When she opened her eyes, Robert Graham was no longer in the room. Light streamed in through the window, and the sun cast rays onto her face, making her cover her face due to the brightness that assaulted her. It had been a terrible night for her, a horrifying first time, and a man very rough and inconsiderate with her and her body.
When she stood up, her legs, abdomen, and vagina ached. She looked at the bloodstains on the sheets and hurriedly ran to the bathroom. She stepped into the shower and washed her body with tears, erasing any trace of Robert Graham, although not for long. Her hips and back hurt too; he hadn't shown a single hint of kindness, just claiming her, stealing her virginity with that roughness, that force and brutality he used to deflower her. Thus, the marriage was consummated, making use of their wedding night.
When she emerged from the shower, she looked at her body in the mirror. There was a small bruise on her right side and several small marks on her neck. Then she remembered how he had kissed and bitten her neck, like a beast. His hands were rough, as was his member, causing Alice to cry throughout. Dressed, she went downstairs for breakfast, realizing that her husband was there, alongside Jared Sinclair, her best friend. The man she loved.
Alice wanted to stop and step back, to flee from there to avoid seeing the love of her life with her husband, but it was too late. Jared's green eyes focused on her, and upon recognizing her, he stood up, coming over to greet her.
"Jared," she said very timidly. Alice lowered her gaze, feeling embarrassed as she had to think of Jared while her husband claimed ownership of her body. Now seeing him made her blush. She had thought of him, and now that she saw him, she blushed, her cheeks burning. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Alice," he left a small kiss on her cheek, immediately noticing the marks on her neck. Feeling his gaze there, Alice covered her neck with her hand, her eyes watering, about to cry as he saw those traces of the wedding night she had with her newlywed husband. "Congratulations on your wedding," he said in a low tone, stepping a few paces away from her and speaking, maintaining the distance.
"I didn't see you at the wedding. I thought you'd attend," she commented. She hadn't invited him, but she knew Robert had, after all, he was his best friend. She had felt relieved that he hadn't come, but now she was mortified to suddenly see him that morning, just after what she had done with her recent husband the previous night.
"I wasn't in the country," Jared replied. "I couldn't change my schedule to attend your wedding, but I'm happy for both of you. How are you? Are you here for breakfast too?"
"Yes, but don't worry, I'll take another table. I'm sure you have things to discuss, that's why you're here. I'll let you talk."
"Of course not! Come," he took her hand and led her to the table. At Jared's touch, Alice felt a strong tingling in her hand and stomach. "Sit with us. I just came to apologize for not attending your wedding. But Robert tells me everything went wonderfully, which I'm glad about, for both of you." He pulled out a chair, and she took a seat, facing Robert and next to Jared.
"Yes, it's a shame you couldn't make it. I just realized you already knew my wife," Robert said coldly, looking at both of them. He hadn't thought that the gentle Alice knew his best friend.
"Who doesn't know the beautiful Alice Taylor?" Jared replied. "We went to the same university; she was very popular, like all her sisters, who also attended there."
"Ah, I see. The popular Alice Taylor," he feigned sympathy towards his friend, but all Robert wondered was who the man was that his wife loved; that thought couldn't leave his mind. "Were you two close in college?"
"I was like her older brother, looking after her. But then I graduated before her; I've had a lot of work, you know, Robert."
"You never mentioned her to me," Robert said. That seemed strange to him.
"And you never told me you were planning to marry her," Jared retorted. That caught him off guard; he never imagined Alice would marry so young, or that she would be engaged to Robert. He also didn't know they knew each other or had anything in common.
"It was very sudden," Robert admitted. More than sudden, it was an obligation, something neither of them wanted to admit. "But here I am, tied to a Taylor. Isn't that wonderful?" he asked with a smirk on his face, focusing on his wife.
"It's every man's dream."
"Not mine," he took a sip of his coffee and then looked at his wife. The marks on her neck, the way she sat, the shape of her face, how elegant she was, her breasts showing through that fabric, her full lips. "But here I am, married to her. What do you think, Jared?"
"You're a very lucky man."
"Do you think so? I believe there's a luckier man than me, right, Alice?" he referred to the person Alice Taylor was in love with. "Well, I think we should be leaving, Alice," he stood up and extended his hand to his wife.
"But she hasn't eaten anything yet," Jared intervened. "You go ahead; I'll make sure she gets to your room's door, don't worry. I'll take good care of her."
"Alright, but don't take too long. We have a very tight schedule today. It's our honeymoon! I'll enjoy my wife as much as possible." He placed a hand on her face, and his thumb trailed down to Alice's lips, running over them.
When they were alone, and Robert left, Alice felt more relaxed, less tense, but equally embarrassed.
"I'm still amazed, Alice," Jared admitted. It was truly surprising. "You got married out of nowhere, and to my best friend at that. What's strange is that neither of you told me anything. Was it a secret? He never told me anything."
"It was...sudden," she rubbed her hands, now very nervous as they were alone, without Robert's presence.
"I didn't know you were in love with Robert. I didn't even know you two knew each other." There was something that didn't add up for him, and he had been turning it over in his mind since Robert Graham told him he was going to marry Alice Taylor. "When I received the wedding invitation, I couldn't help but be surprised to find out it was you marrying Robert. It was...confusing."
When Jared first met Alice, she was the youngest of her sisters, yet due to her great intelligence, she was already in university. He always looked out for her, but not as an older brother as he had said earlier; on the contrary, he cared for her with strong emotions. However, Alice was very young, and he was eight years older than her, while Robert was ten years older. Now she was an adult, a woman, and married to another man, to his best friend, which not only made Alice Taylor an impossible woman for him but also a forbidden one.
He wasn't just surprised by her sudden wedding; he felt hurt in a way, especially because it was his best friend who was marrying the woman he loved. Now they were husband and wife, effectively closing any possibility for Jared Sinclair and labeling Alice as lost to him forever.
Alice felt so much pain being by his side, being married to another man. But Jared had no idea of Alice's true feelings for him. He believed she was in love with Robert.
"I'm sorry; I think I better leave. Robert is probably waiting for me," she stood up, and he accompanied her to the elevator. He couldn't bear the tension and the pain in his chest from being near his beloved.
"I hope you find happiness," he wished her just as the elevator doors closed. From the depths of his heart, Jared was wounded, hurt by the fact that she was now forbidden to him.
With tears filling her eyes, she cried, calming down before reaching her room.
"We have a flight in an hour," Robert said as soon as he saw her enter. "I'll make the most of our honeymoon. Somehow, I'll make you forget about that other man you claim to love. And believe me, I'll find out who he is, and when I do, I'll flaunt you in front of him. I'll make him know that you're mine and that you'll never, ever stop being mine, Alice Taylor. My possession can't love anyone else. You'll see."
During their entire honeymoon, Robert tried to find out the name of the man his wife loved, but there was no way to make her talk. No matter how much he insisted, she wouldn't say anything and refused to talk about it.Upon their return, their first and only stop was Alice Taylor's new home, the one her husband had assigned to her. For her, living in a house away from the city wasn't a problem, but when Robert stated that she couldn't leave unless he ordered her to, Alice vehemently refused. She wouldn't stay locked up just because he said so."You're my wife! And if you thought this marriage would be a fairy tale just because you decided it, you're wrong, Alice Taylor! Your nightmare begins here. You wanted me as your husband, now you have me. Let's see how you handle all of this."She called her parents to complain about her husband's behavior, considering it an abuse on his part and that she shouldn't have to endure it. However, there was no support from her parents. It wasn't as s
Alice was lying on the bed, and her baby was not with her. She had just woken up, feeling very strange after the cesarean section. She remembered falling asleep but never remembered seeing her child. Several hours had passed since the cesarean, and she knew nothing about him."It's a boy," said her older sister, Sofia, just realizing that her sister was there with her. "You gave birth to a boy," she said again with a smile."I want to see him, I need to see him," Alice raised her hand, motioning for her sister to come closer. Her sister took a seat by her side and held her hand, preparing to tell her the next thing."Alice, the baby wasn't born healthy, and for now, he can't be with you. He's premature and has other problems he was born with. To be honest, and I hope you can be strong, he has a slim chance of survival. He's very weak and..." She started crying upon learning her son's condition, not letting her sister tell her everything about the little creature.Alice's sorrow was ov
"They won't stop calling you, aren't you going to answer?" the redhead beside him asked. She looked at Graham sensually and with desire.How long had they been lovers? When did they start seeing each other in this way? When did they both get entangled in this tale of infidelity?She was his assistant, who had no remorse about getting involved with him, even knowing he was married because, yes, she knew. Everyone knew about the dazzling wedding between Robert Graham and Alice Taylor. There was no one who didn't know about that important wedding.Robert didn't care about that either. His wife was something he didn't care about. As long as she didn't leave that house where he left her, everything would be fine for him. He had her subdued, afraid to rebel against him. That's all Robert wanted, to keep Alice under his control, to make her understand that she was nothing more than him, that she couldn't escape his side, and he wouldn't let her be with that man she claimed to love."I know w
When Jared Sinclair received the news that Alice Taylor had given birth, he dropped everything he was doing and, upon learning which hospital she was admitted to, headed straight there without hesitation. He knew her sisters, and they were the first people he saw when he arrived at the hospital."Sofia," he greeted with a kiss and a hug. Besides Alice, Sofia was the other Taylor he had confidence in, the one he was closer to. "Long time no see, everyone's here," he observed the Taylor family, who remained silent, saddened by the loss of Alice's baby. "What is it? A girl or a boy?" he asked in a low voice, not knowing what was happening, somewhat excited because it would be Alice's child, and even though it wasn't his, it made him happy. Her happiness also brought him joy.He looked around the waiting room, trying to spot Robert, assuming he would be with Alice and their new baby since he didn't see him there.He knew he might feel jealous seeing Robert so happy with his family, with h
"I love you, Alice Taylor. And I have since the first moment I saw you. You are and always will be the woman I'm in love with, even though it can never be."Alice heard every word that came from her beloved Jared's lips. She squeezed her eyes shut, as well as her hands against her chest, trying to calm her racing heart and absorb this confession, which felt like a balm for her wounds.What should she do? Should she open her eyes, tell him she heard everything, and confess the love she felt for him from the moment she first saw him? Should she reveal that her love was reciprocated?She didn't know what to do, but she began by opening her eyes.Seeing that she was awake, Jared's pale face turned even paler, and his cheeks flushed red. He quickly stood up, embarrassed because she had probably heard that confession he had poured from the depths of his heart."I-I..." Alice had never seen him so nervous, and he was usually quite serious. This brought a fleeting smile to Alice's lips."You
It was a very strange situation. He had little contact with that pregnancy and was not particularly enthusiastic about having a child with Alice. However, he never thought about the death of that child, especially now that he knew it was necessary for an heir to be born from the union of both families to maintain their connection.He always looked down on both of them and left them locked in that house, unaware that he might need them. His father had reached an agreement with the Taylors."Why didn't he tell me something like this?" He would have paid a little more attention to Alice or her pregnancy. Could it have been his fault? Did it have something to do with the way he treated his wife the night before? Could it be possible?"No, it can't be my fault. She must have done something wrong to lose our child. If there's anyone to blame, it must be her, she was the one who was pregnant. It can't be my fault," he told himself to avoid carrying that burden. He walked to the hospital wher
For Alice, having Robert around for such a long time was very strange. He didn't move a second from that room, and he couldn't either. He had to show the Taylors that he wasn't present because he didn't want to be, not because he couldn't be. The only way to do that was by staying with Alice until his family eased off after Robert's apology in front of everyone, even though it was hard for him, as he didn't like feeling inferior, especially to Alice Taylor.They were discharged from the hospital, but he was still there. He behaved like a concerned husband. What happened to his plans of traveling? Didn't he say he had more important things to do and was very busy? Why wasn't he leaving now?But he couldn't just disappear with his lover. It was a family moment, and he couldn't afford to run away, not when the Taylors had their eyes on him. One more mistake, and the consequences could be fatal. He couldn't risk Sofia Taylor staying against him."Doctor, how long after the cesarean can my
"Jared! Can't you hear me?" Immersed in his thoughts, he completely ignored the voice of his assistant calling him several times, his boss seemingly oblivious. Angry, she called once more, daring to shout at him because he seemed lost in something else, unable to hear her voice. "Jared!"He couldn't stop thinking about Alice, how she was, how she must be coping after the loss of her child. He pondered the strange relationship she had with her husband, as if it lacked love, as if... they felt nothing for each other, just as Sofia Taylor had said.It also bothered him greatly that she heard his confession. A part of him felt relieved that she didn't say anything because that wasn't the right time or place, but on the other hand, he wanted her to have some opinion, since she heard what he said when he thought she was asleep, when he confessed, thinking she couldn't hear him.He also wished that at least she would say something, because he didn't even know if those words offended her, con