Virtue & Vanity Read Online Free

my best interest to listen to her.
    I stood up and started walking. On my way, I looked at the front door and thought about running away, but it was not an option. I couldn’t sacrifice Ashley’s happiness and besides, there was nowhere for me to go. So, like an obedient dog, I moved up the stairs and into my room. I tried to be calm, but nothing could lessen my panic.  What on earth were they going to do to me?  Mother followed shortly after and entered the room before the doctor. She was carrying a blue hospital dress which made it clear she wanted to prepare me for the ‘check-up’. I sat numbly on my bed.
    “Isabelle,” she spoke to me softly.
    I looked into her eyes in desperation and whispered in a broken voice.
    “Please, don’t let them do this to me.” I searched for my mother’s protection and comfort, but that was something she wasn’t willing to give.
    “It will only take a moment. Just relax and let the doctor examine you. Two minutes of discomfort traded for a life of pleasure. It’s a fair trade, don’t you think?”
    Only I didn’t want any of this. Didn’t it matter to her? She handed me the dress and told me to put it on and lie on my back. I had five minutes of privacy to comply with her demand. I was lying on my bed, when I heard the door open and I flinched when the doctor entered the room. Again, he didn’t say a word. He was busy with taking various objects out of his bag. It was clear he could sense my discomfort and panic, but he had no interest in easing my mind before examining me. Instead, he started giving me a number of orders while putting on a pair of white gloves. He told me to spread my legs apart and I complied without hesitation, but my discomfort didn’t escape him.
    “You know, you don’t have to do this. There are plenty of other girls who would be more than happy to take your place.” He was annoyed, even though I tried to be as steady as possible. I didn’t even dare to breathe.
    He had a flashlight and he was shamelessly observing the most private part of my body. I stiffened when I heard him take something from the metal plate and I tried to be still as his hand approached the area between my legs. No matter how hard I tried to suppress my fears and discomfort, I couldn’t help myself and I jerked violently when the cold metal object touched my skin.
    “Jesus Christ girl, if you don’t want to get yourself injured, be still!”
    His cruelty made my humiliation even worse, and I closed my eyes in an attempt to stop the tears from coming, but I wasn’t strong enough to fight it. I didn’t make a sound, but trying not to cry was a losing battle. He was rough and when he finished, he gave me a disgusted, quizzical look.
    “There, that wasn’t so difficult, was it?” I didn’t dignify him with a response and I kept my eyes closed while he exited the room and told me I can put my clothes back on.
    I started gasping for air and crying uncontrollably.  Not so difficult?  I’d never felt so humiliated and degraded in my life. I was about to be sold like a piece of cattle to a man I had never even met. I had to stop crying, because I knew Mother would flip if those people saw me in this awful condition.
    Once I made my way downstairs, I knew Mrs. Moran stared at me suspiciously because it was clear that I had been crying. My face was a mess with swollen eyes, puffed cheeks and ruined makeup. I had seen how terrible I looked in the mirror, but had no will or power to do anything about it. I couldn’t even spare a glimpse at the obnoxious Dr. Mayhem without compromising my barely existing peace. Mrs. Moran finally took her eyes off me and focused on my mother instead.
    “We are pleased to inform you that your daughter meets all of the required conditions for the possible future arrangement with Mr. Sebastian Everett.” She looked at me in search of a reaction but I remained as still as a wall.
    “I knew my Isabelle would be perfect the moment I heard Mr.