Too Late For Regrets

I stood frozen in fear and fury, not even bothering to look at the man in front of me. He seemed as displeased by this arrangement as I was, and he made sure I knew about it. Had I not been immune to receiving cold looks, I would’ve probably hid from his glare.

I couldn’t possibly blame him for being mad, though. I was just as angry as he was. That whole marriage deal was not something either of us agreed to, so being forced to stand there at the altar and pretend to be happy newlyweds was beyond us. Everyone around us knew we weren’t happy about that. They were only there to enjoy the huge party our families threw to celebrate their successfully made deal, even if it was at our expense.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear anything the official said during the whole process, I still don’t remember any part of his speech, but I do remember the icy tone in my husband’s voice as he uttered the two little words that sealed my fate.

“I do,” was all I said that day, too furious to say anything else. I didn’t speak to my parents, my husband’s parents, or even to the official that helped destroy my life. I had no words. I was lost. Once again, I was used as a tool my so-called parents used to get what they wanted. I was too naïve to think they’d change their ways after I left home. I shouldn’t have stayed in the same country, I should’ve gone as far as possible, away from their influence.

The moment my husband put the wedding band on my finger, pretty much forcing it onto me due to how tight it was, I knew I was doomed. My fate was sealed. My family once again ruined my life, this time for good.

All I could do was hope to survive the hell that was about to befall me.

Until this day, I still don’t remember how long it took for us to reach the reception venue or what my husband said to me during the drive, but I do recall crying in the car. All the feelings I tried to suppress finally broke through and I cried pathetically right in front of the man who helped destroy my life.

It might not have been his fault this happened, but I blamed him nonetheless. Had he been a little bit more assertive, I wouldn’t have to suffer. He could’ve easily refused to marry me, but his greed pushed him to sign the papers just to receive what had been promised him in exchange. He was the only one who’d benefit from this exchange, I received nothing. It wasn’t fair I had to suffer for the sake of the family I had left long time ago.

None of that made sense, to be honest. I couldn’t wrap my head around the absurdity that had happened that day.

The day had started as usual. I woke up, went for a run, took a long shower and got ready for work. Nothing indicated that something so strange would happen all of a sudden. As I ate my breakfast, the doorbell rang suddenly. Unaware of what was awaiting me, I opened the door, only to be met with an unknown man who introduced himself as a lawyer. He wasn’t alone. There were a few officers with him, seemingly ready to arrest me. The lawyer explained briefly that I was under arrest for embezzlement and told the cops to bring me with them to the station. I was so shocked by the sudden accusation I didn’t even think how strange it was for a regular lawyer, and not a prosecutor, to come to me with a warrant when I haven’t even received any notice from them. I should not have been so compliant. I was so damn sure there might be real charges against me I simply followed them obediently.

That was my first mistake.

When we arrived at the station, I was immediately taken to a private room, and soon the situation became clear. I was dragged into a mess I no longer had a chance to get out of.

The lawyer told me that my parents, whom I left years prior, were in a really troublesome situation. The company my father was running in my grandfather’s place was almost in ruins because of his incompetence and there was no way to save it other than to let it be taken over by a bigger company. Coincidentally, that bigger company belonged to none other than my younger sister’s fiancé. The deal was that the man’s family would lend my father enough money to save his company with no interest rate, under the condition that my sister marries her fiancé.

However, my sister suddenly disappeared.

And that was why I was dragged into that mess. According to the contract the lawyer presented, the condition for the loan was that my father’s daughter is supposed to marry the other party’s son. It was not specified which daughter is required to do that, thus my parents found me and forced me to fulfill that obligation, even though I had cut my ties with them six years prior.

The deadline for the marriage was exactly the day the lawyer came to me, so there wasn’t enough time for me to get enough money and try to pay off the debt my parents were in. And thanks to the lawyer’s shrewdness, I had no way out of the deal. He had me cornered with dozens of documents that were seemingly signed by me while I was still in charge of my grandfather’s company. My father made it look like I was the one responsible for the company’s decline and forged papers that would prove I embezzled the company’s funds.

I was done for. Had I known about those things earlier, I would’ve tried to clear my name and prove my innocence, but there was no time for it. The wedding was about to take place in a few hours. I have to admit, coming to me at the last moment was a really smart move. Even now I have to give it to my parents that their plan was perfectly executed.

They once again proved how little I meant to them.

Having no other option, I reluctantly signed the contract and followed the lawyer to the chapel where my ‘wedding’ was supposed to take place. There I found a whole team of people waiting to get me ready for, as they called it, ‘the most important day of my life’. They had no idea how true those words were, but they were completely oblivious to how different our definitions of ‘important’ were.

By the time the ladies got me fully ready for the ceremony, my mind had cleared a bit. I realized that once the marriage papers were signed, I would lose everything I had worked for during the last years. Everything I had would become my husband’s, and I couldn’t allow it. I knew I had to come up with a way to keep my legacy free from his clutches. I had worked way too hard to give it all away.

Thankfully, my soon-to-be husband seemed to have a similar idea. He must’ve thought I agreed to the deal because I was after his wealth, because as soon as the ladies who helped me prepare for the wedding left, two lawyers entered my room. They gave me a prenuptial agreement and pretty much ordered me to sign it. I took my sweet time reading its content, slightly enjoying their impatient fidgeting and nervous glances. Well, if they thought I was as stupid as my little sister, they were mistaken.

Much to my dismay, I couldn’t find anything to nitpick on. The conditions in the contract were almost ideal for me. I would have no power over my husband’s company and he would have no access to mine. We would have completely separate accounts and neither of us could get involved in the other’s business. I was also to receive an allowance every month, as well as special funds for unexpected expenditures in case of public events we would have to attend together. The only clause I was unhappy with was the one stating we would have to live together for the duration of our marriage, which was two years. I understood that, though. My husband, being one of the richest bachelors in the country, was a public figure, so it made sense that he would try to maintain his image. It could be detrimental for him if it came out that he forced a woman to marry him under the threat of sending her to prison for something she didn’t do.

It was quite a messy situation to be in.

With a deep, resigned sigh, I signed the prenup and gave one copy to the lawyers, who were anxiously waiting for it. The other copy I carefully folded up and hid in the corset of my wedding dress. This was a really important document that would allow me to escape from this hell when the time came. I had to keep it safe so it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands, for example my father’s. I was sure he had no idea about it, otherwise he wouldn’t have been so eager to bring me back after so many years. He most likely believed that having my sister marry someone rich and influential would bring him a lot of money.

He was in for a surprise. I had no doubts he’d eventually find out that he’d receive absolutely nothing from this marriage. Firstly, I would have no access to my husband’s wealth. And secondly, I was no longer a part of that family. Not only was I disowned, but I also changed my name. The only thing connecting me to my father was my blood, and seeing how I was forcibly dragged into his mess, he must’ve thought that it gave him the right to use me like a toy.

I swore to myself to make him regret his decision.

But that would have to wait. First I had to make sure I survived the horrible married life that I was about to begin.

There was no one to walk me down the aisle, and I couldn’t recognize any of the guests that were present during the ceremony, but till this day, I remember the look of surprise that crossed my soon-to-be husband’s face when he realized I wasn’t my sister. It seemed that he was unaware that my sister had disappeared.

His surprise didn’t last long, and soon gave place to hate. His icy cold glare was almost palpable, but I paid it no mind. I was as angry as he was.

We became a married couple against our wills.

The realization that I was now bound to a man who despised me was so cruel that I could no longer keep my tears at bay. While everyone invited for the wedding enjoyed the party that took place soon after the ceremony, I was sitting in the limo and crying pitifully over my lost freedom.

My husband did absolutely nothing the whole way to the hotel where the reception party took place, and once we arrived there, he simply got out of the car and left me alone with my pain.

I could only scoff bitterly at his gesture, but on the inside I was also glad he acted like that.

I would’ve hated it if he gave me hope.