Almighty Dominance

The lighting in the expansive study seemed to grow dimmer as Sylvester Wright wheeled himself in. As his sharp eyes took in the environment, he caught sight of his wife, Emily, hunched on a couch, her eyes empty and distant. She stared into space, a small crease on her forehead.

For the past few days, she seemed to zone out more, becoming a shadow of herself. The smoke from the teacup in her hands grew faint.

He let out a sigh, wheeling himself in her direction. She wasn't aware of his presence; or so he thought.

"Disappearing again?" Her sharp words cut into the silence faster than he could take his next breath. She turned to him, a feigned smile on her face. "For what? Six days? A week? Forever this time?"

Clearing his throat for a moment, Sylvester thought of what to tell her. He could tell that she was getting to her breaking point. Could he blame her though? She had been patient enough.

"I'll be back soon, Emily," he assured, his voice calm. "And I'll explain everything to you."

Emily shook her head at him, tears threatening to blur her vision, "Explain what? All you have ever been to me is a burden." She yelled, throwing the teacup in his direction.

She burned with fury as it all came rushing back to her. She was at the edge of her breakthrough when matriarch Anne had come with the suggestion of her getting married. In her words, Emily was such a successful young woman but she would have more respect, and even stand the chance of inheriting the family's legacy if she was a married woman.

If only she had discerned that her grandmother's suggestion was not out of concern but out of her cruel heart.

Emily recalled the shock that had sunk her stomach in when she saw the man she was to get married to. A crippled no-body. She was appalled, from what she was told, the man, Sylvester was rescued from the roadside, injured and comatose.

"So, this was the best our successful business woman could do as regards picking her husband," the matriarch, her grandmother, had announced at the family meeting in front of everyone.

"But grandmother..." Emily had tried refuting.

She was interrupted by a slender, wrinkled finger raised in opposition to her. "Quiet!" Grandmother ordered. "You have brought shame to this family by getting married to this man. I've always known you were incapable of handling this family's legacy but this is just the height! Now I have no choice but to make your brother the heir. You will give him all your shares at once, young woman!"