der Valtor's eyes, searching for a glimmer of love, of warmth. But his piercing

the silence, a solemn cadence th

son's right hand, and declare your

or, take you, Roslyn Carson, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and

take you, Alexander Valtor, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times

ke this woman to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in

as curt, his voice dev

ander Valtor to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in

e a whisper, but my hear

in the air like a challenge.

tion. But he merely touched my cheek, his palm cold, his eyes distant. He kissed

he kiss I had dreamed of-the kiss that would seal our love

*********

night of our marriage when his

and vulnerable. "Look, you gold digger, I know your intentions. Stay away from me. We're husband and w

it my fault that he didn't love me? Was I not worthy of his affection? The questions sw

t like a fool, a pawn in Alexander's game of power and control. I had thought that marrying him w

e. "Gold digger...stay away from me. You'll never have a place in my hea

nfidant. I wondered what he would say if he knew how I was feeling now. Would he tell me to leave Alexande

***********

y gaze drifted towards my phone, which was ringing incessantly, the screen illuminating the dimly lit room. My heart skipped a

er him, done shedding tears for a man who didn't deserve them. I was done bei

drawer where I kept the divorce papers. I had been hesitant to take this ste

not as his submissive wife. I would go to him as a strong, independent woman, armed

was time for me to rise from the

control of my life, finally standing up for myself. I thought of all the times Alexander had belittled

s. I would go to him, and I would tell him that it was over. That I deserve

ace Alexander, to show him that I was no longer the timid, vulnerable woman he

*************