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.