The housewife

ickly. It was just endle

I counted the days

he day. Au

I from Saint was two m

fter that, he disappeared

m. Or the mentions of h

s as if it's forbidden t

sen

mirror, staring into t

wore was c

Krzysztof,

h his busy work schedule,

hy white fabric, I'm stru

divine, fitted through the

r pattern at the waist. T

touch to the

admire the finished look

ts my light brown skin

pting instead for a li

ust a bit of mascara. A

ck that brings out the n

es earlier they noted th

ubmis

y hu

t of a submissive house

e fucki

tion in the miror, I co

my stomach, a sense of ner

would consider this t

e, it was more

teach me the ways of th

lled with lessons on how

gs drilled into my min

o embody r

etness, purity, and of

the thought of bei

that the consequences o

earance, it's always a s

ing short of

ppress my emotions and l

danger

owards marriage, I relu

e will of Saint and a

ess seemed secondary, a

husband's ego. According

; as a woman, my needs

was interrupted by a ge

t wearily. The door cr

rly woman whose hair bore

d whose eyes were et

red parchment, aged

ite blouse and a long

hes

her frai

a soft shuffling sound

knowing look in her eyes

of my t

remony is about to begin

lity. I let out a heavy si

start

be there in a minute," I

hat softened h

t, Miss. Saint Dé Leon

flutter with venom. "T

ing my cheeks flush with g

behin

I couldn't help but pon

inning of a new c

room, every step felt

t I would say "I d

port

in a white-knuckled gri

ore me. The sweet strai

cing through my nerves lik

open, revealing a path

ready and

s this up and there'll

hand slipping around

iar g

bile rising in my throa

dal wave of panic threat

ispered amongst themse

gritted my teeth, deter

mains fixated on the b

a silent mantra to myse

the emotional whirl

my throat growing, thre

holding on for so long, b

nk of c

ingle with the sound of

fleeting moment, but i

tion lik

be a celebration of love,

zation that my freedom is

ic

f my hand, he lifts my v

the instinct to recoil,

u

lated repeatedly takes o

hold it in

eaming shoes appear be

a gentle arm around his

, I am fal

er to witness the holy

e

I hear is a fuzzy hum i

d of my heart beating.

ike sand cascading t

ze of my betrothed, te

nto shadow as my heart

tin

to a taut knot, tears

reathing becomes rapid a

e, while my throat close

zeroes in on the man

in

n the scar that stretches

ra. In that moment, rea

ponsible fo

ia Nowak," the p

s my trance-like state,

e core. "Saint, repeat af

es in my throat, and my he

e thee, Irena Rabia Nowa

his day forward... for bet

d in health, to love and t

elp but feel like he's de

think I'm re

ed on me, a piercing gaz

ard and unyielding, like

from him, a warning to

too c

tears streaming down my f

know that he takes plea

ought of making my

es through the chapel,

a

e sort of evil spel, one

ips part mechanically, a

will bind me to th

nt'

ey

tion I couldn't dis

, "Till death

y in the air, a questi

bia Nowak as your wif

g the s

en in time, staring at e

rching for something I c

d, he speaks the words tha

ke Saint Dé Leon

hythm in my chest, threa

there, wide-eyed, brimm

, ready to utter the d

e me f

d down my cheek, as I su

dible whisp

rt

voice, his words ringi

d and wife. You ma

pted into applause, Sai

uivering shoulders and l

lided with mine, a scre

eething fury engulfed m

a

er as my skin crawl

g down at me with a curi

me, as my fury for t

tion that pulle

ant everyone to notice

d, enfolding his arm aro

s touch. "Don't you dare

looking amused. "Well,

"I hate you, Saint," I f

, unfazed by the att

ment was to escape, to

- especially fro

Saint's mellifluous voi

me a drink, the bottom

sea of jabbering guests

a swamp, my exh

remark coldly, relishing

a

these things are such an

ly. My lips pressed tog

easy, Saint. I don't have

to his retort, I snatched

ift gulp. The burning s

bit of it. Crossing my ar

ignoring Sai

ver us as we sat at the

this cursed wedding.

lai

night!" I turned to loo

aming smile h

licked back, framing tho

ated confidence. The chi

bear an uncanny resembla

the same

er, Abel," Saint whisper

pproachi

d shakes Saint's hand

to plant a kiss on my chee

xpression of mild confusi

d to the side, sear

rming in discomfort, d

n my d

sheepishly, as Abel s

feel Saint's watchful

ing int

d abruptly as he turned

a stern mask. Saint, t

w and quizzically inquir

yed the gravity of the s

e exclaimed. With a wry

-in-law, I'll

g his tie tightly befor

dining table, exasperated

ered, "I can't wait to g

company, a soothing a

rzegorz sauntering my wa

however, betrayed his int

e, his smile fading

nt?" he inqu

e runni

e dripping with animosit

could've sworn Anatol's

tell him to piss off i

ine glass tightened as h

to me. I couldn't help b

e is," I ass

h, he stooped low to m

brat, if you don't tell m

n Grzegorz was snatch

e

th a quiet rage, as he c

r. "You must have some m

e

lovingly. Yet his eye

lence that would make t

t, watching as Saint le

gs. "Threaten her again

ours matter," he said, hi

wled with goosebumps a

uring the fear

n I realiz

t

even more.

te pai

re

ea

ning in the study from

ine. I vividly remember

as if he was savouring

ers. And when I dared to

iable - my pain seeme

h a mix of disgust and

is eyes as he threatens G

ring him pleasure sends a

is a s

m is far more twisted

gin

her I-I was just ask

vering. "Saint, back off

evelled in it. Th

ering made my heart stutt

from furt

part of me wanted to w

sequences. After all, Sai

ing. Which will

ing kindly

d blaming me for gett

ards me, a glimmer of a

ered, only fueling his cu

t released his grip on G

ld you to let hi

lingered in the air,

justed his jacket, taunti

o

, he's my uncle!"

is presence almost suff

ing scent, a heady blend

fought to keep my comp

a

e spoke with a low, dang

tens my wife and live

ught off guard by his s

added, "And don't you dar

en

st with a swift glare,

way on my tongue. He a

r me, shielding me from t

eemed to avoid any

ut through the tense at

ollo

last look a

the floor, a

aky breath, I stepped be

rvously, preparing to

It felt as though every

ur way out. Stepping int

coat closer around me.

The weight of countless

nt was

, with twinkling stars t

at shone like

we were met by two mu

led in a risky mullet, whi

our flight to French Pol

nced, his Irish accent ad

rd

charge, pulling out his

é Leon with

"1 have so

first, but I'll catch

ouch her." My eyebrows f

n that he remembers the s

ry day that you confess

. But as far as he's co

else. Little does he kn

powerful SUVs glide up

ble and trusted men. His

s what's happening. "Noe

airport," he assures me,

, he's gone, leaving me t

m disappear

nette guard enunci

I can't help but scrunc

thata simple title co

t's

r and that

I say with a gentle tilt

olls like a deck of cards

he tea party manners, l

ler coughs apologetic

y. He's about as sociabl

the backdoor. I slide in

y safety belt. As soon as

and peels out of

ding. It r

sigh, I gl

st davs ever.

ress my

window, wishing for a

closed, succumbing to t

efuge from the mess

rupted my peaceful sl

ered

shielded my face from

icle while Noel courteo

art raced as Tyler ma

rious jet that sat in th

e announced with a sole

the watchful guards and

e priva

the aircraft made me f

rnate universe. Plush se

r, while the floor was so

n. The walls were adorne

as illuminated by delic

upon the space. e bein

scent assailed my sense

in

?" Saint's deep, throat

dry and my heart raced

rt of me was drawn to hi

sh hi

him, I kept my cool an

Gazing out at the dark ni

heavens. Suddenly, a gla

followed by Saint taki

k," I uttered, my eyes s

rl

ression told me otherwi

roll my eyes

id you

urned to face him, ready

r

nd racing with questio

efore sp

w over our once p

pected my brother," he

cul

y around me, I licked

dness. "What are you ta

ely above

e sip of his drink, Saint

'm talking about, Irena,

f we want this marriage

And your behaviour is

to be more sp

gi

ehind his veil as he add

y brother's greeting at t

a sense of curiosity. "

apho

keptical. "You call you

king from my glass earli

loosen his tie. "So, wha

ch

trand of hair behind my

say the least. " just do

ed in, his voce d

t.Wiyon

o

conversation a

hts lingering on my prev

ured at h

et mine and I found mys

scar only adding to his

in

t, my eyes l

his glass, his jaw tig

retorted, his voice

couldn't help but feel d

nd him like an electrifyi

onour. I knew I was playin

f away fro

e

. I brush off his questio

rance. Remember our fi

It is that very mome

u, Irena. Don't insult m

to sleep."

t be s

s the oppressive figure

y stirring inside me. I to

t subject myself to his t

se myself from the shac

site end of the plane,

I spotted a seat that wa

sib

y strength and independ

," but he couldn't contr

than that. I deserved

ed inside me but with

obste, but I wouldn't le

ever. And so I vowed to

t for every woman who h

story would not

ag

e up and realize that I

around. It's a lofty am

But as always, the obst

ed wide. "You really are

on my nerves. I try to i

o

at with all the grace of

spit out, my patience we

then," I spit back, ref

ou for your generous o

ne

he impatiently flicked

ed conversation with you

he growled wi

shot him a withering lo

p for this? That there is

married to you? Nothing

ement. So pardon me if

ou want me to kiss your

expect me to be happy a

kes me

ons, hot tears spilled d

observed me in silence,

e evidence of my vulner

ga

nd messed up, I couldn't

My heart ached with sham

u know, people who give

en bones,

moment, all I wanted was

ose from his seat and w

y feelings