FIXING THE BROKEN VOWS

Chapter 1

"Love, I'm ticklish!"

I playfully avoided Miguel, who was now laughing at my reaction.

I am happy to be married to this gorgeous guy. He looks like a morning star to me. His eyes are my temptation. His love is my weakness.

"Let me kiss you, baby," he groaned.

I abruptly laughed at his reaction and ran away from him.

"Cleopatra, c'mon. Just one kiss, hon."

He muttered as he slowly approached me.

"You already had your kiss this morning, Miguel." I teasingly laughed and caught his lips that were heading towards me.

My husband is indeed the most gorgeous masterpiece that God ever created. Gorgeous and lickable Miguel, my God! You corrupted my innocent mind.

"You're so stingy; it's just a kiss."

He looked at me with a hint of annoyance and pouted as he sat down on the sofa where I was seated.

"Just one kiss, please." I enjoyed his sulking tone.

I couldn't resist mocking him because he looked so cute. He resembled a baby who didn't get what it wanted and was throwing a tantrum.

I can't thank heaven enough for giving me such an adorable and loving husband. He is my treasure, and I will cherish how adorable and mischievous he is.

"Just one kiss? I can give you much more than that, Miguel." I smirked and winked, hearing a muffled groan escape from him. He quickly stood up and trapped me in his strong arms, but I pushed him away forcefully and ran into the kitchen.

I burst into laughter at his disappointment and frustration. Miguel... You don't know how much self-restraint I'm exerting to keep myself from going crazy for you.

"Caprice Cleopatra Montaverde Velarde, come out and give me your sweet kiss."

He shouted, and I couldn't help but laugh at how cliché his words were. What a poet!

I slowly crept out of the kitchen, still laughing, my eyes watering, and stopped him with a tight hug. He groaned and kissed me passionately.

If things were to change tomorrow, I know I would forever be in love with him.

"Wherever you go, I will keep on chasing you because you own me. I am yours, Cleopatra. You belong only to me," he said in the midst of our fervent kisses.

"Even when our vows wither?" I raised an eyebrow, but he held me tightly.

"Even if our vows wither, my heart and everything I own are yours. No matter how many times our promises may fade, I will still love you as much as I do now."

Sweet... I couldn't help but get teary-eyed while hearing his words. They were so promising. Miguel... I am completely and irrevocably drowning in you for eternity.

My husband has a face like a Greek God, perfectly crafted with a well-shaped face, thin and kissable lips, a chiseled jawline, and a pointed nose, accentuated by his mesmerizing blue eyes. Thick eyebrows and his curly, long eyelashes

"Thank you," I said while crying, and he gently planted a kiss on my forehead, then my nose, until it reached my lips.

"Thank you for the unconditional love, Miguel. Thank you for marrying me and loving me, " I whispered wholeheartedly amidst our kisses.

"No. Thank you. I should be the one thanking you, Cleopatra. You gave me a second chance to love even more." He wiped my tears and kissed my hair.

Our future isn't planned. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. Storms are yet to come. We are just starting a new phase of our lives together. We are uncertain about everything, but what I know is that I will love him even if the ocean remains turbulent.

In sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, my love for him will remain the same.

I woke up to loud thuds downstairs. It was already past one o'clock, and I was sure it was Miguel again, making a ruckus. I didn't know how to approach him anymore, fearing for my life.

He has changed.

I realized that this beautiful dream that happened in the past was just that—a dream, a blissful memory I had with him before he turned into a monster I never expected him to become.

Those memories give me a glimmer of hope that everything can be restored to the way it was in the past.

It's not new to me anymore—the nightly commotion downstairs. Broken things and numerous bruises have become part of my daily life. Sometimes, others look at me as if I'm crazy, wondering why I stay in this house if it's like living in hell. I taste hell, trapped in my own home, becoming his punching bag every day.

I never thought this day would come because I was blinded by all his promises, but now they are just distant memories, shattered and fragmented.

"It hurts, Miguel. What are you doing? I'm in pain!"

I begged, but he didn't listen. He was furious, not even acknowledging my tears and pleas.

"Shut the fuck up! Give it back to me, Clea."

He slapped me again, and my vision became blurry from the tears. The pain throbbed in my cheek.

"I can't. Our money is running out, Miguel, and you're just wasting it on gambling!"

He grabbed me by the hair, and I struggled to free myself, but I didn't have the strength to remove his firm grip. All I could do was cry and beg him to stop.

I pleaded, but he didn't hear me. He was too consumed by anger to hear my cries.

"It hurts, Miguel. Please... I'm begging you..."

He pushed me, and I crashed into the wall, causing everything on the floor to shatter violently.

I didn't know how terrible it was to be a battered wife until I became one. My life resembled the movies I had watched. I felt so useless, trapped in this house, becoming his punching bag every day.

I never imagined that this would happen. I was fed with his promises, but now they are just distant memories, shattered and broken.

"Please, Miguel, I'm begging you." I cried uncontrollably.

Maybe it's because of the pain, but I stepped on broken glass, feeling my heart shatter as well.

Before, I adored his eyes, but now they seemed like burning ice that I could never break through. They were like an ocean full of terrifying sea creatures.

"Shut up!" He yanked my hair again, and I tried to remove his tight grip, but I had no strength left. All I could do was cry and beg him to stop.

I pleaded, but he didn't listen. He was too blinded by anger.

"It hurts, Miguel. What are you doing? I'm in pain!"

I begged, but he didn't dodge. I pushed him forcefully, causing him to crash into the wall, breaking everything in his path.

I didn't know how terrible it was to become a battered wife until I became one. My life has become like those movies I watched. I feel so useless being stuck in this house and becoming his punching bag every day.

I never thought that this day would come because I was being fed by all his promises, but now they have become memories, blurred and broken.

"Please, Miguel, I'm begging you." I cried, tears blurring my vision.

I saw Miguel snoring beside me as I woke up. For a moment, I was confused about whose calloused hands were wrapped around my belly. I slowly opened my eyes, only to be greeted by the sight of a handsome monster. His eyes were still closed, and I gently touched his intricately beautiful face.

I didn't realize that even though I'm already shattered, I still see myself drowning in the demon that is Miguel. The monster beside me calms the erratic beat of my heart.

Even if I'm already broken, I still love him, just like before. I am indeed a masochist, still longing for the warmth the monster provides.