Chapter 15: The Vows That Betrayed Me

Jenna's 'POV

I could hear the voices of my parents just outside my workshop for the past half hour, talking in low voices.

Occasionally, a word or two drifted out—“important,” “timing,” and the one that made my stomach tighten, “Evelyn.”

They were talking about me, then Mom finally called my name, her voice was sharp, cutting through the peace and quiet of the house.

“Evelyn, come here, please.” My heart sank, the tone of her voice made my pulse quicken. Slowly, I dropped my spatula on the table and walked toward the dining room.

The sound of my footsteps felt too loud in the silence. When I stepped in, both my parents were seated at the table, their faces calm and collected as they stare at me.

I felt like I was walking into a courtroom, and I was the one on trial.

“Sit down,” Dad said, motioning to the chair directly across from them. Mom exchanged a glance with Dad before leaning forward.

“Evelyn, your father and I have been talking, and we’ve decided your future.” I sat, my hands gripping the edge of the chair.

“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to sound casual, but my voice betrayed my nerves.

“An opportunity has come up, one that benefits not just us, but you as well.” Mom straightened in her chair, her fingers laced together on the table.

“You know how much we’ve worked to build the company.m” She began. “It’s not just a business—it’s our legacy. And to protect that legacy, we have to make difficult choices.”

“Okay…” I said slowly. “What does this have to do with me?” Dad cleared his throat. “We’ve been in discussions with the Grants—a very influential family in the industry. They’ve proposed a partnership that will strengthen both of our companies.”

“To finalize the partnership,” Mom added, her voice soft but firm.

“You’ll be marrying their son, Liam.”Those words hit me like a slap. For a moment, I thought I’d misheard her.

“Excuse me?” I asked, snapping my head up as I wanted to be sure I heard correctly.

You’ll marry Liam Grant,” Dad repeated, his tone steady as if he was announcing the weather forecast. I blinked, my brain struggling to catch up.

“This isn’t happening.” I said, shaking my head.

“You can’t just decide something like this for me! Marriage? To a mere stranger?”

“He’s not a stranger,” Dad said calmly.

“He’s the son of Charles and Margaret Grant. Their family is well known and respected.”

“That doesn’t make it okay!” My voice rose, and I stood up from my chair, making it fall from the impact. Mom’s face softened, and she reached out a hand as if to pacify me.

“Evelyn, this isn’t just about business. Liam is a good man. This arrangement is for the best—for all of us.”

“You don’t even know him!. “How can you say he’s a good man?I snapped and Dad’s expression hardened.

“This isn’t up for debate. The decision has been made.” Tears burned in my eyes as I stormed out of the dining room and back into the living room.

My chest felt tight like I couldn’t get enough air. I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the floor. My hands were clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms. How could they do this to me?

I wanted to scream, to cry, to run out of the house and never look back. But instead, I just sat there.

The wedding day arrived too quickly, and I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me.

The delicate white dress clung to my frame. My hair was pinned up in an elegant bun, soft curls framing my face and the makeup artist had painted a mask of perfection over my face. But none of it felt like me. It wasn't me.

This was not how I had imagined my wedding day. I had always dreamed of something beautiful and full of love, but this—this felt wrong.

“You look beautiful, dear.” my mother said softly, standing behind me in the reflection. Her eyes watery, but I couldn’t tell if it was pride, guilt, or both.

I didn’t reply. I couldn’t. My throat felt tight, and my chest ached with the weight of what was about to happen.

I tried to breathe, bracing myself for the ceremony. The thought of walking down that aisle made my heart race, but not with excitement—no, it was with dread. I had to face the truth.

The ceremony hall was grand, filled with flowers and gold, everything about it screamed luxury. The sound of soft classical music played in the background as I walked in. But even as my heels clicked on the marble floor, I felt detached from it all.

Liam stood at the altar, his back straight, his expression blank. He looked handsome, I had to admit that. His sharp jawline and striking blue eyes stood out in his perfectly tailored suit.

But even in that, I could see the distance between us. He didn’t even look at me when I entered. I felt a jolt of something. Maybe it was anger. Or maybe it was frustration.

Either way, it hurts. Was I invisible to him? Or was he just cold and indifferent to everything around him? The ceremony passed in a blur.

Vows were exchanged, rings slipped onto fingers, and before I knew it, we were pronounced husband and wife. Applause erupted around us. Liam’s hand brushed mine as we turned to face the crowd.

It was then realization dawned on me that this wasn’t going to be a fairy tale. Liam was not the man I imagined myself marrying. He was distant, cold, and didn’t seem to care about me at all. And I didn’t feel much for him either. I resented him.

The night ended and realization dawned on me that I was now married and I sighed. As we walked side by side to our supposed home, a beautiful mansion that was much bigger than those I had seen on the gram.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were deceiving ourselves as I doubted this marriage was going to work. We were married. But we were worlds apart.

The mansion felt more like a cage than a home. Liam left me alone in the grand bedroom we were supposed to share, disappearing without a word.I was feeling like a ghost while I explored my new home.

It wasn’t until I met the elderly nanny the next morning that I felt a sense of belonging. She was kind, her wrinkled face creased with a warm smile as she introduced herself.

Over tea, she told me about her seven cats and loud neighbors and most importantly, the Grants. Her eyes darted around as if someone might be listening.

“You must have heard about Martins? Liam’s older brother?” I nodded, not breaking eye contact with her.

“The mentally unstable Martins, who has married over 7 women and none has been seen since the wedding.” She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“Although I've never met him, I know he’s dangerous and he’s killed women who married him.” My blood ran cold.

“Killed them? Why?” She adjusted her glasses.

“His parents have sought brides over the years for him, but they all end up the same way…dead.” I sat back, my heart racing with fear. The nanny’s words played repeatedly in my head.

If the nanny’s stories were true, I could only pray I’d never cross paths with Martins Grant. Our little tea time was interrupted by a knock on the door. We both exchanged glances, and I went to the door.

Maybe Liam was back? I went to the door and opened it to

reveal a very handsome man standing on the threshold, his emerald green eyes meeting mine. He was tall and imposing, dressed in a black well-tailored suit.

“My name’s Martins,” he said smoothly.