Chapter One

Sylvia

It was like a dream come true for me. My life was finally going the way I wanted.

Everything was falling into place for me and I was married to a man that would change my life.

I had been struggling to pay my bills for three months.

I had incurred debts that tightened around my neck every day. But now, I was finally free from all of that.

I no longer worked two jobs in Miami, scraping ice from the window of the broken-down car I jump-started every night.

I was no longer yelled at by my bosses and co-workers.

I’d just become a baroness, with the world at my manicured fingertips. I could afford the things I desired and I would become powerful.

My husband’s name was Arnold Lincoln, a great baron in the country and a billionaire.

He was wealthy and I didn’t have to lift my finger to work for the rest of my life.

I cast a glance across the vast gilded ballroom of my new husband’s castle in northern California.

I watched my husband as he interacted with his business partners. He looked dashing in his tuxedo.

He was sipping champagne while he engaged in a deep conversation with a group of young women.

I was now his wife. I should have been overjoyed that he picked me and our wedding had taken place.

But as I stared across the room at Arnold, I realized I couldn’t breathe.

“Very fancy wedding, Baroness,” my father remarked before his face knotted in a deep frown “But, Sylvia, why is your husband with all of those women? Doesn’t he realize it’s his wedding?” he asked. The frown never left his face even for a second.

Almost immediately, my mother smacked him across the ribs.

“Let him be. They are probably business partners that attended the wedding,” she grumbled.

With a warm smile, she turned to me then said “Baby, you look stunning!”

I returned the smile but before I could respond, my father spoke up. He looked at me accusingly up and down before he said “I hope he doesn’t ignore you this way! Now that you’re married to him, I hope he takes good care of you.”

My mother rubbed my full cheeks as she countered words, saying “You don’t expect him to stick by her side all the time. He is quite a busy man and our daughter loves him that way. Can you believe she is wearing a real diamond?”

From the way my mother’s eyes glittered, I knew she cared about the wedding because of the money and title. Nothing else mattered to her, not even my happiness or my mental health.

I did not laugh as I normally would have done when teased by my large, loving family.

I also did not tell them that I hated the way Arnold treated me and also that I hated the way I felt about the wedding.

I knew my father would overreact and my mother would accuse me of being insane.

I had no choice but to put up a big smile and appreciate the dream wedding I got.

To be honest, I just couldn’t relax around Arnold, despite the fact that we were now couples or perhaps because of his constant assurances that I was perfect in every way.

Could I marry a man I didn’t love?

Several times, I told myself that it was just wedding day nerves. Even though I had said my vows before the crowd that graced our wedding, I was getting uneasy by each passing minute.

Was it because I hadn’t eaten since the day before?

Or was it because my dress was too tight and my breast was nearly spilling out of it?

Whatever it was, I was getting a bad feeling that I couldn’t shake away.

With a full white dress and a diamond tiara sparkling above my long lace veil, I should have felt like the perfect Cinderella bride.

But instead of feeling that way, I felt small and out of place in the castle.

Sadly, my mother was a bloodhound when it came to money and extravagant weddings.

She had invited all of her friends and made sure they were aware that my husband was a baron.

There was no way anything could go wrong with the wedding.

No way.

I trembled as I placed my glass of wine on the tray of a waiter who was passing by.

“I’m going outside to get some fresh air.” I said after a while

“We’ll accompany you.” My mother offered, hoping some reporters would capture her photos.

“No. Please give me a minute. Alone…” I stressed before I turned and fled the ballroom as swiftly as I could.

I dashed through the castle’s empty corridors and out into the cold winter night.

I leaned heavily against the giant door once I was outside and before I exhaled deeply.

I closed my eyes then took a deep breath, which ended up burning my lungs in the cold February air.

I was happy to be alone and free with my thoughts.

I am now married.

I expected to feel different about it.

I expected to feel so much joy but I only felt relieved that my life had gotten better.

For a pretty long time now, I have been mocked by my family members who were all married and extravagantly rich.

“You’re too lazy,” they’d say, or “Who are you waiting for, Sylvia? You’ll grow old waiting for the right man.”

I knew most of them didn’t marry for love but I was willing to give love a chance in my life.

Unfortunately for me then, it was taking so long to find someone.

Several times, I had cried alone in my lonely single apartment but despite this, I had maintained my faith.

I was adamant about not settling for less.

I was willing to wait indefinitely for true love and I believed the wait was worth it.

I had met Arnold when he entered the Miami diner where I worked the morning shift.

He had come into my life when I was struggling with bills and I was losing hope.

He was a wealthy, attractive aristocrat who had attended Oxford and had his own ancestral castle in Northern California.

I was intrigued by his personality but it was not enough to marry him.

Even though I gave him an attitude which was enough to chase him away from me, he pursued me with dedication from the moment we met. I was shocked that such a man would want me.

Men had previously tried to date me but I had never been interested. I had always put them off with my attitude because I didn't love them.

Arnold on the other hand had come at the time I was desperate.

I had tried everything possible to make money so I could pay off my bills but I couldn’t. All roads seem blocked.

I wasn't anticipating marriage but he proposed marriage a week before our wedding.

“Let’s get married this week,” he pleaded. “I will make sure you lack nothing in your life.” I could remember just like it happened the previous day.

His words that day were enough motivation to make me say yes.

I was tired of waiting for love and I needed huge financial help.

If I had refused him on the grounds of finding true love, I was certain I was going to live with regrets for the rest of my life.

Without thinking about the prospects of the future, I threw away my hope for true love then agreed to marry him.

We had the fairy-tale wedding that I had always dreamed about.

We agreed that we would make love for the first time after the wedding.

Was that why I felt a sinking feeling inside as if my soul was breaking?

I was tense about something.

I guess sleeping with him had to be the source of my bad feeling.

I assured myself repeatedly that I had nothing to be afraid of.

Absolutely nothing!

The fact that I promised Arnold to be committed to him for the rest of my life made my skin feel cold in a way that had nothing to do with the ice and frost.

Why was my body shaking as if I was about to flee after marrying the man that saved me from my problems?

What was the matter with me?

Even though I don't love him now, I could learn to love him. It was not too late.

Moreover, a lot of people had done it. I was not going to be the first nor was I going to be the last.

I wanted more solitude so I pushed the castle’s door then crossed the hallway before entering the silent garden.

I grabbed my white tulle dress that was trailing behind me as I made my way into the cool garden.

Beauty could not be compared with what was before me. There were a lot of ornamental flowers, trees and shrubs.

The Gardener must be an expert at his work. The plants were neatly trimmed and had the same space in between them.

The scenario and environment was soothing and the cool air cascaded my skin. I had already made the garden my favorite spot in the castle.

My gown was scattering powdery flakes that glistened like diamonds in the moonlight.

The night was clear and dark.

When I looked up, I nearly gasped when I saw the violent red light that crossed the sky.

My mother always believed it was a bad omen to see a red star.

The feeling of fear and uneasiness pierced my soul. The more I tried to stop it, the more I became terrified.

I was shivering and sweating despite the cool breeze.

“Please, please,” I prayed softly, “allow me to have a happy marriage. May today end in a very good way.” I cried with my eyes shut and palms placed together.

When I opened my eyes, the star had vanished, leaving only a dark, empty sky in their place.

I smiled because I trusted the universe to answer my prayers.

“So…you’re the bride,” a deep voice said behind me.

My hair stood erect at the unexpected voice. I never knew I had a company up until that moment.

But who was he?

I asked myself as my heart slammed against my chest.