[3 years ago]

When Erin's parents announced her engagement to Antoine, a man she barely knew and had only met once at a family dinner, her heart sank. Antoine had always given her the creeps, his forced smile and aloof demeanor doing nothing to reassure her.

Her mom smiled, trying to be upbeat. "Isn't Antoine just perfect for you, Erin?"

Erin forced a tight smile, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, sure."

Her dad clapped Antoine on the back. "You two will make a great match. It's time to settle down."

Erin's reluctance to the marriage was evident. As her parents discussed wedding plans, she stood there, arms crossed, a frown etched deeply on her face.

Her mom, buzzing with excitement, said, "We've set the date! Isn't this wonderful?"

Erin sighed heavily. "Do I really have to go through with this?"

Her dad frowned, clearly annoyed. "What's with the attitude? Antoine's a good match."

Erin's voice cracked with frustration. "But I barely know him. I'm not ready for this."

Her mom snapped back, "We've talked about this. It's best for your future."

Erin clenched her jaw. "My future? You mean the one where I'm stuck with someone I don't even like?"

Her dad's patience wore thin. "Enough. You're being selfish. This is what's expected of you."

As the argument dragged on, Erin's eyes welled up with tears. "You just don't get it. I can't pretend to be happy with Antoine when all I want is to be with someone else—"

Her mom's face hardened. "Think about somebody else and we won't mind to kill him at the spot.....You'll get used to it. We're not discussing this further."

Erin's shoulders slumped as she walked away, feeling trapped and defeated. The thought of being forced into a life she didn't choose was unbearable, and she felt utterly powerless.

-————————————————————

The day of the engagement was a blur of dread and resignation. As Antoine slipped the engagement ring onto her finger, Erin's fingers felt cold and numb. She barely managed a weak smile, her thoughts miles away, fixated on Taehyung.

The moment Antoine leaned in for their first kiss, Erin felt a wave of revulsion. His lips were nothing like Taehyung's-there was no warmth, no familiarity. She shut her eyes tightly, trying to block out the reality of the moment, wishing desperately that Taehyung was here instead.

The whole situation was suffocating. Erin wanted to scream but instead, she fought back tears, feeling trapped in a life she never wanted. Her thoughts were consumed with memories of Taehyung, and she longed to tell her parents about him, but their refusal to even acknowledge his existence made her feel even more isolated.

Later, alone in her room, Erin stared at the ceiling, whispering to the empty space. "How's Tae doing? Does he even think of me?"

She scribbled furiously in her diary, her words raw with pain. "Dear Tae, my darling, this is hell. I can't even mention you to my parents. They think you're a ghost. I miss you more than words can say. Please, be out there somewhere, just thinking of me."

Erin was deep in thought, scribbling frantically in her diary when Antoine's loud thud echoed through the room. She flinched, her heart racing as the door swung open. Panic set in as she scrambled to hide the diary, shoving it under the bed with a desperate shove.

Her hands trembled as she smoothed her dress and forced a smile, trying to mask her anxiety. Antoine looked around, oblivious to her distress, but Erin's mind was racing, her thoughts a jumble of frustration and fear at being exposed.

When Antoine stepped into their room on their wedding night and looked at Erin with what she perceived as a ridiculous gaze, Erin was overwhelmed by a mix of dread and frustration. The whole night felt surreal and suffocating, and Antoine's presence only made it worse.

Antoine gets dangerously close to her,"You look beautiful tonight, Erin."

Erin whispered,"Thanks," her voice is flat, hiding her true feelings.

Inside, Erin is thinking, "Why does he have to look at me like that? I feel so out of place."

As Antoine approached, Erin felt the weight of her situation crushing her. She tried to act normal, but her mind was elsewhere, stuck on Taehyung.

Antoine voice echoed around,"Is everything alright? You seem a little distant."

Erin spoke, "Just tired. It's been a long day."

Erin was really thinking, "You have no idea how much I wish this wasn't happening. I wish I could be with Taehyung instead of trying to fake a smile for you."

She struggled to keep her emotions in check as Antoine continued to look at her with a gaze she found unsettling. The entire situation felt like a nightmare, with Antoine's presence reminding her of how far she was from where she wanted to be.

As Antoine moved closer and invaded Erin's personal space, she felt a surge of discomfort and fear. His forceful grip on her waist was jarring, amplifying her feelings of entrapment and helplessness.

Antoine smirk grew. "You don't need to be so tense, Erin. Just relax."

"I—I'm just not used to this yet." Her voice wavers.

Inside, Erin was thinking, "This is too much. I feel like I can't breathe. Why can't he just back off?"

Her mind raced with thoughts of Taehyung, and the physical closeness made her feel even more isolated and distressed. She struggled to mask her revulsion while wishing desperately for the situation to end.

Soon, within a blink, Erin was thrown onto the bed, her scream pierced the air. Her eyes locked onto Antoine's smirk as he slowly removed his belt.

"Why are you doing this?" she gasped, her voice trembling with fear.

Antoine's expression remained unchanged. "You don't seem happy at all at the wedding. Don't you know who you're married to?"

Erin's breath quickened. "Please, Antoine. This isn't right."

He stepped closer, his voice cold and unyielding. "No worries, I'll show you exactly who I am."

As Antoine's belt struck Erin's brown skin, a heart-wrenching scream echoed through the room, the force turning her skin red. Erin's desperate pleas filled the space. "Please don't, I—t hurts."

Antoine, unmoved by her cries, continued until he felt his breath becoming labored, showing no sign of stopping.

As Antoine continued his assault through the night, Erin felt overwhelmed by a deep sense of disgust and violation. Each moment seemed to deepen her despair.

Through her tears, she pleaded, "Please stop. I can't endure this anymore," but Antoine's indifference made her cries seem futile. Erin felt devastated by her inability to resist or protect herself.

Her tears flowed uncontrollably as she grappled with feelings of helplessness and self-blame. "Why won't you listen?" she sobbed, feeling crushed by her lack of control and the betrayal she experienced. Her emotional pain was compounded by the sense of failure to defend herself, leaving her profoundly shaken and heartbroken.

And unfortunately, whole night that beast ruined and destroyed her sanity.
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Throughout the month, Antoine's abuse just wouldn't stop, and Erin felt completely overwhelmed. The physical pain was intense, but not being able to reach out to her parents made it worse.

"Please, let me call my parents," Erin pleaded, tears streaming down. "I really need them right now."

Antoine's face stayed cold. "No way. You're mine now, and you'll do as I say."

Erin felt her heart breaking. "How can you do this? I need my family."

Antoine's refusal to let her contact anyone left Erin feeling isolated and trapped. The mix of physical pain and emotional helplessness was crushing, leaving her feeling utterly alone and devastated.

Antoine's abusive behavior toward Erin was brutal and demeaning. When she made a mistake or did something he deemed wrong, he would erupt in verbal attacks.

"You're such an ungrateful brat and a bitch," he'd yell, his voice dripping with disdain. "I do everything for you, and this is how you repay me?"

Erin would try to defend herself, her voice trembling, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

But Antoine would cut her off, his anger boiling over. "Save it. You're always messing up. You need to learn to keep your mouth shut and do as you're told."

Along with the verbal abuse, he'd often resort to physical punishment. A harsh shove or a rough grab would follow his outbursts, leaving her feeling physically and emotionally battered.

In front of her parents, Antoine was a completely different person. He'd switch to charming and polite, greeting them with a warm smile and showing them a perfect husband act.

"Everything's great, thanks for asking," he'd say, maintaining a facade of being the ideal son-in-law. He'd laugh and engage in friendly conversation, hiding the abusive reality from her family.

Erin felt trapped and isolated, knowing that her parents saw only a fraction of the truth, while she suffered in silence behind closed doors.

When Erin's parents brought up the subject of having a grandchild, they were clearly desperate for it. Their excitement and eagerness left Erin stunned, and she felt sick to her stomach at the thought of having a baby with Antoine, who had become a source of torment in her life.

Her mother said, "We're so looking forward to a grandchild. It would mean the world to us."

Erin's face turned pale, and she felt nauseous. She couldn't imagine bringing a child into this situation, especially with Antoine. Her stomach churned, and she barely managed to keep herself together.

Antoine, on the other hand, played along with a smirk. "Sure, we'll get right on that," he said smoothly. The smirk on his face revealed his amusement at the whole situation, as if the idea of having a child was a mere game to him.

Once they were back at home, Antoine's demeanor changed drastically. With a cruel grin, he told Erin, "Looks like we've got some 'work' to do now, huh? Better start getting ready."

Erin's heart sank as she realized what this meant for her. Her pleas fell on deaf ears as Antoine's abuse resumed, his earlier facade of charm now replaced with his harsh, unrelenting behavior.
-————————————————————

In the gallery, Erin broke down, desperately trying to explain to her parents what Antoine was really like. "Mom, Dad, he's so wrong. He's not at all what he seems. You don't know what he's doing to me."

Her mother's face twisted in disgust. "Erin, you're the one being unreasonable. Antoine is a great guy. Why are you saying these things about him?"

Her father added sternly, "You're the slut here. Antoine treats you just fine. You need to stop making trouble."

Erin's heart shattered. She sobbed harder, feeling utterly alone. "But you don't understand—"

Her mother cut her off, "You're just upset. Antoine is a good husband. Maybe you should look at your own behavior."

Feeling defeated and humiliated, Erin cried uncontrollably. The fact that her own parents were dismissing her pain and siding with Antoine left her feeling worthless and degraded.

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Antoine was seething with anger as he yanked Erin's hair, pulling her head back. "Why aren't you getting pregnant?" he demanded, his voice filled with rage.

Erin screamed, the pain overwhelming her. "Please, I'm trying—"

Before she could finish, Antoine slammed her head against the bathroom marble, leaving her dazed and crying out in agony. The physical abuse had been relentless for the past month, all because she hadn't gotten pregnant.

Desperate for help, Erin had tried to explain her suffering to her parents, but their reaction was harsh and dismissive. Her mother said sharply, "Erin, you need to stop blaming everyone else. Antoine has every right to be upset."

Her father added, "You're making a scene. Antoine has been patient. Maybe you should look at your own actions."

The lack of support from her parents and their alignment with Antoine's harshness left Erin feeling utterly betrayed and isolated. Their refusal to believe her and the continuous abuse from Antoine had a deep, traumatic impact on her mental and emotional well-being.

Despite countless trials and frustrations, Erin and Antoine still couldn't conceive. Antoine's frustration boiled over one day. "I can't bear that you're the infertile one here!" he snapped. Erin, tears streaming down her face, retorted, "You could be the problem too! We haven't even gotten our medical reports yet!"

Erin found a strange solace in the fact that, at least, she wouldn't have a child from someone who had raped her. Still, the reality of never becoming a mother was a constant ache.

One stormy night, with the rain beating down harder, the tension between them heightened as they received their medical reports via email. Erin's hands shook as she opened the email and read aloud, "Azospermia." Her eyes widened in shock.

"What's that?" Antoine demanded, pacing anxiously.

Erin, with a wry smile, Googled the term and read aloud, "It means a very low sperm count."

Antoine, visibly angry, slammed a pot on the floor, shattering it. "I-—I don't think this is right!"

Erin's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and triumph. "Oh, really? You're the one with the problem, and all you've done is blame me!"

In the aftermath, Erin's parents suggested they consult an IVF specialist in Korea, someone they knew to be highly skilled. They decided to go, keeping the details of who was infertile to themselves.

Her mother asked, "So, you're going to Korea for treatment. How's Antoine handling everything?"

Erin sighed. "He's still in denial. He's angry and keeps blaming me."

Her father added, "Well, it's tough for anyone to hear they have a problem. But going to Korea might be a good move."

Her mother nodded. "And remember, focus on finding solutions. We're here for you, no matter what."

Erin managed a faint smile. "Thanks. It helps to know we have your support." support , my foot.

-————————————————————

As the plane prepared for takeoff from Sweden, Erin gazed out the window, her heart heavy with the weight of leaving her past behind. She could almost feel the pull of what she was leaving-her old life and the part of her that had been torn apart. The thought of starting over in Korea felt both necessary and painful.

Antoine sat beside her, flipping through travel documents, seemingly lost in thought. Erin's mind raced with a surge of anxiety. "What's Taehyung doing now? Where is he?" she wondered, her fingers gripping the crucifix around her neck as if it could anchor her in this storm of emotions.

As the plane began its ascent, Erin closed her eyes briefly, clutching the crucifix tighter, hoping that this new journey would offer some solace and a chance to heal from the past.

-————————————————————

Erin and Antoine arrived at the IVF hospital, greeted by a sea of people waiting for their appointments. After a brief check-in, they were directed to Dr. Jeon's office. Dr. Jeon, dressed in a white coat and looking every bit the part, was accompanied by his personal assistant, Seo Sohyun.

"Hey, so, with your condition-azospermia-we'll need to go with artificial insemination," Dr. Jeon said, his voice steady and professional.

Erin, feeling distant and detached, kept her gaze lowered. She barely registered the conversation, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Taehyung. Her heart ached with the need to see him, to understand what was happening in his world.

Once the consultation wrapped up, Antoine and Erin stepped out to fill in some paperwork. Erin, feeling overwhelmed, excused herself. "Antoine, I need to use the washroom," she said, her voice hollow. She walked down the corridor slowly, her face streaked with dried tears, murmuring to herself, "I really miss you, Taehyung."

Just as she was about to enter the washroom, she overheard a conversation. "Okay, if that's your final decision, I won't stop you, Taehyung," said a voice she recognized as Dr. Jungkook's. Erin's heart skipped a beat. She pressed herself against the wall, her breath catching in her throat.

Dr. Jungkook was talking to someone with their back turned to her. As the person turned around, Erin's eyes widened in shock. The face that greeted her was eerily familiar. Her breath hitched, her heart racing.

"T—Taehyung? Is that really you?" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

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Thank youuuuu
-I hope it makes you clear with the truth<3
-Jiya<3