AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So much for that.
They’d have to find another means of escape.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
The fabric ripped so loudly, the sound echoed in Bella’s ears as her mother grabbed the dress and tore it. She gave it another hard yank, and the once gorgeous gray dress pulled away from her in tatters.
Bella flinched and threw an apologetic glance at Ariana in the corner.
“Better.” Mother’s face scrunched as she looked Bella up and down. “Now that we have that wicked thing off you, it’s time to remove that makeup. You think you’re going to be like Margarita?”
Bella didn’t answer. She was too disappointed to speak. Her plan had been to make a run for it as soon as all eyes were off her. But now as she stood in the large abandoned church building in only her undergarments, she had no chance at escape.
“Too good to answer me?” Mother pinched Bella’s side.
“Ow! Quit doing that.”
“I’m your mother, I’ll do what I like. Are you planning to be a rebellious harlot like Margarita?”
“She’s not a harlot, Mother.”
Another pinch.
“Stop!”
“You don’t tell me what to do! You’ve been spending entirely too much time with your sinful sister.” She grabbed a rag, dipped it in a bucket, and wiped the cold liquid all over Bella’s face. “Stop squirming. Don’t ask me what I did to deserve two disobedient daughters.”
Bella couldn’t help rolling her eyes.
Her mother pinched her twice as hard as the other times.
The pain was too much to ignore, and she yelped.
“Shut up.” Mother pressed harder as she scrubbed off Bella’s makeup.
Luciana, Bella’s other sister, entered the room with her young daughters.
“You’re finally here,” Mother said. “Help me get this paint off your wicked little sister’s face.”
“Who’s that?” Luciana glanced toward Ariana.
“Nobody. Get over here.” Mother handed the rag to the only daughter she was proud of before unzipping a garment bag hanging in the corner.
Bella tried looking around her sister to see what her mother was doing. She could only get a partial glimpse of the dress. Wedding dresses tended to get passed around among families, so it was probably the same one both of her sisters had worn, and several cousins too.
It wasn’t like anyone cared about making wedding days special or unique for any of the brides. They could easily be swapped out for another. Unlike the few outside weddings she’d been to, the ones in their church made the men the stars of the weddings.
They were always the stars of everything. Men led Sunday services, they stood at the front to lead singing, they made all the decisions. Women and children were expected to obey and do nothing else. They were barely decorations. Nothing more than servants.
“Hold still.” Luciana cupped Bella’s chin firmly, but not harshly like their mother’s touch.
Bella looked around for a way out. There was only one door in the building, but it had plenty of windows. Whether any of them opened was a big question. It wouldn’t surprise her if they didn’t. She wasn’t the first bride to want out.
She’d heard the horror stories.
Those women were either never seen again, or they were the ones who never looked anyone in the eye. When at church or other gatherings, they stared at the ground the entire time and never left their husband’s sides. How could a husband trust a wife who tried to flee the wedding ceremony? Everyone knew he had to keep a tight rein on her.
That would be her fate if she didn’t successfully get away from Neil tonight. It was now or never.
