CHAPTER 006
1017 Words
A Deal with No Escape
"Dad, please! I can't do this. Please, have mercy on me! I'm begging you—don't take my dream away!" Kneeling before her father Beatriz held onto the final thread of hope she possessed. Ricardo Moreira remained seated on the couch with a blank expression while drinking from his glass as though her urgent plea was irrelevant.
"Alright," he said finally. That little shop of yours will remain untouched by me. But there’s one condition. And you will follow it."
She swallowed hard. "What is it? I'll do anything—just don’t destroy my shop."
He bent forward so his elbows rested on his knees. "You have to marry Leonardo Vasconcelos."
The words hit her like a slap. Her breath caught in her throat. "What?"
"You heard me. If you refuse to marry him then I will destroy your pathetic shop. The choice is yours." Ricardo made his final decision before leaving the room.
The two women followed him closely while exchanging hushed words. Beatriz sat frozen. This couldn’t be happening. Her worst nightmares never conjured up the possibility of marrying him—the arrogant and untouchable Leonardo Vasconcelos.
The week passed in a blur.
Beatriz paid little attention to the preparations for her lavish wedding unfolding around her. Estela Vasconcelos extended an invitation to the whole city on behalf of her grandson Leonardo. Leonardo was obligated to follow through with his obligation.
Leonardo's face showed signs of impatience as he stood in the Palácio do Chiado aisle. The media surrounded them, cameras flashing. He clenched his jaw. He wanted nothing more than to avoid any scandalous story appearing in the newspapers.
Soft music played in the background.
People began to whisper the moment Beatriz walked down the aisle accompanied by Ricardo. Leonardo let out a sharp breath before reaching out his hand to her. There was a moment of hesitation in her eyes before she slowly moved her trembling hand to his.
Padre Manuel cleared his throat and began. Do you accept Beatriz Moreira as your wife Leonardo Vasconcelos with the promise to keep her and treasure her through all circumstances until death separates you?
A smile crept across Leonardo’s lips but remained distant and inscrutable. His eyes focused on her while carrying an unspoken message. Hatred? Disgust?
"I do."
Beatriz gasped for air when the priest faced her direction.
Beatriz Moreira please take Leonardo Vasconcelos—
She whispered "I do" before he could complete his words.
The wedding rings settled on their fingers locking them to their shared destiny. The priest smiled. "You may now kiss the bride."
Leonardo felt his stomach turn. The thought of making contact with her sent shivers across his skin. Everyone watched them so he had no choice left. He lifted her veil. His breath hitched.
She was beautiful. Annoyingly beautiful.
His jaw tightened. Doesn’t change a thing.
His lips touched hers only slightly before he retreated. The crowd erupted into applause while remaining oblivious to the hidden conflict festering below their expressions.
The reception passed in a daze. Beatriz barely ate. Her hands were ice cold.
In their suite bedroom she occupied the enormous bed that night with her heart pounding against her chest. The heavy silence pressed down on her.
The door creaked open. Footsteps. Slow, deliberate.
Leonardo.
She kept her eyes down because she feared seeing something terrible if she looked up. But the silence didn’t last long.
"Get up."
She had no time to understand what was happening before fingers grabbed her hair and pulled her from the bed. A sharp cry escaped her lips.
What makes you think you have the right to be here? Sitting here like you belong? Like this marriage actually means something?" His voice was laced with venom.
Beatriz whimpered. "Why are you doing this?"
He scoffed. "Why? You seriously don’t know? You gold-digging little—"
A slap. Hard and stinging. Her face moved sideways abruptly as her cheek felt a sharp pain spreading out.
Burning tears filled the edges of her eyes. "Leonardo, please—"
"Shut up!" Another yank, another wave of pain. He pulled the veil from her head so roughly strands of her hair came away with it.
Her heart pounded. This isn’t happening. This isn’t real.
"Let’s get one thing straight," he hissed. "You are nothing to me. Are you under the impression that our marriage allows you unlimited access to my life? My money? Think again. You will beg me to divorce you." He shoved her away.
She hit the floor hard, wincing. Why? Why does he hate me so much?
"I won’t," he said as he towered above her. "Because I want you to suffer."
Her hands trembled. "I didn’t want this marriage either. But I am your wife."
A cruel laugh erupted from his lips. "Wife? You? Don’t make me laugh. Look at you. You’re pathetic. Your existence should be in an entirely different world from mine. You have no right to breathe this air or claim my name.
His gaze swept over her wedding dress.
"You ever worn something this expensive before? No? Didn’t think so. Your whole family wouldn’t have enough money to buy even a single button for this dress.
In an effort to keep quiet she pressed her teeth into her lip.
"You’re not worthy of it."
He seized the fabric and ripped into it before she could respond.
"Stop! Leonardo, please—"
A harsh shove. Another fall. Her back hit the floor. The cool breeze swept across her skin while her jewelry fell and the wedding ring detached from her finger as he took possession of it.
Her head spun.
The last piece of dignity she had—shattered.
Her fingers curled against the cold marble. Numbness took over.
A final grip on her wrist. A final yank.
The door slammed in her face.
She embraced herself tightly while the humiliation burned deeper than the pain she felt in her injured body.
Her throat hurt badly yet she was unable to shed any tears.
She was empty.
And completely, utterly alone.
- Writer
