Chained: A Second Chance At Marriage

Marrying Hades was my biggest dream.

He was my older sister's best friend. I basically grew up with him even though we really haven't interacted much.

I always wished he would look at me the same way he looks at my sister, Klare.

But no...I was always invisible to his eyes.

I craved for his attention yet he only sees her. I tried to get him to notice him but I was always ignored. I reached a point where I became crazy for him.

While he was drunk, he confessed to me, but it wasn't really me he was confessing to, his words of love were for, Klare.

I became desperate. And because of my desire for him, I did the most horrible thing imaginable.

I made sure to chain him to me for good. To keep him away from my sister for good!

I hated it! I hated him so much that I dare not resist when he kissed me. I didn't push him, in my mind, if I can't have his heart, then Klare can't have him either.

I became pregnant with his child. And when our parents found out, they immediately prepared our wedding date.

My sister was heart broken, but she couldn't speak up about her feelings. So she chose to go overseas and finish her studies there. Away from me, and away from Hades.

A part of me felt guilty, but I shook the thought away, knowing that I succeeded. Hades was mine now. We were finally married.

"Congratulations, Cassy and Hades!" Hades' cousin, Brandon, congratulated us while we sat at the center of the hall where the after party was held.

I forced a smiled on my face. I was so happy right now because Hades really went through with the wedding.

Althroughout the ceremony I could feel his anger at me, but I didn't think too much of it. I know one day he will learn to love me the way I love him.

"Thanks, Brandon." Hades replied coldly, evading my gaze.

Brandon and his wife then looked at me and smiled, "I never thought you'd marry such a beautiful young lady, Hades. Be sure to take care of her." He said, and I felt my cheeks heating up from the compliment.

I turned to Hades but he was still not showing any emotion on his face.

"Hades, are you okay?" I asked, concerned.

He then snapped his eyes at me, glaring, "Don't talk to me," He said before standing up.

I shivered at his tone, and I didn't dare speak up or stop him.

He walked away leaving me completely alone. Everyone who saw it started to whisper, looking at me curiously.

"Sorry everyone, he's just a little tired." I said, bowing slightly before excusing myself.

After the reception was over, the driver drove us to our new house. I kept following Hades, tailing him like a shadow since I was still too scared to speak to him.

I was still wearing my wedding gown, and it was heavy, we were about to walk the stairs and I was starting to get tired.

I walked fast to catch up with him, and when I was almost close to him I felt my heart race.

"Hades, about what happened earlier..." I started, grabbing his shoulder, but I was taken aback when he suddenly yanked me away from him, looking at me with a disgusted expression.

"Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" He shouted, making me flinch backwards.

"I'm sor..."

"Fuck this!" He chuckled menacingly, looking at me with bloodshot eyes, and I was honestly scared at him right now.

"Let me get one things straight with you, Cassandra. This marriage is a show, the only reason why I married you is to fucking avoid a scandal for our family. If only you had just got an abortion then none of this would have happened! Klare would still be here, and I wouldn't have had to marry someone like you!" He gritted his teeth as he pointed at me.

"H-How can you say that?" I asked, my voice shivering.

He looked at me and his eyes widened for a second as if he realized what he just said. He looked away and massaged his temples as he looked at me again, but this time, he looked done with me.

"If you think that I'll ever love you then get that delusion out of your head because if I'll love one person in this life, I assure you, it is not you." He snickered, looking down at me as if I was nothing but trash in his eyes.

I felt my chest tighten and my eyes getting blurry. The next thing I know, tears started to fall from my cheeks.

I have always been great at hiding my emotions, but when it comes to him, I can't help but feel vulnerable and hurt.

"Hades..." I looked at him meaningfully, my chest rising and falling, "I love you. Please...love me too." I said, almost begging.

His brows clenched as he looked at me for a moment.

"Love you?" He smirked sarcastically.

"You will never get my love! I hate every part of you. If only you hadn't been in our life then everything would have been fine!"

I shook my head, refusing to hear a thing he says as tears continued falling down uncontrollably. His hurtful words kept stabbing me that even breathing seemed so difficult to do.

"You know what. To hell with this. I don't want to spend another second with you. I'm leaving."

He then turned his back on me, but I chased after him and hugged his back. I dropped to my knees and begged for him to stay.

I closed my eyes and kept begging him repeatedly.

"Please...Hades. Give me a chance, let me prove to you how much I love you. I will be good, I'l be a good wife, I'll do everything you say." I said.

However, he just pried my hands off, making me fall to the ground, weeping.

"Just look at yourself, Cassandra. Do you really think this marriage has any hope to begin with? If not for your petty tricks, all of this wouldn't have happened. Because of you, Klare left, the woman I love left me because of your selfishness!" He shouted, and I could only close my veyes, unable to bear to see his pained face.

"I know...it's all my fault." I whispered, "But why can't it just be me? Why did you have to love her?" I gazed at him solemnly, smiling with all the despair I've been holding in.

"If you could just look at me, Hades, just one look. If only you had looked at me all those years ago, perhaps, you could have chosen me instead of her." I looked down, my tears falling to the ground.

"You...you are crazy." He slowly backed away. He looked at me for a few seconds, clenching his hands, then he turned his heels and walked out, slamming the door shut.

I cried and cried, still kneeling on the cold tiled floors.

I slowly caressed my stomach, feeling the life growing inside me.

"Sorry if you had to hear that baby. Daddy is just angry right now. But you'll see, he will eventually accept us." I muttered in the air, crying silently as the night grew longer.

It's been almost a month since Hades and I have been married. Things haven't really changed between us, he still hates me, and he never fails to make me feel it. But I swallowed the pain away.

I won't give up on him. I won't give up on us.

"Mi hija," Auntie Helena spoke behind me as she walked inside the kitchen.

"Good morning, auntie," I greeted her happily.

"What are you doing here in the kitchen so early?" She asked, walking to my side.

"I'm cooking breakfast for Hades." I replied.

In the corner of my eyes I could see how her smile slowly faded. I know what will come next, and I just can't help but sigh deeply inside.

"Mi hija, you know Hades will just throw your food away." She shook her head, clearly distressed.

"Don't worry auntie, I won't give up on Hades. I know, eventually, he will learn to love me." I said, smiling sadly.

"I don't know what's wrong with that kid. In all my life of serving their family, I've never known someone so perfect like you. Not only are you beautiful, but you're also kind, and not to mention you're cooking is impeccable." She rubbed her temples, and I could only afford to smile at her.

I wonder if Auntie Helena will still see me the same way if she knew the truth of why Hades had to marry me.

I took a deep breath and rubbed my stomach when I felt a kick inside.

I also made some coffee for Harry. He always rejects the coffee I make for him so sometimes, I let auntie give it to him just so he can taste what I made, and interestingly enough, he always looked for the coffee I made ever since, though he doesn't know I was the one who made it.

Seeing Hades walk to the dining area through the clear glass door got me excited. I turned the stove off and quickly prepared everything.

Auntie brought some of the dishes with her while I brought the plate I had prepared for Hades.

The moment he saw me, his forehead creased, and his jaw clenched.

I brought the plate in front of him and greeted him happily. "Good morning. I cooked you some food. I know you have a long day to..."

"I told you I get sick with your food." He cut me off without even sparing me a glance.

He just looked at the food I made with disgust and I felt my heart sink once again hearing him say such hurtful words.

"Auntie, cook me another breakfast." He said, turning to auntie Helena.

"Mi hijo, Cassy here prepared this food for you, aren't you even gonna try it?" Auntie tried to defend me.

"I told you to not let her in the kitchen!"

I froze, my heart leaping. "It's not Auntie's fault, Hades. I was the one who cooked without her knowing. If you want I can cook you another one that you'll..."

[Bang!] He slapped the table hard with his hand as he stood up. I almost fell backward from shock, even auntie was shivering from how he was acting.

"Can't your measly little brain understand that I don't want to eat any of your food? Or is it that you're too dumb to understand such simple words?" He glared at me.

"But...I'm your wife. I want to..."

"Fuck Cassandra! Will you stop acting like this marriage will ever work!? I'm not happy and I'm never gonna be happy as long as I see your face and that fucking mistake you're carrying with you!"

He was about to turn his back on me but I hurriedly went after him and grabbed his hand that he instantly swatted away.

"Don't fucking touch me! You disgust me!" His face was black as he looked down at me as if I was some trash.

I felt my heart breaking, the tears were pooling in my eyes but I tried to hold it in, not wanting to let him see me cry since I know he hates it when I cry.

"Hades..." I called him, my voice breaking, "What do I have to do for you to love me?" I asked, begging him.

My chest hurts so much right now but despite the pain I still refuse to let go.

He looked at me intently, searching my gaze, before the corners of his lips slowly curled up as he said the most hurtful words I never thought he'd be able to say to me.

"Die. Just fucking die."

It was all he said without an ounce of remorse as he turned around and left.

I crashed to the floor and covered my face as tears continued streaming down uncontrollably.

I never thought marrying Hades would be like this. I want a family with him, a happy family, where we would laugh, tell stories to each other, but it seems...that will never happen.

"Mi hija..." Auntie Helen walked behind me and crouched down, rubbing my back in soft gentle motions.

"Stop crying Mi hija, Hades...I'm sure that boy doesn't mean what he said." She said, though I can tell those were just words meant to comfort me.

"Focus on your child. Too much stress will affect your health. You don't want your child to be sick, right?" She asked. I looked at her and nodded softly, hugging her.

"Shhh...don't let your emotions get to you. Everything will be fine." She whispered, caressing my hair.

I flinched when I felt a kick on my stomach. I smiled inwardly, feeling as if my child was agreeing with what Auntie said.

Okay baby, mommy will try harder. Mommy will try to be stronger. Daddy will eventually learn to love us. Mommy will make sure of it.

I tried to forget what happened and tried to follow auntie's advice of focusing my attention on my baby.

I stopped trying to get Hades' attention and also stopped cooking food for him. Though I still make his coffee since he seems to always look for it.

He never goes with me whenever I get check-ups, it's always only me or with auntie Helena.

There was even a time that I was mistaken in the clinic as a single mom since they never saw my husband with me. I tried to make an excuse that Hades was just busy but all the mom's there would say that no matter how busy your husband is, that they should always make time for family.

I just smiled softly at them, watching them have their husband by their side.

They looked happy.

Are all couples this happy? Or is it that they are hiding their pain behind those warm smiles?

Alas, there's no point delving into it.

I looked down at my tummy, and I felt something move.

"Don't worry baby, mommy will make sure to protect you no matter what." I smiled, rubbing soft circles on my stomach.

I went home right after the check up.

I saw his car parked outside so I know that he must be home right now.

I followed what he wanted and I didn't bug him anymore. For weeks I didn't try talking to him, nor did I attempt to strike a conversation even when we're in the same place.

Sometimes I would hear him talking to another woman on the phone. I once tried to pry and ask him who it was but he only ended up shouting at me.

It was hurting me, and I slowly started regretting all the decisions I have made in my life.

If I had just let him be with my sister. Would everything be fine? Would he have been happier with her?

I shook my head at the thought and smiled sadly as I headed up the stairs.

Even before I reached the second floor I heard the sound of the door opening, and a sound of a woman giggling erupted, making my brows clench together.

"That was fun."

"This is the last time. I already told my assistant to give you what you want. Now leave before my wife finds you here."

I stayed still, hiding behind the wall as I listened to their conversation.

"Wife?" The woman chuckled. "If I didn't know any better I wouldn't have guessed that you have a wife." She said,

"What are you saying?" Hades responded coldly.

"Nothing." The girl answered calmly, "It's just funny how many people want to get married yet here you are wasting your time cheating on your wife. You're the living example of why many people nowadays are afraid to get married." She said, stunning me in place.

"Who are you to say that when you're just a slut I picked up, nothing more than a bed warmer?" I could hear the disdain and pent up anger on Hades' voice.

"You might think so low of me, and maybe you should. And you're right, I'm just a slut, but at least I'm not a hypocrite like you who pretends to care when you don't. You got tired of me, sure, but I'm certain you'll jump to the next woman who'll cling to you." She said, and my heart felt like it had been stabbed a million times hearing what she said.

I clutched my chest and tried to drown their voices away.

How many times has this happened, twice? Three times? I can't even count anymore.

How long will I have to endure this?

"A piece of advice, Hades. We can't always get what we want in this life. If you're already tired...then let go. Or else, you will make everyone around you suffer until you no longer have anyone to turn to." She muttered in a solemn voice, then I heard footsteps coming near me by the stairs.

I didn't move, not because I was frozen in fear, but because I wanted to see who it was this time.

For her to say such things to Hades, who exactly is she?

After a few seconds, a figure finally emerged from the corner and I saw a black haired woman come out.

She has sharp features, and the moment her gaze landed on me, there wasn't a hint of shock in them, instead, she smiled warmly and expressed a guilty look.

"I'm sorry," she muttered before walking down the stairs.

I didn't pull her hair like those in the movies, nor did I shout at her. Not because I was afraid, but because I was tired.

Tired of all of this.

Is this my punishment? For forcing a man's love? Please...I'm too tired, I can't deal with this anymore. But... How can I go? Where can I even go? I have no one.

I wiped the tears from my face and gulped a couple of times before I composed myself.

I then pretended like nothing happened and walked to my room. Hades was still standing in the hallway and our eyes met, he looked shocked at first but then he masked it with a glare.

I smiled curtly at him not bothering to speak before I opened the door to my room and got in.

He must have expected that I'd lash out again, but I didn't like fighting with him.

If I get too angry at him, it will affect the baby. For now, I will endure, just until my baby is born.