They called her lucky.
They said she was blessed.
Because she wore a wedding gown.
Because she finally "found a husband."
But nobody knew… that she was the one who paid for everything.
Her name was Remi.
Smart girl. Beautiful.
She had dreams of owning a salon.
But what she got instead…
Was a slap on her wedding night.
Let me tell you how it started.
Remi had been dating Kunle for two years.
He wasn't rich.
He didn't have a job.
But he was tall, fine, and had "swag."
He used to wear perfume like his life depended on it.
Remi used to buy him clothes.
She paid his rent twice.
She even paid for his mother's medication.
Her friends warned her.
"Na your son you dey marry?"
But she said, "He loves me… he just needs support."
So when he proposed, she shouted YES like it was freedom.
She bought the ring herself.
She paid for the hall.
She paid for the food.
She paid for the drinks, DJ, and decoration.
Even the bride price…
She gave Kunle the money in secret to give her family.
And they still danced like it was a blessing from God.
But that night…
Her "forever" started with pain.
They got to the hotel.
She was in her white gown.
He sat on the bed and said, "So you think you've bought me now?"
She laughed.
She thought it was a joke.
He turned to her and said,
"Remove that dress. You're not a virgin anyway."
She froze.
Then he slapped her.
Hard.
Her ears rang.
He said, "Don't play wife for me. You're lucky I even said yes."
The next morning, she had a bruise on her cheek and a heart full of questions.
She smiled through breakfast.
She smiled through church thanksgiving.
She smiled when they said, "Wife material."
But inside?
She was shattered.
Months passed.
Kunle refused to get a job.
He sold her salon equipment for "investment."
He beat her if food was late.
He beat her if she questioned him.
He used her salary like it was pocket money.
She stopped visiting friends.
She stopped laughing.
She stopped dreaming.
Until one night…
She woke up and found him on the phone.
He was laughing with another woman.
He called her "baby."
He said, "She's just a means to an end. Let me milk her finish."
Remi didn't cry.
She just stood up.
Packed her bag.
Left her ring.
And walked out of the house like a ghost.
People called her names.
"She's a failure."
"She's not patient."
"Marriage is endurance."
But Remi knew…
She had already paid the price.
The bride price.
The emotional price.
The price of silence.
And she was done.
Dear sister reading this…
Never beg to be loved.
Never finance your own abuse.
Marriage is not an achievement if it costs you your peace.
So I ask you:
Have you ever watched someone destroy themselves just to say "I'm married"?