A Marriage Written in Silence
1455 Words
Chapter-3
A Marriage Written in Silence
___________________________________________
The engagement happened too fast for Angel Ellie to process.
One moment, she was arguing with her parents about marriage, and the next, she was seated in a lavishly decorated venue, dressed in a sleek ivory gown that hugged her figure perfectly. Her fingers rested on her lap, cold despite the warmth of the room.
It felt surreal. Like she was watching someone else’s life unfold.
She had never met Leo Marcus in person before today, and yet, in mere moments, she would be engaged to him. A stranger. A man who didn’t believe in love.
The soft hum of conversation filled the air, glasses clinking as the guests—most of them her parents’ acquaintances—gathered around to witness the formalities. Elegant floral arrangements covered the tables, golden chandeliers casting a warm glow over the room. It was beautiful, but it wasn’t hers.
“Are you sure about this?” a familiar voice whispered.
Angel Ellie turned slightly to see Amaira, her best friend, seated beside her. Amaira had been skeptical from the beginning, and her sharp green eyes now flickered with concern.
“No,” Ellie admitted, keeping her voice low. “But does that even matter?”
Amaira’s lips pressed into a thin line. “It should.”
Ellie looked away. The truth was, it didn’t matter. Her choice had been made for her the moment her parents convinced her that this was the right thing to do.
Then, the room quieted.
Leo Marcus had arrived.
Ellie’s breath hitched as she looked at him for the first time. Tall. Sharp. Composed. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit, his dark hair neatly styled, his features striking yet devoid of warmth. His gaze was unreadable, his expression too neutral for someone getting engaged.
He looked at her—not like a man meeting his future fiancée, but like a doctor assessing a patient’s condition.
Cold. Analytical. Detached.
He walked toward her with confident strides, stopping just a foot away. There was no smile, no attempt to ease the tension.
Ellie’s heart pounded.
Then, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a simple yet elegant diamond ring. Without a word, he took her hand—his touch firm, yet emotionless—and slid the ring onto her finger.
It was done. No grand speeches. No professions of love. Just a quiet exchange of commitment.
The guests clapped politely. Amaira didn’t.
Instead, she leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper.
“This feels like a business deal, not an engagement.”
Ellie exhaled shakily. That’s exactly what it was.
The Wedding That Wasn’t a Dream
The day arrived too soon.
Angel Ellie stood in the bridal suite of an upscale hotel, her wedding dress cascading around her in layers of soft satin and lace. The white fabric was breathtaking, hugging her curves in a way that felt both elegant and foreign.
She stared at her reflection. She looked like a bride, but she didn’t feel like one.
“You still have time,” Amaira said from the couch, watching her intently.
Ellie smiled tightly. “To do what?”
“To run.”
A dry chuckle escaped Ellie’s lips. “And then what? Where would I go?”
Amaira crossed her arms. “Anywhere but here.”
Ellie turned back to the mirror, adjusting the delicate veil that draped over her shoulders. “It’s too late, Amaira.”
Her best friend sighed. “I just want you to be happy, Ellie. And I don’t think this is happiness.”
Neither did Ellie.
But this was her reality.
A soft knock interrupted their conversation. A wedding coordinator peeked in. “It’s time.”
Ellie swallowed hard. It was time.
The wedding venue was straight out of a dream—pristine white flowers, golden chandeliers, and soft candlelight casting a warm glow over the guests. Everything was perfect.
Except for the fact that she didn’t feel like she belonged here.
Leo stood at the altar, waiting with his usual composed expression.
As Ellie walked down the aisle, her heart pounded against her ribs. The weight of everyone’s gaze pressed down on her, but his gaze was the heaviest.
He watched her approach, but there was no emotion in his eyes. No nervousness, no excitement.
Just acceptance.
She reached him, and for a moment, the world felt too quiet.
The officiant began the ceremony, speaking of love and unity—words that felt ironic, considering the circumstances.
Then came the vows.
The officiant turned to Leo first.
“Leo Marcus, do you take Angel Ellie to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
A heartbeat of silence.
Then, in a voice steady and unshaken, Leo answered.
“I do.”
Ellie’s fingers curled around the bouquet.
The officiant turned to her.
“Angel Ellie, do you take Leo Marcus to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
Ellie hesitated for a split second.
Then, softly, she whispered, “I do.”
The rings were exchanged. The weight of the metal on her finger felt heavier than it should.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.
"You may kiss the bride."
The room held its breath.
Ellie stared up at Leo, her heart hammering. Would he actually do it?
For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes. Then, he leaned in.
But instead of her lips, his lips brushed against her forehead—a soft, fleeting touch that felt more like a formality than a genuine act of affection.
The crowd clapped.
Ellie’s chest ached.
Even in this moment, he refused to let her in.
The First Night
The wedding was over.
The reception had been a blur—smiles, handshakes, polite conversations with guests she didn’t care about.
Now, she was here. In his penthouse.
Leo walked ahead, loosening his tie as he stepped inside. His penthouse was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the city skyline. The atmosphere was clean, minimalist, just like him.
Ellie lingered near the entrance. She didn’t know what to do.
Leo glanced at her. “You should change. You must be tired.”
Not a question. A statement.
Ellie blinked. “Right.”
She stepped toward the bedroom, pausing at the doorway.
“Leo.”
He turned, his expression unreadable.
“What now?” she asked, voice quiet. “What happens next?”
He studied her for a moment before answering.
“Whatever you want to happen.”
And that was the problem.
She didn’t know what she wanted.
Ellie changed into a simple silk nightgown, the weight of the wedding dress finally off her shoulders. But the heaviness in her chest remained.
When she stepped out of the bedroom, Leo was standing by the window, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The city lights cast a glow over his sharp features, but his eyes were lost in thought.
He didn’t acknowledge her presence.
Ellie hesitated before walking closer. “You never answered me earlier.”
Leo took a slow sip of his drink. “About what?”
“What happens now?” she repeated, voice softer this time.
His gaze flickered to her, unreadable. “We sleep.”
She exhaled sharply. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.” He set the glass down on the sleek marble counter. “But that’s the only answer I have for you tonight.”
Ellie clenched her fists. “Is this how it’s going to be? A marriage where we pretend we don’t exist?”
Leo’s expression didn’t change. “Would you rather I pretend to love you?”
The words were a punch to the gut.
Ellie’s breath caught, but she refused to let him see how much it stung. “No,” she whispered. “I’d rather you pretend to feel something.”
Leo studied her for a moment, something flickering in his gaze—something she couldn’t name. Then, without another word, he turned away, disappearing into the bedroom.
Leaving Ellie standing there, in the vast emptiness of their first night as husband and wife.
Her chest ached, but it wasn’t the silence that unsettled her.
It was the terrifying realization that Leo Marcus was capable of feeling something.
He just refused to.
And she was going to find out why.
[To be continued]
- Writer
