Remembering

*Flashback*

Gwen was in her bedroom, looking at her suitcases. She was to marry the son of the Lennox family.

"Is it really necessary?" she asked her mother.

"Yes, dear. They have promised your grandfather. Many years ago. And now that we are in this condition… it is better if you marry. I don't know for how long we'll be able to feed ourselves and keep this house."

"So, you're coming, right?" Gwen asked. Her mother had always been a great mother. Loving, caring, and trying her best to be around Gwen. Whenever Gwen felt sad, her mother was by her side.

"Why not?" She asked, frowning.

"A couple, especially one that don't know each other very well, will need time and space for that. I would only be in the way." She answered. "Besides, I want to have time for myself. I have not had it since before I was married to your dad."

Shirley was still very beautiful, although her face seemed more sad and gloomy. Edmund was the love of her life, but unfortunately, nobody could say the same about his feelings toward her. The day he ran away with the money, was the day Shirley started to die.

"Are you sure, mom?" Gwen asked. She loved her mother dearly and didn't want to be separated from her. She knew how much her mother suffered and still suffered, for her father's absence and the way he fled away.

Gwen was a student at the University of Cincinnati. Biochemistry. She has always loved it and dreamed of working for the greatest company in the field of research, not only for medicaments, but for cosmetics.: Schönheit Company.

Three months before, she saw the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. She didn't know his name, by the time. And when one of her friends finally told her the name of that exquisite man. He had just graduated and was having his specialization. Ethan Lennox was his name. Tall, raven hair, deep blue eyes, muscular - even thought she had never seen his, by the time, without clothes. He was perfect, in her opinion.

About two weeks before her marriage, she was informed about the deal between her family and the Lennox. Once she heard the surname, her heart started beating faster. Her mother confirmed that the Lennox family had only one son. Ethan was his name. And she was, officially, in love with him!

"Absolutely, my dear. Now, go take your shower and we will get you ready. We don't want your groom to wait for too long, do we?" Gwen had told her mother about the guy she was infatuated with and, when she found out his identity, her mother was happy for her. Destiny worked out just fine.

With a nod and a smile, Gwen got up and went to the bathroom. She was going to be ready for her future husband. She wanted to be flawless. And she was so nervous… they were going to be married, so they were going to do that. She had never let any man near her. She had the sweet dream of marrying a virgin and even her first kiss would be with the man she loved and that loved her back.

Well, he probably didn't love her. He never even knew her. But he was going to be her husband. Her forever partner. And she was ready to give everything of herself to him. Everything. Anything he asked, she was going to agree with. As long as they could be happy, a happy couple and live together until old age would take them away.

Once she was ready, she looked at herself in the mirror. He hardly wear makeup. Her family was from the fashion industry, but she was never very much into it. Not really, although she loved art and makeup, as it was artistic. But daily, she would not bother to wear it. She just prefered to have a good skincare. Now, she could see it did pay off. Her skin was shiny and healthy. She just needed to cover her dark circles, since she didn't sleep well because of anxiety, her lips had a thin layer ofligh pink lipstick and her eyelashes, full and long, were with mascara on.

"You look divine, Gwen." Shirley said and wiped the tears on her own eyes. "He will love you, I'm sure. There is nothing in you for someone to not love you."

"Mom… you are not someone I can trust in this matter." Gwen said and Shirley sighed.

"True, true." She laughed of happiness. "I wish you, my dear daughter, all happiness in the world."

He was late. Damn late. But she had to wait, right? Her mother was by her side, calming her down. And then, she knew he had arrived. She turned around and yes, there he was. It was like he was embedded in light, pure light. Only he existed. He was staring at her, right at her, and she saw a slight smile on his lips. But then, that smile vanished and a frown appeared, followed by cold eyes. She blushed. Did he dislike her so much? Was she that ugly?

He greeted her and her mother, politely, and went to the balcony, to sign the papers. He didn't even look at her again.

Once they were married, they took a photograph. Her mother asked and him, as a gentleman, didn't refuse. But he did not smile. He was serious. Even being nervous, Gwen opened a bright smile.

"End of Flashback"

Gwen was driving back home and those thoughts invaded her mind. How silly she was, right? Thinking that she could have loved enough for them both. She didn't love him in the beginning, but within one year, she was sure he was everything to her. Her mother died and she got more attached to him. But he, instead, was more and more distant.

During the last year, Darla came back to his life. Darla Cooper. She was his high school sweetheart, but once she became a model and traveled, they broke up. And that was when he had to marry Gwen.

Everyone thought he was going to, somehow, marry Darla. When she came back, Gwen was treated as if she was the wrong one. She was the one in the way of their happiness. When she never even knew about the woman before.

Ethan seemed to hate Gwen, except when they were in bed. Those were the only moments he seemed to look at her, for real. But then, afterwards, he would get up and go to his own room. They never slept together, apart from their wedding night.

Now, thinking back at it, Gwen questioned herself if she ever loved him . Maybe not. Maybe she loved the idea of him .The idea of love. She didn't even know Ethan Lennox.