I woke up with a banging headache and muffled music playing around me. I opened my eyes slowly and remembered what had happened, a wave of sadness hit me as I stared down and realised I was still on the floor in my wedding dress.
I tore the hem of it in anger and stumbled up, heading to my room to change into a tight, pale cream dress. I was supposed to wear this for the after party.
As I approached the part where the wedding was happening, tears welled up in my eyes as I found Scarlett and Luke already married, seated at the love seat made for us, they looked happy together and my parents looked even happier.
The after party had even begun, I wondered how they had found such a beautiful dress for her in such a short time. Perhaps she had hoped something like this would happen?
My head was swirling, I felt nauseous.
How could they have done this to me? Why was I so disposable? I turned away from them and let tears fall freely from my face, not minding if it ruined my makeup. I couldn't breathe or think.
I rushed to the bar where guests were gathered and grabbed a bottle of wine. I drank till everywhere was almost blurry, till the sounds became far away but I could still feel the deafening pain in my heart.
I desperately needed a distraction, I needed someone to help me lessen this ache in my chest. Through hazy eyes, I noticed someone staring at me in the corner.
He was tall and muscular but it was his piercing green eyes that startled me. I made my way to him on shaky legs and rested on the table next to him.
“Nice party isn't it?” I said sarcastically and he smiled although his eyes looked worried.
“Who are you?” He asked and I laughed suddenly, I realised then that many people hadn’t arrived at the beginning of the ceremony yet and most didn’t know how I really looked like.
“What's funny?” His expression hardened as he probably thought I was laughing at him but he didn’t understand that laughter was a self degrading one.
“Oh nothing.” I stumbled and fell on him, giggling and he looked down at me in confusion but that confusion didn’t last long, as I trailed my hands all over his strong shoulders and neck, his eyes burned with need for me and I felt powerful.
I was finally able to feel less of the pain and I closed my eyes, relishing the feeling.
“Take me… some-where, anywhere… except, except here.” I stumbled over my words and for a second, I thought he was going to throw me off him and laugh in my face but to my surprise, he curled his arm around my lower back and pulled me with him out of the hall. We hailed a cab that took us straight to a hotel not too far.
He paid for a room, collected our keys and pulled me with him to the room we’d be sharing for the night.
He ushered me into the room and locked the door. He showered and came out with only a towel then told me to go into the shower too and I did so but came out with a white robe. He inhaled sharply when I came and I was scared he had probably figured out who I was.
“You look even more stunning without all that makeup.” He whispered as he came to stand right in front of me and I blushed, the alcohol had cleared up just a little bit. I sighed in relief and he took my hand and kissed it then he painstakingly removed my bathrobe.
As he whispered sweet nothings into my hair and neck, thoughts of the wedding were far from me, this was exactly what I needed. He kissed and caressed my senses away until all I felt, heard and knew in the moment was him.
He pushed me to the wall and began to furiously kiss me. I ran my hands through his hair as he ran his hands up and down the length of my body. I shuddered because we were getting intense.
He lifted me off the floor and kissed me till I couldn't feel my lips anymore, my robe fell completely to the floor and so did his towel and before I knew it, he was throwing me onto my back on the bed and getting on top of me. For a second he stopped to gaze down at me before he went right back to kissing me from head to toe, I was trembling by the time I finally took him inside me.
To my surprise, we went at it just two times before he stopped and kissed the side of my head, draping his arm over my waist as we lay in silence. The surprising thing was that I knew he wanted to continue but he purposefully stopped himself, nothing like Luke ever was.
I groaned, realising I was comparing him to Luke, Luke who I wasn't supposed to be thinking about, Luke who brought immeasurable amounts of pain to me.
But as I thought about it more and more, the thoughts consumed and I shed silent tears. Even my parents, my dear dear parents had forsaken me, I slept with those thoughts in a repeated loop in my head.
The next morning, I woke up first and slipped from beneath him, placing a goodbye note on the nightstand and some money, he had helped distract me for the night, even if it was for only some time.
I needed to go back home, maybe my parents were waiting for me, worried sick. Maybe they regretted what they did and would apologise and welcome me with open arms and we could work to rebuild our shattered relationship but I knew nothing would ever be the same again.
I looked back one last time at the handsome stranger still sleeping on the bed and left.
Although what I found at home shook me to my bones, I never should have returned at all.
Amelia's povAs I arrived at the place I had always known as home, a pang of hurt filled me but I swallowed it down and paid the cab driver. I went up the steps of the front porch with all the hesitance in the world. But as I entered , I found them already waiting for me in the living room and a flicker of hope arose in my chest. “Where have you been?” My mother asked with an expression I hadn't known her to use on me before. “I left that place, I couldn't take it.” I said not meeting her eyes and she scoffed. “You couldn't take what? Everything that happened there yesterday was of your own making. You could have been a happily wedded wife but you chose to let your pride rule you and you refused to marry him.” She jabbed at me and I gasped.I choked back tears threatening to fall. “How could you say this mom? How could you blame me for all this? I never would have been happy in that marriage and you know it!” “So you chose to call it off at our expense! Knowing full well that th
Ethan's povThat night with the strange beautiful girl was one of the best nights I had in a long time. I had initially gone to the wedding because I needed to mingle. My board of trustees were threatening to pull out their investments and sell their shares which was going to be very bad for business. They wanted me to settle down and produce an heir, someone of my own blood and grooming who would handle things when I was gone. I wasn't a very social person. I wasn't particular about getting married so soon. But I knew they weren't bluffing, they were serious about their demands and while I was the richest young man this city has ever known, it didn't mean I wouldn't be affected if they all turned against me. So I agreed and that was why I was at the wedding in the first place. I came conveniently late when the after party had already begun and decided to scavenge for a woman I could make my contract wife. I was about to leave-most of the ladies there already had partners- when
Ethan's POVI have developed a likeness for her, so much that I can't wait for the marriage contract to be signed.Amelia is so innocent and I doubt she will hurt a fly. The way she cried the last time when she said her traumatic experience to me still hurts. How could they have done all of this to her? How? I was too dumb to have noticed she was going through a lot that night. I arrived late at the venue, afterall.I almost feel bad for taking her that way the other night. I want to take back the hands of the clock but I can't. I know I enjoyed every bit of the heat but then, it should not have been that way.Something romantic and sweet would have sounded better. A side of me is happy I didn't get to see what had transpired at the wedding venue. If I had seen every bit of the disheartening scene, I might end up punching Luke in the face.Not just Luke, I would also hit Scarlett so hard in her stomach that if Luke ejaculated inside of her the night before, it would gush out. My pit
Ethan' PovI left the house this morning for work. I was in a hurry and I did not get to see Amelia before leaving the house. I had stopped for a moment at the door of her room before leaving, listening carefully to be sure she was still breathing. I know she would not do anything funny, I just have to be sure.My daily routine is wake up, have my bath and take some tea before heading to my office until evening time before I can head back to the house. I am in my car alone, driving to work.My driver is on leave at the moment, he pleaded with me for a quick leave days ago. He had given me a good excuse to be away and I am merciful enough to grant him his request.I drove my car by myself, carefully, avoiding potholes on the tiled road. Government officials are working already by this time. I arrived at the gate leading into the compound of my property, honking for the company gateman to open the iron jar for me to drive in. He opens the gate and waves at me."How are you, Peter?" I
Luke's POVAfter my wedding to Scarlett, I paid a certain amount of money into my In-law's account.Our deal was to have one of their daughters in exchange for my help. I had chosen Amelia and she, in return, chose me. My new in-laws have been on my neck months before I started a relationship with Amelia, asking for money to settle a certain man they were owing.I am not a person who gives out money in such a way without any exchange for something. I mean, it would be a different thing if I was asked for a loan, and not help. If I give a loan to someone, I would give a time frame with an interest request attached to my deal with them. However, the case is different from the Stones. I did not want to give them a loan, besides they would not have the money to pay me back, so I asked for what I wanted. Amelia was the woman I wanted amongst the two women the Stones birthed. Her dumb behaviour at our supposed wedding ruined everything I should have with her.At first, I was embarrassed
Ethan's POVI had just arrived from work today. My lawyer did not show up the other day with the marriage contract documents. I was exhausted from today's work. I was paid a visit from some influencers and investors who live within the country and a long meeting was held.Luckily, Robert was not amongst the men who had visited and I am glad he wasn't. I did not want to face him for now, until everything had happened.I rested my head on my car seat, gathering strength to park and get down.I parked my car at the lot to walk into the house. I perceived aroma coming from the kitchen and I was used to Amelia's cooking habit.I understand that she is bored at home and wants to keep herself busy.I was happy there was homemade food today and I was also excited because I will feast on a scrumptious meal. "Good evening," I greeted her while I sat on the couch in my living room. She looked like she was waiting for me, I came back quite late today. "Good evening," she greeted me back, smili
Amelia's POVOne thing I have not expected all my life is to be married to one of the richest men in the states. I have seen this happen in movies and other foreign countries.At the same time, I never thought I would have such an experience for myself.I always wanted a fairytale life, yes. But never have I assumed marriage with a very rich man, someone average like Luke and not Ethan.These past years, I have heard about the Blackwood generation from the internet. I remember vividly the main owner and CEO of a company dying last year. I couldn't remember well but I know I heard that his only son would take over.Ethan Blackwood was the name I had heard people say over the news. How could I have thought I would get married to him, on contract? It simply means I would be a part of his wealth since I will give him a child, a son. It is unbelievable.&nbs
Tessa's POVWe have not heard from Amelia since a day after the wedding when we asked her to leave the house. Carl had walked around in search of her, hoping to find her. Most times he stays awake at night, expecting her to walk in. I, myself, wish he would not see her again, not now or forever.I wanted to wake up one day and see her on the television screen as dead. I want to hear if she was hit by a truck, or a train. Even a car, so long she dies. This is what I want.Amelia was birthed by mistake and I do not hate her, but I see her as a mistake. All her years of growing as a woman, the neighbours chose her over Scarlett and Scarlett ended up sulking.We watched her leave the house after seizing her cards and car. She had sobbed with mucus flowing from her nose to her upper lip, looking at her sister and ex-fiance with hateful eyes. She left without taking an