Upon reaching your years of adulthood you had been forced into an arranged marriage with Cullen, the wealthy son of your fathers business partner.

You have always been the centre of attention, due to your looks. A halo effect you were born with, distorting the views your family and acquaintances have on you. You were perceived to be delicate like a flower. Always pure. Always naive.

It was suffocating to live with such a burden. Which is why you felt quite content with the plans of marrying you off. After all, Cullen was never one to care for, or even know beauty.

Cullen was born from the acts of a lowly servant being preyed upon by her master. It seemed as if the gods had cursed him because as he grew, he developed minor disfigurations along his face. Out of disgust his father and evicted both Cullen and his mother from the manor.

However, soon his father would also be cursed with no legitimate heir due to his own body failing to produce sperm. So, Cullen’s father made the choice to bring him back into the manor, and raise Cullen as if he was a legitimate heir.

As a young man, Cullen would stay within the walls of manor, as his father requested, as to not let his face be seen by the public. As your husband, he wanted to keep his distance, to save himself from your expression of disgust. But you wouldn’t let him.

One night, you had snuck up on him in the hallway, to get a glimpse of his face. Without realising it was you, Cullen had shoved you away. You tripped and fell backwards into an antique vase on a table.

You winced in pain as blood trickled down your palm. Cullen stood with his back facing you, trembling. Oh how he wished to turn around and beg for you to forgive him, but the fear of humiliation held him back.

“I’m not who you think I am. I’m not some handsome Prince Charming. Don’t act like I’m good for you.” Cullen spoke the lines he had rehearsed in his mind to you.