Ezra's P.O.V.

I sit next to Aria as supper is placed in front of us. I can see Aria physically shaking as she takes a sip from her glass of water.

As she is placing the glass back on the table she spills it on herself. She looks at her father with fear in her eyes. He looks angry. Aria excuses herself from the table and rushes to the bathroom.

When she still has not returned after ten minutes I offer to go and see what is wrong. When I find her she is curled up on the floor with her face buried in her knees.

I walk towards her fragile body and gently touch her shoulder. She jumps and immediately stands up and wipes her eyes furiously.

"I- I'm so sorry sir. Are they waiting. Is father mad?" Aria stammers nervously.

"No, Miss Aria, it is fine. But are you fine? I saw you were crying?" I ask.

"I'm fine" Aria says quietly.

"Are you..?" I start before she interrupts me.

"I said I'm fine!" she says sharply.

"Okay, if you say so" I mutter. "Can I escort you on a walk?" I ask.

I see Aria's eyes grow wide with fear as she vigorously, her eyes start to water and she backs herself against the wall.

She appears to be awfully frightened and I don't want her to be more upset.

"Aria, what ever is the matter?" I ask nervously.

Aria's P.O.V

I am so frightened, not necessarily of Ezra but of men in general. He looks really concerned for me.

I want to tell him, but then I see father and his furious face and abusive hand and I decide not to. It's not worth the extra pain and anguish that it'd cause me.

I shake my head and force a smile "Nothing dearest, shall we get back to our families?" I ask as I stand up.

Ezra looks shocked but nods. We walk to the dining hall in silence.

When we enter the hall, I see that my father is looking exceptionally angry, I just know that later I will receive a beating.

Ezra's parents look severely unimpressed with me and the whole situation.

"Aria, was feeling quite ill, but she feels better now" Ezra lies.

"Oh dear, how are you feeling now?" Dianne asks.

"Fine" I mutter.

-Later-

Wesley's P.O.V

I am alone in the sitting room with the beauty that is Aria. I wish that I was my brother because she is sure a nice chunk of meat.

She is sitting on the windowsill staring at the falling rain. Her head is rested against the cold glass. Her legs curled underneath her.

"Miss Aria?" I blurt out.

"Yes, Wesley?" She replies.

I stand out and walk towards her, sitting opposite her. I reach out and touch her pale cheek. She flinches away.

"Uh, Wesley I am sorry, I do not wish you to touch me in such a way" she says.

The cheek of her! Women should work to please men not dishonour them. I raise my hand and slap her forcefully across her face.

She reaches and touches her now reddening cheek. Tears start to blur in her eyes and they fall down her pale cheek.

Aria's P.O.V

After Wesley had slapped me I wanted to leave, I didn't want to be around another abusive man, but sadly my father had told me to stay with him no matter what.

I am not paying attention to him as his hand strokes my arm. When I feel his scratchy hand against my skin I pull away.

His eyes grow wide with fury as he slaps my cheek even harder. I fall to the ground at the impact. Wesley stands over me before pulling me up and pushing me into a wall.

By this point teats are streaming my cheeks. I do not want to be a part of this family.

Ezra's P.O.V

I hear a loud crash come from Aria's sitting room and I rush in immediately to see Wesley hitting my bride to be. I can't believe him!

Aria has tears streaming down her cheeks. I run in and pull him away from the poor girl.

I pull her close to me and hug her tightly. But to my dismay she roughly pushes me away and runs away out of the room.

Luckily our parents are not here at the present moment or they would of been in to see what the commotion was about.

After a while of berating Wes for his sinful actions I decide to go and find Aria. When I do find her I see her curled up outside under a big oak tree.

I cautiously walk towards her and sit down next to her. "Miss Aria? Are you okay?" I ask.

She wipes her eyes, sits up and nods slightly.

"Of course Mr Ezra" She replies