Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“Congratulations, Faith and Elijah.”

We have been greeting the guests since we arrived at the reception of our wedding and I have been forced to smile like everything's fine in front of them. All of them have their own worlds, even our parents who were busy entertaining the others. Honestly, I don't know any of them. Some of them are familiar to me, unlike Elijah who knows each of them.

“Thank you,” I replied, forcing a tiny smile on my lips. That was all that I could do while engaging with them.

“Sadly, Freya didn't get to see this.” One of the ladies uttered, which made my smile fade. I froze for a moment before I glanced at Elijah. I saw how his fake smile vanished as well.

“You were Freya's boyfriend before, right? I can't believe your parents arranged this marriage beyond tha—”

“She's dead, Mrs. Alejandro. Can we at least respect it?” I looked away when Elijah cutted her out. I felt the tension embraced all of us and I knew that they would talk behind our backs after this.

“Thanks again,” he added and forced a tiny smile again, holding back himself from bursting into anger. I quickly followed him when he went back in front and stopped visiting each table.

I heard how he heaved a sigh and shut his eyes firmly as I sat beside him. Finally, we were able to do this. I didn't know that it would be tiring to greet everyone here.

“Faith,” I looked around and found Lily coming towards us with Lucas behind her.

“Elijah,” she uttered as well as she glanced at Elijah. We were all invaded with deafening silence and felt that ice embraced the four of us.

“Congratulations,” Lily said and tried to make a chuckle, breaking the ice.

It saddened me. We were not like this before. We used to be full of laughter whenever we were together. But right now, everything was erased in one snap.

“Should I congratulate the two of you?” Lucas asked and eyed Elijah beside me.

He cackled, sarcastically. “I mean, we all know that Elijah didn't marry you because he loves you.”

“Lucas, please.” I uttered and shut my eyes emphatically. There are a lot of people here to create a scene on our wedding day.

“What? That's the truth, Faith. This bastard is only avenging Freya because he blames you for her dea—”

“Elijah,” I quickly shielded Lucas before he could even grab his collar and create a scene.

“That's enough, Lucas.” Lily said, glaring at him.

“Don't you dare mention her name here, Lucas.” That moment, I saw how rage filled his eyes.

A dagger was pierced on my chest while staring at him. I can see pain right through his eyes. Does he really blame me for her death?

“You're no different from her parents who are narrow-minded, Elijah. You guys are just the sa—”

“Can you please stop, Lucas?” I said and faced him with my eyes watered. Any moment, I would lose my balance. I feel so feeble that I just want this day to end.

“Please,” I said with my weak voice begging.

He softened immediately when he saw how I reacted. I smiled weakly as I looked around, making sure that we were not yet creating a scene.

“Don’t ruin a day that is already ruined,” I added bitterly as I glanced at the two of them.

Lucas didn't talk anymore and simply embraced me. For the first time in my life, he hugged me so tight as if it would be the last time that he would see me. I wanted to cry the moment he locked me in his arms. I wanted to pour all the pain that was weighing me, but I couldn't. I have to hold it back.

“Have I told you?” He whispered while still hugging me.

“You're the most beautiful girl that I know,” he mumbled.

I chuckled as I let go from his hug.

“Thanks for coming, Lucas.” I uttered while he was holding my hand.

“People might think that you're in love with my wife,” Elijah said as he stood beside me and stole my hand from Lucas.

They were both eyeing each other, exchanging cold gaze.

“We should go, Lucas. Come on,” Lily said, trying to pull Lucas away from us.

He glanced at me as if he was dubious to leave me alone with Elijah. I made a nod at him to calm him down.

Later on, the guests started to leave slowly when it's already evening. I was out of energy and I don't know what could happen tonight. Honeymoon is always part of the wedding. I couldn't imagine myself doing that with my sister's boyfriend.

“Are you happy?” I froze when my mother went beside me while I was waiting for our car. Elijah was still talking to some guests who were just about to leave.

“Are you happy that you stole your sister's boyfriend and killed her?” My brows crossed immediately. Why does she sound like I wanted this marriage when in the first place, they were the one who planned this against my will?

“Mom, you were the one who arranged this, not me.” I uttered unbelievably.

She chuckled. “Come on, Faith. I know that you like Elijah even when Freya is still alive. Did you kill her because of him, huh?”

“Mom,” my voice shattered as my eyes watered. She was looking at me with those accusing eyes of hers as if she already forgot that I am also her daughter. It squeezed my chest again, but I could not even do anything to defend myself.

“Can you at least remember that I am also your daughter, huh? Even just for tonight, can you recognize me as your daughter and not just Freya?” Tears began to escape from my eyes when I couldn't hold it back anymore.

“I obeyed what you and Dad wanted even though I wasn't planning to get married. I could have left the house on my own, Mom. But I chose to obey you because you are my family and I am hoping that by doing what you want, you will forgive me and see me as your daughter, too.” I smiled weakly as I tried to shed my own tears.

“I will forever mourn Freya's death, Faith. And I will always blame everything on you,” she said firmly.

I kept my weak smile and nodded. I wanted to hug her so bad, but I knew that she would hate me even more.

“I love you, Mom. I love you and Dad…so much,” my voice broke as I also burst into tears.

The car stopped in front of us and I quickly went inside before I could lose my strength in front of my mother. I waited for a moment before Elijah joined me in the car. We were both silent all the way to his house. None of us dared to speak, not even me who was already accepting my entire fate.

I was only following Elijah when we arrived. His house is huge for only the two of us. Each step that I made, I was trembling. He was still silent and cold towards me even right after we went to a room. It's probably our room, right? I confirmed that because of the master's bed.

I was glued to my position while Elijah was taking off his clothes. I gulped with my chest racing. He paused as well when he saw that I was not moving there. I almost lost myself when he went towards me.

“Elijah,” I uttered with my eyes bawled out when he ripped my gown, which showed him my bra.

He paused for a moment to eye me coldly before he continued tearing my clothes.

“Elijah, please! Stop!” I exclaimed, but he pretended not to hear me. I tried to stop him and fight, but Elijah was so strong that I found myself almost naked with the gown I designed torn on the floor.

I was shivering while I was down there, crying. Is this really the fate that is meant for me?

“Didn't I tell you, Faith?” He uttered as he lowered down to face me.

“I told you that you will never be happy,” he said firmly with those sharp eyes piercing me. At that moment, I knew that it was not the old Elijah that I used to love. I married a complete stranger whom I see as a living demon.

In one snap, he invaded my lips and almost dragged me to the bed while he wasn't stopping from entering my mouth aggressively. I felt the soft bed as he threw me there and removed my bra and underwear in a blink of an eye. His hands traveled to my body while I didn't try to resist anymore. I was staring on the ceiling while he was owning me entirely.

“E-Elijah,” I bit my lower lip as I felt an extreme pain when he entered my womanhood with his sword. The side of his lips rose like a devil when he saw how it hurt me.

“Welcome to hell, Faith.” He mumbled as he moved faster, ignoring my pain.

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