Julia stared at the ceiling, the echoes of last night's argument replaying in her mind. Her husband's voice had been filled with shock and anger. How could she face him when she had saved herself for him yet lost her virginity to someone else?
She wondered if he had cooled off. Julia took a deep breath, imagining him calming down. She had to talk to him and apologize. He loved her enough to marry her. If he could only see that she didn't choose this path, maybe he would understand her pain.
Early morning light spilled into the kitchen as she moved quickly, cooking. She packed his lunch and breakfast with careful hands, arranging everything neatly, hoping the colors would brighten both his day and her guilt.
The housemaids glanced at her in surprise as she bustled about, her determination clear. Beside her cold, empty bed, a heavy sadness settled in. This wasn't how it was supposed to be—newlyweds should be celebrating, not drowning in chaos.
Maybe he slept yesterday night in the guest room, avoiding her like she has a contagious disease. Julia couldn't face him directly; she had to prove to Victor that she deserved his forgiveness and love.
Moments later, he appeared in crisp attire, his suit sharply tailored, ready for work. The familiar scent of his expensive perfume filled the room, a reminder of the man she had fallen in love with and the distance that now lay between them.
Julia offered him a shy, hopeful smile. "Good morning, Victor. I made your favorite breakfast. Let's eat together before you head off to work," she urged, her heart pounding as she anxiously watched for his response.
She searched his face, longing for any sign of warmth. He remained silent, emotionless, yet he followed her into the dining room, leaving an uncomfortable weight hanging in the air.
With a gentle smile, she unveiled the breakfast spread before him, feeling a glimmer of pride. "I made your coffee just how you love it. Let's eat," she said softly, hoping it would mend the rift between them.
He marched to the table with purpose, his hand wrapping around the coffee cup. He raised it to his lips, but hesitated. "Is there something wrong…?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
A mocking smirk crossed his face, and in a swift motion, he poured the scalding coffee over her. "O-Ouch! W-Why did you pour it on me, Victor?! It's fucking hot!" Panic gripped her as she debated rushing to the sink or confronting him.
"You're delusional! What gives you the idea I've forgiven you? I will never let go of your betrayal! How do I know that coffee isn't poisoned, meant to free you and your lover? You're probably after my money!" he shouted, his voice heavy with accusation.
The scorching pain on her skin felt minor compared to the heartbreak from his words. Tears pricked her eyes. She had never cared about Victor's wealth. Even when her family struggled, she never considered asking him for help.
She loved Victor because her heart had chosen him. His money had never mattered to her. In fact, she didn't even know he was wealthy when they first started dating; he had kept that hidden from her.
Why did she feel like she was the villain here? Was it a crime to choose life, to want to be alive? Was it wrong to desire too see what life can offer more to her, to share moments with him and her family?
She was the one who got hurt the most, yet why was she the one blamed? Was it her fault that there were those who sought to ruin her life?
She took a deep breath to steady herself, determined to remain calm. "That's not true at all, Victor. If you didn't want to drink or think I'd poison you, you could have just left it. You didn't have to throw coffee at me," she managed to say, her voice trembling with emotion.
He sneered, his gaze darting to the lunch box she had lovingly prepared. Without a second thought, he hurled it to the floor, sending her carefully made food flying in every direction.
She quickly turned off the faucet, her heart racing as shock flooded her features. "Victor, what are you doing! I told you, if you didn't want to take it, you didn't have to throw it or ruin it!"
He loomed over her, hands planted firmly on his hips, eyes blazing. "Really? How dare you cook me this kind of food! You're so cheap. Do you think I eat this? I dine at hotels and fancy restaurants. You think I want to eat your homemade meals? Me, a billionaire? A CEO? Do you want everyone to laugh at me? You're so foolish!" he spat, anger radiating off him.
Julia thought she's strong, but the pain in his words sliced through her. She felt tears pooling in her eyes; she never thought he could speak to her with such cruelty.
"You don't need to talk to me like that. Don't take it if you don't want to; I won't force you. But you don't need to ruin the food or hurt me to show that," she responded, her voice trembling. The burn on her skin was red and pulsating with pain, quickly becoming a mark she knew would linger.
He stepped closer, grasping her chin tightly, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "Don't tell me how to act. Who do you think you are? You're just a low-class woman!"
Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered, "Who am I? I'm your wife, Victor."
"Just a wife on paper, nothing more! We haven't even consummated our marriage because you've been tainted. How unlucky am I? Out of all the women in the world, I chose you! So many rich and beautiful women want me, yet here you are!" he shouted, letting go of her chin and making her stumble back against the sink.
Each word felt like a knife, and she struggled to catch her breath. "You speak like there's nothing good in me. Have you forgotten? I gave up my career for you! You promised you would make me a queen, your life, to be the happiest woman on earth!" she cried, her heart aching with the weight of his words.
"I was about to! But now you're stained by a demon! You're just a filthy woman!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the room.
All she could do was weep. "But it's a sin I never wanted! I had no choice! If I had known you would react like this, I might as well have chosen to die! I thought you would accept me, that you'd understand. We vowed before God, through thick and thin. But… why… is it like this?"
"Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you're still worthy!" he bellowed, his voice bouncing off the walls. "I wasted my life on you! I should have chosen someone else! This is all your fault, and you deserve to suffer in this hell marriage!" Victor's eyes blazed with fury as he glared at her.
Ignoring the stinging burn on her skin, she stood her ground. "Don't just blame me, Victor! If you hadn't walked away on our wedding night, I wouldn't have gone out! This wouldn't have happened! Someone holds a grudge against me. And like you said, who am I? Just a poor woman with no career—you've made that clear! Who cares enough to spend so much time to hate someone like me?" she spat bitterly.
For a moment, he hesitated, taken aback by her words.
Stepping closer, she held his gaze fiercely. "You have connections. It must be an enemy of yours who did this to me! I was just caught in the crossfire! Maybe it was that employee who stole from your company? Please, stop blaming me! With all your wealth, haven't you thought to find out who did this? What kind of man are you? A husband should protect his wife!" she pressed.
Victor remained silent, yet she could feel the heat of his anger radiating off him. He clenched his fists and stormed out, leaving the mansion in silence.
Once he was gone, she released the cry she had been stifling. It hurt deeply! This felt like the most painful moment of her life, as if her emotions overshadowed the burn on her skin.
Tearing her gaze from the empty doorway, she wiped her tears and pushed herself up from the floor. Just as she reached for the burn on her skin, her cellphone rang, interrupting her thoughts.
Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Victor's mother calling. What did the old woman want from her now?