The wedding had been everything she had planned, imagined and so much more to be able to share it with some many people she cared for. To be the wife of the renowned handsome bachelor and business savvy protégé of one of the biggest confectionary powerhouses in the country.
Her husband would soon take the position of CEO of the business and she would be by his side to support him. She would never be troubled for money. Financial freedom was hers.
She was the envy of many socialites who had bid their affection for her husband but ended in futility as he had chosen and proposed to her.

She thought she was the luckiest woman in the world…
Until tonight.

Once they had returned to their hotel room all the warm fuzzy energy and magic dissipated in her new husband’s demeanour. As he took off the cufflinks, he sighed as if releasing a heavy onerous role he had to shoulder and play since sunrise. She tentatively placed her hand on his shoulder behind him in comfort but he casually shrugged it off as she continued to focus on himself in the mirror as he continued undressing.
Grace felt the string in her heart but still tried for civility.

“Thank you for today. It was perfect. Felt like the luckiest woman alive exchanging my vows with you.” She added the following quietly but earnestly. “Feel like the luckiest woman at being able to consummate them with you tonight too.”
He looked at her eyes in the mirror now and smirked at the slightly shocked expression he had induced in hers. He knew his eyes were devoid of love, hope or even desire for her. They were cold, distant and a little cruel. They were the gaze he reserved for tough business negotiations and stubborn clients. Just as he concerned her one now.

“Your delusions of grandeur amaze even me, Grace. However, given that I played my role perfectly today in front of everyone is what is considered a fortuitous occasion, I guess it can’t be helped.”
As he swapped his tuxedo for a more casual shirt and slacks he added coldly, “you were present when your parents signed the shares of your family business to me. You were present when I accepted marrying you as part of the business deal. That you were to be financially well off, seen to and free to invest as you pleased. I will fulfil my husband and if circumstances call for it, my fatherly duties in interests of public decency and furthering the business I’m about to control and grow.”

He stood up tall now, fully facing her disillusioned expression. She looked pitiful he thought.
“But nowhere in the contract did it say that I’d have to fuck you after we were married. I only had to in order you get you interested in me.”
He grinned smugly seeing the pain and disbelief flash in her eyes at his cruel words. Satisfied he stood to reach for his jacket and head towards the door.
Still rendered in shock and mentally reeling, Grace didn’t so much as think but acted on instinct and fear by shooting to her feet and grabbing onto the sleeve of his jacket, pulling him back from reaching for the door handle.

“Please!” She pleaded in a shrill voice. “Please… don’t abandon me. I thought… You exchanged vows with me. Looked at me with such love today. The entire day. You love me! I don’t care if we don’t have sex, just… stay with me tonight… It’s our wedding night…”
She felt her voice trail off weakly in despair as the harsh reality of what future lay ahead of her began to sink its claws into her mind, inch by inch. She was so lost in panic that she hit the floor hard when he shoved her back to free his hand from her in disgust.
She flinched and squealed eye closed, ready for the painful impact that was surely to follow. This wouldn’t be the first time.
However, it never came.

She tentatively opened her eyes but whimpered to meet cold, murderous anger in his a feet away from hers. The back of his hand had stopped inches from her cheek, his focus on it as he said his thoughts aloud. “It’d do no good to leave any bruises on your face tonight of all nights. Many others will still be looking to congratulate us in the coming days and weeks, so no.”
He pulled his hand away and she breathed a slight sigh of relief before exclaiming out in pain. He gripped her jaw hard between his fingers and thumb, pressing hard on her bones.
“But if you EVER cross me again, while I can’t divorce you, I can and will make your life a living hell enough that you’ll end it for me.”
He released her hard, her neck whipping back in pain as she caught herself this time on the floor. She was mentally reeling, paralysed in shock of what was happening that she almost missed his final retort before he left the room.
“That would do us both a massive service. Not before you leave an heir though. You wouldn’t want to not only upset but endanger your parent’s lives… Would you, my sweet, darling wife.”

Hours later after the incident, she had showered and changed into ordinary clothes, called her personal maid to arrange a private table in the balcony of the hotel’s exclusive floor bar, away from any onlookers or other guests. A couple of guards were seated nearby, masquerading as guests, enjoying their own meals while being on the lookout at the same time.

She had some semblance of privacy on her wedding night but not in the way she could ever imagine, even in her worst nightmares.
Be happy… for the both of us…

She recalled the words of hope Chloe had left with her just before they departed, tears finally falling down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry… I don’t think I’ll be getting my own happily ever after either Chloe… I wish I were free to start again and find a better love like you.” She whispered.
The sound of children’s laugher gently broke her from her rouse to look down on the street of pedestrians going about their daily lives. She spotted tiny figures of what looked like a typical family of four but a happy one. The husband and wife close side by side as the kids, perhaps around six to nine years of age pranced about a few feet ahead of them. Happy. Carefree.

The kind of family she knew deep down that she’d never be able to experience.
Even if she gave birth to two healthy children, she doubted that her husband would show them real love and revel in their upbringing.
They’d be sacrificial pawns as she was to him.
She closed her eyes as of to shut out the continued jovial laughter from the kids, she felt a sting of pain… jealousy in her heart.
How she longed for true love. How she longed for true freedom.

But for now, she’d drown her sorrows while watching the family walk around the corner and disappear. She’d take solace that at least someone, somewhere was blessed with true companionship and safety.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Now Jake, Sally! What did I tell you about not running off too far ahead of us!”
The siblings were playing a small game of tag with each other, giggling as they run down the street to avoid being hit but partially keeping their mother’s constant reminder to not stray too far. It was a cool autumn night and the Parker family were heading to their hotel after a long fun day at a theme park to celebrate Jake’s birthday. The kids ran around the corner onto the road leading them to their hotel, but not too far that their squeals and giggles couldn’t be heard to concerned parents.
Marie sighed to her husband as they walked linked arm in arm, their free hands carrying bags of shopping and souvenirs from the theme park. “You’d think after an entire day of running and going on rides, they’d be tired and calm by now. Wish they’d stay close by.”
Her husband Nate shared her concern but decided to assure her.

“Just a few more minutes until we reach the hotel. They should be okay, if not waiting in the lobby-“
His daughters scream pierced the air. Both parents froze, their instincts on high alert and in unison, ran around the corner to pull up short, Marie gasping in shock. Both their kids had their mouths covered by older men who had placed their palms around their mouths to silence them, each with sharp knives at their necks.
Marie weakly but sincerely pleaded. “Please…please don’t hurt them…”
“Of course, you know the deal. Hand over your wallets and the kids go free…” This coming from a bulky bald man who held Jake firmly as he tried to wrangle free. Nate’s eyes were cold with fury but knew there was nothing worth risking his children’s lives over and reached into his pocket to pull this wallet and toss it across to the criminals.
“You too lady!” Sally screamed a little in tears as she felt the blade of the knife press on her delicate skin, her eyes filled in horror. “Don’t try anything funny either,” he added to Nate who was indeed analysing how he may be able to distract and fight them to save his children.
Marie opened her bag to locate her wallet, shaking in fright in response to the harsh order to hurry as her heart broke at her daughter’s wails. She found it and threw it to them defiantly. “Now, release my children!”

The bulky man grinned coldly, keeping Jake pinned to him while he crouched down to reach for it. Just at that time, Jake kicked the back of his shoe at his captor’s shin and bit into the palm covering his mouth, frantically breaking free to run to his parents. Nate, not missing a beat, rushed to tackle the man but betrayed by instincts dulled by happiness and safety, the man read him faster and plunged the knife into Nate’s belly.
He gasped, looking down at what had just transpired and collapsed to the floor.
The criminals knew the police would arrive soon and in swift action, the leaner of the two dragged Sally into the back of a car that was waiting for them. Marie aghast at the attack and split at who to protect, held onto her son before the bulky man grabbed her wrist, twisting her arm back and backhanded her to the floor.
“Mum!” Jake moved towards her but was also backhanded cold by the bulky man and hauled off to the car, both kids being shoved at the back before the doors closed and tired squealed away.
Unimaginable pain stole Marie’s senses however, she vaguely heard her name and slowly turned to see her husband reaching out for her.
“Oh God… Nate!”

She forced herself up off the floor to walk a few steps to sit and cradle her bleeding husband in her lap. There was so much blood that she didn’t know what to do but scream for help. Onlookers had gathered and sirens could be heard faintly but none brought her any solace
Nate reached up to touch her cheek, his hands icy cold.
“I love you Marie. You made me the happiest man in the world. I’m sorry…” He added as his hands fell from her face onto her lap.
She hiccupped a sob to starve off the creeping hysteria she could feel rising to drown her.
“Nate? Nate!!? God…no…..”
She whimpered and held her one and only love to her chest, her chest heaving in heavy sobs as she screamed, “NATE!! No…no… don’t leave me…”


He shot up straight, gasping for air in the darkness, his topless torso clammy with sweat.
It was a dream… A nightmare. A damned awful nightmare…

“Nate?”
Marie groggily sat up beside him and turned on the bedside lamp, a soft golden glow filling their bedroom. “Goodness, you’re shaking and soaked in sweat. Let me grab some towels.”
He instinctively reached out for her hand and she read his panic, pulling him to her chest and holding him close with murmurs of assurance that he was safe and okay.
A few minutes later, he added quietly, “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost any of you. I don’t want to leave you either…”
Guessing that he must have been referring to whatever nightmare he had had, she replied softly, “it’s okay. I’m here. The kids are sleeping soundly in their rooms. None of us are going anywhere. It was just a nightmare. A terrible one, but a dream nonetheless.”
He nodded but still felt strings of paranoia trail around his mind. “Is it okay… if we take a taxi home from the theme park today?”

She was about to question him but saw the fear in his blue eyes. She smiled warmly before placing a gentle kiss on his forehead before meeting his worried gaze one more.
“Sure. We’ll leave the park a little earlier than planned, have dinner at the hotel here and hold a little additional party for Jake, okay?”
Gazing into her emerald eyes that entranced him the first time he met her many years ago, he smiled a little, feeling incredibly blessed that his soul mate read his emotions without him having to explain what he had dreamt about.
He hugged her close once more whispering softly in her ear ‘thank you. I love you.’
She smiled, holding him close whispering back ‘I love you too.’