Scarlett OHara stood in the grand foyer of Tara Manor, the ancestral home of the Cullen family, her heart heavy with the weight of the secrets she carried. The manor, a testament to old Southern charm, was ablaze with lights, its halls filled with the laughter and chatter of guests celebrating the patriarchs birthday. But for Scarlett, the joy was a facade, a mask she wore to hide the pain that threatened to consume her.
As the evening wore on, she found herself cornered by Rhett Butler in a dimly lit hallway. His presence was as unwelcome as it was inescapable, his gaze burning into her with an intensity that both frightened and captivated her.
"Scarlett, my dear aunt," he drawled, the words dripping with sarcasm. "How unwelcoming you seem."
Scarletts face paled, her fingers gripping the edge of the bathtub she had been cornered next to. "This is Tara Manor, my room. Please leave," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rhett chuckled darkly, leaning in so close that she could feel his breath on her cheek. "Its precisely because of that I walked in so boldly, just as you walked boldly into my uncles life."
"You..." Scarletts heart clenched with pain, the words she wanted to say dying on her lips as she looked into Rhetts cold, unfeeling eyes.
"Please, dont make a scene. Not on my father-in-laws birthday," she pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Ah, but making scenes is exactly why Im here," Rhett retorted, his hand suddenly dipping into the water and pulling her up with a force that left her gasping.
His touch was a brand, marking her as his, and Scarlett could do nothing but clench her fists and close her eyes, praying for this ordeal to end quickly.
His grip on her jaw was brutal, forcing her to look at him. "Why so silent?" he demanded, his voice a harsh whisper in the stillness of the room.
"I belong to your uncle now. Please, have some respect. Leave before I call for help. I dont want to ruin the celebration," Scarlett said, her words a desperate attempt to maintain some semblance of control.
"Very well, lets see how this unfolds," Rhett replied, pulling her from the bathtub with a strength that brooked no resistance.
His breath was hot against her ear as he whispered, "I intend to find out whos more formidable, my uncle or me."
Scarletts heart pounded in her chest, fear and revulsion coursing through her veins as Rhetts intentions became horrifyingly clear. She tried to speak, to resist, but his grip was unyielding, his body a wall of muscle that pinned her in place.
"What are you doing?" she gasped, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heartbeat.
"Exactly what it seems," Rhett said, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.
Scarlett bit her lip to keep from crying out, her body tensing as she braced for the violation that was to come. She pleaded with him, her words a desperate whisper in the silence. "Rhett, this benefits no one. You know what kind of man your uncle is."
"Why, then, did you marry him?" Rhett countered, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down her spine.
Scarletts lip trembled as she tried to hold back the tears, but it was a battle she was losing. "Please, Rhett," she begged, her voice breaking.
But Rhett was beyond reason, his anger and bitterness driving him to avenge a perceived slight, and Scarlett was caught in the crossfire. As the night wore on, she endured his cruel advances, her spirit breaking beneath the weight of his hatred.
When it was over, she sank to the cold floor, her body shaking with silent sobs. Rhett loomed over her, his voice a cruel taunt as he asked, "Whos more formidable now?"
Scarlett looked up at him, her eyes filled with pain and betrayal. "Is this satisfaction worth the pain youve caused?" she asked, her voice a ragged whisper.
Rhett sneered, his eyes hard as flint. "Im merely returning the favor," he said, before turning and leaving her there, alone and broken on the floor.
Scarlett forced herself to stand, to wash away the evidence of Rhetts cruelty and dress in a simple gown before rejoining the festivities. As she descended the stairs, she could feel the eyes of the guests on her, their gazes scrutinizing and judgmental.
She pasted a smile on her face, her heart aching as she took her place beside Edward, her husband. The charade continued, her happiness a lie for the world to see, while her heart bled with the truth of her torment.