Chapter 2: Family Punishment

!!!! **** WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MATERIALS THAT SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING! SUCH AS SEVERE VIOLENCE AND BLOOD/GORE! READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED! **** !!!! ************************************ Clover's P.O.V ************************************ When I got to the dining room downstairs, Declan and Clara were eating dinner like it was any other night. There was no other family, no male that they were trying to push on me. There were no pamphlets for colleges they deemed worthy. There was only a third place setting for me, waiting for me to sit and join. So I did. "Good evening, Mother, Father," I greeted them as I took my seat. My entire body was shaking. I was desperately trying to control it. I didn't want them to see how weak and afraid I still was. Especially when they thought they'd beaten the weak out of me years ago. "Good evening, Clover," Declan replied without looking at me. "I-I thought you were both in Europe for work," I said. "What brings you back so soon?" Clara glanced at Declan, but his eyes remained on his plate. It was like he was waiting for her to take the lead. Which is something he only ever did when it came to me. The thing about Declan is that he loves control. When you're a male in the Murillo family, you're taught from birth that your word is law. His father was like that before he passed away two years ago. His brothers are like that along with their bratty sons. I assume Truce is also like that, but who knows. However, men like Declan, who were born rich, are not dumb. They're too smart, actually. Declan would never try to "parent" me since he's not actually my father. Even though my dad is dead and I've lived here for five years. He leaves every decision up to Clara. At least, that's how it looks like from the outside. In reality, Declan tells Clara what to do and then she does it. The socialite stuff, the primping and parading me around, the makeup and dresses and tea gatherings are all Clara. She lives for that kind of thing. The extra languages, the piano, the debate team... those are all from Declan. Because I better not ever disgrace this family. He's also the reason my last name changed. I hadn't even been living here for a full week when they announced I was no longer a Thorton and was now a Murillo. When I confusedly asked why... Well, that was when I had my first lesson about talking back. My mother is a coward. Or maybe she just truly doesn't care. I'm honestly not sure. The only thing I am sure of is that Clara loves Declan's money. She loves the life he gives her. All these riches, the doors that open for her, the envy she receives. She didn't leave me and Dad for love. She left us for money, and she never planned on coming back. Which would make me a huge inconvenience living under their roof. "We never left," Clara finally said. "Oh, change of plans?" I asked. "To be quite frank with you Clover, we lied." I stopped with the fork halfway to my mouth. My eyes bounced between the two of them. Clara set her silverware down and grabbed her glass of wine. She stared at me over the rim as she took a slow drink. Declan continued to eat as if nothing at all was happening around him. "You... lied?" I asked, confused. Something heavy settled in my gut. My heart started beating faster. I had an awful feeling about this. "I wanted to see if you'd actually do it," Clara replied. "Do what?" Declan snorted out a harsh sound, but still didn't look up. "Actually try to leave," she said. "Actually try to run off to some unknown community college to pursue your little art dream." I paled as all the blood drained out of my face. "H-how did you...?" I trailed off, unable to finish the question. "Oh, please," Clara scoffed, frowning at me. "I know everything Clover. I am your mother. I make sure I know every single little thing. Do you know how many times you'd have embarrassed this family if I hadn't been keeping such a close eye on you?" My lips parted, but no words came out. This couldn't be happening. They couldn't tell me no now. I'm 18. I'm an adult. "I've already enrolled," I said, trying to keep my voice level, but I knew it came out shaky. "And it's not a community-" "I handled it," Clara cut me off. "Handled it?" "I called the college. Spoke to the dean. You won't be going there." "Y-you can't do that!" "I certainly can, and I did," she stated with narrowed eyes. "Honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself," Declan chimed in, finally looking up from his plate. Though, I wish his eyes would have stayed down. He always looks at me with so much contempt, and it makes me feel so small. "After everything your mother and I have done for you, and this is how you repay us?" He continued. "We've given you everything. A roof over your head, food, private lessons, connections, all the money in the world. And you repay us by applying for no-name colleges behind our backs? How selfish can you be, honestly? You get those horrible traits from that father of yours." Finally, that made me snap. "Don't you dare talk about my dad!" I yelled as I slammed my fist on the table. "My dad was a great man. Better than you'll ever be! And all that you gave me?? A roof and food are not things I should have to be thankful for. I never asked to be born. Blame your wife for that. And everything else... I think I've paid fu.cking plenty over the years for doing things I never wanted to do in the first place." A cold tension fell over the room. The few remaining maids quickly scurried out of the room. Even Clara looked uncomfortable as she sat up straighter, her eyes flickering between the two of us. And Declan... he was calm. The man is always calm. Always has a plan for what happens next. He wiped his mouth with his napkin, sat back in his chair, and gave me a look that made me want to run for my life. "It seems we haven't been strict enough with you over these years," he said. I paled again. I knew what those words meant. They meant "the family" punishment. Declan snapped his fingers and a second later, Fredrick, the long-time butler appeared at his side. Fredrick handed Declan the family's ancient spiked whip. It looks like thorny vines braided together; dark, sleek, and stained with my blood already. "No," I blurted as I stood up, my chair scraping against the floor. Declan's eyes moved over my shoulder and he gave a single nod. I should have known to look or to run right away. Before I could even turn my head, there was a man on either side of me. They grabbed my arms and forced me to my knees. Tears fell from my eyes as I looked up at Declan. "Please," I whispered. "This is too much." "Then I guess you'll learn to be less," he replied before giving the men another nod. The men turned me around so that my back was to Declan. There was no warning before the first lash hit my back. I cried out as intense pain shot through me. I wasn't even able to take a breath before the second hit, and that one dropped me to my knees. The third broke my shirt open. The fourth split my skin. By the tenth lash, my back was numb in a burning kind of way. The men finally let me go and I slumped to the floor. My shirt was torn completely open. I knew that my back was bleeding significantly. It hurts to breathe. Then Clara was standing over me while Declan murmured something to Fredrick. "I've already had all of your art supplies burned," she told me in a voice too calm for a woman who had just watched her daughter get whipped. "All of your paintings too. Everything is gone. You have no portfolio, no college admission, no anything without Declan." No... she couldn't... she wouldn't... "You're going to attend the college we picked out," Clara continued. "It'll be close to home, so you can't try to run again. You're going to learn about business management. We want you to do something in public relations, or be a manager. Perhaps the next Kris Jenner." Is she serious right now? I'm bleeding on the floor and this is what she's telling me? "You're going to let go of your ridiculous dreams," she said as she crouched down. "You are going to do what we tell you. You will contribute to this family. You will not embarrass us." And then she did the most horrible thing she'd done all night. She wrapped her slender hand around my necklace, and she pulled until it broke from my body. That necklace was a little golden clover. It was cheap, worth maybe $50. And it was the last thing I had from my dad. "No... please..." I begged weakly, reaching out to try to get it back. Clara stood up, ignoring my weak begging. "You can have this back when I feel I can trust you again," she said. "Just keep your head down, Clover. Be grateful for Declan." Be grateful? Is she serious? Grateful for this? For being abused and used? "I hope we have a good understanding of what is expected of you now, Clover," Declan said as he wiped his hands on a silk napkin. I didn't respond to him. I only cried, sobbed. Loudly. Without apology. Because my entire future just went up in flames and my back is on fire. "Get her cleaned up and looked at," I heard Declan say. "And then lock her in the storage room for three days. No food. Only water. That should help her learn her lesson." That was the day I finally came to terms with the fact that I was never getting out of this hellhole.