Alex

She presses herself against the cold wall and holds her breath—so they won't hear her heartbeat. In this house, she's not a wife. She's a shadow, summoned at the click of a finger.

Her parents sold her as an asset. Her mother said, "If you're with Alex, we won't go broke." Her father snapped, "Don't you dare disgrace the family." Alina remained silent. Always.

Now she stands in the corner of the living room, barefoot, looking at the floor.

• Alina.

The voice cuts through the silence. She shudders and runs. She freezes next to his chair.

"Just don't make me angry. Don't make a mistake," throbs in my temples.

Alex sits with his button unbuttoned, leafing through contracts. He doesn't even raise his head.

(She trembles. Every time, it's as if I'm going to hit her. It's funny. I never raised my hand. But her voice is enough. It's convenient.)

— You forgot to top up your account. Why?

— I didn't mean to disturb you. I thought you were busy...

"I'm not asking what you thought." Ice in her eyes. "Why should I check?"

(Always mumbling. Father is a shark, mother is a bitch. And she? A genetic miscarriage. No character, no backbone. But her last name sealed the deal. Let her stand in the corner.

She presses herself against the cold wall and holds her breath—so they won't hear her heartbeat. In this house, she's not a wife. She's a shadow, summoned at the click of a finger.

Her parents sold her as an asset. Her mother said, "If you're with Alex, we won't go broke." Her father snapped, "Don't you dare disgrace the family." Alina remained silent. Always.

Now she stands in the corner of the living room, barefoot, looking at the floor.

• Alina.

The voice cuts through the silence. She shudders and runs. She freezes next to his chair.

"Just don't make me angry. Don't make a mistake," throbs in my temples.

Alex sits with his button unbuttoned, leafing through contracts. He doesn't even raise his head.

(She trembles. Every time, it's as if I'm going to hit her. It's funny. I never raised my hand. But her voice is enough. It's convenient.)

— You forgot to top up your account. Why?

— I didn't mean to disturb you. I thought you were busy...

"I'm not asking what you thought." Ice in her eyes. "Why should I check?"

(Always mumbling. Father is a shark, mother is a bitch. And she? A genetic miscarriage. No character, no backbone. But her last name sealed the deal. Let her stand in the corner.