Heads turned as we moved, slowly and quietly. All eyes were on me—the friggin’ bride surrounded by unfamiliar faces.The closer I drew to the altar, the weaker my legs became. But I had to keep going. For the sake of my mother.
My grandfather leaned and whispered in my ear. “Smile.” He faked one himself, nodding at the crowd of seated guests.
I curved my lips into a plastic grin while still in motion. With every step I took, my heart shattered into pieces, and anxiety washed over me. I caught some murmurs amongst the guests about how pretty I looked.
One woman even whispered to a friend that she loved my ivory gown and how it hugged me in all the right places. Normally, this should’ve at least gladdened my heart and brought the faintest genuine smile on my face.
Unfortunately, I was too numb to feel anything but negative emotions. I kept my head up high and locked my jaw, refusing to let the man waiting at the altar read my expression.
He was dressed in a black tuxedo and a matching bow tie over a crisp white shirt. His face was unreadable, and his eyes wouldn’t leave mine.
When we reached the altar, my grandfather handed me over to the man he’d sold me off to and returned to his seat.
They said this was a wedding, but it wasn’t. It was a deal sealed in lace and stone.
As I stood before my groom, I looked into those pale grey eyes—cold like winter ice. We’d agreed that this marriage would only last one year because he, too, wasn’t in support of it. However, twelve months suddenly felt like eternity.
How was I going to survive that long? How was I going to manage this proud and arrogant man who, by the way, was twice my age?
He was a control freak who loved giving orders and delighted in other people’s pain. I, on the other hand, was stubborn as a mule and hated taking orders—especially from condescending men.
We were clearly incompatible, and joining us together was like activating a ticking time bomb.
When it was time to recite our vows, something strange happened. The second Adrik began spilling those words while staring at me, I felt a weird sensation. I wasn’t sure whether it was the sound of his smooth voice or the enticing look in his eyes.
Whatever it was, I didn’t like it. Neither did I like how it made me feel. However, no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, the fact remained that something passed between us. Something I couldn’t name or understand.
The pull was so strong that I found my expression softening by the minute.
When the priest finally announced us husband and wife, my heart skipped a beat, knowing what he’d say next.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
My breath hitched, and my eyelids fluttered closed. I was expecting a kiss on my lips and had already steeled my body when he disappointed me. Instead of claiming my lips, he pressed a brief kiss on my forehead.
Shocked, I lifted my eyes and looked at him for a fleeting moment. A part of me was glad that he made the kiss formal and quick. However, a small part of me couldn’t help wondering why he didn’t go for my mouth.
Was he repulsed by me?
I hated myself for being bothered about what he thought of me, and so, I swiftly buried that thought. However, the warmth of his touch lingered longer than it was supposed to.
After the ceremony and the brief exchange of pleasantries with a few guests, we walked together to his black SUV. His bodyguards opened the backseat door, and we slid into the car. As the convoy drove away from the church, I sat at one end with my head against the glass.
He didn’t say a word to me all through the drive, and I was glad that he didn’t.
When we reached his mansion, the giant gates parted, revealing the vast expanse of land on the other side. The vehicle drove along the endless driveway lined with towering trees on both sides.
The estate was bigger than my grandfather’s, a perfect representation of luxury and style. We pulled up by a large fountain, across from which were about ten different exotic cars parked under a shade.
When I looked out the window, the edifice looming in front of me was jaw-dropping. The building was a massive structure with large windows glinting in the sunlight. It looked like a palace in every sense of the word, and I couldn’t help but admire the sight.
The door was opened from the outside, and I stepped out of the car, balanced on my heels. Adrik walked ahead of me, and I followed behind him.
Once inside, we were greeted by two maids in their signature black-and-white.
“Take her to her room,” he said to them, walking further into the room. “Mikhail, fetch me a glass of vodka.” He snapped his fingers at one of his men.
The maids beamed at me, their smiles raw and genuine. “Come,” one of them said, taking my hand.
