Bruised Love

With a dazzling smile and gorgeous eyes, alluring words and charming style, he was no prince charming.

He was the monster who ruled my life. 

With a beautiful gown and sparkling gems, kind words and loving smile, I was no lucky lady who loved her life.

I was his puppet in the name of wife.

***

"Are you all right?" asked Mom.

My mind screamed. My heart cried.

No, mom, I'm not at all right. Ace tortures me. I'm bruised. I'm hurting. Please save me.

"Of course, I'm fine. Why do you keep asking that?" I snapped. "You're acting weird."

I'm sorry, mom, I'm so sorry. If I don't push you away from me, he will not hesitate to carry out his threat.

"When did you become this rude? I'm just worried about you," she said, hurt flashing across her eyes.

You're not worrying without reason, Mom.

"Then leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you," I said, frowning at her.

Her shoulders dropped. With a crestfallen face, she gave me a long look and then reluctantly walked away.

No, please don't go. Please take me with you. Please don't let me go back with him. He will kill me.

I tightened my grip on the juice glass that I had been holding since the start of the party. It was barely touched.

A cold chill went up my spine and the hair at the back of my neck stood up when I felt a presence behind me. The familiar cologne made my stomach churn and my heart clench.

"Why does my wife seem so restless?" he whispered into my ear.

"I-I…" I felt my throat constricting.

He appeared beside me, his arm encircling my waist. "Smile, Dalia. People are noticing."

"Sorry," I said, trying not to look at him.

He smiled at me. "You will be sorry tonight, darling. I'll make sure of it."

He removed his hand from my waist and gripped my free hand with it. His fingers dug into my skin.

"Ace, p-please," I said, trying to free my hand. His grip was too tight. "You're crushing my fingers. Please. It hurts."

He let my hand go and I immediately brought it close to my chest, blowing on it soothingly.

"Smile," he said, "I'm watching you. Don't forget that you still have to go home with me."

He walked away, leaving me rooted to my spot. I realized that I was shaking all over, so I sat down on the nearest chair and took a deep breath. There was fear clawing at my gut, and pain radiating from the wounds he had given me in the morning, but I put on a smile and nodded at the people I recognized.

There is no one who can save me from this hell.

What am I supposed to do?

Is escaping from him even possible?

The thorns are intoxicated with the sins of the flowers, yet the thorns are berated with curses and the flowers blossom in love.

I put my pen down and looked up from my diary.

The cafe was almost empty, as it usually was at this time of the day. The cashier sat behind his desk and played on his phone. Steve, the teenage boy who usually prepared all the orders, was in his usual spot behind the cake counter furiously typing away on his phone.

I took a sip of my iced tea and relished the taste. I tried to engrave its soothing texture into my mind. The calmness it induced in me, the slightly bitter taste that held me back from crossing the line between reality and fairytale, and the occasional sweetness that always comforted me—I wanted to absorb it all.

I picked up my pen again and let my mind wander. Words gave me the freedom that I lacked in this world. They let me acknowledge my emotions and understand the hundred different feelings clawing at my heart. Writing things down helped me sort out my mind and accept the changes happening around me. And at a time like this, I needed this escape more than ever.

"What is a beautiful woman like you doing all alone in this café?" said a voice.

I jumped a little in my seat and the pen slipped from my grip. My head snapped up and I met a pair of deep, coffee brown eye.

"Ace," I said, keeping my calm, not knowing how to react. "Hi."

"Hi." He smiled. "May I take a seat?"

"Of course," I said.

I closed the diary and put it in my handbag.

"Sabrina guessed that you would be here," he said, sitting down from across me.

I shrugged and returned his smile. "I have been coming here since I was in my teens. I wanted to spend as much time here as possible before the wedding. Who knows when I will get the chance to come back here again?"

His smile faltered and the eagerness in his eyes was replaced with hesitancy and guilt.

I should not have said that.

"Ace, I did not mean—" I started to say but he cut me off.

"I'm sorry, Dalia. This is all my selfishness, I know. I'm so grateful that you understand my situation. Thank you for supporting me," he said. He reached out and placed his hand on top of mine.

A warmth engulfed my heart and tiny butterflies began to flutter in my stomach. "Supporting each other is the first step in solidifying a relationship, isn't it? You don't have to apologize or thank me, Ace. I completely understand your decision."

It took all my will power to not pay attention to the way his hand rested on mine. The calm and composed exterior I portrayed was in complete contrast to the introverted soul inside me that was stimulating all the excitatory hormones possible.

"I tried to find another way, Dalia. I promise I did. But nothing made as much sense. There was no other practical way." He sighed. "I've invested the past two years of my life in establishing our business in Amoredale. I have given my everything to make it flourish there. Handing over the reins to someone else and starting over again in this city does not seem right to me. Besides, even Dad is here. This city does not need me, but Amoredale does."

"I know," I said, while trying to get hold of Steve's attention. "You already explained yourself to my family. You don't have to explain it again to me."

"Dalia, that was different. You're going to be my wife. You have the right to a personal explanation." The twinkle in his eyes was gone. In its place was a serious and earnest expression.

"All right," I said, smiling to ease his hesitancy. By this time, Steve had seen me and had brought over the menu. He placed it in front of Ace who smiled and acknowledged him. Once Steve left, Ace continued.

"For the past two years, I have been flying to Amoredale about three or four times a week. Alternating my nights between Amoredale and here has left me restless. I cannot go on like this. Especially once we're married, I don't want to leave you alone every other day." He took his hand off mine.

"And that is why we are settling down in Amoredale?" I asked, recalling the day, a week ago, when he had announced this decision to my family.

He nodded and absent-mindedly flipped through the menu.

A few minutes of silence followed. This was the first proper conversation that Ace and I had ever had. Even though we were supposed to be married in two days, we had not interacted personally before this.

Ours was an arranged marriage. My parents and Ace's parents were close friends. Although Ace and I had known each other for years, we had never really interacted much. All our conversations had been superficial and polite. But when his parents had proposed the idea of our marriage, I had been forced to see Ace through a new perspective.

Our families were traditional. And I had always known that I would have an arranged marriage. The idea of it had been daunting. But I knew that I had no other choice if I wanted to keep my parents happy.

When my marriage to Ace was proposed, I had readily agreed. The only reason for this was that I knew Ace. At least, I would not be marrying a complete stranger. And that was a comforting thought to me.

Ace had agreed to the marriage just as quickly, much to my surprise. Things had progressed quickly and smoothly after that.

"And, Dalia," said Ace once he had ordered a hot chocolate for himself. "The reason for leaving immediately after the reception is because I have an extremely important meeting the next morning. The person is flying in from abroad and the meeting has been scheduled for two months, even before the wedding date was fixed. I absolutely cannot postpone or cancel the meeting—"

I sighed, stopping him. "I know, Ace. I heard. As I said earlier, it's fine with me. I understand your plight."

A relieved grin spread across his face and his shoulders visibly relaxed. "You have no idea how happy I am. Thank you so much!"

I laughed a little and took a sip of my iced tea, as Steve served Ace his hot chocolate.

"I promise that you will love it there," he said, the eagerness returning in his voice.

I remained silent as he described the house that he owned in Amoredale. He had bought it about a year and a half ago, when his work had started to demand most of his time and staying in hotels was no longer possible.

His mom and my mom had been in Amoredale for the past four days. They were getting everything around the house arranged and making sure that all our luggage was properly unpacked. Mom told me that she was even organizing my closet for me. I had cried upon hearing that. She was making sure that everything was perfect for me. It was her way of coping with the fact that I would be going far away from her.

"It's hard for you, isn't it?" asked Ace.

I snapped out of my thoughts and found him studying me. I shifted in my place, conscious of his gaze.

"What is hard?" I asked, clearing my throat.

"Leaving your home and settling in a new city." He took a sip of his drink without taking his eyes off me.

"Well, yes," I said, recalling the two days that I had spent curled up in my bed, crying. "I mean, initially, I was devastated. When I saw my room being packed up in boxes and suitcases, I felt like my whole life was being uprooted. But eventually, I accepted the change. There is no point in denying what comes your way. Doing so will only meddle with the plan that destiny has in store for a person. And I believe that the universe has a beautiful plan for me—for us."

"I hope so." He smiled.

Time flew by as we spoke. We talked about the most general of things—our plans for future, our hobbies, likes and dislikes, and so on. A bleak sense of comfort developed between us, which made me smile.

I did not have any close friends. My reserved nature did not allow me to get close to anyone. Sabrina, my younger sister, was my only confidante. As for guys, they had never been a significant part of my life. I had studied in an all-girls school until twelfth grade and then in university, when I finally had boys in my classes, I never spoke to them. I did not regret anything. It was just how I was, and I was happy with myself.

Ace was the first guy who had made my heart stir. His touch was warm but still foreign. Even the simple action of holding hands had unleashed a cascade of raw, mixed emotions within me.

I need time to grow comfortable to his touch.

As I saw him laugh at something he said, I could not help but smile along with him. Maybe I had finally found someone who I could get close to.