Chapter 4- The wedding without love

Maria could not sleep well on the night of her wedding.

She was just lying down on her bed looking at the ceiling, her so-called husband was not even in the same room with her. She was still imagining the title wife in her mind.

And she could not go back now that she had signed the marriage contract

Early morning, she had a knock on her door

She panicked a little and wondered who was on the door.

When she opened the door, she saw two men there looking at her, and they were well-dressed in nice black suits.

“We want to have a word with you, madam,” one of the men said

“Okay, what do you want to discuss about” Maria asked, even though she knew what they wanted to talk about

“The wedding.”

She felt so uncomfortable again. They did not even ask for her permission; they just walked into the room, opened the wardrobe, and brought out a colorful white gown she had never seen. It was simple but beautiful.

This was not a celebration.

It was a transaction, so it was not meant to be stunning or too interesting.

Maria just stood there and watched them moving around in the room

“Do you like the dress?” one of them asked.

Maria just nodded her head, even though she did not feel anything

They gave her space to get into the gown, funny enough its fitted her so well because it was measured a few weeks ago, which that alone scared

By exactly seven, a car came to pick her up

Thirty minutes late, they arrived at an unknown location

No guests. No music. No flowers.

Just silence.

Walton James just stood beside the room, waiting for her to walk in, because the event did not really matter to him.

Maria walked towards him, looking at his eyes

She was feeling like a small girl

When he looked at her, he paused as if nothing  was going through his mind

“You came just on time,” he said.

“Same with you,” she replied.

The preacher started talking about commitment, unity, and peace, but Maria did not hear a word because her mind was not even there.

Her mind was somewhere else.

At the hospital.

At her father’s bed.

The money is already moving through accounts.

“Do you, Maria Collins?”

“I do,” she said quickly.

The words felt so strange coming from her mouth.

“Do you, Walton Jame?s”

“I do.”

His voice was firm. Confident.

The ring was on her finger. It'ss felt cold and heavy.

And before you know it there were done

“Congratulations,” the preacher said.

Walton turned to her. “We should be going already.”

That was it.

Maria came outside and stood for some minutes; the air was cold on her skin, but the sun was still shining. The ring she was wearing was now feeling heavier after everything had been done. It was not just a ring; it was proof. Proof that her life has turned around and she will never be the same person again.

She followed Walton James into the waiting car. Neither of them discussed nor talked to the other throughout the drive. The keep quiet for a long time, the atmosphere was filled with tension, but they refused to let it out.

Everything was just moving, the trees, cars, people, le and life,ife but nothing fascinating got her attention;tion she was just lost in herthoughtsought oourow are new life will be.

When they finally reached the house, she took our time before getting down, she observed her environment for some minutes before, Walton packed the car and joined her to walk towards the door of his house. It did not feel warm. It did not feel welcoming. It felt like a place where emotions were not permitted.

“Come on, let’s go inside,” Walton said.

She followed him quietly. When he opened the door, it was so beautiful inside, but there were no emotions, no family picture, no happy moments, justan xpensive sculpture made of Gold, silver, and bronze.

“This is your new home now,” Walton said.

Maria had no choice but to reply, “okay”

A woman walked towards them from one corner of the house

“Welcome, Mrs. James,” the woman said.

“Mrs. James”. Maria said in her mind

She forced a smile andsaidi,,d “Thank you.”

Walton turned to the woman. “Show her to her room.”

“Yes, sir.”

Maria followed the woman upstairs to a very large, well-furnished, and quiet room. Everything looked new, like no onehads ever lived there before.

“This is your room,” the woman said.

Maria stepped slowly into the room, with her little bag, which did not fit the luxury appearance of the room, remindingher that her life had completely changed.

If I want anything, just let me kknoww” the woman said.

Maria was alone.

She was tired of the day's stress, so she sat down on the bed, she notice a very big mirror in front of her. She got up and looked at herself in it. The woman staring back at her looked different.

Married.

She touched the ring again.

“Just one year,” she whispered.

“How is your father?” Walton asked without looking up.

“He’s still in the hospital,” Maria replied. “But… thank you for helping.”

He gave a face gesture. “It’s taken care of.”

She wanted to talk more like husband and wife, but she remembered the contract.

No kiss.

No smile.

No warmth.

As she walked out, she realized something strange

She was married.

And she had never felt more alone than in that moment.