The Life She Stole

The Brown family was not thrilled with the message, but they clenched their jaws and agreed.

That night, the wedding presents arrived at our doorstep, and Holly paraded her designer watch from one end of the village to the other.

By the flickering light of a kerosene lamp, my parents counted out 12,000 dollars in cash, handling it so much that it began to show signs of wear.

However, they only gave me an old piece of fabric, yellowed with age.

I spent the entire night with the sewing machine the Browns had given us, rushing to make a shirt and a dress.

Holly mocked me and said, "Are you making that for yourself? You're already someone else's problem. If you ruin this sewing machine, what's Mom going to use to sew my new clothes?"

After cutting the final thread, I went back to my room in silence, only to find Holly's blank papers spread out before her.

I laughed softly to myself.

'Holly, you can't even imagine the struggles it takes to get an education in the city.'

Because our village was poor and remote, there were no good teachers at all.

My parents urged me to come home and work the fields, but I was determined to carve my own path, doggedly questioning the village's educated youths.

When they all left for the city, leaving no one to guide me, I trudged for miles to the nearest town in my tattered shoes, just to borrow study materials.

While tending to the cattle in the mountains, I would steal moments under a tree, nibbling on bread and washing it down with cold water as I read my books.

It was nothing but work and study, and that was how I managed to get into a prestigious city university.

My parents liked to brag, conveniently leaving out the part about my struggles, claiming that our family was just lucky and that I got into university by merely glancing at the textbooks.

Holly took their words to heart, convinced she was a genius who could ace the university entrance just by cramming at the last minute.

She clutched my workbook like it was a magic key to success, unaware that without putting in the hard work, she could never escape a poor family that devoured hope.

Before I knew it, the day had arrived for me to marry Anthony.

Anthony's parents had arranged a little get-together at a city restaurant—a place my parents had never set foot in before.

Holly eyed their nervous shuffling with a sneer. "This place? It's a far cry from the Golden Goose Restaurant in Nebula City."

She was right. It was nothing like the high-rolling days of her previous life, flush with bribe money.

The wedding was a quiet affair, but every tradition was honored.

My mother-in-law, gripping my hand, whispered, "Yasmine, we wanted to do it up big for your wedding, but money's tight and we scraped together what we could. I hope you understand."

I assured her with a smile that it was all good, but Holly was visibly irked.

"If the official just gave the nod, folks would be falling over themselves to foot the bill. Who are you kidding with this poor act?"

Before my mother-in-law could snap back, a ruckus erupted from outside our room.

"Anthony, get your act together! The bride's family is here, and you're backing out now? What about your dad's reputation?"

Was Anthony getting cold feet?

With an embarrassed grin, my mother-in-law excused herself to check on the commotion.

I did not remember much about Anthony, but I knew he was a stand-up guy.

Back in his previous life when Anthony was posted to the frontier, Holly turned up her nose at the rough life and would not join him. He took it without complaint.

Later, Holly got into trouble by using Anthony's dad, Marvin Brown's name to make money. Out of gratitude and because they were once husband and wife, Anthony gave her a severance payment once their divorce was finalized.

Anthony was not one to forget a good turn, ditching his bride last minute just was not in his playbook.

I watched the private room's door swing as his buddies dashed out, each trying to talk some sense into him.

His face peeked through the gap in the door, his features more chiseled than the boy I remembered, with eyebrows sharp as blades and eyes that sparkled like stars.

"I refuse to marry this curse no matter what anyone says. I'll repay my debts, but make her my wife? That's not happening today!"

Curse?

The word cut through me, leaving a trail of icy numbness in its wake.