My eyes opened as the sun shined outside the window. My eyes were burning due to all the crying and they felt so heavy that I could barely keep them open. I looked around the room. Crumpled roses, burned out candles, pillows on the floor, broken glasses. If it weren't for my broken heart, one would think we had a wild night here. One couldn't miss the silence in the house. Almost like someone died in here. Well, a part of me did, I guess.

Maybe he hadn't returned after all. Or maybe he did and then left again. Did he not see me sleeping on the couch? Like he would care to put me in the bed. Don't forget Amy, it was all a show.

My thoughts were still running from last night. I just couldn't stopped thinking. I pushed myself out of the bed and walked to the bathroom like a lifeless body. I looked myself in the mirror and almost scoffed. Didn't even have the energy to do that. If someone had shown me this picture of myself a few hours ago, I wouldn't have been able to recognize myself. There I was still in my wedding dress. The one I had bought after so much struggle. The one that he had help me buy. I would have cried again just looking at it but looks like my eyes are out of tears. My hair that was pinned perfectly until twelve hours ago in a french bun was now in disarray. My eyes that shown with happiness until last evening were now puffy and red. My dress was wrinkled and my makeup was ruined.

But, nothing about yesterday mattered. Maybe to the world it did. But, to me it didn't. Was the wedding just like how I dreamt of it? How beautiful I looked? How happy I was? How much the vows meant? How happy everyone was for us? Nothing mattered anymore. How will it matter when the two people who got married were not even true to themselves in the first place? How will anything matter when it was all a plan from the start? How will it matter when my husband pretended to love me for last one year? How will anything feel good when my husband hates me more than the devil himself? How will it not feel like I am being choked when the day that was supposed to be the happiest day in my life turned out to be the worst nightmare?

I took a soft breath and gather the little strength left in me. I went for a shower. I tried not to recall all the events from yesterday. But, the images would just not stop flowing. The minute I closed my eyes it all came back biting me and I could do nothing but let them replay again.

The previous day

The wedding décor was magical.

Actually magical is not the right word. There is no right word to describe it. It was just like how I had dreamt it to be. I always wanted to get married somewhere where there was a lot of green. I had shared it with Aaron the first time we had talked about marriage. He is such a darling. He remembered it and when we started planning the wedding he had already booked this place on the outskirts of the city near a lake. The whole area was filled with white lilies and orchids. There were not a lot of guests. Just family and close friends. Aaron knows that I do not like a lot of attention and he wanted me to enjoy my wedding to the fullest.

Daniel, Aaron's brother, was his best man. Diana and Josh, Aaron's parents were smiling with tears in their eyes as I walked down the aisle. I still remember how shocked Josh was when I first met him. Diana joked that Aaron is always so drone to his business that they almost expected that he will die single. They were such good people and had instantly welcomed me to the family. Daniel was like a brother to me and Diana and Josh insisted I should call them Mom and Dad even before Aaron proposed.

Marcus had some important meeting so he missed the wedding. Since, Marcus was only family I had, Aaron's cousins and a few of my good friends had become my bridesmaids. There was no maid of honor. I could never give that place to anyone but one and she was not here. No one asked me anything about my decision either. They respected my privacy and readily accepted it.

When I finally reached the altar, Aaron smiled at me and took my hand. He looked so handsome in his black tuxedo. How did I manage to make him fall for me is beyond me. He is just so charming. He could have got any girl he wanted. But, he wanted me and only me. His smiles, his laughter and his romance is all reserved just for me. How did I get so lucky?

We took our vows and I know he meant every word of it as much as I did. The moment he said "I do." , my heart skipped a beat. As for me, I think I said "I do." even before the priest completed the sentence. When the priest said that we could kiss, I was nervous again. Thousands of thoughts ran through my head in that one second. It is not like it was our first kiss. We had kissed many times before this. But, this was different. Every time we kissed so far it had made me feel different things. There had been the passionate ones, the loving ones, the angry ones, the small pecks, the needy ones, the demanding ones and even the longing ones. But, how will this one be? I will remember it for my whole life after all this will be our first kiss as husband and wife.

Then, Aaron bend down to touch his lips with mine. As our lips moved in sync, I was loosing myself in it. The fire in my gut rose again. It was neither a demanding kiss nor a soft kiss. It was neither too passionate nor too bland. I couldn't quite describe how it felt. It was different. It was a hungry kiss. But not 'I-can't-wait-to-ravish-you' hungry. He was kissing me like it will be the last time he will do it. Like there is no tomorrow to this. Funny, maybe he is nervous about this too just like me. Before I could think more into it, we heard the crowd erupting into cheers and we broke apart. I was pretty sure my face was beetroot shade right now. Yeah, I am the shy one.

By the time the reception party started, it was already evening. There were fairy lights hanging from the barks of the trees. The place was glowing. Everyone was smiling and laughing. The guests were dancing to the music. Aaron and I had our first dance. I couldn't stop smiling. Aaron was looking at me with an unreadable expression. For some reason, he can always read my thoughts but I can never read his. I had told him this so many times while we were dating. I can never guess what is going on in his head by just looking at his face. Maybe I don't have that talent.

Nevertheless, I had noticed something was off. After our kiss at the altar, something changed in Aaron's demeanor. His smiles seemed to be forced and it looked like he was restless. He was mingling with our family and friends and also laughing at some jokes but was barely looking at me. Even during our dance he looked into the space. It almost seems like he is avoiding me. Did I do something? I think I should talk to him.

So, as soon as we sat in our car, I decide to talk to him. I tried to hold his hand but he pulled back and looked outside the window. I was sure now that something isn't right.

"Aaron, is everything okay?"

"We will talk once we reach the penthouse", he said with finality in his voice.

I wanted to ask more but then decided against it. Firstly, I didn't want to talk in front of the driver and secondly, I didn't want to sound like a nagging wife. He did say we will talk at home right? It is just a few minutes.

Soon we reached the penthouse. I blushed as I thought about what was going to happen. I mean yes we had a year long relationship but we never had sex. I always wanted to do it after marriage and Aaron respected that. When we walked to say I was surprised would be an understatement. It was so beautifully decorated. It was dark but there were rose petals and candles everywhere. The smell was intoxicating. I can't believe he did this for me. I mean it is our wedding night, yes and Aaron is caring and thoughtful but cheesy romance is not his cup of tea.

"Did you do all this for me?" I asked excitedly.

"No. It must be mom, Dan or one of my cousins", he replied in a bored tone.

"Aaron, what's wrong? Did I do something? Why are you acting like this?" I asked feeling irritated by his harsh tone.

He avoided my question and went to the middle of the living room. He pointed to the right and said, "That's your room. Do not dare enter that bedroom. It is mine and only mine. The study upstairs is a no go area for you."

"My room and your room? Don't you think joking is not what we should be doing tonight?" I laughed as I hugged him from behind.

"What the fuck? Leave me alone, woman", he said jerking away from me. I was shocked to say anything and just looked at him confused.

"Fuck, I can't believe it. You still don't see it, do you?" he laughed. "Oh God! I can't decide if I am an amazing actor or you are just so fucking dumb. But, I have to give you some credit. You did play hard to get for quite a long time. After all, it did take me a year to get you to say "I do". Nonetheless, here we are. You know, "All's well that ends well." So, in the end, it was all worth it."

I was too shocked to even process his words. He had never talked to me like this before. I had never seen this side of him. What was he even trying to say? Actor? Dumb? Playing hard to get? What does he mean? What is going on?

I opened my mouth to ask him but before I could say anything he held my arms roughly and pulled me to him. He was holding my arms so tight that I was sure it will be bruised tomorrow. His shook me forcing me to look into his eyes that bored into mine. His eyes were filled with rage, disgust and hate.

"Look at yourself. Do you think you are half the woman I would like to date or even associate myself with? You think I would fall for someone like you? My fucking one night stands look better than you. They have way more class and much better taste than you. You think I married you because I love you? No, woman. I married you so that I can make your life a fucking living hell. I married you so I could torture you into insanity. I married you to ruin you. I married you to show everyone who Aaron Kingston is and what extends he can go to. I married you not because I love you but because I hate you. I hate you, your brother and your whole fucking family to no bounds. Do you understand? I hate your very existence more than I can ever hate anyone in this damned world. I hated everything about you. Every second that I had to spend with you, my head was bursting. Every minute that I pretended to love you, I hated you even more. Every bloody time I touched you, my hands burned. Every time I smiled at you, my heart sobbed. That is how much I hate you."

Tears flowed down my eyes as he hissed those words at me. He left me with a jerk and I stumbled back. My legs were too weak to hold myself and I fell on the couch. My world was crashing and I didn't know what I could do? Is this even real? This is probably just another nightmare. Why would he do this? Is this about...no, no, no, no. This is wrong. All wrong. Aaron would not do that. He loves me. It is probably some sick joke.

He had walked to the bar table and was pouring himself a drink. I stood up from the couch, wiped my tears and walked close to him.

"Aaron, please tell me you are joking. You are joking right? This must be it. You must have decided to prank me. There must be a hidden camera here somewhere. I will let this go this time. Stop this right now and tell me this is a joke Aaron, please. It is not a good one but I will let it go", I begged.

"It is a joke, Amelia. The whole last year has been nothing but a joke to me. Everything was real for you but for me, only one bloody amazing joke. Face it", he said as he drank the scotch while my heart broke.

I snatched the glass from his hands and threw it across the room. I held his collar and confronted him. "No, no. How can I believe it? How is it even possible? One whole year, Aaron? How can I believe it that last whole year was nothing? How can I believe that every moment that we spent together from the first time we met till today was a lie? Did you not feel anything at all? The days we spent talking to each other? The moments we missed each other? The first time we kissed? The date, the kisses, the gifts, the proposal, you felt nothing Aaron? How can you tell me that it was nothing? How can you tell me it was a joke Aaron when I felt so much? How can you tell me that I fell in love with you and you just pretended all the while? How can you tell me that I need to believe the fact that you hate me when I know for a fact that I love you beyond anything in this world? How?" I was crying continuously and my breath hitched. My hands fell loose and I held on to the bar counter for support.

"That was the plan, Amelia. That was the bloody plan. To make you fall for me. How do you suppose I can torture you otherwise? Think about it. Will you feel this pain in case you wouldn't have loved me so bad? No right. You need to be strongly attached to something for you to feel pain on loosing it. Hence, it was all planned", he explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and he walked to the couch and sat with his drink.

"A.All..All planned? Every...thing? Ri.Rig..Right from the start? Our first meeting at the funeral? All of it?" I asked as I slowly sat across him.

"Yes. All of it. Don't take me for a fool, Amelia. I had tabs on you even before we met for the first time. Everything that happened was all a part of the plan. Well, a few exceptions were there of course, but mostly it was all a plan", he said with a sardonic smile.

I couldn't control my anger anymore and I picked up the bottle and threw it on the floor. "Why? Why did you do it? What have I even done to you?"

"That is for me to know and you to find out. All you need to know for now is that I am going to ruin you, Amelia Lawson. Oops, Amelia Kingston", he glared at me and stood up. "Now, it looks like I cannot have a drink in my house peacefully. So, I am going out. It will give you peace for one more night and also help you let it all sink in. I can do that much for you after all I am your husband. Stay tuned because from tomorrow, the ruin begins. Good night, wife", he said as he opened the door and left.

I didn't know what happened next. I was too numb to feel or think. I just sat there and cried as thoughts ran through me until I was unconscious or sleep came over.

I got out of the shower and got dressed. I didn't bother checking how I looked or what I wore. Whatever I wear, I will look and feel like a walking dead. I went out and sat on the couch to gather my thoughts and think about what I will do next. Never had I thought I will be on a crossroad once again all alone. It is not like I have never made harsh decisions before. After meeting Aaron, I had thought he will always be with me to help me make my decisions on difficult crossroads of life. Never thought he will be the reason for such situation.

I sat there for sometime still feeling numb. Finally, when I had a plan ready in my head I sighed. I was about to get up and to go to my room when the door opened and the devil walked in.

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Hello Readers,

Even though this book is complete, I still actively read comments and sonce, it is my first book I actually feel really happy on reading what you havw to say. So, if please do comment if you feel like it.

Enjoy!