

The Unwanted Vows

 

Chapter 3: Drunk Marco

The car stopped outside the mansion.

Marco was barely conscious. His head was pounding. His eyes were blurry.

"Sir, we're home," the driver said.

Marco mumbled something and tried to get out of the car. He stumbled and almost fell. The driver caught him.

"Sir, let me help you."

"I don't need help," Marco growled.

But he was too weak to walk on his own. He leaned heavily on the driver as they walked up the stairs and into the mansion.

The servants rushed to help. But a sharp voice stopped them.

"Take him to the young master's room," a servant said. "The mistress's orders."

The driver nodded. He led Marco up the stairs and down the hall.

________________________________________

Leo heard footsteps in the hallway.

His heart started to race. He sat up quickly, wiping his tears. His eyes were swollen and red.

The door opened.

Marco stumbled in, supported by the driver. His expensive suit was wrinkled. His hair was messy. His eyes were glassy and unfocused.

Leo's breath caught in his throat.

"Where should I put him, sir?" the driver asked.

"I don't know," Leo whispered. "I don't—"

"The mistress ordered that he stay here tonight," the driver said. "This is his room now."

Leo's face went pale. He wanted to argue. He wanted to scream. But he remembered Natalia's words.

"Be the calm in his storm."

"Bring him here," Leo said quietly.

He helped the driver guide Marco to the bed. Marco fell onto the mattress, groaning. He was completely unconscious now.

The driver bowed and left.

Leo stood there, staring at the man on the bed. This was his husband. The man who had humiliated him. The man who hated him.

And now they were alone together.

Leo felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. He backed away from the bed. He sank into the corner of the room.

He started to cry again.

"Why me?" he whispered. "What did I do to deserve this?"

He thought about his life. All the orphanages. All the foster families who never wanted him. All the times he had hoped for something good to happen, only to be disappointed.

"This is my life," he sobbed. "I'm always alone. Always unlucky. No one wants me. No one ever wants me."

He looked at Marco. His husband was lying on the bed, completely drunk. He wouldn't wake up for hours.

"If he wanted to," Leo whispered, "he could kill me tonight. And no one would ever know. No one would even care."

He buried his face in his knees and cried until he had no tears left. His body was exhausted. His heart was broken.

Slowly, without realizing it, Leo fell asleep.

________________________________________

Morning light streamed through the window.

Marco's eyes fluttered open. His head was pounding. His mouth was dry. For a moment, he didn't know where he was.

Then he remembered.

The wedding. The humiliation. The angry vows.

And the stranger.

Marco sat up slowly. His eyes scanned the room. And then he saw it.

A figure sitting in the corner. Curled up in a small ball, fast asleep. It was the boy from the wedding. The orphan. The liar.

Marco's face twisted with anger.

"Acting all saint," he muttered. "Sleeping in the corner like some wounded bird. Like he's the victim."

He remembered what Andrei had told him. The boy was a puppet for Ivan Volkov. The boy was a liar. A manipulator. A thief.

Marco didn't question it. He didn't investigate. He just believed.

He climbed out of bed and walked toward the corner.

Leo sensed someone's presence. His eyes shot open. He saw Marco standing over him. His heart slammed against his chest.

"M-Marco..." he stammered.

"Don't say my name," Marco snarled.

He reached down and grabbed Leo's hair. Leo screamed in pain. His eyes filled with tears.

"Please!" Leo begged. "Please stop! I didn't do anything!"

"Liar!" Marco shouted. "You think I don't know about Ivan Volkov? You think I don't know you're his puppet? You're here to destroy me! Just like Andrei said!"

"I don't know who that is!" Leo cried. "I've never met him! I swear!"

Marco's grip tightened. Leo's head was pulled back painfully. Tears streamed down his face.

"You're a liar," Marco hissed. "You're a fake. You think you can fool me with your tears? You think I'll fall for your innocent act?"

"Please, Marco," Leo sobbed. "Please let me go. I won't interfere with your life. I'll stay silent. I'll stay away from you. I promise. Just please don't hurt me."

Marco's eyes were wild with rage. He pulled Leo closer until their faces were inches apart.

"I should kiss you," Marco said coldly. "I should remind you who you belong to. You're my husband now. That means I can do whatever I want with you."

Leo's face went white with fear. "No," he whispered. "Please. Don't. Please don't do this to me."

Marco leaned in. His lips were almost touching Leo's.

Leo squeezed his eyes shut. His whole body was trembling. "Please," he begged. "Please. I'll never come near you. I'll stay in my room forever. I won't talk to anyone. I won't eat with you. I'll be invisible. Just please don't do this. I'm so scared. Please."

Marco stopped.

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes. Something that looked almost like... pity.

But it was gone in an instant.

He shoved Leo away. Leo fell to the floor, gasping for air.

"Fine," Marco said coldly. "Stay away from me. Stay away from Andrei. Stay away from everyone. If you try anything, if I catch you talking to Ivan, I will destroy you. Do you understand?"

Leo nodded frantically. "Yes. Yes. I understand. I promise."

Marco turned and walked to the door. He didn't look back.

Leo lay on the floor, sobbing. His scalp was burning. His heart was shattered.

But he was alive.

Barely.

________________________________________

The door slammed shut.

Leo was alone again.

He pulled himself up and crawled back to his corner. He wrapped his arms around his knees and started to cry once more.

The tears came like a river. All the pain he had kept inside came pouring out.

"I can't do this," he whispered. "I can't survive this."

But even as he said it, something inside him fought back.