OUR MARRIAGE DEAL

BE

e dress so beautifully designed that it should make me

y body feels like a noose, holding me

ful, as always. But I know who he is. I knew what he'd done to get to this poi

. The words were supposed to be beautiful, but to me they sounded like bitte

I knew he was watching my every move. He knows I want to escape. But he also

nd was taken by his strong one. I wanted to pull away, wan

echo throughout the church. "I promise to love you,

really believe those words? Or was

urch on me-his family, who looked at me with a mixture of contempt and curi

mbled, almost inaud

ath ca

like a knife pi

d me, giving a clear warning.

mouth like poison. I wanted to vomit, I wanted to scream, I want

finger, I felt as if the prison bars ha

ords, "What God has joined t

s? I whispered to myself,

d my eyes, holding my breath. His lips touch

illed the church. Vincent grasped my hand t

arriage may have bound me, but I will find a way o

*

for Vincent. He disappeared after the ceremony was over, lea

, as if this was the perfect day, but I kn

Curiosity and annoyance drove me to open the d

s where I

a woman wearing a striking red dress. Her hands were wrapped around his

inning. The music from the reception hall sou

voice broken, but loud e

e. The woman stepped back with a panicked look on her face, b

if I was the guilty one for bein

t I think? You kissed another woman on our wed

ression that was so typical of

s no time to

u betray me on our wedding day,

low but threatening. "Listen carefully, Rena. What you sa

"Nothing to do? I'm your wife now, Vincent! Or a

his eyes flashing

nd as such, you will keep your

enged, though my

you that your family will pay a very heavy price. Your father, y

ought each other inside me, but I knew he wasn't m

hut up?" I asked, my

"Good. Forget what you saw. Focus on your du

rying to find some reason to belie

monster,

urned back to the woman

ce to begin. But I knew one thing for sure-I may be silent now, but I w

*

oding. My gaze was glued out the window, staring at the passing street lights, but my mind was stuck

incent is behind the wheel, as silent as ever, as if what just happened wasn't a big b

hat face for the rest of the trip?" he

oking at him sharply. "Are y

s gripping the stee

t means nothing," He an

t laugh, full

an on our wedding day, Vincent. That's no

told you, it's none of my business. I don't

at do you think I am? A puppet you can car

eyes remaining focus

tone rising. "If I'm not important

oad, making my body jerk forward. The tension be

he said quietly

why I married you. And you know that

eaving with over

Vincent," I said i

for believing tha

all he gave me, before he leaned

y silence. I no longer wanted to talk, and

rget what happened tonight. And