Chapter 2

Marcus made me his bride.

But on our wedding day, he was caught on camera passionately kissing Emily at the airport.

The paparazzi swarmed me in my wedding dress, their cameras and microphones aimed right at me, drowning me in a flood of malice.

I sobbed, pleading for Marcus to return to me.

But he just told me in a chilling tone, "Nora, this is only the beginning."

Marcus meant every word he said.

After we got married, he made sure to torment me in every way, body and soul. Being Mrs. Cole felt like a prison to me.

The homecoming party was finally over.

Marcus brought both Emily and me back to the villa.

When we walked in, the living room was filled with photos of Emily.

They were reminders of all the ways I'd tried to imitate her.

Emily glanced around the room. With a playful smile, she snuggled into Marcus's arms.

She used sign language to talk to him. "Marcus, can we swap these for pictures of us together?"

Marcus gave her a gentle look. "Sure."

He handed me the task of printing out the photos.

But they didn't have any photos of just the two of them together.

So Marcus tilted Emily's face up and kissed her right in front of me.

They kissed like they couldn't bear to part, and I felt sick to my stomach, but I still had to lift my phone and take the picture.

Marcus scooped Emily up in his arms, and just before they slipped into our bedroom, he shot me an icy, mocking glance.

He said, "Nora, that's your task. I want those photos of Emily and me on my desk by tomorrow morning, or Alicia's illness won't get treated."

The door shut behind them.

I opened an old album I hadn't touched in forever, and it was crammed with photos of the three of us: me, Marcus, and Emily.

It was kind of ridiculous, but I was the one who played matchmaker for them.

Emily was my childhood bestie, and Marcus was the guy I loved.

When life was good, the three of us were always hanging out together.

I was always the one taking photos, pulling Marcus and Emily in for countless snapshots.

Now, those pictures felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

I cropped myself out of every group photo, leaving only Marcus and Emily. Then I printed them and covered the living room walls with their faces.

This place had become their love nest.

Once I finished, I was so drained that I just collapsed on the couch and fell asleep.

I hadn't been asleep for long before Marcus dragged me up from the couch.

He scanned the photos in the living room, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.

The scent of a woman's perfume still lingered on him.

I felt sick to my stomach and gagged, which only made him even angrier.

Marcus pressed me against the couch.

His kiss, meant to be a sign of love, now felt like punishment.

This was the living room. The servants were still awake, scattered around us.

As always, I was forced to endure his humiliation.

He made sure to be rough, every move deliberate and cruel.

I bit down hard on my lip, feeling as lifeless as a corpse.

Finally, Marcus was done with me.

He sat up, wrapped his hand around my neck, his long fingers brushing softly over my throat.

"Four years, Nora. Are you really mute?" Marcus said coldly.

I stayed silent, refusing to respond.

We were locked in a tense standoff, neither of us willing to back down.

Only when something stirred upstairs did he finally release me and return to Emily.

I rushed into the bathroom, scrubbing myself again and again, trying to scrub away every trace of his touch.

But the shame clung to me, no matter how hard I tried to wash it off.

I called my lawyer and told him to draft the divorce agreement.

I didn't want a dime from Marcus's fortune.

My request was simple. I just wanted a divorce. So, the divorce agreement arrived quickly.

I printed it out and waited until Alicia's surgery was over before handing it to Marcus.

There was nothing in this house that mattered to me, except for my mom's urn.

At the cremation, Marcus said I could keep her ashes.

I just wanted something to hold on to, so I kept it. And I still have it now.

After the divorce, I planned to take Alicia to our mom's hometown and let Mom finally rest at home.

*****

Dawn was just breaking. I was planning to head to the hospital to be with Alicia.

But I was in such a hurry, I didn't see Emily coming around the corner.

We collided, and she stumbled, falling to the floor.

The commotion brought Marcus over. He cradled Emily in his arms, massaging her wrist with obvious concern.

Then, out of nowhere, Marcus kicked my stomach hard. The pain was so intense that tears streamed down my face.

I crashed to the floor, my bag falling beside me.

This time, luck wasn't on my side like it was yesterday.

A pool of vivid red blood spread beneath me, instantly soaking the hem of my dress.

I stared at the blood, and my mind went completely blank.

It suddenly hit me. I hadn't had my period in a month.

No wonder I kept feeling sick to my stomach lately.

Everyone in the room knew exactly what that blood meant.

Marcus suddenly crouched down, his hands digging painfully into my shoulders.

He demanded, "Didn't I tell you to take your pills? Who gave you permission to carry my baby?"