Maybe it was because Julian seemed so sincere that day, or perhaps I just wanted to believe in something.
Either way, I actually believed his words.
After that conversation, I let down my guard and accepted his kindness. I started facing our relationship head-on, not sure if it was real or just something I needed for myself.
The company was back on track a year later, and everything seemed to fall into place. We got married, just like that. No big surprises, no deep conversations about love—just... we did it.
But on our wedding night, something didn't feel right as we stood there in the quiet of our new home. I couldn't shake the unease in my stomach, a feeling like a cold knot twisting, as if there was something I wasn't seeing.
Julian wrapped his arms around me, holding me so gently, as if I were something fragile, something precious.
"Megan," he whispered, his voice soft but serious, "you are my wife from today. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He paused momentarily, like the words were hard to say, but then continued, "I will love you and take care of you on behalf of your parents, up in heaven."
His words stung in a way I hadn't expected, but I didn't pull away. I let him hold me, let him say his vows.
"I swear, I will never let you down," he promised, and I nodded, even though I wasn't sure if I believed him anymore.
Later, I stood up, wiped away the tears I hadn't realized I'd shed and walked upstairs to the bedroom.
The vows still echoed in my head, but the man who had said them…
He didn't seem like the same person anymore.
Maybe it was because I hadn't rested well in the past few days after being in the hospital, or perhaps it was just the exhaustion from everything that had happened. But after taking a quick shower and getting into bed, I drifted into a deep sleep.
I had no idea how long I had been out, but suddenly, the door slammed open, and the noise jolted me awake.
Julian strode into the room, looking furious. He didn't even pause. He marched straight to the window, yanked the blanket off me, and turned to face me with that cold, almost mocking smile.
"Wasn't your injury serious?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Look at you, sleeping like a baby. Guess you're not as hurt as you said."
I pulled the blanket back from his hands, trying to get under the covers. I had just been discharged from the hospital and didn't want to catch a cold.
But Julian wasn't having it. He just got angrier.
"Megan, have I been too kind to you? You embarrassed me in front of all our friends today!" His voice was low but sharp. "Who are you putting on this victim act for?"
I didn't say anything. I wrapped myself in the blanket tighter, not wanting to deal with his outburst.
"Are you mute now, or did the fall knock some sense into you?" Julian growled. "I'm talking to you! Why are you acting like you're dead?"
I sat there, numb, but his next words hit me like a ton of bricks.
"We're not kids anymore. This is just a business marriage. Don't tell me you were hoping for some fairytale love story."
Business marriage.
The words echoed in my mind, and suddenly, everything clicked into place.
It hadn't really been a fairytale, had it?
Sure, Julian had been sweet. He'd done all the right things at first. But the truth was, I'd been living in a fantasy, too afraid to see it for what it was.
A business deal.
A way for him to please his parents and make his life easier.
Since marrying Julian, I'd spent most of my time working with him on company stuff or simply being there for him. He had made me feel like I was the center of his world.
But was I really?
Or was I just a means to an end?
Every day, I went to his office for lunch, like it was the most normal thing in the world. We'd plan weekend outings—hiking, movies, or sometimes just lazy days at home.
Every morning before he left for work, he'd kiss me while I was still half-asleep. At night, he'd pull me close and cuddle me until I drifted off again. There were always surprise gifts, flowers, and sweet notes.
For a while, I believed all of it.
I thought maybe he really was my parent's gift to me—an angel sent to love me on their behalf, especially after everything that had happened with their passing.
Maybe I needed that hope to get through.
But everything changed on our first anniversary. Julian invited many of his friends over to celebrate, and I was running late because of a work issue at the company.
When I finally arrived at the private room where they were gathering, I overheard a conversation that made my stomach turn.
I didn't recognize the voices, but one of them joked, "Hey Julian, looks like you’re the perfect husband now, huh?"
Another voice chimed in, "Seems like our sister-in-law still has her charm. Got the playboy to settle down so easily, huh?"
A third person laughed and said, "Look at all this. Julian, is this true love for your sister-in-law?"
At first, I felt a brief flutter of happiness, like maybe it was a compliment, or I was just imagining it.
But then I heard Julian's response, and all my sweetness turned to ice.
"True love?" Julian said, laughing a little like it was a joke. "It's just a business marriage. My parents pushed me into it, honestly." Then, he casually added, "Megan's parents are dead now, so there's less trouble. And her family's well-off—perfect marriage candidate, right?"
Julian continued, "And she's never been in a relationship, so she's really easy to fool."
I froze for a moment, my hand that had been about to push the door stopping mid-motion. His voice, colder than I'd anticipated, sliced through the air.
