Chapter 1 The Wedding

• “But dad, I don’t love this man”
• Sarah’s world was filled with life and colours, her very essence reflected beauty and strength. But her peaceful world was now shattered when her family fell into severe debt after her father’s business failed and she became collateral damage.
• “Sarah, you must understand” Mr Grey pleaded; desperation was audible in his voice. “This is our only way out of this mess. Lucas is willing to save us. He has all it takes to get us out of the debts we are in. he can give us a future, he is the future”
• Sarah’s gentle heart sank into her shoes, because she couldn’t bear to see her once strong and vibrant father broken.
• “Dad, if I’m to do this, you must promise me that you’ll protect me and shield me from harm”
• Sarah was a means to an end, but Mr Grey was not going to allow his daughter go through hell if he can help it.
• “I’ll not let any harm come to you”
• Mr Grey got up from his huge mahogany desk to embrace his only daughter. Her dreams of a simple, happy life with the one her heart yarned for was slipping away like sand through her fingers.
• The engagement was quickly arranged, and soon Sarah found herself preparing for a wedding she never wanted. Her heart still cried out for her first love. Her dreams were still fresh like morning dew in her mind.
• Lucas, on the other hand saw the marriage as another business deal.
• To him, she was just another contract to be signed. She was a beautiful trophy wife who would enhance his social standing. He didn’t put much thought into her dreams or even her feelings.
• For Lucas, showing emotions were a sign of weakness, and love was a folly he could not afford. So Sarah was merely a document that needed to be signed.
• “If only we could turn back the hands of time my dear child” Mrs Grey stood by the door of Sarah’s room as she watched her pack up her bag. Her graceful presence brought smile to the faces of everyone who encountered her.
• “And if wishes were horses...”
• She walked into the room placing her warm hands on Sarah’s shoulders. Her sadness was palpable, but she had to bottle it all up. She must be strong for her daughter.
• “Mom I don’t want to go. I don’t want to marry Lucas, I barely know this man”
• Sarah couldn’t bare the tears that were settled in her eyes. She let them flow like the current of a river as she passionately hugged her mother.
• “It’s all for the best, my dear. You’ll be alright; you might even discover that Lucas isn’t that bad after all.”
• She tried to console her now sobbing daughter. Sarah cried like a child but she knew that there was no going back on this one. If only there was another way out of this dilemma.
• As the wedding day approached Sarah spent most of her days in solitude and the comforts of her beautifully decorated room.
• “I’m going to miss you sugar”
• She took her gigantic teddy bear and embraced it warmly.
• She wondered if she will be allowed to at least decorate her room the way she deemed fit.
• She wondered if she could also be allowed to continue painting. Taking away painting from her was like taking a fish out of the water.
• “Does he even know I paint?”
• She sat up as she got an idea for her next work, and she decided to put it on her canvas.
• She took her painting bag and made her way to her studio. She was obviously puzzled by the recent events happening in her life.
• “No, not today Greg” Her old rickety car that looked like something from the 80’s couldn’t start on first trial, but it eventually pick on the third.
• As Sarah drove through the calm street, her mind was in a maze. She didn’t know what her husband to be was like. She thought about eloping several times. She finally got to her studio with a heavy heart.
• “Good evening, Sarah. How are you?”
• Dan her painting partner lit up with a smile as he saw her walking into the studio but Sarah was not in the present so she didn’t notice him there.
• The studio was a creative sanctuary with skylights that provided abundant natural light, essential for accurate colour rendering.
• Sarah unpacked her bag and started to paint her sorrows onto canvases. She was carried away by her work, and she cared less about who or what was going on around her.
• “What are you painting?”
• Sarah lifted her head to see the almighty Mr Anderson standing in front of her. Her eyes widened in surprise. She turned round to observe the studio and she discovered that she was all alone with Mr Anderson, her soon to be husband.
• He had been watching her all along. His cold eyes softened just a fraction by the sight of her delicate brushstrokes.
• “I asked what you what you're painting” he asked again, his voice devoid of the usual iciness which was strange.
• Sarah hesitated, and then replied, “It’s a landscape of my favourite place, a meadow I used to visit as a child. It’s where I felt happiest.”
• Lucas studied the painting that was neatly hung on the canvas, seeing all the vibrant colours and the love poured into each stroke. For the first time, he felt a pang of something unfamiliar – empathy. He nodded his head like he was letting go of something.
• “I didn’t know you paint so well.”
• His voice was back to his usual ice cold tone. Sarah felt more at ease now. She knew him to be ruthless, pragmatic and emotionless, solely driven by wealth.
• “At least, now you know”
• Sarah said under her breath as she turned her face away from him, preventing him from hearing the words that flew out of her mouth.
• He walked away from the studio without uttering a word anymore to Sarah. She was shivering in her pants but she didn’t show it.
• “Better late than never”
• She said to herself as she took up her brush to continue pouring out her heart onto the canvas.
• She never felt so confused in her entire adult life. Events were spiralling before her that will change her life drastically, and there was nothing she could do about it.
• If only she could halt this wedding and figure out a way to help her father’s business. She had so many questions without answers, so many wishes that may not come through.
• Finally the D-day was here.
• “Do you Sarah Grey take this man to be your...”
• The words faded in her ears as she stood before the priest and her family members getting married to an unknown man, tear drops ran down her burning cheeks.
• “It’s all for the best” her mother’s words resonated in her head. She tried to repeat it to herself but it wasn’t just going down well with her, what part of this was for the best?
• The wedding was a quick one and soon she was left alone in the mercies of the hands of Mr Anderson.
• “You didn’t have to make it so obvious that you didn’t want to get married to me” Mr Anderson said coldly as they got into his car. “What took you so long to respond to the priest? It was a simple I DO!”
• His car was nothing like hers. It was a sleek black Mercedes-Benz, symbolizing success with its luxurious interior, advanced technology, and powerful engine.
• Sarah’s hands trembled in fear as her husband spoke to her.
• The events of the wedding weren’t any of Sarah’s concern. All she wanted to do was get out of there as quickly as possible.
• During the wedding, she didn’t realise that she had taken so much time in responding to the priest. What has her life become?
• “I’m sorry. I was carried away”
• She bowed her head, fiddling with her dress as she replied her husband. The tears wouldn’t just stop flowing.
• Mr Anderson took her arm, hurting her in the process. “Don’t you ever apologise to me again! Apology is a sign of weakness and I detest weak people”
• Sarah swallowed hard, her whole body trembled as she screamed in her head.
• “Who did I get married to?”