Penny's mouth hung open as she stared at the man standing before her. He was barefoot, dressed in an unbuttoned silk black shirt, exposing a scarred, muscular chest covered in scribbled ink. Penny couldn't tell what was written there, maybe numbers, symbols, words?
His wild, unkempt black hair hung over his piercing silver eyes, a few strands falling to his shoulders in locks. His eyes looked so hollow yet intense that made her feel... exposed
But the worst part?
He was grinning. A slow, manic grin that made Penny's stomach twist.
Was this Osvaldo?
Is this her supposed husband?
He looked nothing normal. He looked nothing like a human.
And like a beast his gaze locked onto her, and his smile widened even more.
Then... He lunged.
Straight at her...
Penny paled, she turned immediately and tried climbing the stairs, but she had barely made two steps when a large hand grabbed her shoulders.
Osvaldo pulled her from the stairs, slamming her against the wall.
The maids screamed everyone turned scared for Penny. Osvaldo wasn't planning on killing their new madam, was he?
No, they will not allow it.
Hughes screamed. "Master Osvaldo! Let her go please!" Both she and a few servants rushed towards them.
But he didn't. His grip tightened. His breathing was erratic. His head tilted as he stared at her, his fingers twitching, as if unsure whether to hold her… or break her.
In all his life, he has never seen something so precious yet playful.
"Osvaldo please don't harm her she's your wife. Please!" Hughes pleaded. She had asked Penny to leave, she warned her to hide. Their master wasn't very fond of strangers. He kills anything in sight.
This was not the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.
"Wife?" He suddenly said tilting his head to the side while Penny struggled to breathe. He leaned closer, his silver eyes staring right into her soul as he breathed her in. His hot breath made her shiver.
"Yes master, she's your wife. Please let her go." Hughes pleaded again but she didn't dare touch him. No one did.
At this stage, he was not redeemable. They were dealing with a madman, they were living with a madman.
Osvaldo turned to look at her, his silver eyes glowing. His face turned so serious, and then immediately.
"Hahahahahah." He laughed and the others joined him. They all laughed like mad people. It is because if they don't all laugh, they'll all be dead. It isn't the first time this has happened, their master has always been this way, mad and violent.
"Mine." Osvaldo finally called and as if they flipped the switch, his fingers loosened around her neck. He leaned in to lick her cheek, his wet hot tongue sending a jolt of electricity down her body.
Penny had expected the worst smell to come from that mouth. She had expected something strong, maybe as strong as sewage, judging by his appearance. But his scent was of citrus, vanilla, and mint which filled her nostrils.
Osvaldo finally let her go, smacking his lips as he started walking away.
Penny staggered a little, gasping for air. She held the wall for support and a few of the maids rushed towards her for assistance.
"Madam, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" The maids gathered her like she was something precious.
Penny who was still confused and terrified by everything happening began to cry. This couldn't be her life, how could she be married to a madman?
How the hell is he going to sign the divorce papers now? She can not be stuck with this man forever.
****
Penny lay in bed all day crying and laughing at what her life had become. She had barely escaped death today and wondered if this was what she would face for the rest of her life.
She was too scared to leave the room, too scared to stay, too scared to move or do anything.
Chris had deceived her and made her marry his mad brother. Is that how much he hated her?
If he never loved her why did he even get close to her in the first place?
Penny wiped her tears. This is partly her fault too. She had loved Chris blindly and signed those papers without looking, now this was her life. This is what she has to face now.
One way or another she has to make Osvaldo sign the divorce papers. She cannot spend the rest of her life with a madman.
The small knock on her room door made her flinch, and she stared at it warily. She had locked the door herself, but she was still scared that mad man would break the door and try to kill her again.
The huge mark from his hold before was still very visible. It would be a miracle if she survived tonight.
"Madam, it's Rosie, I brought food and to also prepare your bath." A soft feminine voice sounded from outside and only then did Penny get out of bed to open the door for her maid.
"Hurry." Penny hissed and the girl rushed in. Penny closed the door immediately, locking it even. The last thing she wanted was for that monster to return.
Rosie stared at the scared girl pitifully. Her red hair was tied to the back with a purple ribbon matching her outfit.
Judging by Penny's actions, it seems she had no idea what she was getting into. Their young master Chris always did this. Finds useless girls from good families for his mad brother as a wife and each of them never remains the same again.
No one has been able to even get past the first stage of this marriage which is staying alive after seeing the mad man for the first time.
They all end up dead. Either by Osvaldo's hands or they end up committing suicide that same day.
But Penny...
She had somehow survived their mad master, and he even gave her a name. They all had no idea why their master was attracted to this fat ugly girl, but they wanted to see how long she would last.