Back on my Wedding Day

Eloise stood before the mirror, her gaze fixed on the bruises inflicted by her husband, Nathaniel, the man she had loved all her life. With a forced smile, Eloise reached for the concealer, hoping to hide the evidence of Nathaniel's violence. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she applied the makeup, her heart heavy with pain. Just then, a knock echoed through the room, prompting Eloise to quickly wipe away her tears and compose herself before facing her husband as he entered. "Are you done?" Nathaniel's voice was cold as he surveyed Eloise. "I'm almost finished," she replied politely, struggling to suppress the tears that threatened to fall. Nathaniel let out a deep breath while looking at her then after a while he approached Eloise, embracing her from behind. Leaning in, Nathaniel planted a gentle kiss on Eloise's cheek, a complete contrast to the way his hands had landed on her face the previous night. Now, he treated Eloise delicately, as if she were made of glass, different from the previous night when he had mercilessly beaten her because of a misunderstanding. "I'm sorry," Nathaniel whispered into Eloise's ear. A lump formed in Eloise's throat, and the tears she had held back flowed freely like waterfalls. "I-It's fine," she managed to reply, forcing a smile through their reflection. Nathaniel cupped Eloise's face, making her meet his gaze. Eloise stared intently into Nathaniel's face. His piercing blue eyes still had the power to weaken her knees. His perfectly sculpted nose and chiselled jawline, adorned with stubble, only added to his allure. And his lips could make her momentarily forget the pain inflicted by his hands. Eloise reached up and held her husband's face, seeing the maturity etched upon it, but recognizing the features of the man she had loved all her life. "I love you," Nathaniel whispered, and at that moment, those words were enough to mend all the pain he had caused the previous night. "I love you too," Eloise replied, tears streaming down her cheeks. Nathaniel smiled, leaning in closer to claim Eloise's lips. "I promise I won't do it again," he said, his gaze fixed on Eloise's eyes. Eloise nodded, though she had lost count of how many times she had heard those words before. Nathaniel pressed a gentle kiss to Eloise's forehead once more. "I'll wait for you outside," he said, stepping out of the room. Eloise watched her husband walk away, then turned her attention back to her reflection. The bruises were still visible, but she no longer felt the pain because Nathaniel's apology was enough to heal everything. After taking the time to conceal her bruises, Eloise stood and gazed at herself in the mirror. She wore a navy, fully fitted gown with long sleeves, accentuating her curves. The colour beautifully complemented her fair skin. Taking a deep breath, Eloise left their bedroom and made her way downstairs. This evening, they would attend her father's birthday celebration, and despite her desire to stay home and heal completely, Eloise had no choice but to attend the party. In the living room, she found Nathaniel sitting on the couch, dressed in a black suit. He stood up as he spotted her descending the stairs, walking over to her and guiding her down. "You look beautiful," he complimented, causing Eloise's cheeks to flush. They stepped outside their house and into their waiting car. Nathaniel opened the door for Eloise, acting as the loving husband, before taking the driver's seat. As they drove off, heading toward Harrington's mansion where Eloise's father's birthday party was to be held. Upon their arrival, Eloise's family warmly welcomed them. She embraced her mother, pressing a kiss on her cheek. "How are you, my love?" her mother asked, her eyes filled with affection. Eloise smiled at her mother, hiding her true feelings. "I'm fine, Mom," she replied, concealing the pain she carried. "Let's go inside. The party is about to start," her father chimed in, inviting them to join the gathering. They made their way to the garden, where businessmen mingled and conversations hummed in the air. Eloise scanned the crowd, and her face brightened with a smile as she spotted Amora, her best friend, walking toward them. "Eloise!" Amora exclaimed, closing the distance between them. They shared a quick hug, though Eloise winced when Amora's hands touched her arms. She forced a deep breath and flashed a sweet smile before looking at her friend. "I've missed you, Amora," she said, genuine warmth in her voice. Amora pouted, pretending to be on the verge of tears, which elicited a laugh from Eloise. "You always turn down my invitations to hang out," Amora complained, then turned her gaze toward Nathaniel. "Are you forbidding Eloise from seeing me?" she asked playfully. Nathaniel smiled, shaking his head, before he pulled Eloise closer to him, his arm encircling her waist. "My wife is free to do whatever she pleases. Maybe she's simply tired of looking at your face, which is why she refuses to see you," he teased. Amora glared at him, rolling her eyes, before redirecting her attention to Eloise, who found herself amused by their conversation. "I hate your husband, Eloise," Amora grumbled, still harbouring resentment toward Nathaniel's teasing. Eloise simply smiled at her friend. "I love him, Amora," she stated, causing Amora's expression to sour even more. After a while, Eloise's father stepped onto a stage, raising a glass to capture everyone's attention. "Good evening, dear guests. I want to express my gratitude to all of you for taking the time to attend my birthday celebration. I hope you enjoy this evening," he declared, offering a warm smile to the assembled crowd before raising his glass. "Cheers to me!" he proclaimed, prompting laughter from all around. Glasses were raised, and the wine was savoured by those in attendance. With her father stepping down from the stage to entertain his guests, Eloise's heart raced with anxiety. She felt out of place amidst the conversations about business, unable to keep up. Excusing herself, she sought out Amora in the crowd. As Eloise moved through the crowd, a slight dizziness washed over her, likely a consequence of the wine she had consumed. Her eyes roamed the venue, but in her distracted state, she nearly collided with a server. A familiar voice called out, and she felt someone grasp her arm, causing her to whimper in pain. "Are you okay?" The voice was familiar, and Eloise looked up to find Marcus Sinclair, his piercing blue eyes reminiscent of her husband's, staring at her with furrowed brows. Pain etched across her face as she gently caressed her arm. Marcus seemed confused by her reaction, as he knew he hadn't held her too tightly. "What's wrong?" he inquired, concern lacing his voice as he assessed Eloise's evident distress. "Nothing," Eloise replied softly, but Marcus held onto her arm once more, this time more gently. He pulled up the sleeve of her gown without warning, and Eloise gasped as the bruises she had been hiding were revealed. Annoyed, she slapped Marcus's hand away and forcefully tugged her arm free, though she lacked the strength to completely escape his grasp. "What's happening here?" Nathaniel's voice rang out, the anger is palpable in his tone. Eloise's heart raced with fear as she heard Nathaniel's voice. She felt his hands tighten around hers, holding her tightly. "Your wife has bruises, but I highly doubt they are from me holding her arm," Marcus retorted, his gaze fixed on Nathaniel. Anger surged within Nathaniel upon hearing Marcus's words. Marcus returned his brother's gaze, seemingly accusing him of something. Eloise knew this confrontation would lead to a fight. Marcus and Nathaniel had always despised each other, despite sharing the same blood as twin brothers. Whenever they were together, a sense of competition always hung in the air. As Marcus's grip on her arm loosened, Eloise seized the opportunity to pry herself free, tugging down the sleeve of her gown. Marcus looked at her, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "A battered wife, I see," he sneered, his eyes fixed on Eloise. "Shut up, Marcus," Eloise responded with firm resolve, her face now displaying her growing anger. Eloise had always harboured a strong dislike for Marcus due to his constant meddling in her affairs, but tonight, that hatred surpassed all limits. "What is going on here?" Eloise's father finally took notice of the commotion, his voice demanding an explanation. Eloise's hand grew cold as fear enveloped her, especially as she felt Nathaniel's grip tighten around her hand. All eyes were on them now, whispers rippling through the crowd. "Eloise!" her father called, his tone expectant. Eloise turned to face her father, tears brimming in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she searched for words. "What's happening here?" her father repeated, awaiting an answer. Eloise's gaze shifted to her husband, his eyes burning with anger. "Nathaniel is abusing you, isn't he?" Marcus interjected, causing gasps to echo through the crowd. All eyes were fixed on Eloise, awaiting her response.