Episode 2

Leticia consumed her reheated dinner, prepared simply by Aunt Lina.

She was famished, and the meal disappeared swiftly as she devoured it.

After Aunt Lina took away Leticia's empty plate, she headed off to sleep.

The clock struck nine in the evening, and heavy drowsiness settled over Leticia.

With a full stomach and a refreshed body from bathing, it was now time for slumber.

Leticia felt grateful, even though she was assigned the back pavilion—still far better than a storage shed to her.

The pavilion boasted a bedroom, bathroom, living area, and kitchen.

It was almost as if Leticia lived in her own home, her status as Damian's wife irrelevant to her.

Their marriage was neither desired by her nor Damian, making it a disadvantageous union for both.

They didn't love each other; they were strangers thrust into marriage by financial woes.

Leticia was burdened with the hefty debt of her adoptive parents, who insisted it was her way of repaying their care since she was young.

She was relieved when Damian chose to put her in the back pavilion of the mansion, sparing her from his touch.

Leticia was confident that divorce from Damian was inevitable, so whatever torment he inflicted was tolerable as long as he didn't violate her.

She vowed to remain pure until she found a man who would accept and cherish her for who she was.

And she longed to be touched only by a man she loved.

After locking the pavilion door and turning off the lights, Leticia rested her head on the pillow, and within three minutes, she was asleep.

A half-hour into her sleep, Leticia began to talk in her sleep as usual, perhaps a result of oppression and abuse.

"No! Not me, no! Sorry... I didn't mean to...!"

Such murmurs frequently slipped from her mouth unknowingly amidst her dreams.

Her body then started to toss about restlessly, her hands reaching into the air.

"No! Forgive me... nooo!" she screamed unwittingly, tears streaming down.

Leticia awoke, opening her eyes, and sat up in bed, drenched in sweat, tears still flowing.

She wiped her tears away, and finding that sleep had fled, she climbed out of bed for a drink of water. She downed a glass of cool water.

After quenching her thirst, Leticia tried to sleep again. She crawled back under the covers and shut her eyes.

Suddenly, she heard sounds of objects being smashed and a man swearing.

Leticia sat up, listening intently to determine where the commotion originated.

The sound of something being slammed, followed by a man's cursing, echoed again.

Realizing that the noise came from behind the mansion, Leticia surmised that it must be Damian in a rage.

Likely at odds with his lover, he was venting his fury at home.

Leticia lay back down, feeling it was none of her concern. Damian meant nothing to her, and she cared not if he entertained a hundred lovers.

All that mattered was that he kept his distance; she abhorred the thought of being touched by such a despicable man.

Leticia settled back into bed, pulling the blanket over her body.

Then she closed her eyes.

To be continued...

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