"You may now kiss the bride," the priest announced with a wide smile on his face.Ethan and I faced each other. I can hear some murmurs from the crowd as he holds my white veil. His face becomes blurry in my sight because of the tears that are starting to form in my eyes. He looked at me warily; there's no smile on his face. He watched me like a puzzle he couldn't solve.I tried to smile at him, but my lips just trembled.I don't feel it was my wedding. Only our friends are here, and his family. I may be liberated, but I dream of my wedding being something special and memorable. I dream it to happen on a beach while the sun is setting and I am wearing a white dress, smiling as I walk down the aisle... to the man for whom my heart is beating.I like Ethan.No, I love him.I love him, and I married him even though I knew he couldn't love me back. I shouldn't settle for less, yes. But what can I do when all I want to do is be with him? I'm tired... But one touch from him and I'm running

Almost 3 hours were used for our meeting in the conference room. There are foods prepared for lunch, but I decided to eat my lunch with Jared in my office. Though I can just make my secretary call him and join us here, but I want to talk to him. Our talk last night was, I think, not enough.Manly laughs and sweet chuckles were slightly fading in my ears as I walked out of the room. My secretary was left inside to accommodate the needs of the board. My office is on the same floor as the conference room, so it was easy for me to go in."Mommy!" Jared's eyes widened when he saw me enter my office.I chuckled and welcomed his tiny body for a tight hug. He was sitting on the sofa earlier with his toys and sketching materials when I come over.I pulled out and wandered his face; he's smiling widely at me as I caressed his soft hair down to his face."How are you, hmm?" I softly asked.His eyes glowed and lit up. "Mom! Look at the different designs of the buildings I sketched!" He held my ha

I ran to my office immediately, and when I entered the room, I saw my son holding his airplane toy and forcing it to fly in the air with his grumpy face. A sad smile escaped from my face as I watched him. He seems casual... like it is a normal day for him even though I know it isn't. I wonder what he is thinking right now? He has just seen and talked with his father. It may be too overwhelming for him."Why don't you play with the remote-controlled airplane toy, baby?" I interrupted his playing time.He turned to me, and he smiled a bit. He's neither shocked nor excited. There's no energy at all.I noticed how slow his walking is; not just like before, every time he sees me at the door of my office, he immediately runs to me and embraces me tightly. Today, it is different. Even though his lips are smiling, his eyes are telling me otherwise."What's wrong, baby?" I asked when he embraced me, a little bit worried because of his silence.He didn't answer and just shook his head. I caress

For a moment, I felt a tug on my heart when I saw his tears glistening in his eyes. But I stood still, despite the shaking and shuddering that I was feeling. I faced him with all my strength, trying to show him that I really had moved on.However, I can't stand still with his eyes weak and glistening because of tears. He lifted his clenched hands and put them on the wall, cornering both of my sides, ensuring that I have no side to turn to if I leave. He then bent down a little as he neared the side of my face, enough only to whisper in my ear."I can accept all your painful words, Pen. I can even accept all your hatred, and every time you shoo me away, even though I feel my heart hurting, I can keep up with it too. Because I love you."The three words coming out of his mouth ring a bell in my mind, recalling all the fucking he did in the past few weeks. That turned my eyes black and dark. I pushed him with all my strength and slapped him hard. His face turned on the other side because

Is it possible to let the person who once destroyed your life enter your life again for the second time? The probability that you will be destroyed and shattered is as high as the skies; however, why do we keep on accepting the people who we know could bring nothing but harm to our lives? Why do we keep on sacrificing our peace, in trade for uncertain and short-lived happiness?I don't know.Because if I do, I won't be replying to Ethan's message at me, allowing him to call me in the middle of the night, even after all that he had done to me."Hello," his husky voice conquered my ear so much that I almost fell asleep because of how peaceful it sounds.I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. My heart is pounding my ribcage as I hear the sound of his deep and heavy breathing."Hi," I answered with my small voice. I was pinching my legs as I waited for him to talk; however, as the seconds passed without him talking and only breathing huskily, I think I just wanted us to stay this way