A Painter's Revenge: Love Redeemed

This was my third wedding. Or, it was supposed to be. The white dress felt like a costume for a tragic play I was forced to perform in again and again. My fiancé, Damian Avila, stood beside me, but his hand was gripping the arm of Eileen Brandt, his "fragile" friend.

Suddenly, Damian was leading Eileen away from the altar, away from our guests, away from me. But this time was different. He came back, pulled me into his car, and drove me to a remote clearing. There, he tied me to a tree, and Eileen, no longer pale, slapped me. Then, Damian, the man who promised to protect me, hit me, again and again, for upsetting Eileen.

He left me tied to the tree, bleeding and alone, in the pouring rain. This wasn't the first time. A year ago, Eileen attacked me at our wedding, and Damian cradled her while I bled. Six months later, she "accidentally" burned my best friend and me, and Damian broke my friend's wrist and then my painting hand to appease Eileen. My career was over.

I was left in the woods, shivering, losing consciousness. No. I can't die here. I bit my lip, fighting to stay awake. My parents. Our family business. It was the only thing that kept me holding on.

I woke up in a hospital, my mother by my side. My throat was raw, but I had to make a call. I dialed an international number, one I had memorized long ago. "It's Alana Myers," I rasped. "I agree to the marriage. All of my family's assets transferred to your accounts for protection. And you get us out of the country."