Chapter 3 Marriage

Present

Ava

"Oh my God, you look incredibly stunning, darling." Mom gasped when I walked out of the closet. I wore a body-hugging white gown with an open neckline and low scoop back. It fitted my hips and flared at my knees into a beautiful train. It was a beautiful gown sent by my future husband.

"T-Thanks." I smiled sadly and glanced at my reflection in the mirror. My blonde hair waved down over my shoulder naturally and my face was makeup-free.

When I walked further, I stumbled into the mirror.

"God, Ava..." Mom came to my side and grabbed my forearm, helping me stand properly. "How much have you drunk, darling?" She stared into my eyes, worried. "Today is your wedding day."

I curled my fingers into fists as anger rolled through me. "I'm fine, Mom. I know how to handle it."

She cupped my face. "I fear your father, Ava. I am afraid of your brother. I fear everyone but you..." She swallowed hard, staring into my eyes. "But you're the only person who understands me, who supports me, who cares for me. Don't do this to yourself. Don't punish yourself..."

I grabbed her hands, my eyes wet, seeing my mother in tears. I love her so much. I could do anything for her. And I would marry a stranger because I wanted to see her happy. I sacrificed my life for her. I agreed to an arranged marriage so my father would not divorce her.

I shook my head and didn't cry in front of her. "I'm so happy today you know. I've wanted to be a bride since childhood." I smiled at those memories when I dreamed of becoming Henry's wife. Henry Robinson, the most popular fashion designer in the country, and my ex-boyfriend. He was my first love and childhood sweetheart. I loved that man with all my heart, but he never felt the same. He never fell for me. He hardly loved me back. He broke my heart completely. And when he left me, I started to crave alcohol, smoke, and drugs. My other world. "You know my habits, Mom. I can't live without alcohol." I forced a smile. "And I'm sober." It was half a lie.

********

I walked down the aisle with my father. I couldn't see anything clearly because of the veil over my face, but despite that, I could figure out what was going on. The church buzzed with excited chatter, but once I stepped in it fell into dead silence. "You told me they would do a small ceremony but here I could feel hundreds of people," I murmured to my father.

He squeezed my arm in warning. "Just keep your mouth shut and do what you said." He gritted his teeth out.

After that, I kept my mouth shut and did what he asked me to do. After all, I had no rights. He sold me like cattle to a stranger. He was selfish, heartless, and a vicious old man. He just wanted to save his company, so he used his daughter to take back his company's share. I was just a pawn in his plan. Anyway, he had never taken me as his daughter; he had never loved me once. I was just a girl who was a burden on him. Now he would get rid of me and get his company back.

I would marry a man I had never seen; he was a stranger to me. He was the man who won over me at the auction. Auction? My father auctioned me. Disgusting.

"Ava," Father whispered in my ear. "Be a good wife."

I didn't reply to him keeping quiet because I wasn't sure if I would ever be a good wife.

When we reached the altar, he lifted my veil, revealing the man I was going to marry, and I was shocked for a moment. I stared at the tall and muscular man in a dark suit, he stared back at me with his stunning grey eyes. He had dark hair that was thick and lustrous. His facial features were hard, slender nose, prominent jawline, and sharp cheekbones. He was the man of dreams. Why did he want to marry me? Why did he win over me? Why did he spend millions of dollars on me? He would get any beautiful woman.

He saw the shock register on my face before I could hide it. A small smile played on his lips as his eyes ran down the length of my body which made me weak at the knees. He extended his hand in front of me. My father handed him my hand. When his skin touched mine, a shiver ran down my spine. His palm was so cold that it almost gave me goosebumps. I was 5'8 inches tall excluding the three inches heel I had worn, but despite this, he was a few inches taller than me.

The priest began. "Friends and family..." He continued his prayer.

I tried not to tremble, but my body couldn't help it. I had consumed a bottle of liquor in the morning and here the man standing in front of me kept staring at me, making me feel self-conscious.

The priest's voice rang out. "Do you Dave Francis take Ava Miller to be your lawfully wedded wife, to share your life openly, standing with her in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in hardship and in ease, to cherish and love forevermore?"

Dave's jaw clenched as his eyes narrowed. "I do." He said through his clenched teeth making me frown.

The same question was asked of me. For a moment I considered saying no, but I looked at my mother who was sitting beside my father, smiling at me and I said, "I do."

After that, we exchanged a ring. I couldn't believe I had become someone's wife.

When we asked to kiss, "You may now kiss your bride." Something happened that I had never expected in my worst dream.

Dave spun around and walked down the aisle. He stopped by an attractive brunette in a blue dress. He grabbed her hand before letting out, "Let's go, baby." And headed for the church exit.

What the hell?

A tall and muscular man approached me. His dark and terrified eyes met mine. "Fuck you! Come to our world, Mrs. Ava Francis." He snarled and turned around, following Dave.

Another man reached out. "Honestly, I felt sorry for you." He commented before heading toward his friends.

I stood there shocked and confused. What is this? My husband left me here alone like an idiot. Why did he marry me when he had a girlfriend?

I blinked once, twice, and thrice as tears gathered in my eyes. Everyone watched me and waited for my next move. I didn't move from my place because I knew if I took one more step I would fall or burst into tears.

Is this my fate? Would I never get happiness? I don't deserve happiness.

There was a murmur of people in the church as I stood there and didn't know what to do. My father stood up and approached me and pulled me into a hug, showing his fake affection in public. "Sweetheart, replace your shit face with a smile."

I choked up when I heard how he talked like that. How could he expect me to be happy? I pulled myself back, feeling suffocated in his arms. He was the most horrible father. How could he be so cruel? He had no heart, emotion, or pity.

"Ava." I heard Mom's soft voice. She reached out to me next. "My baby." She quickly pulled me into a warm hug and I felt relief. "Are you okay, darling?"

I drew a deep breath before uttering. "I'm okay." I pulled myself back and looked into her eyes. "I'm trying to be okay."

She shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I can't believe he could do this to you. How could he?"

He. Dave.

She turned to her father who was standing beside her with a scowl on his face. "Are you satisfied now? Are you satisfied to see her in this condition? He humiliated her in public. He left her. People are making fun of her, they are making fun of us."

Before she could finish her sentence, he cut her off. "His driver will be here at any moment. He will take her to the hotel where she will spend her first night with Dave. He'll meet you in his hotel room. Since he lives in California, he would stay here until tomorrow." His lips curled into a cruel smile as he narrowed his eyes to me. "Do you remember my words, Ava? You'll please your husband."

"I remember everything, Father!!" I gritted my teeth.

He nodded. "Take care, sweetheart." He said and grabbed Mom's hand before walking down with her.

Mom protested against him. She tried to release her hand from his grip, but he didn't let her go. "Mom," I called her out and hurried down and threw myself on her, sobbing silently. "Please take care of yourself. I can't live without you. "I..." I clutched her body tightly like a five-year-old girl. "I'm going to miss you badly. You're everything to me."

She sniffed and Father set her free and walked away, entertaining his guests who watched our drama.

I would kill my husband. I hate him.

"Ava, you won't become me. You won't become like your mother. You're strong, brave, and beautiful. You'll fight back, darling. You'll fight back. Just remember one thing: I can endure any pain, I can endure your father's violence, I can bear your brother's hate, I can endure people's taunts but..." She swallowed. "I can't bear your tears, darling. Your tears are precious. Don't shed them for that stupid person. Never bow your head down in front of him. You're a queen from the inside out, so live like one."

"I'm scared, Mom. I don't know what he wants from me and why he married me. However, seeing him in his eyes...it was evil..." I mumbled, recalling his piercing eyes.

"Ava, you don't you recognize him?" she asked in surprise.

I quickly pulled myself back, looking into her eyes. "What, recognize? Who?"

"Oh, Ava, you are still drunk. Didn't you see his face? Didn't you see his girlfriend?"

I looked away, biting my lip. I was tipsy. "I'm a bit tipsy..."

Shock registered on her face. "Oh, my God. Don't you remember that boy who committed suicide because of you?"

And I froze.

After a moment, I sucked in a breath as the hair on the back of my head stood up. "W-What??" I swallowed hard, and my throat constricted.

I did not want to recall that horrible night. The darkest night of his. Him. Baggy. My Baggy.

No, no..he was not my Baggy.

He was my husband. Dave Francis.

That night I had become his darkest night, and now he would become my darkest night.

Did he come for revenge?

Revenge?

*********