Scars Of A Forced Marriage

ELARA POV

"Don't you dare think that just because we're married, you have the right or any kind of authority to stop me or say any fucking thing to me. You're nobody to me. I give a damn about you and what you think. STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU BITCH!"

Still in shock that he actually had pulled a gun on me, I stayed rooted at my place while he walked away. Finally recovering from what has just transpired and wiping the unwanted tears from my face, I walk back inside. Thankfully, I spot a waiter.

"Excuse me.. Can you guide me to my room, please? I'm kind of lost." I say, trying to sound normal as I give him the room's card.

While the waiter gives me a surprised look and replies. "Sure, ma'am. This way." He says while showing the way as I follow him.

" Hmmm. Are you okay, ma'am?" He says.

" Yes, I'm perfectly fine." I lie.

He just nods, clearly not convinced, as we reach the room. After thanking him, I enter the room. As I switch the lights, I see one beautiful honeymoon suite. Decorated with flowers, candles, and all the lovey-dovey stuff for newlywedded ones. But as I face the mirror, I look at myself in horror.

Now I realize why that waiter had a surprised look. Because right now I'm looking like hell.

My lipstick is all smeared up all over my lips and cheeks, and the tears have messed up all my makeup.

I take a pair of leggings and a T-shirt from my suitcase, which is already in the room, and go to the washroom to remove the makeup and the gown.

After some minutes, I come back. Still no trace of my Hus... Of that man... Where the hell is he?? Well... We need to talk. We seriously need to talk. What he did was wrong. And he should realize that.

First, I need to calm myself. I go to the balcony for some fresh air.. The view from the balcony is beautiful, at 4 in the morning, with the lights still on and the sun starting to rise. I spot a wooden table and its matching chairs on the balcony. I sit on one of the chairs in the balcony waiting for him. But defeated by fatigue, I don't know when my eyes get heavy and I fall asleep there itself.

As the rays of the sun fall on my eyes, my sleep gets disturbed.

Okay, I get it. It's morning. But I don't want to get up right now...

I turn around to escape it, but fall hard on my left side.

As I feel my hand aching, I slowly open my eyes. The memories of last night hit me, I stand up quickly, but to my bad luck, a sharp pain hits my back. Regretting that quick action, I sit back on the chair and wait for the pain to calm down. As I feel better as time passes, I go into the room. The sheets are messed up. So he did return after I fell asleep, he also slept on the bed, and he didn't even bother to wake me up. He left me out there sleeping on that wooden chair. Still feeling a little pain in my back and hand, I'm about to move towards the washroom to freshen up when my eyes fall on the side table of the bed.

There's a tray of food there. I go near it and see that there are sandwiches, a glass of juice, a cup of coffee, apparently very strong since it's smelling like that, some cookies with a beautiful bunch of red flowers, as well as a piece of paper on the side. I pick up the paper and read.

" I know that the way I behaved lastly has hurt you a lot. And I am sorry.. I swear I am really very very sorry.. I am ashamed of that. I promise that this will not happen again. I was already tense, and I said all those things out of anger. I didn't mean any of them. I really want to make up for that.. So hurry up.. I'm waiting for you at the back of the hotel near the beach area. I have a small surprise for you. Come fast.

Love You

And sorry, Nick."

"What? Love!? So does this mean that he realizes that he was wrong last night? And he left such a sweet message. That's so sweet of him.

I said so many things to him last night out of anger. I called him a beast. Why do I get angry when I know that I can't handle myself? Maybe even he's like me. Says things that we don't really mean when angry, and once calm, regret the same previous actions.

Well, if he wants to make up and say sorry for what happened yesterday, then I should move ahead and say sorry for my behavior as well. Let's get ready and go, Elara." I think as I play with the flowers happily.

I open my suitcase and take the white dress that is on top, so as not to waste any time deciding what to wear. Not wasting any more time, I get ready and head towards the instructed area.

Currently, I am at the back of the hotel. It has this view of the sea and the sky with the bright sun shining; it looks even more beautiful. I walk on the sand, trying to see where he is as I feel the soft winds hitting my face. As I walk a short distance, I stand in surprise. This part of the beach has been beautifully decorated with red roses, red balloons in heart shape, and simple long pieces of cloth in red and white combination hanging around with a table and chairs in the middle.

All of it is looking absolutely eye-pleasing and romantic. As I pick up the red rose and balloon near my feet, my thoughts are overwhelmed.

Oh my god. He did. All of this. For me!?

Wow. It's sooo beautiful. Thank you, Leonardo...

Thank you for being the first one to make me feel so special. I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you what all of this means to me! Thank you!

"Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here?" My thoughts get disturbed as I hear a voice shout at me.

I turn back to a lady coming towards dressed in a sexy designer dress, blonde hair, and high heels.

High heels! Who the hell wears heels to the beach! That too on the sand!

"I asked Who are you?" She says again as she pushes me back roughly, and I fall on the sand. Pain hits my back again due to the impact. As I struggle to get up, I retort back at her.

"Enough. How dare you? I'm waiting for my hus.." I don't get the chance to finish my sentence as she rushes past me, shouting happily

" Amore....... " She runs and hugs a guy, but as she's moving a lot, I can't see that man's face. Then she pulls him in for a kiss. I can see that they are kissing very passionately, hence they must definitely be lovers. But as the guy's face comes in front of me, I look at them horrified.

Leonardo.

Yes.. It's Leonardo.

Kissing that blonde in front of me.

I watch them in shock while they are still kissing. Not even 24 hours we've been married and this man is already... I know that this is a forced marriage.

But.. At least have some respect for it. Yesterday he promised to be loyal to me and our wedding, and today...

They finally break the kiss and notice me. The blonde says again in an irritated way,

"You're still here. Get out of here. I have booked this entire part of the hotel for us today. So out of here." I hear her as I look directly in Leonardo's eyes.

No emotion at all. No guilt. No regret. No surprise. No nothing.

He doesn't even try to give me an explanation. He just ignores me completely.

"Are you deaf or what? Can't you hear what I said!?" She shouts again, causing me to finally recover from what I just realized.

"Give her time to understand what's happening, Nilda. After all, she must be shocked seeing the man she married yesterday kissing another woman openly 1 day later." He says with a smirk while Nilda's facial expression changes from irritated to angry and disgusted. She's currently looking at me with anger in her eyes. She marches towards me, still very much angry.

Before I realize what she's gonna do/say, I fall again as she slaps me hard. Very hard.

And then I feel her hand grasping my hair roughly as she yells in my ears,

"All of this happened because of you. We fought because of you, imbecile. Because of you and your father's business, I cannot marry Leonardo. Because of you both, we almost broke up. And don't think that just because Leonardo married you, you can boss me or anyone else like his wife. That right belongs to me. And only me. Get that straight in your head! And now get the fuck out of here before I call the security to throw you out." Nilda says as she leaves my hair and goes towards Leonardo. Not knowing what to do more, I just get up and walk out of there without turning around.

I finally reach the room, as I enter it, I go to the mirror, and I look at myself. Not able to control myself anymore, I start laughing out loud. I keep laughing till tears start flowing out of my eyes, and crying replaces the previous laughter as I collapse.

No Leonardo. It's not your fault. It's again my fault..

Actually, it's always been my fault.

I thought you left that note for me. But seems like the note was for you instead.

How? How the hell did I even think that I could be happy for once?

So many times life taught me this lesson, yet each time I keep the hope alive that maybe even I can have a normal, happy life. And each time I've hurt myself only.

Why do I not accept it once and for all that happiness, love, care, and concern are not for me?

First, Father left me. The society didn't leave any stone unturned to make Maa realize that she was wrong in trusting and marrying a stranger. And also that I was mistaken and a burden on my Maa. Though Maa didn't say anything like that ever, I could hear the neighbors say from time to time that Maa had a very difficult time raising me.

Yet we were very happy and content with each other despite being poor. Then Maa also left me.

But Father brought me back into his life. Again, I thought that maybe now life is getting better, but it only gets worse.

That Jennifer left no stone unturned to make my life miserable, while Father said nothing.

Then Bunny came into my life, and the first time I held him was such a precious moment, yet Jennifer could not let that happen; she kept him away from me.

Till we discovered the medical condition of his legs. And it didn't take Jennifer a single moment to announce that she no longer wanted a handicapped child. And I had to fight both her and Father to convince them otherwise.

And Bunny's responsibility became mine. Being an 18-year-old at that time, I faced a lot of problems raising him, but Bunny was and is the only family that I'm left with. And I will not let anyone take him away from me ever.

And now. History repeated itself, last night you said clearly that I am no one to you, yet this morning I thought..

But thank you for reminding me that this wedding is just a business deal for you. I will not lose my focus again. Now my priority will be only Bunny.

And as far as you are concerned, Mr Leonardo Lorenzo, I will not let you treat me like you and that girl did today again. You want it or not, I am your wife, and you're stuck with me.

So, Nilda or no Nilda, I will make sure that you understand what the term Wedding really means.

I tell myself, determined to make him realize that he's wrong. And trust me, he will realize that.