Yes, I ran.
I didn't want this. I never wanted any of this. I didn't even know who Marcus was before my mother got ill.
I never auditioned for the wife contest thing, so why did I win this terrifying contest? A lot of women wanted to have this miserable chance. Why me, Lord?
The suffocating weight of judgment and whispers reached its peak to the point I couldn't bear it any longer.
My heart pounded with fear, anger and frustration, and I felt a desperate need to escape the grand hall. My vision blurred by tears, I turned and ran outside, seeking refuge near the swimming pools of the hotel.
The evening air was cool and refreshing against my flushed skin as I stood near the edge of the water. The moonlight cast a soft glow on the rippling surface, and the sound of gentle waves provided a soothing backdrop to my turmoil.
As I tried to collect my thoughts, the overwhelming emotions proved too much, and my legs gave way beneath me. I stumbled, losing my footing, and found myself stumbling on the edge, dangerously close to falling into the dark waters below.
Just as I was about to lose my balance, strong arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me back from the edge just in time. The stranger's touch was firm yet gentle, and he held me steady, preventing me from a potentially disastrous fall.
He held me close, allowing me to cry, offering a safe haven where I could release the pent-up emotions that had been building inside me.
I found myself leaning against him, noticing the subtle scent of fresh rain and a hint of wood, mixed with his natural aroma, feeling strangely safe in the arms of this mysterious saviour.
His touch was comforting, and I found myself seeking solace in the safety of his embrace. I found myself surrendering to my emotions, allowing myself to release all the pent-up frustration and sorrow.
The world around us faded away as I clung to him, my tears falling like rain as I sought comfort in chaos.
I cried out loud.
I sobbed.
I let him hold me from behind, my hands gripping his as he placed them around my chest, creating an illusion of intimacy and closeness one would not expect from strangers.
It was only yesterday morning that my life was just perfect. Everything was almost in the line. I had everything.
Today, I don't even know where mother is. I'm not even sure if she is alive. My heart aches like its inserted with countless number lf stitches.
Then, there is Pablo, the man of my dreams. My neighborhood. My friends. Everything was like a sweet dream that I had already woken up from.
The man behind gave me space to freely deal with all that. His presence was a lifeline, a beacon of light in the darkness that surrounded me.
As his hand softly covered my shoulder, it felt like he understood my pain, like he could sense the turmoil in my soul.
I felt an inexplicable connection to this mysterious stranger as if our paths were somehow intertwined by fate. My sobs subsided.
I clung to his hand, seeking solace in this fleeting connection that felt more genuine than anything I had experienced after my forced marriage.
His skin against mine felt warm and reassuring, and a sense of calm washed over me like I was finally safe from the storm that had been raging within.
But just as I began to find some masquerade of peace, I felt him slowly pull away. His touch faded, leaving me feeling lonely again as if a piece of my heart had been ripped away.
Before I could turn around to look at him, he was already gone, disappearing into the shadows like a ghost in the night.
The mysterious man really vanished into the shadows, I couldn't shake the desire to find him again. There was an inexplicable pull, a connection that left me yearning for more.
Determined, I scanned the surroundings, searching for a glimpse of him, but my efforts were interrupted by an unexpected sight.
In the distance, my eyes met with Pablo's. My Pablo.
Wait, was that really Pablo?
His eyes widened in surprise, and for a brief moment, it felt like time stood still. My heart ached at the visible signs of his struggles.
His once bright and vibrant eyes now held shadows of weariness and pain. The few hours I was away from him had etched lines on his forehead, and the weight of his burdens seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders.
He really was Pablo.
Gone was the radiant smile that used to light up his face, replaced by a forced, tired expression. His cheeks had hollowed, and I couldn't help but notice the subtle loss of weight, a clear testament to the hardships he had endured. All because of me.
As he stood there in his simple uniform, he appeared like a mere ghost of the man I once knew – a man whose laughter used to fill my soul with joy and whose touch would send shivers down my spine.
The surprise in his eyes soon turned into disappointment, and he shook his head as if disapproving of the woman I had become.
In his eyes, I had become a stranger, a woman who had forsaken her dreams and principles for a life of privilege and wealth.
It was a painful misunderstanding, and I desperately wanted to set things right, to make him understand the truth behind this forced marriage.
"Pablo, please!" I called out, my voice cracking with emotion, but he was already gone, vanishing into the night like a fleeting dream.
Just as I was trying to compose myself, Marcus materialized before me like a dark shadow. His eyes blazed with fury, and he reached out to grab my arm aggressively, making me wince in pain.
"What do you think you're doing?" he growled, his grip tightening like a vice. "Running after some random man while our guests are waiting? Have you completely lost your mind?"
He continued.
"You are my wife now, and you will behave as such!" he sneered. "No more wandering around, no more chasing after other men. You are mine, and you will act like it."
"We both know I'm not yours and we both don't love each other. Thank you so damn much for saving my mother but the damage I had to go through is too much of a payment!" I shouted, "You call me your wife yet you didn't even bother to tell me they were no longer here?!"
"That was your job to know,"
"Are you out of your mind, Marcus?
I was fed up. My whole world was about to explode. My brain was on fire. Marcus looked at me and laughed like a devil in his kingdom.
"Of course I'm out of my mind. Did no one tell you that? And how about we see if you are really not mine sometime later? For now, let's get inside before we create more gossip-likely scenes, shall we?"
So now he cared about his image right after he completely ruined mine. He took my hand in his, ready to forge a smile for the guests.
Almost at the time to finally end this grand malicious day, I found something to keep me busy.
Them.
I needed to find at least one of them. I didn't know where to start. All I knew was the feeling of his soft touch and his natural aroma.
The night went on and both of them, him and Pablo were nowhere to be seen. My heart sank.
**************************
I opened the door to my hotel room with my husband behind me. Welcome to marriage life, Camilla.
I kept breathing in and out, maybe everything is going to be okay but before I could convince myself, I knew it was all a lie.
A hand turned me around and within a second, a loud sound echoed against the walls of the room and my cheek was burning. He dared to slap me.
"Woman, if I ever find you talking to any guy. And I mean any guy, you will pay for it with this body. You understand, bitch?"
I looked at him, breathing like I just got into a fight. My chest was heavy like it has hung a huge weight of loads, burning it until it tightened my breath.
"Answer me!!!"
I nodded.
"Good, Now there's a little present for you in one... Two.... And three..." he smirked.
My phone buzzed with a message. I took it from the table, looking at him before I open it. It's a video and I clicked the download button.
My eyes widened at the site of it. Pablo. His whole face was swollen, his white shirt covered with blood and exposed parts of his body covered with cuts.
Oh my God!
Two men with covered faces held his hands like he was a criminal. He mouth kept spitting blood. My heart couldn't help but get heavy, my lips trembled. I looked at Marcus whose face showed a satisfied smirk.
"In case you do something that I don't like, a lot of damage can be done, my queen," He stepped closer and held my chin with his aggressive hand, looking at me with a passionate anger, "Are we clear?"
I looked at him. Didn't say a word. He leaned towards me and forcefully pressed his lips against mine. It felt disgusting. The smell of cologne of the man who brutally beat the love of my life was now going to stay with me.
He pulled away from the kiss, with a warning eye and a smile glued to his face, he then hopped on his bed. The bed I was going to share with him tonight.