Her chestnut-brown hair was styled into a neat bun on top of her head, her movement slow and graceful. She had her gaze pinned on me, her expression soft and delicate. A faint grin was perched on her lips, enough to fool the crowd into thinking it was genuine.
But I knew better—she was just playing the part of a happy bride. It would’ve meant the world to me if that smile was authentic. But it wasn’t.
Crazy how even a plastic grin was able to illuminate her face in a way that melted my heart. Regardless of everything surrounding this wedding, Eva still glowed like a goddess. She was so gorgeous that I found myself lost in her beauty.
The closer she drew to me, the faster my heart raced in my chest. Her presence stirred up murmurs amongst the crowd, and a good number of them had warm smiles on their faces.
Her beauty was captivating, and as she approached the altar, the hem of her dress swept the floor behind her. I clenched my jaw, trying to suppress the smile on my lips because I couldn’t let her see the crack in my expression.
When she reached the altar, her eyes avoided mine, her chest heaving with slow breaths. She bit the inside of her cheek, her manicured fingers curling against her dress like claws.
Her face was pale, her hands trembling at her sides as she stood beside me. I could sense her nervousness and unease even though she masked it with a fake smile.
Up close, she was even more gorgeous than I’d expected: perfectly carved eyebrows, light makeup that blended with her skin tone, and lips painted a bold shade of red.
Incredible!
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” the priest began, his voice echoing off the high walls.
The next words that spilled from his mouth faded into the background as soon as they came out. All my attention was focused on my beautiful bride.
When it was time to exchange vows, I watched her lips quiver as she repeated the priest’s words. Every word was forced, yet she spoke them. I didn’t need her willing submission—just her bound to me. For survival. For our unborn baby.
When it was my turn, I recited the words without hesitation, my expression blank, eyes locked with hers. Her hands trembled after I took them and quietly slipped the ring onto the right finger with steady precision.
“With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the priest announced. “You may kiss the bride.”
The crowd erupted into a round of applause.
I pulled her closer to myself, feeling her body stiffen beneath my grip. She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as if fighting back tears that stung her eyes.
Her eyelids gradually closed when I reached out and planted a gentle kiss on those soft lips of hers. Seconds later,she kissed me back, and for a moment there, it felt like she was enjoying it despite herself.
It was done; she bore my name, wore my ring, and carried my child. Eva was officially mine now. My obsession coiled even tighter as I watched her wave and smile at our well-wishers.
The guests saw her as untouchable; I saw her as something more than that. I saw her as mine, in every sense that mattered.
When she glanced at me, something lit up in my chest, a familiar flame I couldn’t extinguish. In her eyes, I caught a glimpse of her hatred and something else I hadn’t yet figured out.
But none of that mattered. Those emotions would fade with time.
Chapter 23 —Eva
I sat on the sofa in his master bedroom, hands clasped in my lap as my heart pounded in my chest. I knew deep down that there was no way I was going to resist him tonight.
The room was decorated with candles, their dancing flames casting warm glows over the space. Rose petals were spread across the king-sized bed, their fresh fragrance filling the air.
A banner that read “Just Married” floated above the bedposts, and a soft classical song played in the background. The room was designed to set the mood and make the night romantic.
Whoever was behind this had outdone themselves; they’d done a good job with the decorations and the playlist. Under different circumstances, this would’ve been the perfect wedding night in every sense that mattered.
But sadly, I’d been forced into this without my consent. I was bound to a beast for the rest of my life with no possibility of escape. The wedding and everything that came with it happened so fast, leaving me no time to breathe.
One minute, he was telling me that I was going to be his wife. And the next, I was standing beside him at the altar, reciting my vows. I hadn’t fully processed the entire situation—the pregnancy, my new last name, and eternal damnation.
As I sat there in a white satin dress—the only one available in this massive bedroom—I thought about how much I hated the man who had ruined my life. My hair was still damp from the shower, strands clinging to my skin as I tapped my feet against the floor.
I could hear the sound of running water in the bathroom, and I knew he’d be out any minute now. My pulse was racing because, despite my anger and hatred, my body still craved histouch. Honestly, the only reason I’d been able to stay celibate all this time was because we slept in separate rooms.
