The Sins Of The Past

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Arguments. Shouting. Slamming doors. Shattered glasses. Were the noises I heard in the Niarchos mansion since yesterday.

Ares was agitated and lost control. He didn't want to get married, so do I.

Dad was very stubborn. He wouldn't listen and reconsider that nothing happened between Ares and I... not yet... when he caught us. He wanted us to get married as soon as possible, in two days time – and that is today.

I checked my hands again. The wounds were still so fresh on my palms with ugly streaks of red and purple on my skin. It was still so painful despite the painkiller that I took. I should be thankful though, that at least I didn't have any broken bone.

It started yesterday afternoon when I arrived home and told dad that I couldn't marry Ares. He was suddenly upset and shouted at me. He called me names, really bad names that made me cringe. Whore, slut, cheap and a bitch. He even said that I was just like my mom.

The slapping and hitting started. First on my face then he took the famous bamboo stick and hit my hands.

I was used to this, since I was so young. Everytime I made a mistake, dad would hit my palms with a bamboo stick, so hard until I bruised.

Dad was always violent when he was angry. That was the reason why mom left him. She couldn't take it being a battered wife anymore. She almost died the last time dad hit her.

There was a knock outside my room and Mrs. Diaz entered.

"Oh dear. You look so beautiful in that dress. I'm sure Sir Ares' eyes will pop out when he sees you."

I hope so. I just want to stay positive on everything that was happening to encourage positive energy. I would do my best to make our marriage work. I'd be a good wife to him. I would serve him and do anything to make him happy. I like Ares... and I think I loved him already. He will learn to love me back... soon.

"Thanks Mrs. Diaz."

"Are you ready? Everyone is waiting for you in the garden."

"Yeah." I smiled at her and took the bouquet of white roses on the bed. I checked the time on the wall clock, it was quarter to five in the afternoon.

Mrs. Diaz suddenly stopped and looked at my simple long-sleeve white satin long dress closely. "What are those?"

"What?"

"These." She touched the red spots on the front of my dress. "Where did you get these stains? They look like blood."

"I... um... I don't know." I didn't want her to know about the bruises in my hands.

"We don't have enough time to remove the stain. Just cover it with the flowers. Okay?"

I nodded and followed her outside.

The wedding ceremony was held in the flower garden of Mrs. Niarchos, Ares grandmother. The place where dad caught Ares and I making out the other night.

The garden turned to paradise... like a dream. The decorations were very beautiful. White satin bows, white flowers in different kinds, white decorated chairs, white floral arch... everything was white.

There were a few people sitting on the chairs. I recognized some household help, Ares' friends and some older people - obviously Mr. Niarchos friends. But I couldn't see Ares parents. I wondered why they were not here.

My heart raced the moment I saw Ares. He looked so strikingly gorgeous in black tuxedo, standing near the floral arch, waiting for me.

Dad walked with me in the aisle, towards Ares. I was so nervous. My feet turned to ice and it was so hard to move. I was embarrassed. Everyone was watching me with a smile.