Hide Your Love In the Past

I learned belatedly that this marriage of convenience was originally just an exchange of interests. The Donovan family, entrenched in their lineage for three generations, needed a woman who could bear sons to continue their legacy. They knew too well the dangers that could accompany such a decision and the thought of losing their only daughter was unthinkable.

Then I came along, the unassuming alternative and suddenly, there seemed to be a way to satisfy everyone’s desires without sacrificing too much. It was an arrangement that offered the promise of fulfillment on both sides, but unfortunately, I was relegated to the role of the third party in this delicate dance. I was neither wanted nor needed; I was merely a placeholder in a game I never signed up to play.

Even Nial, who had grown up alongside me, quickly switched sides to support Leta once the truth came to light. Like me, he was the child of the Larsen servants and had faced his own share of bullying at Leta’s hands. Yet, when push came to shove, he chose the path of least resistance, siding with the one who had once tormented us both. I still vividly remember those childhood days when he held my hand and vowed to study hard, earn a fortune and rise above the Larsens so that Leta would never torment me again. His words echoed in my mind like a cruel joke, a promise now twisted by betrayal. How had it all come to this?

I stumbled out of the room, but the more I tried to escape, the more I felt trapped. The stains on my clothes clung to the floor and in a futile attempt to clean them, I only made them worse. Tears streamed down my face as the realization sank in. I should have given up long ago.

I fled the hotel, subconsciously heading back to the apartment I once shared with my fake mother. This place held over twenty years of not-so-great memories for me, but it’s the only place I could think in this distressful moment. With trembling fingers, I entered the door code, but an alert rang out, signaling that I was wrong. The sound piercing the silence.  Undeterred, I tried once more, my heart pounding with anticipation. When the door finally swung open, I was met by the sight of a bald man with a beer belly. His eyes narrowed as he took in my disheveled appearance and spat on the ground. “Get off my property, you crazy bitch!” he barked, his words slicing through the air like a blade. With that, he slammed the door shut, leaving me standing there in shock.

I walked away, feeling a mix of anger and defeat swirling within me. This place wasn’t my home anymore, nor was the lavish Larsen estate, where I had once dreamed of belonging. The world outside felt just as hostile; even the stray dogs on the street barked at me as I passed. I clutched my wedding gown tightly, my steps unsteady as I sought refuge in a dimly lit corner, sinking down to sit on the ground. I felt invisible, a shadow cast aside.

I remembered a time when I picked up a discarded cup that Leta had thrown away. She had been furious, snatching it back and declaring that a ‘trash’ like me had no right to take her thrash.

Shawn had intervened, his brow furrowed in anger at her behavior. “You need to stop being so spoiled,” he had told her before turning to me with a polite smile, saying, “I’m sorry for her. Please forgive her.”

His kindness had been a small beacon in my darkest memories, a light I had clung to. But now, as I sat alone in the shadows, it felt as though all the light had been extinguished.