A Marriage Without Love

Chapter 3: A Marriage Without Love

Some marriages begin with love.

Amelia's began with an agreement.

She sat quietly on the edge of the bed, staring at the wedding photograph on the nightstand.

The white flowers…The endless cameras….The expensive wedding gown,

And Ethan standing beside her with that same unreadable expression he seemed to wear every day.

   Amelia slowly reached for the photograph.

Her fingers brushed against the glass.

    Three years ago, she had stood beside Ethan Blackwood in front of hundreds of people, believing she was beginning a new life.

She had believed the nervousness in her stomach was excitement.

She had believed the coldness in Ethan's eyes was simply his personality.

Most importantly, she had believed that love could grow with time.

She hadn't known how lonely that life 

would become.

Her fingers remained against the photograph.

The memory came rushing back.

---

Three Years Earlier………

The grand ballroom of the Blackwood Hotel was filled with flowers, crystal chandeliers, and some of the city's most powerful families.

  It was the wedding everyone had been waiting for.

    Businessmen whispered in expensive suits.

  Women admired Amelia's wedding gown.

  Cameras flashed from every direction.

  Everyone looked happy.

 Everyone except the groom.

  Amelia stood at the entrance in her white wedding gown, her heart pounding so hard she was convinced everyone could hear it.

Beside her, Emma Brooks adjusted her veil.

"You can still change your mind Amyy”,Emma whispered.

Amelia smiled nervously.

"I know."

"Then why aren't you?"

Amelia looked toward the altar.

Ethan Blackwood stood there in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo.

He looked calm,Untouchable,Almost bored.

"Because I want this," Amelia whispered.

Emma frowned.

"Do you really…?"

Amelia didn't answer.

She had already fallen in love with him.

Not because he was a billionaire.

Not because his name opened every door.

She had fallen for the man she'd once seen helping a frightened child during a storm without waiting for anyone to notice.

She believed there was kindness hidden beneath Ethan's cold exterior.

She believed she could find it.

The music began.

Amelia slowly walked down the aisle.

When she reached Ethan, their eyes met.

   For one brief moment, her heart raced.

She searched his face for some sign.

Excitement..,Happiness…., Anything….

  But Ethan only looked at her for a split second before looking away.

Her smile remained.

    Even though something inside her had already begun to ache.

The ceremony continued.

"Do you, Ethan Blackwood, take Amelia Carter as your wife?"

"I do."

His answer was calm and emotionless, Almost rushed.

"And do you, Amelia Carter, take Ethan Blackwood as your husband?"

"I do."

Her voice trembled.

But she meant every word.

That night, they arrived at Blackwood Manor.

The mansion was hugee!!!!

Beautiful but Cold.

Amelia stood inside their bedroom, unsure what to say.

   This was supposed to be the beginning of their life together.

…She had imagined this moment countless times.

   She imagined Ethan coming closer.

 Maybe telling her she looked beautiful.

   Maybe holding her hand.,maybe kissing her.

Instead, Ethan removed his cufflinks and placed them neatly on the table.

Amelia watched him.

Ethan removed his cufflinks.

"I know this marriage wasn't your choice," Amelia said softly.

Ethan looked at her.

"It wasn't."

The honesty hurt more than she expected.

"But I want to make this work."

His expression remained unreadable.

"Amelia..."

He paused.

"I won't lie to you."

Her heart tightened.

"I respect you. I'll make sure you're taken care of."

She waited.

"But I can't promise you love."

The room became silent.

Amelia forced a smile.

"I understand."

Ethan picked up his files.

"I have work."

He walked toward the study.

Before leaving, he stopped.

"You should sleep."

Then the door closed behind him.

Amelia stood alone in her wedding dress.

She looked down at the ring on her finger.

"It will take time," she whispered.

"That's all."

She believed love could grow.

She believed patience could change him,little did she know she was wrong.

---

Present Day. ….

Three years later, Amelia still remembered those words.

She opened her wardrobe and stared at the champagne-colored silk nightdress she'd bought for their anniversary.

Tonight, she decided, she would try again.

She changed and waited.

Nine o'clock passed.

Then ten.

Finally, headlights appeared outside.

Ethan had come home.

Amelia hurried downstairs.

He entered the mansion, loosening his tie.

She smiled.

"Happy anniversary."

His eyes briefly met hers.

"Happy anniversary."

Her heart lifted.

Maybe tonight...Maybe this time...

"Ethan, could we talk?"

"I have work."

Her smile faded Almost immediately.

He walked past her.

"Ethan..."

He stopped.

She wanted to tell him everything.

How much she loved him,how lonely she was,how badly she wanted their marriage to become real.

But the words never came.

Ethan disappeared into his study.

The door closed.

Then locked.

 Amelia stood alone in the hallway.

For a moment, she didn't move.

She stared at the closed door.

Three years…..Three years, and she still couldn't get past that door.

She slowly returned to their bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed.

The silk nightdress she'd chosen so carefully suddenly felt foolish.

 She looked at herself in the mirror.

She had dressed for her husband.

She had waited for her husband.

She had hoped for her husband.

And once again...She was alone.

Tears filled her eyes.

She lay down, turning away from the empty side of the bed.

Her hand moved toward the pillow beside her.

She stopped.Tears filled her eyes.

There was no reason to pretend.

She closed her eyes.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

Then another.

And quietly…,She cried herself to sleep, which was now a regular.

Three years of marriage…….Three years of hoping,Three years of loving a man who seemed determined to remain a stranger.

And still…And still...

She had never truly had her husband.