In Love With The Wrong Man

Having been ignored the first time she called out to her mother, Lucia turned to face her with tears in her eyes. Yet, She didn't spare a glance at her own biological daughter.

She called out to her again "Mom."

"Do not call me 'mom' . I don't have a wicked daughter like you," Stella retorted, interrupting Lucia before she could speak further. How could she even have the guts to still call her mother? Stella regretted having conceived a daughter like her. If only she had known, she would have strangled her to death when she was still a baby.

Lucia wanted to explain. But no matter how many times she does, no one believed her. Still, she continued to plead, "Mom, it's not what you think. I am not the cause of Sophia's death. I really didn't-"

A palm landed on her cheek with a resounding smack.

And though she knew it would leave a red mark, it was the least of her worries.

"How dare say you didn't mean it? Can you swear that you have nothing to do with Daniel? That you were not jealous of Sophia one bit? That you don't want to marry him?"

Lucia remained silent.

Yes, she had loved Daniel for a long time now, was that wrong?

Stella shot her a deadly glare as if she was the enemy. She placed her hand back to her side, while Lucia simply covered her swollen cheek with her hand. Streams of tears streaked down her cheeks again.

This was her mother. The one who gave birth to her, her biological mother.

"Mom..." She called again.

"Enough! I am not your mother. I only had one daughter, and she died because of you."

Her mother finished talking and took her expensive purse when she walked out. She could never forgive her daughter.

As she was about to leave the room, she heard Lucia say in tears, "Mom, you never treated me like I was your daughter. Sophia was the one you treated more like your biological daughter."

The elderly woman stopped at that . She suddenly came to the realization that what Lucia has said was true. She seemed to have truly forgotten that Lucia was her biological daughter, the one that she had carried to term in her own stomach. The one she was related to by blood.

She opened the door in embarrassment and staggered out.

Betty, Lucia's best friend came and knocked on the door. She entered and met Lucia inside the room. She rested her hand on her shoulder. "Lucia, are you alright?"

Lucia picked up the powder puff and started patting her face. Her makeup had worn off... again. But no matter how much powder she applied, she could not hide the fact that she wasn't beautiful. She was the ugly duckling of the family but she had a body that men would die for. Big firm breasts and a huge backside. No man can resist her shape and curves!

"Lucia, you don't have to go through with the wedding, okay?" Betty pulled at her hand. "Lucia, it's not too late to turn back now. You can leave him and go far away. Without this wretched love restricting your life, you can be yourself."

Lucia only shook her head. "I can't..." She looked at her hand. Her ring finger was bare, but soon there would be a ring occupying that empty space.

"Betty, you know what?" she lifted her head and looked at her best friend in the eye. She lifted the ends of her lips into a foolish smile. "I want to gamble with everything I have. Just this one time. If I leave now, I won't ever get to have a second chance. Even if that chance was never meant to be mine. Nevertheless, I still want to take it."

"Even if it meant destroying yourself and losing everything you have?" Betty's voice rang chills in the air. She could not understand why a foolish woman such as her best friend would exist on earth-one that would knowingly choose to face a future of pain and suffering? She was better off dead!

How could she be so foolish to venture ahead knowing what was coming?

"Yes." Lucia placed a hand over her chest, and physically there was nothing. But deep inside her chest, a piece of memory was embedded; no one else knew about it. No one.

Betty reached out her hand and picked up the makeup kit. She tenderly powdered Lucia's face which made the girl smile, however, there was a look of absent-mindedness in her eyes.

If only the amulet was still there at that point in time, would things turn out better? Would that change her life?

If only. There were just too many ifs and buts.

She closed her eyes and went back to the time when she had her 5th birthday.

She was five that year and Sophia was four.

"Sister, what's that on your neck? May I have it?" Sophia lifted her head in a princess-like manner. She looked at the item hanging around Lucia's neck. She had never seen anything like it. It looked nice.

"Sister, can I exchange my doll with you for that?" She pointed at the doll in Lucia's arms which Lucia actually also owned.

Lucia shook her head and put the doll down. By instinct, her hand moved up to wrap the amulet with her palm. She could live without the doll even if she received a beating from her mother for it-even after her four-year-old sister made her a scapegoat.

"Sister, give it to me." Sophia has always been a tyrant. She stood up and sprang towards Lucia. The only thing Lucia could do was to repeatedly retreat.

"Sophia." Stella hastily walked over and hugged Sophia's small frame.

She started bawling as soon as she saw their mother. "Mom, I want the thing hanging around sister's neck. But she refused to give it to me..."

"Lucia, give that to her. It is her birthday today." Stella glared at Lucia. She thought, " How could she be so thoughtless? She should have given that to her younger sister! "

Lucia's grip on her amulet tightened. Her lips were pressed into a thin line in silent protest.

"Lucia, give it to me." Stella stretched her hand out. Sophia bawled even more in her arms. She was beating her mother as she cried, "Mummy, I want it. I want..."

"Give it to me." Stella stretched her hand even more. "Give it to me."

Lucia took another step back. She shook her head. "Mummy, this is the only thing I have. P-please... don't take it away. Please?"

"Enough!" Stella stood up in a hurry. She reached out and gripped Lucia with one hand, and with the other yanked the amulet from the girl's neck.

"Mummy..." Lucia watched her mother carry Sophia. She then walked away - just like that. Sophia was now holding her amulet.

"Mummy..." She was so sad that she pouted her lips. She picked up the worn out doll from the floor. "Mummy... she feels sad..."

But no one was there to answer her.

"Lucia. Lucia , what is wrong with you?"

Lucia slowly fluttered her eyes open when she heard Betty's voice ringing in her ears.

"Sorry, Betty. I just remembered something from the past." She apologetically smiled, though her eyes brimmed with tears.

"What did you remember?" Betty changed a new powder puff. Lucia was crying again, and there was no way to wipe the tears away- it kept coming. This girl could really cry.

"Nothing. Just some things from when I was young." She brushed off her friend's question lightly. She then turned to look at herself in the mirror. She might just be the ugliest bride ever.

The wedding would begin very soon.

The wedding between her and Daniel. She managed to smile while picturing it out in her mind. Her smile was stunning and precious, yet it lacked the beauty of a blooming Begonia flower and seemed to have lost many of its colors before it could even fully bloom.

With the wedding veil on, she was able to hide her imperfect face. She was fortunate enough that she had the veil to conceal everything - her embarrassment, her sorrow, and her love.

"Let's go, bride-to-be." Betty opened the door. A joyous wedding march started to play outside the hall. It might not be a wedding that everyone was looking forward to, but it's still a wedding, nonetheless.

Lucia went to the hall, dressed in the bridal gown that she personally chose. She made and arranged everything herself. There were no wedding photo shoots or trying of bridal gowns and groom's suits. Even in the midst of preparation, she did not see him.

Clement glanced at his wristwatch while his wife, Sonia, kept looking outside with anxiety slowly sinking in her system.

"Do you know what our son is up to? He wanted to marry this girl. Look at the time, he is nowhere to be found. Does he still want to proceed with the wedding? How can one marry a bride without the groom?"

"Don't worry. Daniel knows what he is doing." This was the only way that Clement knew how to comfort his wife. However, he found himself looking at the bride who was in her white bridal gown.

He wished he was wrong.

Lucia bit her lips out of sheer nervousness. Everyone was eyeing her with so much irony and contempt. She was standing alone at the altar without her groom. She had nothing.

Seconds turned into minutes. She merely gave a helpless smile as she softly breathed out. She believed in her heart that he would show up, even if it was not for love but for hatred.

He loathed her.

While the guests showed their impatience, a man in a black suit walked in with one hand in his pocket. The classically styled suit wrapped his tall and well-built frame perfectly. His strides were strong and steady. His flawless features resembled a well-carved sculpture. He had a somewhat westernized look with a sharp nose bridge and a pair of long and narrow eyes. Regardless of that, his slightly thinned lips were pursed in a way that made him seem heartless.

This man was not used to laughter.

His sharp gaze rested upon his bride-to-be, Lucia, as his lips curled into a blood-thirsty sneer.

On the other hand, Clement breathed a sigh of relief. He gripped his wife's hand. When he and his wife shared a quick glance, they saw the look of worry in each other's eyes. Daniel may have shown up, but they were still worried. After all, their son's temperament was too unpredictable.

He strode over with his long legs. It only took him a few steps to reach Lucia. He lowered his head and looked at the woman, who was only as tall as his shoulders, before pulling her hand.

Lucia's fingers suddenly began to shake as she felt a pang of pain wrap around her wrist. Despite the pain, her body went cold when the man shot her a profound look.

He really loathed her.

"Come, my bride." His voice lacked the tenderness of a man who was about to get married.

He mostly pulled Lucia along. When she took a glimpse of their hands, her fingers had already turned white with the grip he had on her.

She bit her lips tightly, so she wouldn't utter any sound of pain.

She walked on the red carpet with her high heels when all of a sudden she twisted one of her feet. She lost her balance and fell face down. Daniel decided to release her hand at the same time and allowed her to fall forward.

In that instance, she fell down with a loud bang. The white bridal gown flew around, exposing her long legs and vaguely revealing her white silk underwear. The paparazzi went into a frenzy as they tried to take her photo. She frantically pulled on her gown as she felt a wave of sheer humiliation and misery wash over her.

Daniel did nothing. He looked at her in her embarrassed state with the corner of his lips curled into a smirk.

He eventually extended his hand. Lucia tilted his head up at him, and a single drop of tear fell on the back of her hand. Sneers echoed everywhere, and even the look on her parents faces were contorted into an awkward expression.

It was a scandal that was definitely going to hit the headlines the next day.

Lucia stretched her hand out with caution, for there were indistinct traces of bruises on her hand. But Daniel grabbed her and exerted force again. All that Lucia could do was muffle a cry in pain. He tightened his grip one more time, only this time, the pressure nearly crushed the bones in her hand.

Slightly battered, she could feel the waves of pain in her left foot as she stood up. She had no choice but to follow him with an unsteady foot. Under her veil, no one could notice that the bride's complexion had turned a ghastly pale. No amount of blush could conceal that kind of paleness.

Everything appeared to be so holy as they stood in front of the priest.

"Lucia Davies, do you take Daniel Charles as your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?"

Lucia looked in front of her and felt her vision considerably blurred. She could see the cross hanging on the priest's chest. It was an apparent sign of a woman's destiny being bound. And her name- Lucia Davies.

"Miss Lucia Davies, do you take Mr. Daniel Charles as your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?" the priest repeated the question.

Lucia suddenly snapped out of her stupor. She turned to look at Daniel and saw no emotion in his immensely remote eyes. There was no love or hatred.

"I do," she whispered as she closed her eyes. She was more than willing to marry him even if it meant that she had to forfeit her life because that was how much she loved him.

Even if Sophia was the only one he had ever loved-her sister.

Even if she knew deep down that her pain had only just begun.

"Daniel Charles, do you take Lucia Davies as your lawfully wedded wife, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?"

Daniel pursed his thin lips and answered, "I do". It might have sounded voluntary however, there was not an ounce of emotion detected in his tone.

"I now invite the bride and groom to exchange their rings," announced the priest. Daniel took a diamond ring out of his pocket. It was designed by a famous French couturier, but it was not meant for her.

He took her slightly bruised hand in a crude way. The look in his eyes turned more remote and it made Lucia's body slightly quiver. The ring wasn't meant for her, for he initially wanted the late Sophia to have it. He swore that he would go through such lengths to humiliate her. He was willing to use every method.

The ring was too small for Lucia's hand, but Daniel didn't care. It did not bother him for a single bit if it would be painful for her. If she felt the pain, then she deserved it.

Lucia inwardly stifled a groan from the throbbing pain on her finger. Her heart had been shattered and numbed countless times on her special day. But did all matters lead to the heart? No, she was wrong, for it was not just the matter. It was the pain on her finger that had shattered her soul completely.

She took the other ring with her bruised, shaky hands. She put it on Daniel's finger and it was a perfect fit. However, the one on her finger was so tight that she could not help but feel sorry for herself.

"The groom may now kiss the bride."

As soon as the priest finished speaking, Lucia found herself into a complete daze. She could not even hear anything that surrounded her. The veil lifted, and all she saw was the man's icy facial expression. His orbs screamed extreme hatred. Then his head lowered down and moved closer towards her. Lucia could only close her eyes in bitterness.

However, after a long while, all she felt was hot air on her face. She peeled her eyes open and saw an unmistaken sneer on the man's lips.

"Lucia, I won't do anything to you because you disgust me," rasped Daniel. He lifted her face but he never moved his lips down-he didn't dare touch her lips.

Lucia felt wavered, her steps staggered a little. She went limp and almost fell to the ground, but she couldn't-she really couldn't.

Her eyes started to get blurred with tears, but she could still see the cold, rigid facial expression on her mother's face, the merciless mockery on her father's face, and even the harsh and unkind smile on Daniel's face.

All of them were laughing at her. She, however, started weeping.

...

She looked around, slowly taking in her surrounding. She hugged herself even tighter when she saw a wedding portrait still hanging on the bridal room wall, and it was a portrait of Daniel and her late sister. So, he could be gentle when he wanted to: to smile and to love. But that love would never be hers to have.

Could things possibly be any crueler than this? She bit the back of her hand. Was he reminding her that she had no place in his heart? That she was his foe and also his plaything?

Daniel forcefully opened the door with a push, and then sauntered in. He was still wearing the same suit that he had worn at the wedding. He crossed his elbows and then looked at Lucia, who was sitting by the bedside, in a condescending manner.

There was not an ounce of expression on his face except for the cruel and unfeeling sneer.

"What's the matter? Are you satisfied now after marrying me?" He stood there and placed his hands inside his pockets.

Lucia raised her head but was clutching the front of her clothes firmly in her hands. At that moment, her bright eyes seemed to have lost some of their sparkle.

"What? Nothing to say? You were willing to kill your sister over these things." mocked Daniel. "It's such a joke that a woman like you expects to receive happiness even after what you've done, for that, you'll be a sinner for the rest of your life." His cruel words pounded on Lucia relentlessly, as if they were cold beads.

"N-no... I didn't..."

Daniel cut her off in a haste. She was still defending herself, even till now! Did she really think that he wanted to marry her?

"Take off your clothes."

Lucia shuddered as she put her hands down and started to undo the buttons on her clothes one by one.

Small spheres of goose bumps appeared on her soft white skin instantly. She was unsure if it was due to the cold or from her fear. She lowered her head and sat there helplessly.

"You seriously thought that I would be interested in you? I feel disgusted when I see you." Daniel folded his arms at his chest and stood there. He had to admit that this woman had a pretty good figure, huge firm breasts, chubby body, sexy curves and overall, a nicely shaped big ass but she lacked beauty.

A pity that she simply had a wicked heart.

"No..." Lucia shook her head. She had not wanted this. Not one bit.

However, Daniel had run out of patience. He walked up to her, "You tried every possible way to get me to marry you. Isn't this what you wanted?" Daniel approached her. His icy intense eyes casted a shadow on her. It was filled with endless hatred-blood-thirsty hatred.

"It is not like this. Daniel, please do not treat me in such a cruel manner." She looked up with her tear-streaked face. There was not a shred of dignity left as she stood in front of him.

Daniel gave a laugh filled with sarcasm. "Now who is the really cruel one?"

Another sarcastic laugh. "You paid a very high price for your naivety." One would be completely fooled by her performance.

He took her body and plundered her heart both, at the same time.

She clutched the blanket tightly from under her body. Her lips were a ghastly sight for she had bitten so hard on them till they bled.

Daniel laughed with sarcasm once more. The real pain had only just begun. Could the pain that she was experiencing be compared to his or Sophia's? Sophia was the one he had chosen to marry since his childhood. Yet, she had murdered her. She had murdered his love.

Lucia reached out with her hands as if she was about to grab something. But, that kind of pain had pierced her heart, body, and soul.

It hurt so much: she was in complete agony.

Daniel pretended not to hear her. He kept laughing. His laughter filled with contempt. It sounded like the devil. "This is the price for being my wife. I want you to remember how I owned this body of yours. I want you to never forget: to always remember this pain.

"You are not worthy of my love. That is why I don't have to treat you like a human being. You are not worthy of it."

Lucia bit hard on the back of her hand. She shook her head ever so often, her facial complexion white as snow. She simply looked at the man with her dull eyes. The man's heartless gaze bore into her, directly at her soul.

"I want you to live as if you're dead." His words continued to ring in her ears. She merely lifted her eyes and stared at the wedding portrait that was still hanging on the wall.

Sophia, was this what you wanted?

She clutched her hands tight and looked miserably at the man who was still torturing her.

What scattered on the newlyweds' huge bed was the man's ruthlessness and her pure and innocent soul.

She had not enjoyed her first sexual encounter. Instead, it was filled with pain. Gut-wrenching pain.

It wasn't until Daniel withdrew himself, without care and finished wearing his pants, did he looked at the already unconscious woman. He had decided that he would not show any compassion towards this kind of woman.

He walked out of the room and slammed the door shut. Then he closed his eyes. He could not bring himself to look at the body, the one he had violated so thoroughly.

Lucia merely folded herself together. The blood stains on the bed were proof that someone had just violated and abused her body.

"Little brother..." She opened her eyes and she looked at the man in the photo with a dull and empty gaze.

"Why didn't you recognize me? Why... didn't you believe me? I did not harm Sophia. Why didn't any of you believe me? Didn't trust me?"

She reached out with her hands with the thought of grabbing something. In the end, she simply put the back of her hand against her lips and bit hard.