𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬: 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞|𝟏𝟖+

𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 - 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭

Her eyes glanced around everyone in the wedding hall as her hands wouldn't stop trembling. "It's okay Mallory, everything is fine," she mumbled to herself in distress, the words she wanted to hear from her mother or Noah.

Everyone was having a good time, some were eating, some were gossiping and some even ditched the wedding to go have inappropriate fun in their car.

As she sat at the end of the hall, she looked toward Noah who was talking to someone on his phone which he had specified earlier as his business call. He had assured Mallory that he had taken several weeks off of his job so he could spend time with her, this was his last call at the moment.

"I would like to talk to you about something," Mallory's mother sat next to her. "It's about Noah and your marriage."

Mallory nodded and waved for her to speak. "Sure."

"Look, it's simple really. You have always been a disappointment to me, not having good grades, not being the weight everyone expects you to have, and then not having a good job either." Her words cut deep through her heart, tears springing into her eyes which she did not let fall. "So I want you to have a good relationship with Noah. Don't fight with him even if he does anything bad. Men are like that, they find other women and can't help it but women have to stay with them to maintain their reputation. As a woman, you have to take care of his needs and I'm not just talking about household work, sexual needs too."

Mallory stared at her mother, but not in surprise but in disappointment. As someone who was made to believe the vile lies, she knew somewhere in her heart that not every man would be the same.

"Don't deny him anything. If he asks for sex, do it, it's not for your pleasure anyway," she said in her indifferent tone and with a nonchalant shrug. "I hope I'm clear."

Her mother stood up and glanced back at her daughter. "Smile. Not everyone has to see you crying, Mal."

And she knew she wouldn't. She would never let anyone know about her family.

...

Mallory stood at the entrance of Noah's luxurious penthouse, her heart pounding in her chest. The grandeur of the place did little to ease her nerves. The soft lighting, elegant decor, and panoramic view of the city should have been comforting, but all she felt was an overwhelming sense of dread.

Entering inside his bedroom, she saw how the bedroom was decorated with beautiful scented roses and champagne. On either side of the bed, elegant nightstands held flickering candles, their flames casting a soft, mesmerizing light. A bouquet of fresh roses in a crystal vase sat on one of the nightstands, filling the room with their delicate fragrance. The scent of roses mingled with the subtle aroma of vanilla from the candles, creating an intoxicating and soothing atmosphere.

As someone who had never visited his apartment, she felt a little scared.

Noah closed the door behind them, his face lighting up with a gentle smile. "Welcome home, Mallory," he said softly.

Mallory tried to smile back, but her anxiety made it difficult. She glanced around the room, avoiding eye contact with Noah. Still in her wedding dress, the weight of the day and her fears pressed heavily on her. Noah, still in his suit, looked at her with concern as he noticed her unease.

"Mallory, is everything alright?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.

She nodded quickly, but the trembling in her hands betrayed her. Noah took a step closer, his eyes searching hers for the truth. He assumed her fear stemmed from being in a new place, overwhelmed by the changes and the day's events not knowing what her mother had told her previously.