Chapter 1
It is no secret that my father is a wealthy and important man. The mansion that I roam around in everyday is proof of that....0
He always made sure that I had the best... the best healthcare, the best schooling, the best clothes. He isn't around a lot, often leaving me without company aside from the hired help and the body guards.
I had gotten used to the sight of armed men around the house but whenever I asked my father why we needed them the only answer he gave was that they were there for protection.
I know that my father's line of work is dangerous... he comes home sometimes with various wounds and blood on his clothes. He never tells me what happens and doesn't like it when I see him that way. 'A lady should never be around blood and gore' he would always say.
I was fortunate to have such great teachers growing up. I learned several different languages and other skills such as accounting and home making. Father insisted that I learn how to do all of a proper lady's duties. Washing, cooking, cleaning and so on... there was never any talk of raising children though and I was skeptical of that. Father said that I didn't need to worry about it because I would not have kids of my own, but I am unsure what he means by that.
I had gotten very familiar with the halls and rooms of this place. I never travelled outside other than to go to university and even then I would be escorted to all of my classes by guards. It often earned me strange looks from my classmates and the other students at the school. I guess it is strange when I sit in a lecture hall surrounded by guards...
Father had told me that I can never leave the house without his permission and certainly never without guards. He told me that a rare beauty like mine needs to be protected and that there are people out there who would try to take advantage of me or worse.
I always wore dresses and skirts, like a proper lady would and my hair was always neatly styled. I had learned about proper dress and fashion from one of my tutors and was told that it is important to always look my best.
I felt pressured a lot to uphold high standards so that I won't dissappoint father. He says that as his only child I am a reflection of him and his teachings. When I misbehaved when I was younger it would often involve spankings.
Despite all of the guards and the way I was raised I did manage to make one friend. Lyla was always there for me and my father didn't seem to mind it when she came to the house. He said that she was a good influence because she came from a similar family situation and has amazing manners that could rub off on me.
Lyla helps greatly with the loneliness that I often feel when I am cooped up in the mansion. I may have a lot of space but I still feel trapped.... so she comes over and spends time cooking with me or playing games. We are the same age and although she has had a similar upbringing she has always gone to school with other students. I had only started going to a school this year for university, otherwise all of my lessons were done with tutors at home.
Today was nothing exceptional, just another day at home. I was getting into one of my favourite dresses when I saw the familiar flash of red skin. I sighed as I ran over the scars and bumps.
When I was a child I was in a fire and became badly burned. The doctors operated on me several times but they couldn't stop the scars... the red, angry mark covers my back and the side of my left thigh, wrapping up to my shoulder blade. Father always warned me to hide it because it would make me an undesirable bride... he told me that no man would ever want me if he saw the burns.
So I cover them up. I wear dresses that fully cover my back and cover all the way to my knees or lower. I wear my hair down a lot and I never wear open backed dresses. I am ashamed of the marks on my skin, reminding me that I am not soft and delicate like a lady should be. Father said I could try to make up for it with my manners and gentle nature, so I worked extra hard at that.
The physical scars may not hurt anymore but the mental trauma stays with me. I am terrified of fire and any sort of flames. Everytime I see a fireplace I stay far away from it and try to avoid looking at it. I still have nightmares about what it was like being trapped in that burning truck. I wasn't very old so I don't remember all of the details....
But there was an accident, someone had crashed into the car from behind and the fuel tank had caught on fire. The doors were crushed and I wasn't able to get the seatbelt off and climb out. I don't remember much else since I had blacked out from smoke inhilation but when I woke up father was there and the doctors had cleaned and bandaged the burns.
They said I was lucky to be alive since I was trapped in the fire for a long time before father pulled me out. I was having a hard time remembering who father was and couldn't place his face for some reason, but the doctors told me that is normal after such trauma.
I slid my dress the rest of the way on, covering my marks of shame before I moved to style my hair. It took me years of practice to be able to travel in a car again and I still don't handle trips well. I feel my chest tighten and teats threaten to fall whenever I get into a vehicle. Then when it starts moving I close my eyes and pretend that I am somewhere else.
My father thought that having Lyla ride with me to school would help but it doesn't. Thankfully Lyla understands because she is the only one other than father who knows about the burns. She saw them by accident once when I was coming out of the shower and my towel was not covering up to my shoulders. We were having a sleep over and she spent the rest of the night asking questions about it, so I told her the entire story and swore her to secrecy.
feels like she’s not his actual daughter and he’s kidnapped her since she was a child
I know it's a typo but, when I read "I feel my chest tighten and teats threaten to fall whenever I get into a vehicle", I couldn't help but laugh at the mental image of her boobs sliding down her chest and about to fall off every time she goes to get in the car. 🤣
tears threaten to fall not teats.
I’m betting father is not father at all.