At the wedding venue, the atmosphere was tense. Everyone seemed on edge, as if they were scared of someone.
And that someone was going to be my partner for the rest of my life. Under the veil, I raised my eyes and sneaked a peek at his face.
It was no less than a sculpture. His eyes, redder than blood, seemed cold and very distant.
Just as I was looking at him, maybe he also sensed my gaze and gazed at me. I averted my gaze quickly, trying not to let him know that I was looking at him.
After the wedding was done, there was no after-party. I was rushed to a room and soon I found myself all alone.
Eyes wandered off to the most magnificent and extravagant room I had ever seen. It was filled with all kinds of decorations, jewels, rubies, paintings, lamps, dimond beaded chandeliers.
My eyes glowed. The room I lived all my youth, was a wood made small room. There was barely enough space to put feet.
After changing out of my wedding clothes, I waited for the Grand Duke, but he was a no-show.
This broke my heart, I don't know why. Was I expecting something? This can't be, I had no expectations.
Still, tears streamed down my face, and I cried myself to sleep.
The next day, very early in the morning, the maids woke me up from sleep and hurried me to get ready.
Upon asking they said the Duke requested an audience with me.
A husband requesting an audience with her wife seemed odd to me, but I guessed that since we are newly married, he might be awkward.
I also hurried. After getting ready I was taken to the Duke's office. As the doors opened, our eyes locked.
He was looking straight at me, his hands on top of each other, as if he were waiting for me.
His cold eyes gave me goosebumps all over my body. I was nervous, this would be our first ever meeting after marriage.
With heavy steps I went inside, as soon as I reached in front of his desk, Shahr's words came crashing onto me.
"Let's get a divorce."
He said.
Dumbfounded, I stared at him With wide eyes. I couldn't understand the situation.
Divorce? The next day, right after marriage? Oh, I get it. He wanted to marry Layla originally.
So getting me as a life partner must have been embarrassing and unbearable for him.
Without further questions, I nodded yes and signed the divorce papers. I rushed out of the office room and with big strides I reached my room where tears streamed down my face again.
I was not wanted by my father, now I'm also not wanted by my husband. What, evil deeds did I do in my past lives to deserve this?
Just as I was thinking this, footsteps came from behind.
"Wait. I have been calling you. You will be given the-"
It was Shahr. He came so suddenly, I didn't have enough time to wipe my tears. I looked at him, startled by my tears, he stopped mid-sentence.
"Are you crying?" He asked.
I shook my head and tried to hide my tears. But it was too late he had already seen them?
"Why are you crying? Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry if I did something."
His voice was filled with concern and care. He tried to cup my face with his giant hands.
But I took some steps back, I was still not used to this situation or him. And besides, we just got divorced.
Seeing this, he cupped his hands back, "I'm really sorry, please don't cry. Please tell me what made you upset?"
I wanted to refuse again, but seeing his efforts I told him what made me upset.
"You divorced me! Didn't even explain the reason, are you not happy with me? Am I not good enough? Is it because I'm a mute?"
I told him everything that was in my heart through sign language. Then I immediately remembered, how would he understand me?
The Duke doesn't know sign language. The Duke paused, and I was also standing there silently.
At that point, I understood the vast difference between us. We are too different. We are not the same at all.
The Duke deserves someone who is as same as him.
"Please don't say that." Said the Duke, making me stunned, "I'm not divorcing you because you aren't good enough; rather, it's me who is not good enough."
"You understand sign language?" I asked.
He nodded, "Yes, I learnt them years ago."
"What do you mean, you are not good enough?" I asked with curiosity.
He replied, "On our wedding night, your father had told me that he, your stepmom, and your sister all adored you. They didn't want any harm to you, and that's why they hid you all these years. Your father also mentioned that you love rare jewels, that's why on our wedding night, I went to find rare jewels for you."
I was speechless. My father said that? Why? But that exactly sounds like my father, a liar.
"But I couldn't find any rare jewels, and I felt completely useless. I felt I'm not good enough for you, that's why, I decided to divorce you."
These words were all alien words to me. Someone thought I'm too good for them?
Shahr came close to me, and my heartbeat stopped.
"If you don't want, I'll never leave you." He said.
I raised my head and looked straight into his eyes. They were filled with honesty, not a hint of lying.
My heartbeat fastened. They became too loud, for a moment I wondered what if he hears my heartbeat.
So I took a step back again.
"What do you want?" I asked, "Do you want to divorce me?"
"Definitely not." Said Shahr.
"Then I also don't want a divorce." Seeing my reply, Shahr was filled with happiness.
"I'll go and tear the divorce papers." He uttered before running out of the room.
- Shahr's point of view -
As I reached my office and tore the divorce papers, a sinister smile appeared on my face.
"She is falling into my trap. Now, just wait and watch how I confine her in my trap."