TARA'S POV
Six months later.
I stood in front of the transparent window mirror, my eyes blank, staring at my own reflection.
The last six months had been more than hell. In fact, I had attempted taking my own life a number of times—so much that my parents now took turns monitoring every one of my movements.
My hands slowly rubbed my belly, and I heaved a deep sigh.
It turned out that I had gotten pregnant from that night six months ago.
It was unbelievable at first, and my parents had been so disappointed in me. I mean, the three of us barely had enough to feed and clothe ourselves after the relocation, and now a baby was on the way.
I couldn't stop thinking about Asher Fenrir. I wondered where he was now, what he was doing. What my parents had said months ago—that he would come after us—was it true?
I had tried to squeeze more information out of them but got none.
Most of all, was he still going after numerous women like before?
My heart ached intensely at this thought.
The night I shared years ago with him would count as one of those numerous ones, but to me, it was my first.
I had tried to contact him in the first few months of our relocation but got no response.
I had later come to accept the fact that I was just one of his flings, and whatever the consequences, I was going to bear them alone.
The red mark on my neck hadn't erased yet and sometimes caused strange sensations that I couldn't understand.
"Tara!"
"What the hell are you doing? Are you planning to jump off the balcony?" my mother screamed in panic, lunged toward me, and pulled me into the house.
Lost in my deep thoughts, I hadn't even realized I had been standing at the edge of the balcony that would lead to a dangerous cliff if I mistakenly fell.
My mother pulled me to take a seat beside her and spoke, her voice filled with tension and panic.
"Tara, talk to me. Are you still having those suicidal thoughts? You shouldn't think of doing that as you now have another life inside of you."
"Mom," I rolled my eyes. "I was just taking in the cool evening breeze and nothing more. I'm fine."
Her eyes searched my face in worry and calmed down a bit when I flashed her a reassuring smile.
"But why haven't you eaten anything since morning? Your meals are still untouched."
I wanted to respond that I wasn't hungry, but that would cause her to worry more. Instead, I responded that I was going to eat them right away.
"Good. I also wanted to inform you that your in-laws will be arriving in a few hours' time. They decided to come a day ahead of the wedding ceremony."
I stiffened momentarily but quickly regained my composure and responded, a fake smile on my face.
"Of course, Mom. Excuse me while I go heat up my meal and eat something."
As soon as I entered my room and shut the door behind me, I collapsed heavily on the floor.
Yes, it was true. I was getting married in two days' time, to a sixty-something-year-old man who was more than old enough to be my father.
He had approached my parents a few months ago, requesting my hand in marriage, and they had obliged immediately—happy to have found a man who would save them from the shame of having an unmarried teenage pregnant daughter.
However, I couldn't blame them. It was all my fault, right?
They informed me that 'my fiancé' was aware that I was carrying a baby but didn't seem to mind since I was going to be his fourth wife.
What hadn't I thought of? Escaping? Suicide? Abortion?
Would everything have been different if Tyson hadn't cheated on me, if I didn't know Asher, if I hadn't slept with him that night?
---
Two days later.
There was noise and activity going on in every part of the room.
Everyone seemed to be in high spirits—except me, of course.
Dressed in a loose white wedding dress that did its best to hide my shameful pregnancy bulge, I tried my best to force a smile on my face to at least show appreciation to the cosmetologist who had spent long hours "designing" my face.
I had lost a great amount of weight over the past few days due to my intentional refusal to eat anything. I just wanted to die to escape this bondage in the form of marriage, but alas, today was the D-Day. I couldn't escape my doom any longer!
"Your husband has arrived," someone walked into the room and announced, and the feverish, frenzy mood in the room increased.
About an hour later, I stood at the entrance of the door, ready to walk down the aisle while my mother held my hand.
"Smile," my mother tapped my hand lightly. "What would other people think if they see you look unhappy on your wedding day?"
I could see a hint of sadness and pity in the depth of my mother's eyes.
I nodded and tried to force a smile on my face, but it seemed like my lips were frozen.
We walked down through the crowd to the aisle while the guests cheered loudly. I reached my seat in the front row and sat in the chair reserved for me.
I looked to my right to catch a glimpse of 'the groom,' and I nearly collapsed at what I saw.
He looked damn well old enough to be my father—or in better words, my grandfather.
He turned to look at me at that moment and flashed me a smile that showed off his crooked lower teeth and a number of his missing upper teeth.
"You may now kiss the bride," the voice of the priest came out loud and clear as the ceremony was finally nearing its finish.
In shock, I watched as the old man slowly approached me, a crooked, somewhat eerie smile on his face.
Oh no... oh God.
As his face leaned closer to mine, I recoiled in irritation.
Suddenly, I felt my legs give way and my hands flew to my chest.
It felt like I was having a heart attack.
And also, it felt like I was being pulled—magnetized—by some unknown force. The red spot on my neck suddenly began to itch and hurt seriously at the same time.
"Are you okay? You look unwell," I heard someone's voice.
It sounded like they were speaking from a faraway distance while I was being drawn into another world entirely.
I suddenly heard a voice in my head... No, it was a growl.
"Mate."
The voice was so compelling, urgent, and demanding at the same time that it made me dizzy.
Or was the dizziness a result of my starving for the past few days?
I didn't know what to say and remained still, as though I was in a trance.
"Mate, answer me now! Where are you?" the voice came from my head again.
"I-I—"
Before I could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly ensued.
A Rolls-Royce parked directly in front of the ceremony hall, closely followed by hundreds of Maybachs.
"Ow," I heard the painful sound of a groan, followed by the sound of breaking bones.
I opened my eyes slowly, only to see my 'groom' on the floor, his face twisted into an ugly, painful sight, and blood oozing from his broken nose.
A leg was on his chest, pinning him down, and as if being controlled, I slowly looked up to trace the source.
It felt like the world had stopped for a moment as soon as our eyes met.
His cold, dark eyes orbed into mine as if scanning through my soul.
The aura emanating from him screamed danger and darkness.
I stared back at him, my mind refusing to process a thought of its own.
The dangerous-looking man in front of me was Asher Fenrir... I wasn't dreaming, right?
"Mate," I had heard him say this same word that night, months ago.