Crown of Shattered Vows

Thea Waterhouse and Osita Dike stood before the alter like a perfect pair, but while Thea’s smile looked like something heaven itself designed, Osita’s own appeared slightly strained — even forced. Still, Thea didn’t notice anything except the overwhelming joy that almost lifted her feet from the floor. The priest cleared his throat, adjusted his robe with a calm dignity, and began the sermon. “Marriage,” he said gently, “is ordained by God as a covenant between a man and a woman, to be joined as one flesh, one soul, and one purpose. Today, before the presence of God and everyone here, you both stand to enter a sacred bond that requires love, patience, sacrifice, forgiveness, and mutual respect. Marriage demands that both hearts walk together even when life becomes difficult.” The hall was bright, warm, beautifully decorated, and filled with cheerful guests who had come to witness what everyone believed would be a remarkable love story finally sealed. People had travelled, planned, dressed, and sacrificed just to be here, and some even wiped tears already as Osita Dike and Thea Waterhouse stood before the priest. When the Priest finally turned to Thea, he smiled. “Miss Thea Waterhouse, do you take Osita Dike as your lawfully wedded husband, to love him, cherish him, stand by him in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, forsaking all others, till death do you part?” Thea turned her gaze from the priest to Osita, and she looked at him with complete affection. Anyone watching would know that she was deeply in love. Her voice trembled with excitement. “Yes—yes,” she breathed emotionally. “Yes, I do.” The hall erupted briefly with soft laughter and cheers. Then the priest turned to Osita. “Mr. Osita Dike, do you take Thea Waterhouse as your lawfully wedded wife, to love her, cherish her, stand by her in sickness and health, in wealth and in poverty, forsaking all others, till death do you part?” The hall went unexpectedly silent. Thea waited, smiling broadly, expecting an immediate response. But Osita simply stared at her with an unreadable expression. No joy. No tenderness. Nothing. The seconds stretched painfully. “Mr. Dike?” The priest repeated, slightly confused. Osita blinked slowly, turned reluctantly to the priest, then back to Thea again. “Yes,” he answered flatly. “Let’s get on with this already.” Even the microphone couldn’t hide the coldness in his tone. Some guests exchanged curious glances. The priest swallowed, clearly unsettled, but tried to continue. He asked Osita to bring out the ring. Osita reached into his pocket, gave the ring to the priest for blessing, and received it back. “Please put the ring on your bride’s finger,” the priest instructed. Osita held her hand. Thea could hardly breathe. She was finally marrying her seven-year love, the only man she had ever imagined standing beside. She watched him with such admiration that it hurt. He slowly began sliding the ring onto her finger. The hall went quiet. But suddenly, he halted. A ringing sound vibrated softly from his pocket. He paused. Then actually removed his hand from the ring and reached into his suit pocket. Thea’s heart jumped. She glanced at the phone screen just fast enough to catch the name appearing. Natalia Johnson. Her stomach twisted. “Is it from your first love again?” she asked softly. He didn’t answer. He simply ignored her and pressed the phone like the world stopped existing. “Don’t answer it,” she pleaded quietly, fighting for control. “Osi, please. It’s our wedding. Can anything be more important than this? I will genuinely be upset if you answer.” Her hands wrapped around his hand, trembling. “Let go,” he said coldly. The crowd watched in awe. She held tighter instead. Her emotions burst inside her chest. “I have loved you unconditionally, Osi. I have stood by you without hesitation. When you were sick, I walked in the rain just because you needed medicine. When your business required help, I lost sleep learning documents just to keep you on track. I can even give up my life for you.” Her voice cracked, echoing painfully through the hall. Some people shifted uncomfortably. He just stared blankly. “I have forgiven you once, twice, a hundred times,” she continued painfully, tears forming rapidly. “But today, never again. Today we are getting married. Osi, I will not forgive you if you answer that call.” Osita closed his eyes briefly like he was considering her words. He looked from the phone to her face slowly. For a moment, he seemed to hesitate, and Thea’s heart pleaded silently. But then, without saying a word, he moved his gaze back to the phone, pressed the green button, and raised it to his ear while still staring directly into her eyes. “Hello,” he said calmly. Gasps spread in the hall. “Osi, my chest really hurts,” Natalia’s weak voice whimpered from the phone. “Can you come to the hospital?” Osita checked his wristwatch like he was simply checking time for a meeting. “Okay. I’ll be there.” He ended the call and placed the phone down. He turned to leave. “Osi…” Thea grabbed his arm tightly again, desperate, shaking. “Why do you want to humiliate me in public like this?” He turned slightly, only his head, not his body. His eyes flashed irritation. He released his hand from her grip as if she disgusted him, and walked towards the exit. “Osi!” she shouted. He didn’t stop until she screamed again. His steps halted near the door. “If you take one more step, I will break up with you!” she cried out loudly, no minding the penetrating gazes from the crowd watching. The guests gasped. Some pressed phones forward to record. Osita didn’t face her. His hands sank into his pockets. He stared at the exit. Someone in the crowd, a man, laughed mockingly. “Thea, stop using cheap tricks to tie that man down!” Others snickered. “How long will she stick it out this time?” a woman asked with clear amusement. “I say tomorrow,” another answered callously. “No, ten minutes!” a lady laughed. “She will beg him the moment he returns!” Thea’s tears burned her cheeks, but she stood shakily. Osita finally turned around slowly, expression sharp. “Thea Waterhouse,” he said sternly. “What did you just say? Say it again.” She forced herself to stand upright, though her entire body trembled. “I said I have forgiven you countless times, but I will not do it again if you leave now. I will break up with you.” His jaw tightened. “Fine,” he replied carelessly. “Go ahead. I hope you don’t come running back too soon.” Then he faced forward again. “Don’t make yourself a joke today.” His words pierced through her chest like a stab. He turned and walked away. Thea dropped to her knees suddenly, gasping painfully. The hall exploded with murmurs; some shocked, some entertained, others smug. Cameras flashed, some recording already. She covered her face as tears soaked her palms. Years of effort, patience, tolerance, humiliation, just destroyed. She wiped her face slowly and whispered firmly to herself, “I have had enough of being mocked and neglected.” Her body trembled with a mix of shame and fury. “Today was a last chance to save what we had… but clearly it meant nothing to him.” She stood, her glamor now messy with tears. She reached behind, tore the long veil attachment from her dress, and threw it forcefully on the ground. Gasps echoed again. Then she walked to the big knife placed beside the tall wedding cake, grabbed it firmly, and faced the large beautiful banner of them smiling happily together. Guests whispered fearfully. “What is she trying to do?” someone whispered. “I think it’s about time we called 911,” another muttered, though clearly amused. With steady anger burning through every cell, she marched to the banner, lifted the knife, and drove it down the canvas, slicing straight through her own image beside Osita, cutting them apart until the banner dropped to the floor torn into two separate halves. Silence swallowed the hall. She turned slowly, wiped her face dry, dropped her voice low but clear enough for everyone to hear. “I, Thea Waterhouse, am ending things with Osita Dike. I will not be marrying him in this lifetime. Not even after. If I break my vow, may I die a horrible death!”