It's Time to Fight Back

I went on a tirade. "If you didn't want to spend the New Year at my parents' house from the start, you should've just said so! You agreed, and now you're going back on your word! You're absolutely shameless, Gordon!"

My outburst caused Gordon's expression to darken. He turned around and blamed everything on me. "If you hadn't pestered me ceaselessly, do you think I would've done this? I could only agree first and try to talk you out of it after we came home."

In all my life, I'd never seen such a selfish person. I couldn't help but retort, "Are you saying that this is all my fault?"

When I said this, Gordon had the audacity to nod in agreement. "Well, whose fault could it be? I'm definitely not the one to be blamed, Dakota."

I snorted in exasperation. "You're unbelievable! How can you say that so righteously with a straight face? Have you no sense of shame?"

As soon as I finished speaking, I noticed Gordon's family coming out of the house. His parents, along with his sisters, came out and stood by us.

I saw various expressions on their faces, but it was clear that they had all heard our argument.

With his family gathered around, Gordon's pride was wounded. He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

The force of the blow stunned me, and I froze. The sharp pain on my cheek made tears well up in my eyes. When I came to my senses, I covered my face with my hand and glared at Gordon.

"How dare you hit me, Gordon? What kind of a man are you!" As I spoke, I raised my hand to hit him back, but he grabbed my wrist and twisted it hard.

A wave of pain shot through my wrist. I instinctively clutched my wrist with my other hand. As I was about to curse at him, a wooden stick struck me hard on the head.

The blow made my vision blur, and a buzzing sound filled my ears.

The temporary loss of sight and hearing only heightened the sensations throughout my body. I felt my legs give out, and I collapsed to the ground.

What followed was a barrage of punches and kicks from Gordon.

At the same time, his curses filled the air. "Stupid woman! I said I didn't want to go! You just had to push me! I'll beat you to death! What's the rush to go back? Have you got some lover waiting for you back at home? You shameless woman! You deserve this beating!"

The pain from all over my body made me curl up involuntarily. I covered my head with my arms, trying desperately to shield myself from the relentless blows raining down on me.

Then, I heard Gordon's family members cheering him on.

"Good job, son! Women need to be beaten! If you don't beat them, they won't listen!" Gordon's mother, Mary Hill, who had always been kind to me, voiced her approval of his violence.

"Don't hit her too hard, though. If she's all injured, how will you have fun with her tonight? Still, she needs to be taught a lesson! She's married, yet she insists on going back to her parents' home. Don't hold back, Gordon. I've had it with her appalling attitude!"

These atrocious words came from Gordon's father, Herman Baker, who was supposedly a kind and honest man.

"Easy, Gordon. If you kill her, we don't have any money for you to hold another wedding for your new wife. Besides, I'm still counting on her to buy me clothes and makeup!"

To think that these words came from Michelle Baker, Gordon's older sister who always smiled at me so sweetly.

"Hit her harder! She still managed to dodge. That means you're not hitting hard enough! Can't you do better, Gordon? Do you want me to get you a rod?"