at 9 PM. There's a new bar downtown."

Jhonatan: "Sure, I'll wait for you!"

Jhonatan and Dave spent a lot of time training together. Natan used this opportunity to poison Jhonatan's mind against Elizabeth. However, when he was younger, Jhonatan never paid attention to Natan's comments. He had never heard from anyone else that she wasn't a decent person.

At the same time, Elizabeth arrived at 230Fifth excited to meet Ralph. The place was on top of a building, offering a view of the entire city. Colored lights adorned some tables, providing privacy.

"Elizabeth, what do you think of the place?"

"There are quite a lot of people, aren't there?"

"Well, you're not used to it."

Ralph got her a drink and placed it in front of her. Elizabeth smelled the glass first and made a face. Ralph couldn't help but laugh.

"It's for drinking, not sniffing," he said, still chuckling.

"Oops, sorry! It's a habit of mine. I associate things with their smells. Sometimes it's awful."

"Okay, what would you like to drink?"

"I've never had strong drinks before."

"Really? When was the last time you went out?"

"This is my first time," she said, a bit embarrassed.

He laughed again. When Dave told him that he should seduce and take a girl to bed, he mentioned that she was experienced and liked going out. He didn't say that she was his own sister or that she had never been out before. Ralph appreciated her innocence. He found Elizabeth beautiful and believed she could win anyone over. He thought it was unnecessary for Dave to ask him to take her to bed.

Ralph ordered another drink and distracted Elizabeth with a live music performance happening in one corner. She was truly beginning to have fun. For her, seeing people dance and conversing with someone other than her brother was good. After all, only Adam paid attention to her.

"Elizabeth, I ordered something else for you. This one is quite light, almost like a juice." Ralph said.

Elizabeth smelled the glass and caught the aroma of freshly cut fruits. She smiled and took a sip.

"Elizabeth, are you in a relationship?" Ralph asked.

"No, but my father told me I have a fiancé waiting for me until I'm old enough to get married."

Ralph became concerned. Why would Dave ask him to seduce a committed sister? Elizabeth seemed so good. Ralph started to think that he was being used for something bad. "Hold on, how old are you?" he asked.

"I'm 17," she replied.

Ralph mentally cursed his friend Dave. He had just taken a 17-year-old engaged girl to a bar.

"Elizabeth, it's getting late. Let's leave."

"Can I at least finish my drink?"

"No... I'm being kind; it's better not to...," Ralph wanted to get Elizabeth home before the sedative took effect. He had given her a small dose, and she hadn't finished her drink yet. He thought she would become more relaxed and susceptible to the idea of spending the night with him.

"Okay, then. Let's go."

Ralph began to lead her to the elevator, and Elizabeth felt dizzy. Ralph held onto her to prevent her from falling.

"Take it easy, Elizabeth. I'll get you home."

They were really close, and when the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, two men were waiting to go up.

"Ending the night, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth was leaning on Ralph, feeling dizzy and not recognizing the man in front of her.

"Sorry, I think I don't know you..."

At that moment, she didn't have much control; it was clear Ralph was practically carrying her.

"Elizabeth, are you drunk again?"

"Dave?" She asked, confused.

"Let's go! I'll take you home... And you, you bastard, will pay for touching her!" Jhonatan said and pulled Elizabeth towards him.

He left with her leaning against his body and took her to the parking lot. He leaned her against the car in anger.

"Your father always tried to warn me about who you were, but I didn't listen. Now I see he's right, you're an immoral woman!"

Upon hearing these words, Elizabeth tried to slap Jhonatan, but he held her hand.

"How dare you do that after what I saw?"

"Let go of me! I don't know you, I'll scream until my brother shows up!"

"You fool! I'm Jhonatan Larson, your idiotic fiancé."

"What?" She asked, confused.

"Your agreement is with me... and you get caught with someone else? You deserve to be punished for that."

Elizabeth felt even dizzier and ended up hugging Jhonatan to keep from falling.

"How much have you been drinking today?"

"I didn't even finish half a glass, but I've never drunk before..."

Jhonatan laughed, thinking Elizabeth was a terrible liar. He looked at her up close and thought that if she were a decent woman, she would be the perfect wife because of her beauty. He leaned her against the car again and kissed her passionately.

"At least there's one good thing about you. You're damn beautiful! You must work wonders with that sexy mouth."

Elizabeth pushed him, and he stepped back, not that she had the strength, but he found her reaction interesting.

"Don't talk indecently to me! I'm not even old enough for that!"

Jhonatan was about to reply, but Elizabeth blacked out, and she only didn't fall because he held her. Jhonatan put her in the passenger seat and got into the car, watching her sleep for a minute before driving away.

He arrived at Natan's house with unconscious Elizabeth in his arms.

"Jhonatan, what happened to my daughter?" Natan asked, and Jhonatan entered with her.

"Where's her room?"

Natan swallowed hard; Elizabeth's room was falling apart, and he couldn't show that to Jhonatan.

"Put her on the couch. I'll take care of her..."

Jhonatan placed her on the couch, and she continued sleeping.

"Will you explain to me in what state you found my daughter this time?" Both Natan and Dave used ambiguous words; it seemed that this scene was common, making anyone think Elizabeth was used to coming home in that condition.

"She says she didn't drink, but she can't even stand. Although... never mind!" Jhonatan looked at Elizabeth sleeping for a moment, noticing she didn't smell of alcohol, and her kiss didn't taste like it either, as it should for someone who had been drinking heavily. He knew the tricks of the night; the man she was with could have easily drugged her to then take her away and abuse her without resistance. He wouldn't be the first to do that in a nightclub.

"Keep her at home if necessary. If she's going to marry me, I don't want my name dragged through the mud by an immoral woman!"

Jhonatan left in anger, arriving home and trying to remember if he had seen Elizabeth before at a party. He remembered the kiss and smiled to himself. He took a shower, thinking about how he had seen Elizabeth only once, and she had ignited desire in him. His future wife was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but he would resist her charms; he wouldn't marry just anyone. The next day, Jhonatan went to his uncle's house; James was still having breakfast when he arrived.

At the table were James Larson and his grandfather Marvin Larson. The old man was retired; he had passed on the business to James, but any matter that reached him was quickly resolved, and his word was law. Not even his children would challenge him.

"Good morning, my grandson, good to see you!" Marvin said.

"Good morning, Grandpa. It's good to see you too."

"Jhonatan, what brings you here so early?" James asked.

"The arrangement you set up for me. I only asked two things of you and my father: a beautiful and decent girl. Elizabeth is immoral!"

James slammed his fist on the table; he didn't like Jhonatan insulting Elizabeth at all.

"Never that! Elizabeth is not immoral. I've been watching her grow up; I know she's a woman full of virtues."

"Uncle, nobody told me, I saw it... I saw her with another man. I should kill her!"

"What was she doing?" The grandfather asked calmly, adding more sugar to his coffee without even looking at Jhonatan.

"She was at a bar with another man, seemed like she had been drinking more than she could handle. She didn't even know who I was; I just got her out of there and told Dave, her brother, to take care of the jerk."

"So she wasn't clinging to him or even acting intimately with this man?"

Jhonatan replayed the scenes; Elizabeth's behavior did seem strange. She didn't seem to have any connection with the guy.

"No, Grandpa, she wasn't. I just didn't like what I saw."

"Then don't accuse the girl of something you didn't see. When was she informed about the arrangement?"

"I don't know; she didn't even have a clue who I was."

"Then formalize it. If after an engagement she acts frivolously, you'll have reason."

James had stayed silent during the conversation, sipping his coffee. Since his father was defending Elizabeth, he wouldn't interfere.

"Fine! Let's have an engagement dinner. That way, she'll be sure she's a committed woman."

Jhonatan spoke to his father to organize everything; they set the date for a week from then, on Elizabeth's 18th birthday.

She was at home cleaning the fridge in the kitchen when Natan informed her.

"Saturday will be an important day!"

"Dad, you remembered!" Elizabeth never received anything for her birthday; her father remembering made her feel hopeful, like he was thinking about something for her.

"Oh, right! Your birthday is on Saturday too..."

Her smile faded. "What's happening on Saturday?"

"Your engagement, we're having dinner at your fiancé's house and making the arrangement official."

"Dad, I only have two days to find something to wear... Can we go out today and buy a dress?"

Natan laughed at Elizabeth's innocence. "Figure it out with what you have. I'm not spending a cent on this engagement. I could have denied the arrangement, but who says no to a Larson?"

"Isn't Jhonatan a good man?"

"If you survive the wedding night, I'll be surprised."

Elizabeth finished the kitchen and moved to her room, locked the door, and took out the childhood jewelry box. Inside was the last gift her uncle James had given her. She grabbed her phone and sent a message.

Elizabeth - "Hello uncle, I didn't want to have to ask, but I need a dress for the engagement, and my father won't give me one..."

James - "I'll pick you up in 30 minutes!"

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."