Inside the walls of their newly formed alliance, the marriage felt cold and uninviting. Too often, conversations between them spiraled into chaos; affection was the least they had in their marriage.
Reynolds was charming enough, he had the physical appearance that all lady would want in a man but he was a wild one.
He would go out clubbing every night and come back home in the early hours of the morning, completely wasted. Natasha would wait up for him, her heart heavy with worry and disappointment. She always cleans up his mess whenever he came home drunk.
Sometimes, he would come home with different ladies he'd met in the club. Have fun with them in the living room without thinking about Natasha. It continued for days and sometimes, Natasha would cry herself to bed.
He was so distant and cold towards her. She would try to talk to him about their marriage, about the importance of affection and intimacy in their marriage.
But, Reynolds would brush her off, telling her to leave if she couldn't handle his lifestyle. It broke Natasha's heart to see that the man she got married to was acting callously towards her feelings.
Natasha dedicated herself to doing what she loves to do in the days that followed. She'd bake cakes, cookies and snacks. She was so good at it.
Natasha had spent all day in the kitchen, carefully measuring out the ingredients for her husband's favorite cookies.
"Hey, I made your favorite cookies. Your mom told me you liked it, a lot" She stuttered, hoping to get a reply but he was so glued to his phone.
She placed the plate of cookies on the table he was seated "Reynolds please, just take a bite" she said with a big grin and uncertainty on her face.
She had baked them with love, imagining the smile on her husband's face when he took the first bite. But as she presented him with the freshly baked cookies, her heart sank.
He took one bite and made a face, "These are terrible," he said spitting it out. Natasha's eyes welled up with tears, hurt by his harsh words. She regret doing that.
During breakfast, Natasha and her husband sat across from each other at the table in their quaint kitchen. As they ate their toast and sipped their coffee, there was an uncomfortable silence between them. Natasha couldn't take it anymore and decided to break the ice.
"What are you doing today?" Natasha asked, her heart filled with hope for connection.
"Me? I've got a party tonight, but you're aren't invited." Reynolds replied, barely looking up from his phone.
"A party?" Natasha paused for a moment looking at him with disgust in her eyes "Do you ever think? Why is everything about you based on partying? What's so special in it? You go to party, drink yourself to stupor and come back home so wasted leaving your stinky wasted ass for me to clean up, huh?" she blurted.
His expression was one of disbelief mixed with relief. As he stared at her, Natasha felt the weight of burden released but curious of where her words will lead the conversation to.
"Well, you don't have to do it. Why do I pay the maids? You can as well leave, Natasha, you're so choking me, jeez!" Reynolds became defensive.
Natasha's heart shattered as his words sank in.
"Why do you keep making me yearn for your affection and intimacy? I am your wife for crying out loud Reynolds! What did I ever do so wrong to you? Or do you prefer that I cheat on you?"
"Bravo! I didn't know you to be so smart dear wife. What have you been waiting for? You can cheat all you want. Do I look like I care? I don't give a damn, Wife!" he blurted.
"What?" This shocked Natasha, she had never expected him to say a thing like that to her. She couldn't believe her ears.
"Oh! Your father's company is about to go down. Oh poor thing!" Reynolds teased her.
"Don't!" Natasha yelled back trying to hold herself back as if one is about to explode.
"What? Aren't you married to me because your father needs to save his dying company?" he dared.
Natasha's heart sank as tears pricked the corner of her eyes. She wondered why she had to find herself in a messed up marriage. She'd always known her marriage wouldn't be a sweet one but she didn't know it would be worse than her expectation.
She left the table, feeling defeated and alone. She thought of leaving the marriage, she packed her bags. But, she couldn't give up on her marriage so easily, she has her father's company to save.
She was so determined to make things work, she decided to take a different approach.