THIS MARRIAGE IS WRONG

The strong smell was the first thing Elena became aware of. The space carried no medical sterility associated with hospitals. The scent held deeper notes with sandalwood and jasmine and just detectable leather hints. Her nose detected a pleasant fragrance which covered her like a mystical scarf while feeling strangely comforting although totally unknown to her. A gentle reaction opened her eyes which lightly touched silk bed linens that had never belonged to her. She found herself beneath an ivory domed ceiling which held an illusion of crystal vine chandelier. Panic flickered across her chest. She bolted upright. “Where—?” The words dried on her lips. She was in a bedroom. A penthouse, by the look of it. Rooms with panoramic windows filtered thin beams of early light across high-end furnishings that showcased unfamiliar city sceneries. Her heart pounded. This wasn’t her home. There were no residences similar to this one available in her possession. A silk nightgown exposed itself to view as her shoulder sheets fell away in a way that showcased the perfect curves of her body. It wasn’t hers. Nothing here was. Elena lifted her legs over the bed while trembling because her feet were exposed to the cold marble floor. A pain resonated in her skull with a persistent deep ache that surrounded her eyes. She focused on remembering everything which had happened the evening before. Dinner? Work? A party? Nothing. Her memory showed itself as a fundament that had pages ripped out like pieces of paper from a book. She steadied herself by holding onto the dresser edge before seeing her reflection in the mirror which was set above. She appeared pale and stressed in the mirror but her face remained easily recognizable to her. At least that hadn’t changed. But then her gaze dropped— A ring. She stared at the beautiful rock gem embraced by the platinum band which rested on her left ring finger. Elena froze. “No…” she whispered. Breath stopped in her throat as she looked at it. The ring glittered within her sight so she timidly placed her hands to touch its existence as though the sparkles would disappear when she closed her eyes. Married? To who? The bedroom door creaked open. She spun around. A man appeared in the room wearing a dark professional suit that made him seem like he had just finished a business meeting or simply maintained this appearance always. Sharp jawline, piercing gray eyes, and an unsettling calm. His expression showed both wonder and curiosity about her existence. Darian spoke his first words as he approached while his voice eased out like silk. “You’re awake.” Her spine stiffened. “Who are you?” The man blinked. Just once. He responded with his name “Darian” but his tone implied there should be some recognition from her. “Darian Blackwell.” The name landed like a thunder in her head. Blackwell. As in Blackwell Global. This multibillion-dollar business controlled half the buildings visible from outside the windows. He approached Elena slowly as he addressed her for a second time. “It’s alright. The physician had predicted that memory blanks would appear occasionally. You’ve been through a lot.” She moved backwards from him till she struck the bed support with her foot. “What are you talking about? I don’t remember anything. Why am I here?” Her voice cracked. “Why am I wearing this?” A gentle light entered his face though his eyes displayed a mysterious gleam that remained imperceptible to her. He approached her with care as he told her softly "you're my wife.". “This is our home.” Her breath hitched. “No.” She shook her head. “That’s not possible. I would definitely keep the memory of becoming your wife because you are the man I would marry. From his pocket Darian removed a mobile phone. He took the phone from his pocket to display the picture that showed their wedding. Her image in the photo displayed before her on screen showed her wearing a white wedding dress with a glowing face while holding Darian's hand. They were smiling. Kissing. It looked real. It was real. She let her hands rest at her waist. “I don’t understand.” “You fell,” Darian said quietly. An accident occurred at the estate some days ago. A head injury. The coma lasted three complete days. You just came home yesterday. The moment you regained consciousness became the purpose I had been waiting for. Elena’s heart raced. “This doesn’t make sense.” “It will,” he promised. “You’ll remember everything soon.” This time when he moved closer she failed to withdraw from his approach. Her legs refused to obey. A silent atmosphere enveloped her when he reached to touch her chin—a nostalgic presence matching a memory that eluded her consciousness. She didn’t know this man. Didn’t know this life. A peculiar pain was manifesting in her ring finger suggesting that it should reside in this relationship even though she truly did not know this place. A buzzing sound coming from the nightstand interrupted her words when she tried to speak again. Darian turned to grab it. A tablet. When he turned to check his phone a headline flashed on the screen that read: The News Shook Elena When A Media Exposure Revealed The Hidden Marriage Of A Blackwell Heir To A Woman Named Elena Carter The sight of blood leaving her cheeks made her feel shocked. “What is this?” she whispered. Darian’s jaw tensed. The information about our marriage would be exposed after we ate breakfast. Without hesitation she took the tablet to read the articles one by one. All major gossip sites displayed pictures of her face alongside her name and their false marriage allegations. He added softly that their darkness had been revealed to the world. She raised her eyes to his face while her heart pounded against her chest. “What have you done to me?” Darian didn’t answer. The envelope appeared in her sight when Darian took it from the drawer. A marriage certificate appeared in front of her as she trembled to open the envelope. Her name. His name. The verification showed that the handwriting belonged to her. But she hadn’t signed it. Had she? A sound echoed from the outside hallway. Darian frowned. “Stay here.” He moved to the door. She barely started breathing while he accessed the drawer. A woman’s voice floated in. Mr. Blackwell received the examination results from the nurse. Medical staff at the facility were surprised when she awoke before they had anticipated.