Before We Were Married

Synopsis

My husband, Zachary Berry, never loved me. The one he loved was my younger sister, Alayna Mason. Especially after Alayna leapt from the city wall and died for him, the way he looked at me was soaked in hatred and disgust. I hated that every corner of his heart belonged only to her. He hated that my noble status had torn apart the love of his life. By day, we despised each other. By night, we shared a bed filled with resentment, until the invaders broke through the capital. Under a storm of arrows, he wrapped his arms tightly around me, shielding me with his own body. Warm blood soaked through my layered royal gown. When I reached for his face, he pushed my hand away. With his last breath, he whispered, "Veronica... the greatest regret of my life... was ever meeting you." Without Zachary, the capital fell. The people dragged me from the palace, throwing stones at me, crying in despair, "Why weren't you the one who died? Give us back our guardian general!" I lost all will to live. Before his memorial hall, wearing the crimson wedding dress I had once worn to marry him, I cut my own throat with a sword. As my blood stained his coffin, I whispered, "Zachary, in this life... I owe you everything." When I opened my eyes again, I was back ten years earlier. I was not yet his wife, and Alayna was still alive. Everything could still be changed. Zachary stood below the throne, armored and upright, asking the emperor for permission to marry a princess. This time, before my father could speak, I stepped forward. "Father," I said calmly, "I believe Alayna and General Berry are the true match made in heaven." This time, I would give him everything he wanted, even my life.