1. Desolate Marriage.

As I walk down the aisle for what seemed like an eternity, I took deep breaths to calm my wandering thoughts and surged nerves. I feel the stares from people – my relatives, and I gulp down my saliva. I managed to raise my eyes as the auspicious stares only made me tenser.

This was not the kind of marriage I dreamed of growing up as a kid and an adopted daughter, this was far from it.  I have always dreamt of falling in love with a simple man and getting married to him with just a few friends invited, living a simple yet peaceful and happy life. But this is what I get, a grand wedding with a missing groom. I was getting married to nothing but thin air.

He wasn't there, and neither were any of his family members. Why would they do that when they are helping us out by allowing their son to marry me?

My gaze wandered to my father's face. He sat in the front row and gave me a bitter look. He instigated this. I am getting married to someone I have never met because of him. And for what? All for his personal gain.

As other people struggled to conceal their nasty words, I could hear their murmuring in the background.

"I heard she was sold to them; she is a disgrace to his family."

"Such an ugly thing."

"She is not even related to this family; getting rid of such a negative omen is proper."

"She has been given the opportunity to prove her value to this family alone."

I've already become accustomed to receiving painful words, so this isn't the first hundredth time I've received them, but something about the way they're casting me off like debris triggered my emotions for the first time in a while.

My eyes began to water as I drew nearer to the altar. All of the anger I had suppressed in my deepest self started to rise. I tightened my grip on the flowers I was holding as the surge of betrayal swept through my body.

I've worked ten times harder to impress them and show them that they're incorrect in every aspect throughout my whole life, yet all they do is shove me into the dirt and treat me like a cadaver when I try to prove them wrong. All I get is being cast away. They only needed to be in a difficult situation to use me as a means of escape.

As I glanced at the vacant space intended for my alleged groom, the threatening tears that had welled up in my eyes slowly made their way down my lower eyelids.

And as I stood there looking like an object of shame, the priest who was already there started the marriage speech.

"We are here in this holy matrimony to join Miss Kira Serenity Cranwell and The Lord, Caesar Monsorrie."

I gasped as the priest exhaled. In any case, this is really happening, I actually am getting married.

He began once more. "If there is anyone here who feels that this marriage should not take place, please step up or keep your peace forever,"

When he said those words, the room fell silent; everyone wanted to see me depart.

"If not, we'll now start the vows; Miss Kira, please proceed with your vows."

I struggled to speak as I felt chills all over my body when my name was mentioned. At home, I had already grown accustom with these vows.

"I Kira Serenity Cranwell, take Lord Caesar Monsorrie to be my lawfully wedded husband, to love and honor, in sickness and in health, until death do us part," I breathed out.

I was unable to recognize my own voice as I said those vows. I felt a single drop of tear flow from my eyes, accompanied by another, and before I knew it, I was fighting a downpour. I blinked back many times to force it back in. I needed to breathe, I needed to let everything out, but I couldn't. My heart felt heavy. The last thing I wanted to do was show my vulnerability to the monster who had betrayed me.

Who would have thought that a day like this would come when I would be given to a man I didn't know?

I was still deep in meditation when I felt a small tap on my shoulder. It was the ring bearer.

"You have to wear your ring." He spoke to me in a whisper.

My attention was drawn to the single diamond ring in the case that was being held out to me. My hands shook slightly as I nervously lifted it up, and I gulped as I placed it on my ring finger.

"By the power vested on me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The air was filled with laughter and small chants as the priest's pronouncement was met with applause.

This is it, I am now officially married.

I turned to face everyone, and the expressions on their faces broke my heart. The mockery was evident in their eyes. I slowly turned to look at my father, who scowled and then turned to go.

I watched my one and only family leave the room while standing there speechless and filled with anguish. After all the years we've lived together, this is how we say goodbye. He bids me his last goodbye in this manner. This was our final encounter.

As my eyes continued to follow the path which he took, a man from the crowd suddenly approached me. He appeared to be in his late thirties because of the black suit he was wearing and the way he was dressed. He bowed his head formally in greeting, his hair gelled back.

He greeted me with "Hello," and I was left staring at him with watery eyes.

"I'm Oden Himmer, the Monsorries' chauffeur, and I'm here to take you home."

He motioned for me to follow him as his words made me tense up. I shook silently because I wasn't prepared to start this new journey of mine.