I didn’t leave my room all day. I didn’t want to encounter Alexander or Arlette. Around five in the afternoon, Mary came into my room and told me I needed to start getting ready because the guests would be arriving soon. With no other choice, I went to the closet to find something to wear. Honestly, I didn’t have much clothing.

A red strappy dress caught my attention, and I decided to wear it. Of course, I would wear a matching jacket to cover my bruises. I left the dress on the bed and went straight to the bathroom. I took a quick shower and came out immediately.

I put on the dress and paired it with silver high heels. I grabbed my makeup bag and did my best to cover the bruises. I made sure nothing looked out of place in the mirror, and when I saw the result, I felt satisfied.

I looked at the time on my phone and paled when I saw it was almost eight. “Did it really take me that long?” I thought, alarmed. Without wasting more time, I grabbed my jacket and left the room.

As I descende