Chapter 1

Tears gushed out of her eyes filling her eyes, but she made no sound, as the tears cascaded down her cheeks, this was her silent cries, displaying her shattered soul.

Knock, knock! Knock!

Someone was at the door, she turned her face quickly to the mirror that was in front of her and cleaned her eyes, dashing her face with some powder in her makeup kit.

Who is it? She answered with a shaky voice that was still muffled with tears.

It was her father, he pushed the door with a tray in his hand and used his leg to close back the door.

“My princess! He said with great affection, “I saw the maid bringing the coffee over to you, so l offered to help”.

“How are you holding on my dear”, he probed, seeing that she had been crying again, no matter how she tried to cover it up.

“I am fine Dad, but Dad, is there no other way to save your law firm, than for me to be the sacrificial lamb?”.

“Oh my dear, do not take it that way,l am not a selfish father, I also want what's best for you. l have watched you these past six months crying your eyes out. l also agreed to arrange your marriage so you could move on also.”

Celine sighed!’

But Mr. Wheelers has a bad reputation as a womanizer, women flock to him like sheep, and he is a celebrity.

“How am I supposed to be with someone like that Dad?"

"My dear child", he said,” Since you can be with Ray, you can handle any problems that come with marriage dear, just be calm and patient, and you will see that everything will fall into place”.

Her father gave her a pitiful look and said calmly.

“Please be ready on time for the wedding, "this is the only way we can survive”, Patting his daughter's shoulders he went out.

With a long sigh, she turned back to the mirror and gazed at her reflection.

Celine was a beautiful woman with long black hair and green eyes, she was a cheerful and loving person. Coupled with beauty, she has brains as well, her father a pronounced lawyer left no stone unturned in the education of his daughter, she attended one of the most prestigious schools in Albania during her school days, and that was where her nightmare of a marriage began.

Ray was the most popular and cutest boy in school, he was carefree and spoiled. Every girl wants to date him, talk to him and be around him, including Celine.

Their relationship started due to Celine's brilliancy in class and Ray was forced to be close to her so they could study together 

Celine was excited and got closer to him and that was how their relationship started.

Everyone would always see them together and when they were through with college, they decided to get married immediately.

Ray was good to her at the beginning of their marriage but when he lost his job, he started drinking heavily which led to abusing Celine.

There was a time he beat her that she lost a two-month pregnancy she had for him, and that was the final straw that led to a divorce.

 Putting on her wedding dress, which was decorated with little diamonds.

Celine was grateful to her father who was her pillar of strength during the months of her first marriage, he was the one who gave her the courage to finally file for a divorce.

Now he feels marrying her off to this baron who was his client would be best for both of them.

She shrugged as she started putting on her veil.

Suddenly, she was apprehensive when she heard footsteps at her back.

*****

"Who is that?”

 

She demanded with a raised voice, but before she could turn to see who came into the room,  a sack was used to cover her head.

She froze at first,  with her heart in her throat,  but when she noticed someone fiddling with her body trying to take her hands and tie them together, she gathered up her last strength, twisted to the right and pushed at the figure with all her strength.

Her kidnapper did not expect this reaction from her, he was caught off guard and fell on the bed.

She quickly removed the sack over her head and to her astonishment, she looked into the eyes of her ex-husband.

“Ray!”She shouted,” What are you doing here?”

Ray Hawkins was looking at her with an expression of pure hatred.

“If I cannot have you Celine,  no one would” he growled, giving her a deadly stare.

“Did you think you can get married while you leave me in misery?” he said angrily.

Celine looked at him with fear in her eyes,  his appearance was terrible to see, he had been drinking once again and she knew the repercussions. 

“I would not be getting married today if you had been a good husband to me”, she said, attacking him with her words.

This infuriated him more as he glared at her.

 

He lunged for her again and

Celine was quick to step back again as she screamed with fear, her heart pounding fast.

She ran to the other side of the room, trying to escape him, but as she rushed to the door, she felt something hit her hard on the head and she passed out…..

After some time, she woke up drowsily to someone tying her hands together, but she was too weak to do anything, the only thing she remembered was that she was still in her room, as the wave of darkness engulfed her once again and she fainted for the second time.

****

"Celine! Wake up!

She heard a voice faintly, it was her father as he sprinkled a little water on her face.

Celine opened her eyes and looked around her environment, she was still in her room with her father and a maid, trying to revive her.

“Where is Ray? She asked her father weakly, trying to sit up.