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Scarlett soon learned how cruel her father could be. He didn't beat her, nor did he yell at her. Instead, he placed her in what he called an "isolation bubble". No one could hear her or see her while the bubble was on it, and despite her earlier confidence, Scarlett now bitterly regretted exploding at her father. To make matters worse, Arjun would sometimes dispell the bubble and tell her it was her own fault, staring at her with a gaze that could strip layers off a person's soul. But every time Scarlett opened her mouth to beg his forgiveness, he'd turn away, putting the bubble back in place. 83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V1Kxa0ISL
Days turned into weeks, and Scarlett suffered as the time passed with no reprieve. Sometimes she wondered if her father deliberately put the bubble back on her right as she was about to apologise; he certainly didn't hesitate in putting it back in place when she opened her mouth, and she sometimes saw a glint of cold amusement in his eyes, and as the time passed, she felt as though she ought to go mad from the isolation. Her father had certainly worked out the most effective punishment to bring her to her knees, but she knew, even if she did manage to succeed in getting this horrible thing taken off her, he wouldn't let her marry the man he'd chosen for her, and would, in fact, tell her she didn't deserve to marry anyone of good blood. It did not make for a pleasant prospect.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BUmv913eB
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Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Scarlett was summoned to Arjun's study, and he dispelled the bubble the moment the door closed behind her. "I am very disappointed in you," he stated, his eyes like augers as he stared his daughter down. "I never dreamed you'd be so cruel as to throw my kindness in my face like that; I could have married you to a brute, or to a man who saw you as good for sex and nothing else. Instead, I picked a man of good breeding who would treat you kindly and give you the whole world if you so desired. But..." He shrugged. "You've proven you don't deserve a good man."
Scarlett clenched her hands together. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. And she meant it. "I never meant to throw your kindness back in your face. I was angry, but I can see I had no right to be angry. You were only doing what was best for me, and I don't deserve to be married to a man. I only deserve to be married to a brute, or to a man who sees me as good for sex and nothing else."
"You don't even deserve that!" Arjun snapped, slapping his hand on the table in a rare display of open anger. "Nor do you deserve the kindness of a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, and food to eat. Were it not for your mother's pleadings, I'd have made you sleep on the streets, with the bubble of isolation on you so you couldn't seek food or shelter from anyone. You deserve the streets, and if I had my way, I'd cast you out right now, and make you live as an isolated piece of trash for the rest of your life!"
His voice was like a whipcrack as he finished, and Scarlett recoiled, shame scorching her from head to toe. She didn't even dare open her mouth, and after a moment, Arjun spoke again, his voice quivering with the anger he'd only just managed to keep in check.
"As it stands," he said, "I am still going to go ahead with this marriage. You do not deserve the kindness of the man to whom I have betrothed you. I have told him everything you said, and I have instructed him to treat you as you deserve. No doubt he will much harsher than I have been, and so he should be!"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sUIlOgGxn
"I'm so sorry," Scarlett said again, feeling like the lowest of the low. "I truly am. No matter the words I spoke that day I let my anger get the better of me, I do want to fulfil my destiny. I know what I have to do, and I'll do whatever it takes to make you proud of me."
Arjun snorted in disgust. "You're not sorry," he told her. "I can smell a lie a mile off. You're only sorry you yelled at me. You're not sorry for discarding my kindness like a toy. Nor are you sorry for throwing your destiny away and expecting it to still be there after you discarded it so casually." He studied her, his face still again. "However," he added, "I will say this much. If you're prepared to swear loyalty to your husband, and allow yourself to be bound to him body, mind and soul, I might be prepared to allow you to fulfil the destiny you so foolishly threw away. As it stands, I have instructed your future husband to withhold his attentions until such time as you've proven yourself. He will be reporting to me on your daily movements, and if anything you or say displeases me, I'll have the marriage annuled and you tossed on the streets, with the bubble of isolation put permanently in place so you can wither and die like the worthless trash you are."
"I'll do anything," Scarlett pleaded. "Please, Father. Don't take my destiny away from me!"
"It is not your destiny anymore," her father said coldly. "And if you're still going to be arrogant, I'll have the engagement cancelled and toss you out here and now!"
Again his voice cracked with anger, and Scarlett regretfully abandoned her hopes. One day, she'd earn her destiny back, but for now, she had to let it go. Her husband, she told herself, would hopefully be easier to convince. But she kept her face expressionless as she bowed her head in silent submission. "I will do as you ask," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Arjun raised an eyebrow. "You almost had me convinced," he said. "Is it time for another round of punishment?"
Feeling like a trained seal, Scarlett forced herself to repeat his words back to him. "I will swear loyalty to my husband," she said, her voice leaden as she finally admitted defeat. "I will allow myself to be bound to him body, mind and soul. You have instructed my husband to withhold his attentions until such time as I have proven myself. He will be reporting to you on my daily movements, and if anything I say or do displeases you, you will have the marriage annulled and me tossed on the streets, with the bubble of isolation put permanently in place so I can wither and die like the worthless trash I am."
"You can be taught," Arjun remarked. "Very well. Since you have shown you can learn, you are free, for now, to rejoin the household. I'll even allow your friends to come back, and you can indulge in your infatuation with Ishan to your heart's content. But I have instructed the staff to give you contraceptives every morning; you will take them without complaint, so no bastard child comes along to ruin my plans. Do I make myself clear?"83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZNmH1LZD7
Scarlett opened her mouth to repeat his words, but he held up a hand. "A simple yes will do," he told her.
"Yes," Scarlett replied, feeling slightly better now that her isolation was at an end.
"Good." Arjun gestured his dismissal. "Go have lunch, and then entertian yourself until dinner. I see no further need for punishment, but I will have no complaints about your duty."
Scarlett shook her head wordlessly, but despite her elation at getting her freedom back, she still felt sick inside as she left Arjun's study. He'd be watching her like a hawk, and though she had no intentions of protesting her marriage, not when it was being given as a favour to her future husband and not to her, she still felt that her father would be scrutinising everything she said and did until the day of her wedding. Therefore, her pain was something she had to keep to herself until she could win her futhre husband over, and the pain stayed firmly lodged in her heart despite her relief that, for now, she could get back to enjoying her life. It wasn't a complete victory, but small victories were better than no victories at all.
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