Chapter 3

Her heart was hammering inside her chest, her breathing was fast, her hands were sweaty. Spencer walked towards the man that stood in front of the aisle. The man was dressed in a navy blue shiny wedding suit with a purple belt. It was the first time she saw him.

The man stood in the last rays of sunlight of the day, almost a golden glow around him as the sun was about to set and the sky was painted in all kinds of colors, orange, pinks, and purples.

The man that Spencer had been avoiding until now, smiled at her, but Spencer didn't see the honest, happy, and warm smile. She could only see the imperfection: the large scar on the man's face that looked monstrous to her.

She swallowed a big lump in her throat, and while walking past the guests that all sat on their flower-decorated chairs, she had to grab one of those chairs for a moment as she felt unstable and her knees weak.

God, she couldn't go through with this, could she?

She then looked at Kristof's hands which were covered in satin purple gloves. There was nothing weird to be seen, but Spencer could picture it in her head.

A stump instead of a hand.

She cursed her decision from the night before. She should have looked at Kristof then. Maybe she wouldn't be so shocked right now.

She felt she needed to throw up, right in front of all these people.

Her feet dragged over the floor which was filled with little lilac flower petals. Above her head dangled hundreds of wisteria flower branches that let go of their petals every now and then when the wind softly blew. A soft rain of petals fell on her while she walked.

Just a few more steps and she would stand beside her future husband, Kristof.

Only just one meter away now... Spencer swallowed and swallowed, just to prevent herself from puking the little food she had inside her stomach all over the

floor.

After taking the last step, they were now side by side. There was no turning back anymore.

Spencer looked at Kristof. She didn't see the kind eyes, not the loving smile. Only that pink disgusting line of lumpy flesh. That deep cut. That flaw.

~~~~ The night before ~~~~

Spencer pressed her forehead against the door.

"Well, are you gonna open up the door?" asked Kristof with a soft voice. A beautiful voice.

Spencer had her hand on the doorknob to open the door, but she changed her mind, she didn't know why.

Half an hour ago she was looking in the hallway for portraits, but now…..now she didn't want to see Kristof. What if the man was so grotesque, so ugly that she changed her mind about the whole marriage?

Her father would never forgive her and she would end up homeless and without family. She would be a disgrace to her family and probably shunned as punishment.

"No. I don't want to see you yet. Tomorrow at the ceremony, I want to meet you for the first time."

It was quiet for a while, but then she heard the soft voice again.

"Are you sure? Are you not curious? I'm sure you heard the stories about my looks. Don't you want to see me first?"

"I'm sure. I don't want to see you now. Tomorrow."

"Okay, I respect that. I wanted to see you, but I can wait until tomorrow."

Spencer turned her head and leaned against the door,

her cheek against the cold wood. Kristof sounded friendly. Maybe they could talk a little.

"We can talk like this for a while," Spencer proposed.

Kristof slid down and sat on the floor, back against the door. Spencer heard a muffled sound through the door, it sounded like Kristof. She did the same and also dropped down. Turning her back against the door.

The flickering light of the bulb came shining in from under the door and Kristof began talking.

"Today I met the Mayor . He wants to visit the mine. I agreed that I will take him there next week. I would like to show it to you also. Would you come as well?"

Spencer was curious. She heard from her father that Kristof was the owner of his own diamond mine.

She wondered what happened in the mines. She had never seen a real diamond before and she would be honored to meet her mayor .

"I will, I'm curious about what you do in the mine."

Kristof leaned his head against the door and closed his eyes. He smiled.

"That makes me happy. I'm very glad you are interested in what I do. I'm interested in what you do as well. I want to know everything about you, Spencer. And you can always ask me everything about anything. If you need something, want something, please ask me or ask one of our servants.

Spencer could hear Kristof chuckle. He seemed happy.

"Why do you want to marry me?"

"Actually, I already saw you once, five years ago. It was at the market. You were there with friends. It was a hot day, and you dipped in the fountain water to cool off. You splashed your friends wet and some old grandfather got angry with you when you accidentally splashed all over him while aiming for one of your friends. He hit you with his cane.You and your friends were running around laughing.

Kristof smiled while he talked about his memory.

Spencer remembered that day as well. That was a good day. "You were really there?" She asked.

"Well, I was somewhat disguised."

"When I saw you there, I admired you. Your youth, your innocence, your beauty. Things I never really had. I found you... interesting."

"Oh."

Spencer wondered what Kristof's life had been like, but she didn't ask.

"And when I spoke to your father and he told me you wanted to marry me as well, I was so happy.

Even though I know you want it to gain financial support, that is okay for me. I will try to make you happy and give you my love. I don't ask for yours in return"

What? Marry him as well?

Spencer wanted to scream. She wanted to ask Kristof what he meant when he said that her father told him that she wanted to marry him as well. Her father lied!

Spencer never spoke of those words. How could her own father do this? That selfish old man!

"Spencer?" Kristof thought he heard the sound of a soft sob at the other side of the door.

Kristof heard right, Spencer was crying. Holding her hands against her mouth so that she would not burst into loud, ugly tears, she swallowed her sobs. Trying to sound as calm as possible she said to Kristof, "I'm sleepy, I will go to bed now."

She stood up and threw herself on the bed where she dug her head in a pillow and silently cried her heart out.

She then heard the beautiful voice on the other side of the door for the last time, "Okay, I will see you tomorrow. Sleep well, Spencer.

Kristof felt strange at the sudden loss of contact.

First she wanted to talk to him and then when he was still in the middle of his story, she told him that she was tired and wanted to sleep.

He had an uneasy feeling inside, something he couldn't yet explain.

Being hungry, Kristof took his place at the head of the table where Spencer’s family was still dining and drinking.

"Welcome everyone, I'm so sorry I couldn't pick you up myself, but I had other urgent matters to attend to."

Kristof looked at his future family-in-law. They were looking back at him, but only for a second.

Then they hastily looked away. Just like every other person always did. It was either that or staring.

Kristof was used to it already.

"It's fine, we understand. I am afraid Spencer is already in her room," Spencer’s father answered.

"I know, I've talked to Spencer already, she is going to sleep now."

"Okay, she probably wants to be well-rested for the big day tomorrow. Then, please allow me to introduce my family to you."

"Please do," Kristof said.

"I'm Theo, this is my wife, Malee." Theo laid his hand on his wife's shoulder.

Malee gave Kristof a small nod.

"And these are our other three children; Simon, Robin, and Lavina."

The three children bowed their heads and paid their respects.

"Welcome to my home, I am Kristof."

"We know," Lavina replied.

They ate and talked for a while. Slowly, the family was more at ease. Kristof told about his visit to the Mayor’s. Especially Lavina wanted to know everything about the mansion, his home, and family and Kristof gladly told her everything she wanted to know.

"And what do you think about your sister’s new house, little princess?"

Lavina's eyes started to twinkle. She looked at Kristof. He had called her a princess!

"I like it, it's just like a castle from a fairytale."

Even though Lavina was already twelve, she was still just a kid. The younger ones were always much sooner used to Kristof's appearance than the adults.

"Haha, well you can come to visit us as much as you want if it's okay with your parents of course."

~~~~ present time ~~~~

People were eating, drinking, talking, singing, and dancing underneath the stars. Flames that came from the torches lighted up the area. Everyone was having a good time. Family and friends.

Everyone, except for the newlyweds .

It was a tradition that the wedded couple left the party earlier for the wedding night so Spencer and Kristof were brought to two separate rooms where the servants washed them and dressed them in their night clothing.

When finished, Spencer found herself in the master bedroom. It was another room instead of where she slept last night. This was probably the room they will share from now on. She stood in front of the mirror looking at something akin to a ghost. She looked so pale.

Her throat was dry and a warm unlikeable feeling came creeping up her back when she heard the doorknob twisting. When the door slowly opened, Kristof came in, walking a few meters inside, and stayed still.

"I've talked to your father and he told me that this marriage was not mutual... Spencer, you have to believe me when I say I never wanted it like this. I didn't know better."

His words were soft, full of compassion and sincerity but Spencer felt bitter…

"So, what do you want from me now then? Look at us, dressed like this…. This wedding night. Do you want me?" Spencer’s voice trembled.

Kristof just looked, he didn't respond, Couldn't respond. His heart ached.

Spencer walked over to the bed. She took her undergarment off but left her clothing on. She then laid down on the bed, covering herself with the sheet, and spread her legs.

"I will never love you," she spoke bitterly as tears started to form in her eyes. "You can have my body now, but you will never have my soul nor my heart!" She barked at Kristof.

Kristof just stood there, watching Spencer who laid on the bed offering herself. Or at least, offering her body.

"I won't take you tonight. I will never force you to do something you don't want to do." The words were soft.

"Well that's a little late now, don't you think? I was forced. Forced to marry you! I am young, beautiful, I was in love with someone, and now?

Now I am married to you. Look at you. You’re pathetic and ugly. Look at you then look at me! How could you possibly think we can make each other happy?"

Spencer wanted to hurt him. The man took away her life. Her love. Her family. Everything. She deliberately spoke the harsh words. She wanted her husband to feel pain. Like she felt pain too.

The hurt showed in Kristof's eyes. "I will leave you now. Sleep. It was a busy day for both of us." Her husband left the room.

It took Spencer by surprise that Kristof wouldn't sleep in the same room. She felt relieved about it though. And somewhat thankful that the man didn't force himself on her. The thought alone was repulsive to her.

The young lady laid there on the bed, looking at her new room. Her room in her new home, where she would spend the rest of her life. She couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out in tears.

Kristof could hear the crying when he closed the door. He was hurt as well. Hurt by the words. Hurt by Theo, who sold out his daughter to him with lies. Hurt that the life he thought he would have, was once again a failure. And above all, hurt by seeing Spencer look miserable all day long.

Nothing like the lively girl in the fountain he saw five years ago.

The older man fled to another room and slammed the door shut.

He unscrewed his wooden hand off the arm cuff and looked at it with

much frustration while walking to the mirror. As all emotions boiled up, he slammed the wooden hand into the mirror, as hard as he could, and saw his own image shattering into thousands of pieces.