As the clock struck 10 pm, Eva stood alone in her bridal dress alone, her heart sank as the minutes ticked by, each second stretching into an eternity. The anticipation that had fuelled her excitement for the day slowly transformed into a gnawing sense of dread. She clutched her bouquet tightly, fingers trembling as uncertainty took hold. She remembered the laughter, the promises exchanged under the moonlight. They played at being partners, promising to be there for each other through thick and thin. The echoes of his words, assuring her that he would always be by her side, now resonated with cruel irony.
Tears welled up in Eva's eyes as the weight of reality pressed down on her. The wedding dress, once a symbol of joy and commitment, now felt like a heavy burden.
"He'll come,"
she whispered to herself, trying to cling to the hope that he would appear any moment.
In a moment of desperation, she reached for her phone, dialling his number with trembling hands. The ringing echoed in the silence, each unanswered call amplifying the void in her heart. As the gravity of his absence settled in, the room seemed to close in around her.
"Why isn't he here?"
she wondered aloud, the ache in her chest intensifying. The promises of forever played in her mind like a haunting melody, the contrast to the reality of abandonment cutting deep.
"We were supposed to start our forever today,"
she murmured, the realization that he might not show up becoming an unbearable truth. As the memories of their shared moments continued to flood her mind, Eva felt the weight of betrayal and heartbreak. The once vibrant vision of their wedding day crumbled, leaving her standing alone in the shadow of unfulfilled promises, the echoes of their laughter now replaced by the deafening silence of abandonment, tears ran uncontrollably down her cheeks.
As the clock struck 10 pm, signalling the end of the intense boardroom meeting, Jayden rose from his chair, his executive team following suit. Tension lingered in the air, and the weight of the decisions made during the meeting hung heavily on his shoulders. Jayden's guard opened the imposing double doors for him. The momentary relief was palpable as he walked out of the boardroom. However, the weight of the decisions made and the conflicts faced still bore heavily on his mind.
As he exited his office, Jayden found himself replaying the vows he and Susan had exchanged during their grand multimillionaire wedding. The promises made seemed to mock him, as the reality of their relationship unfolded in stark contrast. The procession of memories rushed back – a lavish celebration now tainted by the realization that their vows had become the opposite of what they had promised each other. Deep in thought, Jayden continued down the corridor, his steps echoing the conflict within him.
"Maybe I am just being too selfish, Maybe, I knew from the beginning"
he thought. The once joyous memories of the wedding now served as a poignant reminder of the challenges ahead, and as he walked away, the weight of those unfulfilled promises lingered, casting a shadow over the path ahead.
A week later
In the dimly lit room, Eva sat alone on her bed, surrounded by the remnants of the shattered dreams from the failed wedding that had crumbled just a week ago. The scent of wilting flowers still lingered in the air, a cruel reminder of the love that had slipped through her fingers. Her room, once filled with the promise of a shared life, now echoed with the haunting emptiness of loneliness.
The weight of her parents' decision bore down on Eva like an oppressive storm. Their hurried pursuit of an arranged marriage for her stung, as if her very essence had been reduced to a commodity to be traded in the market of societal expectations. The betrayal of the whispers of gossiping relatives and judgmental glances from family friends added to her burden.
The silence in her room was broken only by the muffled sobs that escaped from the depths of her despair. The walls, once witnesses to laughter and love, now absorbed the echoes of her shattered hopes. The wedding dress, carefully chosen and filled with dreams, hung in the corner like a ghost of what could have been. Eva couldn't shake the feeling of shame that enveloped her. The hasty arrangements, the disapproving looks from her family, and the unspoken disappointment in her parents' eyes painted a vivid picture of their judgment. She questioned her own worth, wondering how she had become a source of embarrassment to those who were supposed to cherish and protect her.
"ahhh!"
She cried, tears couldn't stop falling.
Her reflection in the mirror showcased eyes swollen from tears, a face marked by the emotional battle she was waging within. The once vibrant spirit had been replaced by a fragile soul, desperately seeking answers in the silence of her room. The realization that her parents, too, had received an offer for her hand but had never bothered to delve into the identity of the suitor left her feeling like a pawn in a game she never consented to play. Eva clutched the crumpled invitation to the court marriage, her fingers trembling with a mix of sadness and anger. In the solitude of her room, she questioned not only the choices made for her but also the foundations of her own self-worth.
The weight of societal expectations and familial judgments pressed upon her shoulders, and she couldn't help but wonder if love had become a luxury she could no longer afford.
"but why mom!?"
She cried.
It was only a week later but for Jayden it felt like only a few hours later, the court proceedings loomed ahead, a stark reminder of the choices that led them to this point. The polished marble floors of the court building echoed with footsteps, each one marking a step closer to a future uncertain. As they entered the courtroom, Jayden's eyes scanned the surroundings, seeking solace in the impersonal décor that surrounded him. The hushed whispers of the onlookers mingled with the distant shuffle of papers, creating a symphony of anticipation.
The judge, a figure of authority draped in a black robe, peered over glasses with a measured gaze. The gravity of the moment settled in the air, a silent acknowledgment that decisions made here would ripple through the lives of those present. Jayden took his seat beside his lawyer, his eyes briefly meeting those of his mother and grandfather. There, in the hallowed halls of justice, he felt the weight of expectation and legacy pressing upon him. The family name, once synonymous with success, now hung in the balance of a personal tragedy.
As the proceedings unfolded, Jayden's mind oscillated between the legal jargon being exchanged and the haunting echoes of Susan's parting words. The judge's words seemed distant as the court marriage unfolded. Jayden signed the necessary documents with a mechanical precision, his gaze fixed on the cold ink that sealed the fate of his relationship. The once vibrant dreams of a shared future now lay buried beneath the weight of compromise and unmet expectations.
Amidst the solemn atmosphere of the courtroom, Jayden's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as he mechanically signed the documents that formalized the end of his marriage. The judge's words echoed distantly, mere background noise to the internal cacophony of regret and sorrow. As he rose from his seat, his eyes briefly met those of Eva across the room. There was a shared understanding in that moment, a silent acknowledgment of the trials they both faced. Eva, too, was navigating the aftermath of shattered dreams and broken promises.
The air in the courtroom seemed heavy with the weight of two separate worlds colliding. As Jayden and Eva approached each other, the gazes locked in a poignant connection, the room seemed to hold its breath. The cold formality of the legal proceedings dissolved for a moment as the reality of their shared pain and loss took center stage. Eva's eyes, once filled with the sparkle of hope, met Jayden's with a mixture of resignation and empathy. In that shared gaze, they glimpsed the remnants of what could have been—a connection forged in the crucible of shared struggles and unmet expectations.
Judge: Good afternoon, Mr. Jayden and Ms. Eva. I trust you both understand the nature of the proceedings today. We are here to formalize your contract of arranged marriage. Before we proceed, are there any questions or concerns you'd like to address? Ms. Eva. In a typical arranged marriage contract, living arrangements are often specified. This includes details such as whether you will reside in a shared residence or maintain separate dwellings. Do you have specific preferences you would like to discuss?
Eva never tried to open her mouth instead she just shook her head. She swore if she had to say something instead of saying something, tears would break out and she very much knew that it was never an option.
Judge:Understood, Ms. Eva. Mr. Jayden, do you have any concerns or preferences regarding your living arrangements with Ms. Eva?
Jayden & Eva:No!
Eva turned her head to Jayden's direction why he was agreeing to marry her. She had never met someone like him in her whole life, she couldn't have wanted to anywhere because she had Leeroy. She had noticed the way he was dressed, it seemed he came from a reputable family,
but why was he marrying her?
Couldn't he refuse his family?
She wondered as she stared at the piece of paper in front of her.
Judge: Thank you for your responses. Now, as part of this process, it's crucial to remind both parties that an arranged marriage is a commitment with legal consequences. Any breach of the contract may result in legal actions, and it's imperative to approach this union with a sincere intention to fulfil the agreed-upon terms. Now, if there are no further questions or concerns, we will proceed with finalizing the details of your arranged marriage contract.
As they passed each other, a fleeting touch of hands conveyed a silent understanding that the chapters of their lives were irrevocably entwined, even if the romance had crumbled. The once vibrant dreams of love and shared futures now lay buried in the cold ink of legal documents. As Jayden and Eva moved forward separately, the echoes of their gaze lingered in the courtroom, a testament to the shared journey that had led them to this bittersweet intersection of lives forever changed.