Chapter 1: The wedding

The ornate hall buzzed with anticipation as guests filled the seats, their whispers creating a symphony of excitement. Soft candlelight danced across the room, casting a warm glow on the lavish decorations adorning the space.

At the end of the aisle, Steve Johnson stood resolute, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and hidden motives. Dressed in a sharp tuxedo, he exuded an air of confidence, though his mind churned with ulterior plans. His sister, Ashley, stood beside him, beaming with joy, unaware of the deceit veiled beneath her brother's facade.

Meanwhile, Margaret Smith stood nervously in the bridal suite, her hands trembling as she clutched her bouquet. With each passing moment, the weight of her impending decision grew heavier on her shoulders. Though her mind screamed for escape, her feet remained rooted to the ground, bound by the contract that had sealed her fate.

As the music swelled, signaling her cue, Margaret took a deep breath and prepared to walk down the aisle. But before she could take a single step, the heavy wooden doors burst open, and her parents stormed into the room, their faces contorted with fury.

"Margaret!" her father bellowed, his voice echoing through the hall. "How dare you disgrace our family with this sham of a marriage?"

Without warning, her mother's hand connected with her cheek, the sharp sound of the slap reverberating in the silence. Stunned, Margaret stumbled backward, her eyes wide with shock and betrayal.

In an instant, Steve was by her side, his arms wrapping protectively around her trembling form. "Enough," he growled, his voice laced with authority. "She is under my protection now."

Chris and Marina Johnson recoiled at his words, their expressions shifting from anger to disbelief. With one final glance of scorn, they turned and stormed out of the hall, severing their ties with their daughter in a single, heart-wrenching moment.

Steve held Margaret close, his embrace offering a rare comfort amidst the chaos. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, his voice low and determined. "The revenge has begun."

With those words hanging in the air, Margaret took Steve's outstretched hand, her fingers intertwining with his as they made their way to the altar. Amidst the whispers and stares of their guests, they stood together, ready to exchange vows that would bind them in more ways than one.

As they stood before the priest, Margaret's heart pounded in her chest, each word of the vows echoing in her mind like a haunting melody. With every promise spoken, Steve's hidden intentions loomed larger, casting a shadow over the facade of their union. Yet, with each vow, Margaret held onto a glimmer of hope, praying for a miracle to halt the inevitable.

Steve, on the other hand, uttered his vows with a sinister determination, his thoughts veiled in darkness as he silently vowed to shatter Margaret's happiness and bind her to his will. Each "I do" that escaped his lips carried with it a whispered promise of control and manipulation, a stark contrast to the love and commitment portrayed to the world.

When the time came for Margaret to speak, a heavy silence hung in the air, her hesitation palpable as she wrestled with the weight of her decision. Lost in her thoughts, she remained motionless until Steve's sharp pinch jolted her back to reality, a silent reminder of the consequences of defiance.

With a heavy heart and a forced smile, Margaret finally uttered the words "I do," her voice barely above a whisper as she resigned herself to the fate that awaited her.

As the priest pronounced them husband and wife, they shared a kiss that sealed their union, though the taste of bitterness lingered on Margaret's lips, a stark reminder of the lies and deceit that bound them together. And as they walked hand in hand, newlyweds in the eyes of the world, Margaret couldn't shake the sinking feeling that her hopes for escape had been dashed, leaving her trapped in a marriage built on revenge and deception.