Chapter 5: The Marriage

I studied my appearance in the mirror. I looked like nothing but a ghost with big dark circles under my eyes and my pale skin. I had put some extra foundation, but they were still visible. I looked further; I had worn a simple white gown that hugged my body with perfection. My long, brown hair cascaded down softly over my shoulders.

I sighed. Finally, I was ready for my so-called wedding.

Mom used to say since childhood that ‘A good marriage doesn’t require a perfect man and woman but it requires love, devotion, and faith’ which did not exist in my marriage, then how could I marry a man who I didn’t know? I didn’t know a single thing about him, except he was a monster.

Your wedding day was an event you would never want to forget. Your wedding day was the only day you wanted to capture it forever and capture it in your heart. But in my case, this marriage was a partnership of hate, neglect, and disgust. He hated me, and I hated him. This marriage was only dealing, a deal for my family’s happiness, a deal of his meanness, a deal of his revenge, and a deal of my repentance. I had no other way but to marry him. The thing that existed between us was only hatred, hatred, and hatred. He hated me because I was the reason his girlfriend went into a coma. And I hated him because he was the reason I was forcing myself into this marriage.

“Do you know ​​what are you going to do? You’re behaving like a complete fool!” Sarah pointed to me angrily.

“You didn’t tell me how I look?” I smiled forcefully and held her gaze. I didn’t want to talk about marriage again and again. I knew she cared about me a lot. She meant a lot to me. I respected her, but I had no other way. I had to marry him against my will.

“Don’t change the topic, Alice! I know you very well, just tell me why the hell are you marrying him?” She growled, narrowing her eyes at me.

I rolled my eyes, annoyingly. “Of course for the money, Sarah! You don’t know how rich Mr. Henry Robinson is?” I was trying to change the topic so that she would stop talking about marriage.

She grabbed my forearm and made me look into her eyes. “Look at me, Alice. What did you say, if it is for money then, I will give you money? Say your amount, but don’t marry him for god’s sake!” She was on the verge of crying. I could see the concern in her deep green eyes. I could see how much she cares about me.

I bit into my lower lip, emotion pouring into my head. “I know what you mean but…” before I could speak anything else she cut me off.

“You always speak like that, Alice. Did you get brain damage or something?! Have you forgotten how he treated you in the hospital on that day? He had almost killed you.” Finally, tears filled in her eyes.

I hugged her tightly, breathing heavily. “Sarah, please, d-don’t do this to me, please, I beg you,” I pleaded with her. She was making me weaker. I was becoming vulnerable with every passing second. How could I explain to her, the thing is not about money but?

*Flashback*

When I went to Mr. Henry Robinson’s office, he was sitting on the chair and his legs were resting on the wooden table. “Oh, you’ve come here early, impressive.” He let his legs down so that I could see his devil face. He looked exhausted with his sleepless eyes and messy hair.

“W-why did you file a complaint against me?” I swallowed hard. Whenever he was in front of me, I failed to form a single sentence properly. My heart was throbbing so hard that it was hurting my chest. I used to admire him. But since that day in the hospital, I was afraid of him. He scared the hell out of me.

Henry stood up and sauntered towards me with his hands in his pants pockets. “You know you can be found guilty and sentenced to six years," he stated in his sharp tone. His voice was calm, but the pain hid in his voice.

“P-please don’t do this,” I begged him. He had filed a complaint against me about the accident that had occurred on that day. If I were sentenced to six years in prison, what would happen to my parents?

“I know perfectly well about your poor family condition. Your father has taken a huge amount of loan for your dream,” he said. “If they imprisoned you for six years, then what will happen to your poor parents? I felt pity for you.” He mocked, and his lips turned into a cruel smile. But I am ready to withdraw my complaint." He continued. “Only under one condition.” He held my gaze and slowly paced towards me.

I dropped my eyes because I didn’t have enough courage to look into his hateful eyes. I felt like his terrified gaze was piercing into me. “W-what conditions?” I stuttered.

He came nearer to me but before he could reach out to me; I stepped back. He smirked and stepped up to me. “MARRY ME.” These two words hit my ears as he had slapped me across my cheek very hard. I looked at him with my wide eyes, shocked by his proposal. Did he want to marry me?

Marry him?

“No!” I snapped without thinking twice. I didn’t want to marry him. How could I marry him? He loved Ava. How could I replace her? How could I snatch someone’s love?

He took one step and towered over me, and placed his arm around my waist, caging me in his arms. “How can you reject me!” He hissed in my ear and made me tremble in fear. He was so close to me that his warm breath was blowing across my face.

“I-I don’t want to marry you.” I gulped. My heartbeat was pounding like a gong. I wondered if he could hear it.

“You are beautiful.” He glanced at my lips and made my breath hitch.

“I…I…” I looked at his handsome face, his sharp jawline, his deep brown eyes, and chiseled face. He could get any woman he wanted. Why me? I knew why he wanted to marry me. “I don’t want to marry you, Mr. Robinson.”

“Really?” He gritted out and twisted my arm behind my back. I yelped in pain. “Think carefully! Otherwise, you will regret it later!” He threatened. “You are not only the person who I punish but…” He leaned forward, bringing his lips to my ear. “I’ll also punish your parents.”

I raised my eyes at him as anger flooded through my veins. Without a second thought, I lifted my hand and slapped across his face as hard as I could, making his face red. “D-don’t you dare!” I growled. “Don’t bring my parents between us!”

"How dare you?" he growled and shoved me away from him. I tumbled and crashed onto the hard floor. I groaned in pain and looked at my bruised elbow.

He kneeled next to me and grabbed that bruised elbow harshly. Tears rolled down my cheeks as pain shot through my nerves.

"You have no fucking idea who you're messing with and what I'm capable of doing to you and your poor family!" he snarled, squeezing my elbow harder. "Don't raise your fucking hand to me ever again! And if you dare disobey me, I will do something unthinkable, something you could never even imagine in your whole life," he whispered threateningly and narrowed his eyes at me. "Now, get the fuck out of my sight!"

I grimaced at the pain.

I hated him fiercely!

*End of Flashback*

“He is not a human but a beast, Alice. You know absolutely nothing about him. He is mean, violent, and heartless. He’ll never spare your life. I witnessed the hatred in his eyes for you,” Sarah said angrily, and made me look at her.

“How come you know so much about him?” I asked her while adjusting my gown.

“Because he’s my cousin! I know everything about him.” I shot my eyes at her, shocked. Sarah was Henry’s cousin. I didn’t know how many secrets she had kept from me.

When the knock sounded, I turned around to see my parents, who were standing in the doorway. Both of them were looking at me with tearful eyes. Mom and dad, I love them so much and I would do anything for their happiness.

They approached me, studying me from head to toe.

Dad cupped my face. “You look just great, sweetie. Our little daughter has grown into a beautiful lady. I didn’t realize when my little daughter had grown into a woman. She is going to get married soon. I can’t forget the day when you came into our lives, so small, fragile, and beautiful, my only daughter.” His eyes filled with tears, but he didn’t let them fall because he was too old to cry. He kissed my head and stepped back and let mom come next.

Her eyes were already puffy. “Are you sure, Alice? You are ready for this marriage, in a rush. You don’t need to spoil your whole life, honey,” she said sadly.

I nodded and wiped away my tears. “No, mom, I’m happy.” I gave her a forceful smile, but she had already read me like an open book.

“Alice…” She pulled me into a tight hug, and Dad came next and embraced both of us together.