Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

Alajos should have left early, for when Vivian awoke, he was nowhere to be found. He had been like this ever since their wedding night, constantly avoiding her.

Could this be the way they were to continue their relationship?

The thought of having to spend decades with Alajos, now that they were married, made Vivian feel like she was on the verge of collapse. No girl would not wish to marry a man who loved her, a man who would offer her love, sweetness, and care.

Now, she could not taste any sweetness, only bitterness filled her mouth.

Perhaps she should do something. If she couldn’t receive what she needed from Alajos, could she find it elsewhere? This place was so dull, maybe she should leave.

After freshening up, Vivian went downstairs. Luzia and Mare were already up and enjoying the breakfast Haylee had prepared. Haylee quickly prepared a portion for her, and Vivian took her seat at the dining table.

“What shall we do today?” Luzia seemed to be in a good mood.

Vivian, on the other hand, was not. She poked at her fried eggs with a fork but had no appetite to eat them.

“Finish your breakfast quickly; it won’t taste good once it’s cold,” Luzia said. “After breakfast, change into your clothes. We’re going to do your hair and let the makeup artist give you a delicate makeup look.”

“Why?” Makeup and styling sounded so tiring, and Vivian was not in the mood. “I don’t want to go. I’m not in the mood.”

“When you’re not in the mood, that’s when you need to put on beautiful clothes and makeup,” Luzia replied. “They will beautify your mood. Then we can go shopping, to the biggest mall in Houston.”

“No,” Vivian shook her head. “I don’t need to buy anything.”

“You will find something. It’s not about what you buy, but about going out and changing your spirits,” Luzia invited her warmly, “Don’t worry about the price. Alajos’s black card has no limit; you can buy anything you want.”

Luzia cheered and went upstairs to change.

Vivian sighed and pushed her breakfast forward. “You’ll come too, right?”

Mare had finished his breakfast and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I need to protect you.”

“Okay,” Vivian accepted. “Do you know where Alajos is?”

“Working.”

“When will he be back?”

“He’ll return after he finishes his work.”

Vivian wanted to ask more, but Mare didn’t give her the chance. “I can’t guarantee the exact time. My main duty is to ensure your safety.”

Vivian glared at him angrily and turned to go upstairs.

Alajos’s room was unfamiliar to her, but there was no denying the luxurious decor. Of course, what she liked most was the bathroom.

The bathroom was large, accommodating a sizable massage bathtub where Vivian could comfortably soak in a bubble bath. Then, she’d slip into her comfy cotton dress. Her hair was casually styled, cascading over her shoulders, and she applied nude lipstick and mascara…

Vivian looked into the mirror at her doll-like refinement and smiled faintly. She felt Luzia was right; beautiful clothes and makeup could indeed make a girl’s mood beautiful. She should listen to Luzia and go shopping; perhaps she would have an experience that would cheer her up for the entire day.

“It looks like you’re ready.” Luzia was waiting at the stairwell, pleased with Vivian’s meticulous dress. “You’re so pretty, my heart’s racing.”

“Thank you.”

“Cheer up, Vivian, don’t be so down.” Luzia pulled her along, leading her downstairs. “It’s just a little fight with Alajos. Arguments happen between spouses; it’s not the end of the world, the Earth isn’t going to explode tomorrow.”

“Don’t say that.”

Luzia shrugged. “Actually, I thought you would be happy.”

Indeed, the Vivian before the wedding would have been pleased not to have more contact with Alajos, and Vivian had thought the same. But reality was not as she had believed.

Vivian sighed. “I don’t know how to describe it.”

“Then stop thinking about it. Listen, Vivian, let’s cast aside all the troubles now, whether it’s business, the marriage contract, or Alajos himself, throw them all away.”

“Throw them away?”

“Yes, throw them away. Stop letting these things bother you. We are young, we have plenty of time.” Luzia raised the unlimited black card in her hand, her smile as bright as the sun. “And we have this card without limit; we should go buy, buy, buy. Money can buy everything you want.”

Vivian crossed her arms. “Moneycannot buy happiness or freedom.”

“Nor can it buy love,” Luzia said, pulling Vivian toward the door. “But it can buy joy.”

Luzia pressed the elevator button while Mare followed, closing the apartment door and setting the security lock.

A car was already waiting for them downstairs. Mare, as usual, took the passenger seat, while Vivian and Luzia settled in the back.

Vivian had had countless opportunities to walk through the Houston mall, but she had never strolled the grand avenues of Houston on her own; everything in Houston was still so foreign to her.

“I haven’t thanked you yet,” Luzia said, leaning on Vivian.

“For what?” Vivian looked at her, puzzled.

“For asking Alajos to annul my engagement to Joseph.” Luzia was looking down, fiddling with her polished red nails. “Actually, I had already accepted my fate, but when I heard you were willing to trade with Alajos for me, even though you were so… I really…”

Luzia covered her mouth, trying to hide her crying.

“The truth is I wasn’t able to secure anything for you,” Vivian felt sad. “I really like you, Luzia. You’re like a little sun, radiant and warm, and I think you’ve always been that kind of girl.” But Joseph’s violence would only destroy her.

“I told you before, I’m just glad I’m not engaged to some sixty-year-old man; I’m already very fortunate.”

Vivian looked at her sadly. “That’s not fortune; it’s another tragedy.”

“What does it matter? Fortune or tragedy, we can’t escape it,” Luzia sighed. “Vivian, we are the same kind of people, with the same fate of being sent away. But the difference between you and me is that I have accepted my fate, while you are still fighting for yours. Every time you struggle, every time you run, it makes me proud of you, and I hope that one day you will successfully find your own direction.”

“But deep down we both know, it’s useless, we can’t escape, our fates were sealed-to lose love and freedom in a marriage of trade. But we will have endless money; we can shop and party with friends to our hearts’ content. Come on, let’s enjoy the happiness of spending money together.”

Luzia waved her arms cheerfully, and Vivian didn’t know if she was truly that happy. She felt she wasn’t, but she couldn’t save anyone.

Suddenly, Vivian remembered Shirley’s cousin-John.