No way. There was no way that the person I was going to get married to was the one man I hated with a passion. This had to be a nightmare or some illusion. Or was he someone else that just looked like him? If this man standing before me was Ethan Hawkes, I was not going to get married to him and would rather tell the truth here and now than be with him.

"Mom, what is going on here?" He asked while his eyes stayed on me.

Those traitorous eyes that I had once loved looking in. Those eyes that I once thought I could look into and feel safe.

"Do you two know each other?" The woman asked and came closer.

I looked away from him as what happened in the past flooded my mind. My breathing started to increase and my heart pounded to match my breathing. The memories I had been so desperate to forget, came rushing back like a tsunami.

7 years ago…

I felt like the happiest girl in the world whenever I think of Ethan Hawkes, one of the elite students at school, as my boyfriend. We started dating at the beginning of the school year and at first, I wasn't interested in him, neither did I like him because he was too full of himself and played with girls a lot but as we got close, I started to fall for him; he was nice and intelligent.

Dating Ethan Hawkes came with jealousy and death threats sent to me by other students. I couldn't say anything about it to the authorities since our school was too prestigious to have its image 'ruined' by such, so I kept it to myself. It didn't matter too much since I was with Ethan Hawkes. All that mattered was that we were happy and deeply in love. No amount of threats or hate sent my way could ruin our relationship.

Tonight, we were going out for a party date and I was so excited to see how he parties with his other friends.

"Honey, your friend's downstairs waiting!" I heard my mom call from the other side of my room door.

"Thanks!" I replied and eyed the short black dress I wore. After admiring myself, I left the room and almost ran into my smiling mother.

"I see he's taking you out on a date," she said and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Mom," I said, feeling embarrassed.

"Whatever, just stay safe and be home on time, got it?" She asked and cupped my cheeks.

"Got it, mom."

"Good." She kissed my forehead and beamed in joy. "You look so beautiful."

I blushed and nodded. "Thanks, mom."

When my phone rang, I moved away from her and waved at her before running through the hallway.

+++

The party was fun. There was lots of food, drinks, and laughter. Ethan had not even left my side ever since we arrived. He had even been more handsy than usual which excited me. There was lust written all over him and it made me feel good about it. My attraction for him ran deep and it felt good to see how obvious he was with his.

Before the end of the party, we were already all over each other. The way he kissed me was so different than when he kissed me before. It was hungry and possessive. Almost as if he wanted to devour. I was a virgin but my heart was certain that I wanted him.

"Baby, are you sure you want us to do this?" He asked in a soft voice while his breath caressed my lips.

"I'm sure," I said and he smiled before pressing his lips against mine.

The kiss got deeper as he made me lay down on the bed. Our clothes came off, our skin was moist, my body was sensitive against his and I was turned on to the point I wanted more of what he was giving.

We made love through the night and I never felt so good and complete. He was insatiable and wanted more. He made sure I was satisfied, which made me fall for him deeper. The way he touched me set my body on fire. I felt so lucky. The words he whispered in my ears and his warm hands touching every part of my body had me yearning and moaning for more. It was magical.

"Go to sleep," he whispered against my forehead after another round of lovemaking.

I smiled and snuggled closer to him and pushed my face into his neck to inhale some of his lingering scents. Goosebumps rose on my skin when his fingers drew shapes on my back and when he cupped my ass cheek. The mood and setting of the night, including the afterglow, made my heart flutter and I didn't know when the words slipped from my mouth.

"I love you."

I didn't get a response, the only thing I heard was his heart beating faster than before, followed by some incoherent words I heard right after.

The next day, I was excited to go to school and meet him. But when I arrived, I noticed the way people stared at me and how they giggled in their circles. I didn't pay attention to them and looked for Ethan, who I had found in the cafeteria later that day.

"Ethan!" I said out loud and ran up to his table. I smiled at his friends who looked away while some laughed behind their hands. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

He didn't raise his head to look at me. He didn't even say anything, he only continued to eat his food until I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I moved out of the way and a beautiful girl, who looked like she modeled for high-class brands walked past me and sat beside him.

"Hey, baby," Ethan said and wrapped his arm around her waist.

It was as if everything around me went dark. When I saw them kiss and speak to each other like they had been together for a long time, my heart shattered and I felt shame dawn on me. His friends started to laugh and give themselves high five, including him.

"What do you want?" Ethan asked with venomous disgust in his eyes. "And do I know you? Do any of you know her?"

"Whoa, man. Didn't you tell everyone that you finally fucked the only virgin in our class?" One of his friends said and they laughed.

"Oh, that's right. What do you want?" He asked again.

I shook my head and turned around. I noticed that everyone was looking at me. Some looked pitiful, others were mocking. Tears filled my eyes and I started to cry softly.

"Aw, she's crying," someone said and the room oohed and ahhed.

I wiped my tears and ran out of the cafeteria. I ran out of the school building and never came back. The following year was when our misfortune started and it distorted my mental health to the point I imagined drowning.

+++

I glared harder at Ethan Hawkes who now had shock written all over his face. I was never going to get married to him; never. I would rather steal than accept this marriage. It would go against everything I have said about myself because of him.

I would rather die than be his wife.

"This marriage will not hold."

Everyone gasped.