Emily sat stunned, unable to tear her gaze away from Edward. His words echoed in her head like a hammer shattering everything she\u2019d believed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou see, Em, women like you don\u2019t get married,\u201d he said calmly, almost indifferently, adjusting the pillow behind him. \u201cThere are women for love, for flings, for fun. And then there are those who save themselves for marriage. You, unfortunately, aren\u2019t one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with me, Ed?\u201d Emily\u2019s voice trembled with hurt. \u201cI cook, I take care of myself, the flat\u2019s spotless, you\u2019re happy in bed. What\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat *is* the problem!\u201d he snapped. \u201cYou\u2019re tainted, don\u2019t you get it? Women like you don\u2019t get wifed up. You\u2019re for fun, no strings. A man marries a pure girl, untouched, who\u2019ll worship the ground he walks on. That\u2019s how it\u2019s meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pleased with his speech, Edward turned to the wall and soon snored softly. Emily lay awake, her chest tight with pain. Just a week ago, she\u2019d been in a cosy caf\u00e9 in Brighton with her girlfriends, dreaming of weddings and children. Now her world crumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At 32, Emily was no na\u00efve girl. She had it all\u2014a thriving career as a dentist, a flat in central London, a nice car, and looks to match. She knew her worth and felt it was time to settle down. Edward seemed perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At 41, he was tall, distinguished, with silver streaks that only added charm. Never married, lived alone (though near his mum\u2014their flats were in the same building), no bad habits, a high-up job in finance. A dream catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019d met at her clinic. Edward came for a check-up and left smitten. That evening, he waited outside with a bouquet\u2014not clich\u00e9 roses but delicate dahlias in February! Dinner followed, and things spiralled from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily worked hard\u2014NHS by day, private practice by evening\u2014barely time for a love life. But Edward made her feel desired. Yet two years in, no ring. Her friends hinted it was time. Nervously, she broached the subject. And got the gut punch: she was \u201cdamaged goods,\u201d not wife material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who did he think he was?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next day, she met her friends at a caf\u00e9, shaking with fury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan you believe it? He said I\u2019m *tainted*! That no one marries women like me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBloody hell, Em!\u201d gasped Sophie, the bluntest of the lot. \u201cYou\u2019re gorgeous, successful\u2014flat, car, career! Most blokes would kill for that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe wants *pure*,\u201d Emily scoffed bitterly. \u201cApparently, I\u2019m second-hand. What do I do? I *like* him\u2014smart, well-off, great in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDump him,\u201d cut in Emma, a single mum who\u2019d been divorced. \u201cHe\u2019ll mess with your head, and you\u2019ll spend years picking up the pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome to ours this weekend,\u201d offered Sophie. \u201cIt\u2019s mine and Tom\u2019s twelfth anniversary. Bring Edward\u2014show him what *real* marriage looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Edward, who rarely socialised, surprisingly agreed. He drove, and Emily relaxed, looking forward to time with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sophie and Tom\u2019s cottage was warm and lively. Kids raced across the lawn\u2014two of theirs plus a gaggle of nieces and nephews. Their energetic corgi, Duke, darted between guests, tail wagging. The barbecue sizzled, the air rich with smoke and herbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dinner stretched into evening. The older generation retreated inside, the kids curled up asleep. Left at the table were Sophie, Tom, the girls, and Edward. Over tea and blackberry pie, talk turned to marriage. Then Edward dropped his bomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSophie,\u201d he began smugly, \u201cyou think Em should marry. But why\u2019s she still single? You\u2019ve been wed twelve years. What\u2019s her excuse?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow should I know?\u201d Sophie laughed. \u201cTom and I married young\u2014uni sweethearts. Em was busy building her career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut you were *pure* when you wed?\u201d Edward pressed, narrowing his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChrist, what kind of question is that?\u201d Tom barked. \u201cWe\u2019ve been together since first year\u2014course we weren\u2019t virgins!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut she was untouched *before* you?\u201d Edward pushed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cListen, mate,\u201d Tom growled, standing\u2014all six-foot-four of him. \u201cWhat\u2019s it to you? She was mine from the start, end of!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly,\u201d Edward nodded smugly. \u201cPure. *That\u2019s* the right choice. But why marry a woman who\u2019s been passed around? Ruined goods shame a family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emma snorted into her drink. \u201cWhat family? Royalty? Why\u2019s purity matter? And why string Em along? She could\u2019ve found someone decent by now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo one\u2019s stringing anyone,\u201d Edward sneered. \u201cEmily knows her place\u2014second-rate. Marriage needs *standards*\u2014she doesn\u2019t meet mine. And *you*, Emma, are third-rate\u2014divorced with a kid. No chance of remarrying. *Pathetic*.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow *dare* you\u2014\u201d Tom roared, hauling Edward up by his collar. \u201c*Grades*? You\u2019re the bloody expired goods here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet out,\u201d Tom spat, shoving him toward the gate. \u201cRuining our night! If the girls weren\u2019t here, I\u2019d deck you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Edward, affronted, spun to Emily. \u201cI\u2019m leaving. Coming?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily stifled laughter, unable to speak. Edward, humiliated, grabbed his bag, slammed the gate, and sped off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTom, *brilliant*,\u201d Emily wheezed, giggling. \u201cNow I\u2019m man-less\u2014even the expired one\u2019s gone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBad idea bringing him,\u201d Sophie sighed. \u201c*I\u2019m* top-tier, you lot are rejects!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They laughed late into the night. Emma drove Emily home, and life resumed\u2014patients, paperwork, routine. Edward never called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Months later, a nurse handed Emily an envelope. Inside\u2014a wedding invite, all gilt edges and doves. Edward\u2019s petty jab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over coffee, her friends groaned. \u201cDon\u2019t go,\u201d Sophie said. \u201cWhy torture yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI *have* to,\u201d Emma grinned. \u201cLet\u2019s see this *pure* bride he rustled up in months!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily hesitated but went. She wore a sharp crimson suit, styled her hair, and arrived early. Edward stood proud beside his bride\u2014a doll-like girl, barely 20, drowning in white tulle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spotting Emily, he swanned over. \u201cEmily, meet *Verity*.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd she\u2019s *pure*?\u201d Emily smirked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cObviously,\u201d Edward preened. \u201cHer family and I *insisted*.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verity blushed, which Emily chalked up to nerves. The ceremony was swift, guests sparse. At the reception, Edward\u2019s colleagues and distant relatives mingled. Speeches began\u2014until Verity\u2019s father grabbed the mic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He vanished, returned with two boys. \u201cEdward, we\u2019ve given you our Verity!\u201d he boomed. \u201cAnd here\u2014your new sons, Danny and Leo! Meet Verity\u2019s *children*!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily choked on her wine. Edward recoiled like she\u2019d spat poison. His mother went sheet-white. \u201c*Pure*? She\u2019s *given birth*!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Edward bellowed, \u201cI want a *divorce*! Not raising another man\u2019s kids! You\u2014\u201d he jabbed a finger at Verity, \u201c*lied*! Said you\u2019d never been with anyone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy parents said you\u2019d never marry me otherwise,\u201d Verity whispered. \u201cTwo others refused when they found out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Edward collapsed into a chair. Guests panicked, called an ambulance. Emily, assured he\u2019d live, slipped out, stifling giggles. Karma\u2019s bite was sweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The divorce was swift. Edward crawled back to Emily\u2014she slammed the door. Why settle for *expired*? Especially when a kind, divorced consultant was already asking her out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"