Anaya's left foot pained and you could see the skin around her ankle bone beginning to form a dark purple bruise. Yet she remained in prostration, crying her problems away begging for her dad's makhfirat and her protection that only the Lord could provide.

After many minutes Anaya finally lifted her head up, getting up to limp back to her bed. She laid down and scrubbed her eyes feeling very drowsy, but the stillness of the room was interrupted by the knock and entrance of Martha.

She carried along with the bag that Anaya recognized to be what designer clothes are put inside. Confused, Anaya sat up and looked at Martha waiting for the explanation.

"There is a ceremony that is going to be taking place today, Sir wanted me to give you this, and this, to prepare you for it." She spoke, putting an embroidered red dress and a ring and jewelry box on the bed.

Anaya wanted to rip the dress apart and choke Ali with the string of the necklace. This wasn't a marriage, and she wasn't a bride. How could she put on a gown and smile as if she wasn't simply falling apart inside?

Brides are supposed to be happy, they're supposed to be the princess of the day watching as everything goes the way they've dreamed of, smiling as they marry the love of their life.

They aren't supposed to mourn their father's death as they put on red lipstick and smile for all the guests. They're not supposed to marry a despicable mobster who holds them hostage.

"Hey, it'll be okay," Martha said breaking Anaya's stance.

"Why don't you change, and I will go get a balm for your ankle. It's turning purple." Martha said, walking away and shutting the door on her way out.

Anaya stared at the dress and unzipped the plastic it was in, touching the beads that adorned the beautiful red fabric.

Like most girls, Anaya too dreamed of a perfect wedding and how she'd look like a bride. She always wanted an outdoor wedding- close to a body of water, her gorgeous red dress falling behind her but a little lifted from the front, her lips painted red and ears and face illuminated with diamond jewelry.

Nevertheless, her bridal dreams being ruined were the least of her concerns. How she was going to escape from her monstrous "husband" and this hellish household was more important.

She got up and went to the closet to change into her gown. The gown cascaded down to her toes, covering her entire body. The sleeves were also long- hiding her arms. Anaya liked the dress, it was modestly gorgeous.

She opened the white box and put on the ring, taking a second look at it. The ring was breathtaking, the giant rock in the middle shined so luminously as the other diamonds encircled her finger.

This had to cost a significant dime, Anaya thought.

Anaya took the long dupatta and wrapped her hijab pinning it to a point at the top and secure around her head, and when she finished she heard a knock on the door.

"Hello, Mrs. Sheikh. I'm here for your-" She said lifting the makeup bag and pointing to it at the end.

Anaya quietly nodded and sat down on the ottoman in front of her bed.

The woman came in front of her and began to take out all the makeup. She grabbed the foundation bottle and started shaking it when Anaya stopped her.

"None of that. Please do it as simple as you can." Anaya said.

"Of course!" The girl said.

Anaya sat through the next ten minutes of the young lady doing her makeup, she could feel the brush stroking her lids and then her cheeks. Then finally, to her lips.

"I'm done. Here." She said, pointing the mirror at Anaya.

Anaya's face illuminated with the light gold on her lids and red on her lips. She couldn't help but feel beautiful.

"Thank you," Anaya said.

"Your Welcome!" The lady said, taking her stuff and walking out.

The silence didn't last long as another knock sounded on her door, and came in a maid.

She walked in, with a shoebox and medicine.

"Martha sent me to treat your wound, and give you shoes for tonight."

The maid gently took a hold of Anaya's toe and applied the ointment on the ankle. The cooling sensation of the balm gave Anaya chills, as the pain finally numbed.

The woman took the gauze and wrapped it really delicately clipping it at the end. Lastly, she took the shoes out of the box and slid them on Anaya's feet.

The shoes were heels and it made Anaya upset, she knew it was going to hurt very badly when she is going to walk. And she wondered if he did that on purpose just to torture her.

"You can come out now, everyone is almost here," The maid said.

She left the room, and Anaya tried to stand up, the pain shooting up her body making her fall back to down the chair.

She tried to get up again and put the weight entirely on the good ankle, as she dragged the other one to the door.

Leaning her ear against the door, she could hear the muffled voices and clinks of the glasses, it sounded like many people were here.

Abruptly, the door was opened and she backed away quickly, wincing from the constant pain in her ankle. Until she made eye contact with him.

He looked her up and down, as she looked at him with pure hatred flaring in her eyes.

He smirked at her and put out his arm for her. Anaya stood their emotionlessly until he grabbed her arm and intertwined it with his.

"This is a very public event for me if you dare to do something even a little bit stupid. Your best bet, I will ruin you."

"Oh. You'll ruin me? Well, then I might as well just scream help because you already have."

Ali chuckled and grabbed Anaya's chin.

"You can scream all you want. Go ahead and scream your entire story, but no one will believe you. Because you always forget who your talking to."

He pulled her face closer to as she struggled to keep a distance.

"I will always find another way to harm you. Unless, of course, you just obey me."

"I will never obey you. You took everything from me." Anaya said, grabbing his hand from her chin and snatching it away.

"I am not scared of you." She said.

"Oh really?" Ali smiled.

"Well have you heard of the name Jameela?"

Anaya felt her heart drop to her stomach, as she paled.

Ali chuckled, as he patted her cheek.

"Tread lightly, babygirl," Ali said, tightening her arm around his and walking out.