22| For the best.

Ruby.

"I'm going to divorce him, dad. I can't do this anymore." I let out, as I failed to successfully control my tears.

"What? Why would you do that? Why would you want a divorce when it's not even a year yet that you guys got married? Look at how your skin is glowing? You're even getting more chubby day by day, this is peace of mind. What exactly is your problem?" Dad asked.

It took me hours to get off that floor this morning even after the beast left for God knows where. That was my last straw, I made up my mind that I was never going back to that house immediately I left, damn the consequences.

He doesn't want me, I'll give him that. The public, reputation or even whatever political ambitions can go to hell. But apparently, I had nowhere else to go than my father's house.

"Dad, I don't care what you have to say but nothing can make me go back to being his wife. I thought he was just an arrogant egoistic buffoon but dad, I was wrong. He's... he's actually a beast with the face of a good person. I really wish everyone can look past beautiful faces, fake smiles and fake niceness. His heart is as black as charcoal. No... their hearts! All of the so called Daniels, the father, mother and the son. All of them!" I exclaimed louder than intended almost tearing my hair off my head.

"Ruby, don't let the media get hold of this nonsense you're saying. It would be detrimental for you. For us. What is your problem. All you've being saying is about them being bad and all, what exactly is it that makes them bad? What exactly?"

I bowed my head before speaking, scared to look him in the eye. I know that he'd fret when I tell him, he'd probably threaten to kill him. I don't want my dad in jail just because of those rich idiots. I don't want him to be spat upon but we'd cross that bridge when we get there, this has to end.
The whole contract, whatever it is that they were trying to do or trying to get, I don't care. I can't be the key to it anymore.

"He raises his hands on me dad. He's done it twice already." I refused to look up as I continued. "He... he also raped me. He... raped me yesterday, dad. He took my virginity forcefully." I concluded as I finally got the courage to look into my father's eyes.

Nothing.
No anger, no remorse. His wrinkled eyes wore nothing. At least, not the reactions I had envisioned, instead, it was calm and it looked like he was trying to look serious and not laugh.

"Dad?" I whispered.

And then he bursted into laughter, snorting while at it. I felt embarrassed.

Lola came out of her room at that exact moment, with her brown eyes that was almost identical to that of a cat which seemed to add to her beauty but also made her look like one of those Disney witches. She was dressed in a long White Bubu dress that had way too many stones on it. On her head was a shoulder length curly weave that I was sure wouldn't be less than a hundred thousand. I didn't even think that she was indoors, which means she must have heard our discussion too. I have always tried not to show any form of weakness before her, she doesn't deserve to see me that way.

"Oh, honey! You shouldn't be laughing like that, you're making her look shy." She said with a hint of humour in her tone while trying to hide her pointy glares.

So, Lola developed this habit of always acting nice to me around my dad. It always seemed so fake that I'm sure even my dad knows she's mean to me but decided to just play along. Whoever she thought she's deceiving, it's definitely herself.

"Oh dear. I just can't help it, Ruby can be so naive and humorous. Only God knows where she got that trait from." Dad responded to her while she took her seat beside him chuckling.

"Which part of my story is humorous, dad?! Is it the beating part or the rape part?!" I almost snap.

"Young lady, you will not raise your voice at your father." Lola scolded.

I rolled my eyes openly as I stood up, yes, openly, I don't know where the courage or words came from but it did.
"Oh please, shut up, Lola! Shut your pretentious, mean mouth up! You're not my mother nor will you ever be so don't even try to scold me. I know you don't like me, you're not deceiving anyone here but yourself. Please, do me a Favour and just mind your damn business!"

'Way to go, Ruby. If only you were this courageous with Toby too, life would have been way better for you!' My inner voice taunted.
I hate that voice. I really do.

Dad's eyes were wide as he looked at me. "What is wrong with you, Ruby? You marry a billionaire and now you think you know everything or you're better than us? Is that it?"

I scoffed. "Really dad? Really? Being a Billionaire's wife changed me? What kind of a father laughs when his daughter tells him that she's in a domestic violence and marital rape situation? Uh? But then, I'm not surprised! You're the worst dad in the whole world anyways! Why did I even come here? Why did I think I still have a father I can confide in? A father who would put me out of the misery I'm in? That's so stupid of me!" I shouted like a mad person.

Of course, he wouldn't put me out of my misery, he put me in that same misery!

"Ruby dear. My baby girl, I'm sorry if I made you feel that way, really, I am. You know that's not true, you know how much I care about you. You shouldn't even doubt that. You just have to know somethings about marriage. Sit down." Dad said remorsefully.

My demeanor changed back to the usual Ruby even though I refused to sit.
"Please?" He pleaded as I sat down reluctantly.

"We are your family, Ruby and all we want for you is the best. We would never see fire and push you into it. It's just not possible. But, you need to know that your husband can't rape you, he's your husband. I don't even understand how... how... it's just happening between you two. He's entitled to your body, Ruby. He's your husband not just any man. You should have simply let him, you own each other and that's it. About the violence, I'm so sorry, I had no idea at all about that. Never for once did I think he'd do such a thing, he... he looks quite angelic and calm to even do such to you. Are you sure you didn't do anything to provoke him in any way? Look, let me talk to you as a man that I am and not as a father, we men love it when our women are obedient and submissive. I think if you try that, it'd work out and he'd change."
Dad rambled on while I just stared at him, confused.

"But dad...Why exactly are we even doing this? Why am I even married to him? What kind of contract is this whole bullshit? I think I deserve to know what I'm putting my mental health on the line for, I deserve that much, dad." I pleaded.

He shared looks with lola first before speaking. "It's really in your best interest if you're kept in the dark about that, for now, honestly. All you have to know is that you're doing this for us, Ruby. For your family, the ones who would always stick by you no matter what. Even if you don't want to be with him forever, please, baby, do it for just three more years, please." He pleaded, tears pricking his eyes.

I sighed. "Superwoman it is then? Alright. I'll be right back, I need to get a glass of water and clear my head or something." I said as I got of the cushion and walked towards the kitchen.

But the whispers between my dad and Lola made me curious so I stood behind the door and eavesdropped.
"You shouldn't have told her that, you just heightened her curiosity the more." Lola said.

"Would you rather she jeopardize it all with her impatience?" Dad questioned.

"You didn't even bother to scold her for talking to me like that! I really can't wait for her to be twenty five and we can just get it all done with." Lola said as she stood up and it sounded like she was walking towards the door I was leaning on so I quickened my steps and walked into the kitchen instead.

What I heard was confusing but one thing I was not going to do was be married to Toby till I was twenty five, whatever wants to happen when I'm twenty five will have happen without Toby and so I opened the kitchen door which leads to the small gate at the backyard. I tried to be silent with my steps so as not to attract the attention of the bodyguards that I came with.

And immediately I was out of the compound, I sprinted.