Love, Lies, and Broken Vows: The Many Faces of Marriage

I used to think love was something you held onto, no matter how much it hurt. That if you just tried harder, bent a little more, maybe...just maybe...it would stay. But love doesn’t work like that. And neither does marriage. A Yellow Rose in Thorn’s Clothing is the story of what happens when love unravels, when the lies start to pile up, and when walking away is the only way forward.

“I was sure no one would want a ‘tainted’ woman.”

That’s the thought that sat heavy in Lana’s mind after her first divorce. She had done everything right. Or at least, everything she thought she was supposed to do. And yet, there she was, alone again, haunted by the words of the man she once trusted: “You’re not pretty, and you don’t have a good personality. Men will only be after you for one thing.”

Words like that leave marks. But sometimes, those marks become maps, leading you out of the darkness.

Contents

The Same Story, Just a Different Name. 1

The Moment Everything Changed. 2

Walking Away Isn’t Easy—But It’s Necessary. 2

For the Ones Who Need to Hear It 2

A Yellow Rose in Thorn’s Clothing. 2

The Same Story, Just a Different Name

One husband became two. Then a handful of in-betweens. Some drank too much. Some lied. Some had tempers that could shake the walls. And yet, she stayed because isn’t that what love is supposed to be? “My mother was a good person. She just had poor taste in men.” It was starting to become a pattern she couldn’t ignore.

Howard was supposed to be the one. She was young, unsure, and wanting to belong to someone. He took the lead in everything. Small things, like making phone calls, but also the bigger things, like deciding what mattered and what didn’t. “He made me make all the phone calls, and I hated talking to people on the phone.” It wasn’t love. It was duty. And when it fell apart, she wondered if anyone would ever want her again.

David was different. Charming. Protective. The kind of man who made promises with a steady voice. But love with him wasn’t steady. It was a tug-of-war, a constant battle to prove her worth. “David would throw in my face that Teresa read to the kids every night, as if I didn’t.” He held guilt over her like a chain, making sure she never felt quite good enough.

Joe was easy. Familiar. The kind of man who felt safe in the way a passing summer storm feels safe, cooling the air for a moment before disappearing. “He surprised me with a peck on the lips.” It was a flicker of hope, a reminder that maybe love could be simple. But Joe had his own tangled mess, and in the end, he wasn’t looking for a way out...just someone to hold the door open.

Patrick had a good heart. She believed that. But he also had a habit of drowning it in whiskey. “He was a really nice person when he was sober. A complete ass when he was drinking.” She spent too many nights waiting for the good man to come back, but the bottle always found him first.

The Moment Everything Changed

It took years for Lana to see it clearly. The pattern. The way she kept choosing men who made her feel small, who made her question her worth. But why?

Maybe it started long before love ever entered the picture. Maybe it was in the moments of childhood, learning not to expect too much. She remembers the dog she was promised. The one she never got. “Someone had it put down.” And maybe that’s how it always was: hope dangled in front of her, only to be taken away before she could hold it.

Walking Away Isn’t Easy—But It’s Necessary

The hardest part isn’t leaving. It’s staying gone. It’s sitting in the quiet after, when doubt creeps in, whispering that maybe you should’ve held on a little longer. Maybe love was supposed to hurt just a little.
But real love doesn’t break you down. It doesn’t make you question yourself. It doesn’t make you smaller.
So she left. Again and again, until there was no one left to leave but herself. And then, for the first time, she stayed. She stayed with her own strength, her own worth, her own future.

For the Ones Who Need to Hear It

Lana’s story isn’t just about broken relationships. It’s about unlearning the stories we’ve been told about love. About knowing that leaving isn’t failure. It’s survival.

If you’re sitting in the middle of something that doesn’t feel like love, listen to this: You can overcome anything if you just believe in yourself and never give up.

Sometimes, the bravest thing you’ll ever do is walk away. And sometimes, that’s when life finally begins.

A Yellow Rose in Thorn’s Clothing

“I’m not famous. I’m not a celebrity. I’m a normal person like most of you. This book is a record of my memories and experiences from a young child until I was thirty-seven and met my third husband in between. I faced challenges, made some questionable choices, suffered the consequences, and persevered. I’m still here to talk about it. I felt like it was important to share this story as I’m sure many people can relate. I hope to provide encouragement, empathy, and support. None of us are perfect. We’ve all made our mistakes. We may not be forgiven by the general public, but most importantly, we have to forgive ourselves. It is never too late to change the path that we are on, and it is never time to give up. I hope that you find inspiration from this book.”