Chapter Eight

Mrs. Olivia was with a man, sitting comfortably on his lap and acting like two love birds.

The last time I checked, this was the same thing I was scolding for, cheating. Although mine was just an accusation.

“What is happening now? Why is Mrs. Olivia cheating? Does the man know that she's a married woman? Liam thought, he couldn't hold it anymore, so he approached them.

“Good day Sir, my name is Liam." Liam brought out his hand for a handshake, but the man glanced at him from head to toe and ignored him. Anyway, I'm Mrs Olivia’s husband, please can you respect our marriage?”. Liam said.

The next thing Liam saw when he opened his eyes was the hospital ceiling. Olivia’s guest had beaten Liam to unconsciousness. He learned that it was one of the workers in the mansion that took him to the hospital.

Liam felt sore all over his body. The worst wasn't about the pain Liam felt, but he feared what the Thompson family would do to him. All he wanted to do was to protect his woman.

That same evening he was discharged from the hospital. He booked a taxi with the help of a kind nurse.

When Liam got home, Olivia was not in the sitting room but Mr and Mrs Thompson were sitting in the living room watching a TV show.

As soon as they noticed Liam, they asked “Where are you coming from?”.

“Hospital, I was just discharged from the hospital,” Liam said trying to make them feel sorry for him, but instead he was given the shocker of his life.

“Security, take this boy to the discipline room and show him how to talk to his wife, he lacks manners." He gazed at Liam who had a surprise look on his face. "How dare you embarrass your wife’s guest? Who are you in this house? Now take him”. He said.

Liam, whose eyes were wide open in shock, began to cry and plead at the same time.

“I’m sorry father-in-law, I didn't mean to offend you or Mrs Olivia. I'm sorry, I won't do it again, I promise.”

“I'm sure you won't do it again after this punishment,” Mr. Thompson said.

Liam continued to plead until he was in the room with the security, he was tied and beaten to unconsciousness.

Exactly, four hours later, Liam was woken by the incessant call of his name.

“Liam! Liam!! Liam!!!.. Uhh...” He sluggishly answers. “Get up, madam Olivia wants to see you,” The maid said.

Liam got up, staggering to Mrs. Olivia’s room.

Liam knocked on the door and the voice on the other end answered and asked him to come in.

Liam looked down as soon as he entered and saw another man on Olivia’s bed. He recognized the man from their wedding as one of the Thompson’s business partners.

Liam didn't want to cause another problem for himself; he couldn't endure another beating.

“Liam, you’ll have to go to the grocery store and buy the Italian best wine for my guest. He doesn't want to drink any random wine, and please be fast about it.” Olivia instructed.

In Liam’s mind, he wondered why Olivia would be so heartless to send him on such an errand; having pain all over his body was not enough, but buying what her lover would drink was too much of an insult to him.

“Mrs. Olivia, please can you ask someone else to buy it? My body is full of sores and it aches me terribly.”

Mrs. Olivia got provoked, “Are you mad? Do I look like I care about your body? You’ll go to the store and buy what I asked for, and that's final.”

Disappointingly he muttered, “I'm sorry I’ll go. Please, where do I get the money from?”

Mrs. Olivia looked at him and hissed. “I know you don't have money.” She opened her drawer and brought out a bundle of cash. “Take it! She handed it to Liam. If you waste time, you'll starve for a week. Now go!”.

Liam collected the money and rushed out of the room, hurting from the pain on his body.

Liam, with aching limbs, made his way to the grocery store. He felt like a slave in the Thompson’s house. His supposed wife now disrespects him in the presence of her lovers.

As he entered the store, he tried to walk through the hall, wincing with every step.

He found the Italian best wine section and grabbed a bottle, hoping it would satisfy Olivia’s guest's expectations. The cashier gave him a curious look, noticing Liam's messy look.

Back at the Thompson mansion, Liam handed the wine to Olivia. She glanced at him with contempt, as if his mere presence irritated her. “You took forever. Go clean yourself up; you're a mess.”

Liam nodded and headed to the bathroom. He stared at the mirror, but it only reflected a battered man with bruises. As he cleaned up, he wondered how his life had spiraled into this nightmare.

Once he looked somewhat presentable, Liam went back downstairs, hoping for a moment of peace. Instead, Olivia who was heading to the kitchen saw him and pointed to a vacuum cleaner. “Since you enjoy making a mess of yourself, clean the entire house. And remember, don't make a sound; my guest doesn't appreciate noise.”

For hours, Liam worked tirelessly, the vacuum's noise drowning out his thoughts. As he cleaned, he overheard bits of conversations between Olivia and her guest. They laughed and chatted, sharing intimate moments.

As the evening approached, Liam had become exhausted. His body screamed in pain, but he dared not complain. He finished cleaning just as Olivia summoned him.

“Now, go to your room. I don’t want to see a pathetic sight like you.” Olivia's words hurt deeply, and Liam fled to his room, he knew that there would be no dinner for him for coming back late.

In his small room, Liam wondered how he ended up a prisoner in a place he thought would bring happiness. Lying on the bed, battered and broken.

Out of nowhere, a loud noise broke out, Liam quickly got up fearing, “What's that?