ONE

KAREN’S POV

   “Hello little betrayer, are you sure you still want to get on with this marriage, cause trust me, you’d regret it.”

   I still heard the words of the man I was supposed to call husband very soon ringing in my ears. Once, Devon Grey had loved me, now… now, what he felt for me was something even stronger than hate, it was a twisted kind of love, a love that enjoyed seeing me in pain – and all because he thought I betrayed him.

I Stared into the mirror, my eyes scanning the face that stared back at me. It was that of a very beautiful young girl with pale milky skin, and a heart-shaped face dominated by large blue eyes, framed by long dark lashes. I blinked, and for some unknown reason, my eyes filled with tears.

I was getting married to the rich and powerful Devon Grey, a man I was hopelessly, madly in love with, and yet I was frightened of him. Lately, he had been accusing me of betraying him, and I could not understand what I had done to make him think I could ever betray him.

    Devon was a very powerful man; I had watched him make and break several people with a simple flick of his finger, and I knew it would even be easier for him to break me – if he wanted to.

   “Are you practicing how to pretend, my sweet Love, or does it just come naturally?”

   I spun around quickly, to see he had just entered the room. As usual, my heart began beating in mismatched patterns.

   Even though this was our engagement dinner, he was dressed only in black, the satin material molded against his skin, showing just how handsome he was – just how powerful.

    “Devon – I –” I stammered, forgetting what I was about to say. My mouth felt dry.

    “Yes Love? Have you planned any new betrayal?” He asked calmly.

     I felt the tears sting my eyes at his words. His lips twisted in a cruel smile as he walked over to me in three easy strides.

    When he kissed me, it brought tears to my eyes. His lips were cruel, hard on my own, punishing me. I whimpered and tried to pull away.

   I wanted to look into his eyes and tell him that I loved him, that I would never betray him, but –

   His hands held me close to himself, forcing me to him, hurting me. Tears filled my eyes as his lips hurt mine in a kiss that was so brutal, a whimper escaped my lips.

    “Why Mon Cherie,” he said still smiling. “Why are you crying on such a wonderful night as this, an eve we announce our engagement to the world?”

    Unable to speak, I shook my head as even more tears spilled over. In the past, when I had cried, he gathered me in his arms so that his powerful chest could soak up my tears. Then, he would hold me, gently murmuring sweet words of comfort against my hair as his arms held me safe. After, he would kiss me sweetly, yet passionately, and tell me how each time I cried, it was as though I took a dagger to his heart.

   Now he just smiled coldly and watched me, as if he thought I was …

   “Devon, I would never betray you. I don’t know why you think I might have betrayed you, but I love you, I always will. I would never stop loving you.” I declared in a shaky voice. My eyes searched his, begging him to believe me.

    Devon laughed cruelly. “Karen, my little sweetheart. You have known my gentle side for too long. I have protected you, provided for you, cared for you, but now, you would know why I’m the most ruthless billionaire in the country. I’m going to enjoy breaking you, piece by piece, I would shatter your heart, destroy you, and the worst thing is –”

   His hands cupped my butt, squeezing painfully as he dragged me closer again to himself. His lips pressed down again on my already bruised lips. I cried out in painful pleasure, but he merely laughed.

    “The worst thing is that I’d make you love me even more. I would make you beg for my love, but I would never love you.”

    “Devon why are you doing this?” I stammered, as fresh tears filled my eyes. My tears made him even more angry.

   He grabbed me again, easily tearing off my clothes with a flick of his hand. More tears poured as I stood snaked before him. He had never treated me like this before. In the past, all we had done was kiss, and then, he kissed me so gently as if I was a frags flower he did not want to hurt.

   His eyes raked over my body, and he looked disgusted with me. His hands where rough against my skin, as he caressed me brutally, as if he meant oy to hurt me.

   He pulled away from me. “Get dressed in another cloth. And don’t keep our guests waiting. You should be happy that we have guests, or I would teach you what I do to whores of your type.”

   Tears could only pour from my eyes at the harshness of his words. Where had the man who once loved me gone!

    “hurry up Mon Cherie, we wouldn’t want to keep our guests waiting. It’s our engagement dinner after all.” He said coldly, turned and was gone, and I could not bring myself to stop crying, could not stop the tears that escaped my lashes, as I stood staring at the door, long after he was gone.