Contract Marriage: My Husband doesn't know I am the daughter of his enemy

Elara's POV, 

The first thing I hear is the shout. The second is the sound of ceramic shattering against my skull.

Pain explodes behind my eyes, sharp and blinding, and I barely have time to gasp before the hot soup spills down my neck. My knees hit the marble floor with a dull thud and I hissed in pain.

"Useless!" Anya screams, her voice as shrill as usual. "Are you stupid? You brought it too hot!"

I don't answer or look up. I just kneel with my face to the ground, because kneeling is expected.

Dorine's heels click against the floor and she peers down at the mess like she's inspecting dirt.

"What's all this noise?" she asks.

Anya scoffs. "She didn't warn me about how hot the soup was so I burned my tongue."

Dorine's eyes flick to me and before I can blink, she slaps me hard.

"She wanted to hurt you," Dorine snickers. "Jealous, wicked girl. Always plotting."

The shouting and the insults blur and I zone out because zoning out is the only way to survive. You let the pain pass through you like water, and you don't feel anything.

"Clean it," Dorine snaps her fingers in my face. "And bring another plate."

I gather the broken pieces with shaking hands, and my vision swims. Blood drips onto the floor, but no one helps me. They never do because if they did, they'd lose their job.

On my way to the kitchen, a servant stops me. "The patriarch wants to see you."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes and walk into Matteo Virelli's study. He doesn't even look at my face and just points to the laptop on the desk.

"Finish this," he says. "By morning."

The blood from before drips from my hair onto the carpet and that's when he notices.

His hisses in disgust. "Get rid of that stain".

Then he leaves without a single question as to why I was bleeding. Without caring about what happened to his own daughter. 

I stare at the door long after it closes and lick my lips. Its only a matter of time, I remind myself. I've given them enough and taken enough. Soon, I'll be gone.

~~

A week later, and I turn nineteen. There's a great celebration and they announce a grand masquerade ball for Anya's engagement to Lucien Kòrvac, Don of a powerful mafia dynasty. The banquet hall is filled with silk, laughter and masks.

No one notices me, which is perfect to be honest. Because while they celebrate, I pack.

Two changes of clothes, documents and cash I've stolen from my father's accounts over the years. More than enough to erase myself. I was giddy.

All I need now are my books and one last visit to the only room that ever felt safe in the entire mansion. 

The library is dim when I slip inside and I startle when I hear his voice.

I pause, hidden between the shelves, and