Raina Wilson is a truly kind and innocent soul, but under the surface lies a dark and haunting past that refuses to release its grip on her. As if that’s not enough to deal with, she’s been forced into a marriage with Roman, the hotheaded heir to the rich and powerful Marigold family. Will Raina be able to find peace with her new life, or will her past consume her?
Age Rating: 18+ (Content Warning: Violence, Sexual Abuse, Rape)
Heal My Soul by Silent Dreamer is now available to read on the Galatea app! Read the first two chapters below, or download Galatea for the full experience.
Read the full uncensored books on the Galatea iOS app!
1
Raina Wilson is a truly kind and innocent soul, but under the surface lies a dark and haunting past that refuses to release its grip on her. As if that’s not enough to deal with, she’s been forced into a marriage with Roman, the hotheaded heir to the rich and powerful Marigold family. Will Raina be able to find peace with her new life, or will her past consume her?
Age Rating: 18+ (Content Warning: Violence, Sexual Abuse, Rape)
Original Author: Silent Dreamer
“Slap the bitch.”
“Fuck her up Viola.”
“Shut up! Let me think of what to do with this fucking desperate whore. I’ll teach you for staring at Chris, he’s mine bitch!”
My shaking knees hit the wet grass as I tried to grasp what was happening to me. Menacing laughter echoed from all around as the blurry faces warped in and out of each other.
With a hard thud I found myself shoved to the ground with what felt like a ton of bricks slammed into my face making impact with my nose.
I didn’t try to get back up, I just lay there as the cold drops of rain replaced my tears.
“This bitch. Diana said she's been trying to talk to him!”
“What a slut, as if Chris would ever want her.”
“Shh. I think someone’s coming, let's get outta here.”
The footsteps and sinister cackles faded away as I lay in my harsh surrender. My eyes were closed firmly as I sobbed quietly to myself.
After what felt like hours I tried to shift myself up, wincing at the pain radiating from nearly every part of my body.
A part of me wished that I died right there on the school field, but fate had more in store for me. The thought of running home sent a chill down my spine.
Home was meant to be my safe haven. It was meant to be a place for silent sanctuary, where I could feel protected.
I would much rather face the abuse that I did on this school field every single day than face what waited for me at home.
Home—what I liked to call hell—was only a short walk away but it felt like I had been limping my aching body back for days.
I froze at the sight of the tall black and gold gates as they mocked me, daring me to turn around and run away.
Finally reaching the two large wooden doors, I thought of what my punishment would be for arriving home late and above all in the state that I was in.
I stepped into the large foyer trying to stay as quiet as a mouse. My heart dropped into my stomach as two hands grabbed my shoulders.
Holy shi—but to my relief the woman standing before me was our housemaid Henrietta, I called her Hetty.
Hetty was the closest thing I could compare to a mother, she had often nursed me back to health when I had been beaten. She would sneak food up to my room when they starved me.
Hetty was the only one who took pity on me. I may not have known much about love, having never experienced it, but I knew that I loved Hetty and was so grateful to her.
“Jesus, Mary, Joseph,” Hetty shrieked, her panicking eyes scanning my bruised face. She looked around to make sure no one was coming before dragging me into the kitchen.
The warmth from her gentle touch soothed my shivering state, I winced as she pressed the cold ice to my nose.
“Was it those nasty girls from school again?” She questioned, concern filling her kind eyes as she shook her head in disbelief.
“How many times must I tell you to just run away from them, Raina?” I gave Hetty a small smile as I thought about her question.
“Run away from who, Hetty, those girls or my so-called family?” Hetty’s eyes widened at my response and I hissed as the cold ice started to sting.
“Child, your life is unfair.” She placed her hand against my cheek, “but these are the cards you have been dealt with, you must accept them and change your own fate. You have your mother’s strength. I see it in you.”
Hetty’s eyes shot towards the kitchen door and she took a quick step back, I knew we were no longer alone.
“Where the hell have you been Raina?” My stepmother sneered, her pointy nose up in the air and her light hair neatly tucked away in a bun, not a strand out of place.
“You missed dinner and don’t you dare think the maid will give you any.” Her icy blue eyes turned to Hetty sending her a warning as well as to me. My stepmother didn’t even bother to question my bloody state or to ask if I was okay. Why am I surprised?
I was sent to my room but little did she know that I was always happy when they would send me to my room.
From how my stepmother was dressed, I knew she must have had guests coming over and that saved me from being punished that evening. Thank God.
I fell on my bed and let out a long defeated sigh, my body still ached from the beating not long ago. I thought back to earlier that day and why the school day ended as harshly as it did.
I don’t even recall looking at Christopher. I must have drifted into a daydream in the library and didn’t realise I was staring straight at him.
I couldn’t deny I always had a little harmless crush on Christopher, every girl swooned over his boyish good looks but this time it really wasn’t my fault.
I usually kept to myself at school trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.
My half sister Diana was the most popular girl in school and would badmouth me to all of her friends who then took it upon themselves to make my life a living hell.
I heard a fast knock at the door and flinched at the sudden noise distracting me from my thoughts. Hetty rushed in holding a small plate under a large napkin, her frail body waddled over to me.
My lips lifted into a cheeky grin as Hetty placed the plate down on my bed, she touched my forehead with her sweet hand. “Good heavens child you’re burning up.” Her voice was low but her worry was loud.
She helped me out of my drenched clothes and into fresh pajamas and then removed the napkin from the plate revealing some leftovers from dinner.
She watched as I devoured the delicious meal, her eyes trying to hide her pity. Hetty would often cradle me in bed, telling me stories of my mother until I fell asleep.
My mother came from a very rich family, her father was an extremely successful businessman.
I often wondered if that was the only reason my father married her, an image of his greedy face flashed in my mind.
My mother was kind and beautiful. She believed in helping people and organised many charity events.
Hetty would tell me how she would buy little dresses and store them away shortly after she married my father.
It was her dream to have a baby girl. Little did she know that she wouldn’t live to see or even hold her dream, she would die at the hands of her dream. I killed her.
Not even three weeks after my mother’s death, my father married her widowed distant cousin, my aunt and now stepmother Vivian. My stepmother had a son from her previous marriage, my cousin Troy.
A year after marrying my father she gave birth to a baby girl, Diana. Hetty told me that everything changed for the worst after my mother passed away, the only good thing was me.
I don’t even remember falling asleep that night. Hetty loved to sing to me, her warm voice would soothe me into a peaceful slumber but not for long. The nightmares would find me.
I would be running from the darkness, it would fill the air around me. I would see a hint of my mother’s face through the black mist but it would warp into something sinister.
My eyes would open but I wouldn’t be able to move or speak. A lot of my beatings from my father stemmed from waking everyone in the middle of the night with my frantic screams.
“Idiot girl, you should have died along with your mother.” He would often curse, fury in his eyes as he lashed out at me with his fists. That was what I was used to. That was my life.
***
One afternoon I was wandering the kitchen alone, that’s where I felt safest in the house as well as my bedroom. I pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge but gasped as I closed the door.
Standing there in all black attire was Troy, his prying eyes scanning my face. He was standing close. Too close.
“Troy! You scared me.” My voice came out shaky and unsure. Something about him always made me feel uneasy. I would often notice him staring at my chest or backside but I would never look long enough to see the full extent of his eye assaults.
Troy had started to become a little muscular, his blonde hair was long and often slicked back superman style. His blue eyes were always full of mystery, I never knew what he was thinking.
“It's just me Raina,” he whispered, his voice sending a chill down my spine. I tried to respond casually but he closed the small space between us and began sniffing my hair. My breath hitched and my eyes widened. What the fuck!
My shriek came out low and muffled as his large hand came over my mouth.
“Shh. don’t do that,” he hissed. My back slammed against the fridge door. “Don't act like you don't want me. I know how you look at me Raina. You want me to touch you.”
My wide eyes studied his face. This had to be a joke, a sick one at that but it just has to. Troy licked his lips, watching me quivering. I stayed silent, fear and shock spreading through my bones.
I watched as he snatched the water bottle out of my hand and brushed it against my chest, his creepy eyes watching how my breasts reacted to the cold sensation.
I closed my eyes, my tears spilling over his hand.
Troy pressed himself against me so that I could feel his growing erection. I could have been sick right there, but like a deer in front of headlights I froze.
I opened my eyes to witness his lips twitch into a dark devious grin, one I would never get out of my mind.
After that day Troy met me in my nightmares. I knew at some point Troy Wilson would come for me. Nothing would ever be the same again.
Read the full uncensored books on the Galatea iOS app!
2
FOUR YEARS LATER
My eyes fluttered open as the sunlight hit my exhausted face, I was thankful that the nightmares didn’t wake anyone last night.
I freshened up, brushing the tangles out of my chocolate hair. Then I made my way down the spiral steps. It wasn’t long before I could hear my father in a heated conversation with my stepmother.
I slowed down to try to hear a little better.
“Consider it, Vivian, the Marigolds are powerful. With their help we can be equally as powerful.”
The Marigolds? I'm sure I had heard of that name before, they were the most talked about families in the country due to their power and status.
“I would rather Diana marry into that family than your ugly offspring,” Vivian hissed.
“They asked for her, Vivian! Richard Marigold himself saw her at one of the charity events, he called me himself.” My father's tone turned more desperate but still stern.
“She’s not good enough to marry their son Charles, she’ll embarrass us, make a mockery of our name.” I could hear my stepmother's heels digging into the floorboards as she paced around.
“Vivian, think of our status, with the Marigolds as our allies we will be one of the most respected families in the country, people will fall at your feet darling.”
“What are you doing?”
I gasped loudly at Diana’s screechy voice as she poked my back. Her blonde hair was up high in a ponytail making her cheekbones stretch even higher.
“Eavesdropping huh? You’re so fucking weird.” She folded her arms to her chest and stared at my face, I lowered my gaze to the ground.
“I hear Dad’s getting you married off, good fucking riddance.” One of her eyebrows raised slightly as she gave me a cruel smirk.
“No one in their right mind would be happy to marry you. I feel sorry for the guy. He's probably an old man with no teeth. I hope he beats you.” Her laugh was mean.
“Just leave me alone Diana.” I whispered, my eyes in disbelief as to how someone can be so cruel. Why did they hate me so much?
Hetty would tell me that Diana was jealous of me, but I could never believe that. Diana was really attractive, she was all blonde hair and blue eyes.
Every girl I knew looked up to her and every guy wanted to be with her. Although we were half sisters, we looked nothing alike and we were nothing alike.
“Get out of my face loser.” She shoved into my arm as she joined her parents in the lounge.
What on earth are they all up to now? I don't want to get married!
I joined Hetty in the kitchen and helped her prepare breakfast. Any thoughts about being forced to marry had long left my mind as we talked and laughed between ourselves.
She always made me feel a sense of belonging, I was attached to her. I don’t think I could have survived even one day here without Hetty.
“Raina!” My father stormed into the kitchen causing me to drop the plate in my hand. “Your mother and I need to talk to you.” I almost gagged at the way he called that woman my mother.
He walked out mumbling something under his breath. I gave Hetty a nervous shrug before following him out, her expression mirrored my own.
Four sets of eyes were fixated on my every move as I sat on the couch in the lounge.
My father stood with his hand leaning against the fireplace, my stepmother sat on the couch opposite the one I sat on, Troy stood by the door with a cold stone look on his face and Diana smirked in the corner by the window.
“You are to be wed in six weeks.” My father stated blankly. What the hell? My eyes grew wide as my mouth opened in shock. He didn't once ask if this is what I wanted.
“But Dad I'm only twenty-one. This is hardly the age—”
“You are to be wed Raina and that's final!” he interrupted. I knew if I spoke up again it would land to me being punished. I furrowed my brows as my stepmother stood up and pointed her skinny finger my way.
“That family is completely out of your league girl, so don’t go getting any ideas that you could ever measure up to them.” Her face raged with each word.
“You will be nothing but a baby maker to them,” she said, her eyes looking up and down my body as though I was pure filth.
How could she hate me so much? I may not have been her real daughter but I was still her niece.
Who would have agreed to marry me without even meeting me? I clearly heard my father state that Richard Marigold had asked for me himself, but why wouldn’t he leave that decision to his son?
“Oh she’s fucking daydreaming again,” Diana’s screechy voice cackled in the corner.
“Enough,” warned my father, wiping the smug smirk off Diana’s face. He turned back to me with an icy stare.
“You will keep the Wilson name held high Raina, you will only speak good things of us. Don’t think we won’t still be able to punish you if you embarrass us in any way, shape or form! Six weeks Raina and you will be married to Roman Marigold.”
Diana’s mouth dropped open at the last part of my father’s words, it was as if she wanted to say something but was holding it in.
She then looked at her mother with pleading eyes before storming out of the room in a strop. What was that about?
I walked out and back towards the kitchen feeling my legs tremble with each step. I'm getting married. Fuck! I’m getting married. I wiped away my tears and tried to calm my sobs
***
As the days passed by I noticed that the beatings had stopped. I could only assume it was because I was being noticed in society now and people would talk if I was covered in bruises.
That only made their words meaner, each insult cutting through me daily.
I often wondered what my husband would be like. The nightmares would find me.
I would be running from the darkness in a wedding dress, unknown hands lifting my veil only to see the menacing grin of Troy.
I would wake in a pool of my own sweat, calling to any higher power to save me.
Hetty would distract me from time to time, we would stroll through the gardens and talk about many things.
“You are beautiful and kind like your mother, you have to believe in yourself, child.” She would encourage and lift me, touch my cheek with her gentle hand and kiss my forehead. Her motherly love kept me going, it kept me as strong as I could be.
***
My body had changed over the years, I would notice a lot more people gawking my way at social events. I had become curvy in all the right places.
Even towards the end of college a few guys had asked me on dates but I was always too shy to answer.
My chocolate wavy locks grew, almost reaching my waist, I was so thankful that I took after my mother in that department.
As the weeks went on I slowly began to accept my fate. I had never once in my life been able to make a choice for myself, so why would I expect my marriage to be any different.
I could only assume that all of these upper class families were the same, full of greed just like my father. Money, status and power is all that mattered in these high societies.
I was just thankful my father had backed off from beating me.
I felt a small sense of freedom in those few days before that one dreaded night that changed me forever.
Read the full uncensored books on the Galatea iOS app!
