The Unwanted Bride: Mommy belongs to Daddy

Savannah's POV

It has been two years since I married Daniel, and in all that time, he has seen me as nothing but a burden in his life.

I was never supposed to be his wife. It was supposed to be my stepsister, but she ran away on the day of the wedding. And just like that, my stepmother forced me to take her place. I still wish I could turn back time, make a different decision, and run away too.

Life without a biological mother is tough, and living with people who only see you as a second choice is even worse. I never imagined my life would be like this. Every day feels suffocating, like I'm trapped in a nightmare I can't escape.

I know Daniel has been searching for a way to divorce me. I tried to hold on, to make things work, but now I think it's time to let him go and move on with my life.

I stared at the divorce papers trembling in my hand. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. This was it. I was finally setting him free from this empty, one-sided marriage. I love him more than words can describe even though I was forced to married him, but love means wanting the other person's happiness-even if that happiness doesn't include me.

I don't know when or how I fell for him. It just happened, like a flower blooming unnoticed until it's in full bloom. But what's the use of love when it's only felt by one heart? I kept hoping, year after year, that he would change his mind and accept me as his wife. I prayed for a miracle, but it never came. Now, I'm ready to give him what he's been silently longing for.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already past seven; Daniel should be back from work by now. My heart raced as I stood up, clutching the papers like a lifeline. Each step toward his room felt heavier than the last, but I pushed myself forward.

When I reached his door, it creaked softly as I opened it. My breath caught in my throat. Daniel was stepping out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his damp hair clinging to his forehead. Droplets of water glistened on his bare chest, catching the light like tiny crystals.

I froze, my eyes glued to him, lost in the sight of the man I had loved for so long.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice cold and distant, his gaze meeting mine.

I snapped out of my trance and swallowed hard. "I'm sorry for disturbing you," I whispered, extending the divorce papers toward him with a shaky hand.

He frowned and took the papers, unfolding them with deliberate slowness. I waited for the relief to wash over his face, for a smile of freedom. But instead, his expression shifted. His jaw tightened, his brows furrowed, and a shadow passed through his eyes.

"What's this?" he asked, his voice low and strained.

"The divorce papers," I said softly. "I thought...I thought this is what you wanted."

I turned to leave, eager to escape the suffocating tension in the room. But before I could take a step, he reached out and grabbed my wrist, his grip firm yet hesitant.

"Wait," he said, his voice no longer cold but filled with something unfamiliar. "Why now?"

Tears pricked my eyes as I looked at him. "Because I love you enough to let you go," I whispered. "And because...I can't keep pretending everything is okay when it's not."

His grip loosened slightly, but he didn't let go. His eyes searched mine, and for the first time in years, I saw something other than indifference. Was it confusion? Regret? I couldn't tell.

The papers rustled in his other hand as silence stretched between us. And in that moment, I realized that sometimes, letting go is the bravest act of love there is.

It's better if I leave your life. Isn't that what you've been waiting for all along?

I know you love Mirabel. I know I can never truly be a part of your life.

Don't worry, I'll leave quietly, without anyone knowing. It's my choice, I said, my voice trembling with sadness.

"What if you're wrong?" he asked, pulling me closer to him.

I stared at him, confusion written all over my face.

"You can't leave me," he said firmly, gripping my wrist as if letting go would break him.

"Why? Do you enjoy seeing me suffer? Do you enjoy the way you've been treating me?" I asked, my voice rising with anger.

I had never raised my voice at him before, but the frustration and pain were too overwhelming to contain.

He stared into my eyes, his gaze intense, before he began moving closer. I instinctively took a step back, then another, until my back hit the wall. My heart raced in fear.

Is he going to hurt me for shouting? I thought, panic flashing through me.

He dropped the paper he was holding and gently lifted my chin with his fingers.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you," he whispered, his voice soft and sincere.

I froze, my eyes widening in shock.

Did I hear him right? My husband never cared about my feelings, let alone apologized.

"Do you want to divorce me?" he asked suddenly.

Why is he asking? Shouldn't he be happy to sign the papers? Why does he look sad?

"Isn't that what you want?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes," he said, his expression unreadable.

I knew it. My heart sank.

"But not anymore, Savannah," he added, his voice breaking the silence like a spark in the dark.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my heart pounding.

"I love you," he said.

No! This can't be real. I must be dreaming. My husband has never said these words to me, not even on our wedding day.

I searched his face for a sign of deceit, a cruel joke perhaps, but found only sincerity. And then, before I could gather my thoughts, his lips met mine in a kiss that melted away my doubts.

If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up.

In that moment, I knew-heaven was right here in his arms.

Savannah's pov

I didn't even think twice before responding to the kiss. I completely forgot the reason I even came into his room in the first place.

Before I knew it, he lifted me up gently, carrying me to the bed, all while continuing to kiss me, never breaking the connection. His kisses were different-hungry, intense-like nothing we'd shared before.

I was so lost in the moment that I didn't even realize when he began to slowly remove my clothes. My cheeks flushed a deep red, and all I could do was shyly look away, feeling embarrassed.

"You look so beautiful," he whispered, placing a soft kiss on my navel that sent shivers running down my spine.

He smiled at me before lying beside me, his eyes full of something I couldn't quite understand.

"I'm sorry. This... this isn't right," he said, pulling me closer to him, his warmth surrounding me.

"Savvy," he said, and it brought me back to the first time we met. I had introduced myself, and he'd said my name with a kind of ease, almost like it was his favorite word.

"Yes?" I replied softly, still trying to make sense of everything that was happening.

"Can you give me a second chance?" he asked, his voice uncertain, but desperate.

I didn't answer right away. I was lost in my thoughts, unsure of what to say. Should I give him another chance?

I kept thinking, What if this isn't real? What if he's lying to me? What if I wake up tomorrow and everything has changed?

"Do you want the divorce?" he asked again, his voice tinged with worry.

"No," I answered quickly, the word escaping my lips before I could even think about it.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

I was left wondering, what had gotten into Daniel?

"Thank you, Savvy. I promise I'll never hurt you again," he said, his voice sincere.

I didn't know what to say. I just lay there, listening to the steady beat of his heart as he held me.

Eventually, I pulled away, sitting up from the bed.

"What happened? Did I do something wrong?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"No," I said softly. "I think I should go back to my room."

"You can stay here," he replied, his words surprising me even more.

"What did you just say?" I asked, wanting to make sure I had heard him correctly.

"We can sleep here together. After all, you're my wife," he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Did he just claim me as his wife? Was this the same David who had once told me I could never be his wife?

I laid back down on the bed, trying to process everything. He stood up, walking over to the closet to grab something.

I watched him in surprise as he carefully pulled the blanket over me.

"Don't worry," he said, reading my confused expression. "I'm not going anywhere. I just want to change into my nightwear."

I watched him, my mind racing with questions, unsure of what to make of all of this.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to gather my thoughts. Everything felt so surreal. Just hours ago, I was unsure about the future, uncertain about where I stood with Daniel, and now here he was, telling me I was his wife and offering me a place beside him.

I could hear him moving around the room, quietly changing into his nightwear. I wasn't sure what to think. A part of me wanted to pull away, to question everything, but another part wanted to believe him, to trust that things could be different this time.

When he finally returned to the bed, he lay down beside me, his body warm against mine. I kept my distance, not sure how to act, not sure where this was all heading.

"You're not going anywhere, right?" I whispered, almost as if I needed him to reassure me.

"I'm not," he replied, his voice steady, the sincerity in it clear. "I'm right here. I told you, I'll never hurt you again."

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But a small voice in the back of my mind kept asking, What if this is just another lie? What if tomorrow he changes again?

He must have sensed my hesitation, because he reached over, gently taking my hand in his. "Savvy, I know I messed up. But I swear, I'm trying to make it right. I'm not asking for everything to be perfect overnight, but I need you to know that I'm serious. About you. About us."

I wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come. I just squeezed his hand, unsure of how to move forward.

Daniel turned on his side to face me, his eyes searching mine. "I know you're scared. I can see it in your eyes. And I get it. I really do. But I'm asking for a chance. Please, Savvy, let me show you that I can be the man you deserve."

I could feel my heart race, my breath quicken. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do. All I knew was that I didn't want to make the wrong choice again. But at the same time, I didn't want to lose him.

The silence between us stretched out, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of quiet that held so many unspoken words. Finally, I spoke, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know what to do anymore, Daniel," I admitted. "I don't know if I can trust you again."

His eyes softened, and he gently brushed a strand of hair from my face. "I understand. And I'll prove to you that I'm worth trusting. Just... give me time. Please."

I closed my eyes, letting his words settle over me. Time. That was all he was asking for. But in my heart, I knew that time was something I wasn't sure I could give.

As he pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me in a way that felt both comforting and protective, I couldn't help but wonder what the future would hold. Would we find our way back to each other? Or was this just another fleeting moment?

"Sleep now, Savvy," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "We'll figure it out, together."

I didn't answer. I just let the quiet of the night wash over me, wondering what tomorrow would bring.

Savannah pov

The next morning, I woke up and immediately noticed that Daniel wasn't in the room. I got out of bed and, unsure where to find him, I headed toward his study. That was probably where he'd be-working, like always.

I opened the door quietly, and there he was, sitting at his desk, focused on a file in front of him. I closed the door behind me and moved closer, hoping to get his attention.

"You're awake," he said, not looking up from his work.

"Yes," I replied, my mind still trying to process everything from yesterday. Was it all just a dream? Had what happened really happened?

I was about to leave when, in my nervousness, my hand accidentally brushed against a glass of water on the table. The water splashed out, spilling all over the surface.

"What have you done?" Daniel shouted, immediately standing up.

"I'm sorry!" I said, feeling mortified, but he didn't stop shouting.

I stood there frozen for a moment, unsure of how we had gone from calm to chaos so quickly. What just happened? I thought. I thought he'd changed. I thought things were getting better.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at him, unable to hold them back. I turned and ran out of the study, rushing back to my room, my heart heavy with confusion and hurt.

I collapsed onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. Why can't I ever be happy? I thought, as tears continued to stream down my cheeks. Why does this always happen?

I was still crying when Daniel entered my room, his face full of guilt, but I wasn't ready to let myself fall for his apology.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, moving toward me.

I wiped my face with my hands, trying to calm myself. "Don't you dare come any closer," I said, my voice shaking with frustration. "What's wrong with you? I told you to give me the divorce if you couldn't handle being with me. Why are you acting like I'm forcing myself on you?"

He looked at me, his expression confused. Right now, I didn't understand him, and I didn't understand myself either.

He sat beside me and took my hand in his, looking at me with a sincerity that made my heart ache.

"I didn't mean to shout at you," he said, his voice gentle. "I've been working on this paper for the past four hours. I didn't even sleep. I was so focused on getting it done, and I didn't realize I was upset until... well, until you knocked over the water."

His words made me pause. He had been working hard, and I had ruined it. My heart softened a little.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly, guilt creeping in.

"It's okay," he said, wiping away my tears with his thumb. "I shouldn't have shouted. Let's just forget about it, alright?"

But before I could say anything more, the door suddenly flew open, and in walked Mirabel.

Mirabel-his ex-girlfriend, the woman he was supposed to marry before our arranged marriage changed everything. The woman I'd always felt a strange rivalry with.

"Daniel!" Mirabel said, walking into the room confidently.

I was almost certain that Daniel would pull his hand away from mine as soon as she stepped in, but to my surprise, he didn't. He stayed right where he was, his hand still holding mine, his body leaning toward me.

Mirabel's eyes flashed with a dangerous look as she saw us sitting so close. "What's going on, Daniel?" she demanded.

We both hated each other, so this wasn't new. But I wasn't going to let her come in here and act like she owned the place.

"Are you not supposed to knock before coming into someone's room?" I snapped, trying to hold my ground. "And you don't have the right to just walk in like this. This is my room, not a public space."

Mirabel gave me a sneer. "I'm not talking to you, bitch," she said with a cruel laugh.

That's when Daniel stood up, his face serious. "I won't tolerate any form of abuse toward my wife, Mirabel," he said, his voice firm.

Did he just... stand up for me? My mind raced as I looked at him in surprise.

"Your wife?" Mirabel said, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"When did you accept this... thing as your wife, Daniel?" she asked again, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I didn't know what to expect, but hearing Mirabel call me a thing stung more than I wanted to admit. Still, Daniel hadn't wavered. He stood there, his words as strong as ever, and for the first time in a while, I felt a tiny spark of hope. Could this really be the change I had been hoping for?

Daniel's expression hardened as he looked at Mirabel, and for a moment, I thought I saw something fierce in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. It wasn't just frustration-it was protectiveness. He wasn't backing down.

"Yes," he said, his voice steady. "She's my wife, Mirabel. And I'm not going to let you speak to her like that, or walk in here like you own the place. I don't owe you anything anymore."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Was this the same man who had been so unsure of himself? The same man who had hurt me, who had kept me at arm's length?

Mirabel stood frozen for a moment, her eyes flashing with a mix of disbelief and anger. She took a step toward him, her voice sharp. "Daniel, you're making a mistake. You don't want this. You don't know what you're doing."

But Daniel didn't flinch. "I know exactly what I'm doing," he said, his tone calm but unwavering. "I made my choice, Mirabel. And it's not you."

I looked at him, feeling a strange mix of emotions-surprise, relief, and maybe even a little hope. For the first time, Daniel was standing up for me. He was standing up for us.

Mirabel scoffed, turning on her heel. "Fine," she snapped, "but don't come crawling back to me when you realize your mistake."

Before either of us could say anything else, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. The silence that followed was thick and heavy, like the air before a storm.

I looked at Daniel, my heart pounding in my chest. "You really just... did that?" I asked, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. "You really stood up for me?"

He turned to face me, his eyes softening as he took a step closer. "Yes, Savvy. I did. I won't let anyone talk to you like that. I won't let anyone disrespect you. I know I've messed up in the past, but I want to do better. I want to be better-for you."

His words were like a balm to my wounded heart, and I felt the weight of the past few days lift just a little. It wasn't perfect. We weren't perfect. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like there was a real chance for us. Maybe, just maybe, things could be different.

I didn't know what the future held, but right now, in this moment, I knew I wasn't alone.

Daniel reached for my hand again, his touch gentle this time. "Savvy, I know I don't deserve your trust, but I'm asking for it. Please, give me a chance to show you that I can be the man you need."

I looked into his eyes, searching for any trace of doubt or uncertainty. But all I saw was sincerity. Maybe it was too soon to believe everything he said, but for the first time, I didn't feel like I was fighting this battle alone.

"I'm scared, Daniel," I whispered. "I don't know if I can trust you again. But... maybe we can try. Maybe we can figure this out together."

He smiled, a small, hopeful smile. "We will, Savvy. We will."

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself believe him.