CHAPTER FOUR

Sophia's mind snapped back to the present as she stood at the entrance of the small hall where her wedding will officially take place, looking at Alexander. She felt a knot in her stomach as she realized that she was about to marry a stranger for the sake of her uncle's debt. 

Sophia took a deep breath as she walked down the aisle towards Alexander. The decor was extravagant, the aisle lined with white flowers and candles. But Sophia's mind was far from the beauty of the setting. Her eyes were fixed on Alexander at the other end of the aisle, who stood waiting for her with a stoic expression

She could feel four pairs of eyes all men on black suit her, their gazes probing and curious. But as much as she tried to ignore them, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap.

Uncle Matt had promised her that this marriage was for the best, that Alexander was a good man who would take care of her. 

But Sophia knew better than to trust her uncle's judgment - he had always been more concerned with his own interests than hers.

As she drew closer to Alexander, Sophia couldn't help but study him more closely again.

His well-defined jawline and sharp cheekbones gave him a chiseled appearance that commanded attention. 

His piercing blue eyes sparkled with an intensity that drew you in and held your gaze, his hair was dark and thick, falling in loose waves that seemed to frame his face perfectly. 

It had a natural shine to it, suggesting that he took great care in maintaining its health and appearance.

He had a slight side-part, and some locks of hair fell carelessly over his forehead, adding a touch of casual charm to his sharp and well-put-together appearance.

On paper, he was the perfect catch - a billionaire. But Sophia knew that appearances could be deceiving, that there was more to a person than their bank accounts.

She could feel her heart racing as she reached the altar and stood before Alexander, his gaze fixed on hers. 

As the priest began to officiate the wedding ceremony. She couldn't focus on the words he was saying, everything was blurry and indistinct. All she could think of was the life she was leaving behind.

As she looked at the priest, she wondered what they must have told him for him to be here. Did he know that this was a marriage of convenience, between two people who barely knew each other? Or did he think that this was a wedding between two people who were deeply in love?

Sophia felt a sense of dread wash over her as the moment of truth approached. She couldn't bring herself to say the words that would bind her to Alexander for life, not when she didn't trust him and didn't love him. 

As she stood there, trying not to choke on her words, Sophia felt a small glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, this was all some terrible mistake. Maybe Alexander would see how unhappy she was and call off the wedding.

But her hopes were quickly dashed down. He was not someone that cares about other people's feelings, if not she wouldn’t be standing here in front of him in the very first place. 

When Rossi, the bodyguard, handed her the ring, Sophia she felt like it was a symbol of her imprisonment. She stared at it for a moment, feeling like it was burning a hole in her hand, before quickly slipping it onto Alexander's finger. 

She felt numb as Alexander slipped the matching ring onto her finger, Sophia couldn't help but feel a sense of finality wash over her sealing their fate. This was it, she was officially Mrs. Giovannucci, bound to a man that she didn't love, 

And then, it was time for the kiss. Sophia couldn't help but stare at Alexander's lips, which looked perfect and beautiful. They were the kind of lips that could make any woman weak in the knees, and yet Sophia felt nothing. 

She turned her head at the last minute, and Alexander's lips landed on her cheek instead. She felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing that she had managed to avoid that.

She couldn't tell what he was thinking, but she didn't like the way his eyes seemed to be evaluating her. It made her feel like a piece of meat on display for the highest bidder.

Suddenly, the doors burst open and a group of armed men rushed in, shouting and brandishing weapons. The few guests who had been invited to the wedding scattered, screaming and ducking for cover.

Sophia’s heart pounded as one of the gunmen approached her. But before he could grab her, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and pull her away. It was the Alexander, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Get her to safety!" he barked at his security team, as he drew a gun from his waistband and fired off several shots at the intruders.

The bride was whisked away to a hidden room, where she cowered in fear as she listened to the sounds of gunfire and shouting outside. She had never felt so alone and scared in her life.

But just as suddenly as the attack had started, it was over. The groom burst into the room, his face bruised and bloodied but a triumphant smile on his lips.

"I took care of them," he said, as he swept the bride into his arms. "You're safe now."

Despite the assurance, she couldn't help but notice a questioning look on his face, as if he was wondering who the intruder might be. 

At that moment, something shifted inside the her. She felt a surge of gratitude and admiration for the man who had risked his life to protect her. Maybe this contract marriage wouldn't be so bad after all.

However, at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder what their marriage was truly worth. Why would he take such a risk to save her when he had never been affectionate towards her? All he ever showed her was hate.

All she wants right now is to be in the arms of Liam. The last memory she has of him was the pain in his eyes the day she was whisked away in a Tinted Rolls-Royce Cullinan. 

As the car pulled away from her childhood home, Sophia couldn't help but think about Liam and her friends at the seamstresses shop; they were like family. She knew she had to talk to him and explain everything that was happened.

Sophia glanced at her watch and realized that it was nearly noon. She knew that she had to make a quick stop at a coffee shop to talk to Liam. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Alexander and said, "Excuse me, can we make a quick stop at the coffee shop to see a friend?"

Alexander narrowed his eyes at her, and Sophia sensed that she had to tread carefully. "It will only take a minute, I promise," she added.

Though his expression remained impassive, Alexander eventually nodded in agreement, on the condition that William, his bodyguard, would accompany her to the coffee shop. Sophia reluctantly agreed, grateful for the opportunity to speak to Liam in person about her situation.

As she stepped inside the coffee shop, Sophia's heart raced with anticipation. Seeing Liam's familiar face brought her comfort, and she rushed into his arms, tears streaming down her face. Liam could tell that something was seriously wrong and pressed her to tell him what had happened.

Sophia poured out her heart to Liam, sharing her fears about the forced marriage to Alexander and the uncertain future that lay ahead. Liam's anger boiled over at the thought of Sophia being trapped in such a situation, and he vowed to do whatever it took to free her from Alexander's grasp and keep her safe.

Sophia knew that Liam's promise was no small thing, but she also knew the danger that lurked around every corner. She promised to keep Liam informed of any developments, but wondered if it was just a pipe dream to hope for a way out of this situation.

As she left the coffee shop and headed back to the car with William, Sophia felt a sense of despair. She was caught in a loveless marriage and surrounded by danger, with no way out in sight. Yet she clung to the hope that Liam's promise could be the key to her freedom.

As she left the coffee shop and made her way back to the car, Sophia knew that she had a difficult road ahead. She was trapped in a marriage she didn't want, with a man she didn't love, and surrounded by danger at every turn.

Sophia's heart raced as she heard the loud, angry voice of Alexander, echoing through the hallway. She had slipped away from the wedding reception to find a quiet spot to collect her thoughts, but now she couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation happening just around the corner.

Alexander's voice was laced with fury as he shouted at his bodyguards for allowing armed men to intrude their wedding ceremony. 

"Who were those men? How could you let them get so close to the ceremony?" Alexander bellowed, his frustration palpable.

Sophia's mind raced as she tried to piece together what was happening. Who were these armed men, and why had they targeted their wedding? Could it be Liam coming to her rescue? 

Sophia couldn't make out the bodyguards' responses, but their tone was defensive, and she could tell they were doing their best to explain what had happened.

Her heart sank as she heard one of the bodyguards mention the name "Marco." Sophia's mind immediately went into overdrive, imagining all sorts of scenarios in which this dangerous man had targeted them on a special day.

Even though the day was more of a curse than a blessing to her, she wondered if she was the target. Why will someone possibly want her dead? She also shivers at the thought of becoming a victim in this dangerous world of billionaires and power plays.

Sophia had barely processed what had happened when Alexander burst into the room, his face twisted with anger and frustration. He stormed over to Sophia, his eyes blazing with intensity.

"We have to get out of here," he said, grabbing her by the arm. "Now."

Sophia didn't know what was going on, but she could tell from Alexander's urgency that it was serious. She followed him as he led her through a maze of hallways and corridors, his hand tight around hers.