CHAPTER 5

Lyla pov

“So what do you have to say about this?” He asked me to draw back from my thoughts.

I opened my mouth to say something and closed it back.

“I was not drunk,” I defended.

I am not even into alcohol. The last time I took tequila at Becky’s request, I made a mess of myself.

He nodded with a tight smile. “Says the girl who had a bottle of tequila beside her,” he replied.

“What?” My car brakes failed. I am a coffee girl, not an alcoholic, ‘’ I explained.

His stony expression returned. “Are you going to take the deal or not?” He asked.

I stared at the ring and at him. Marrying him meant I would be tied to another loveless marriage.

And I truly wanted a break from all this. But at least, it would be better than Chad’s own. At least I know I am prepared to have any emotional connection.

I also had to save my ass from this setup.

“For how many years?” I asked.

“Forever. You will be by my side forever,” he replied.

Blood drained from my face as it turned white. Seeing my expression, he cursed under his breath.

He drew his chair closer, making me look at him.

“Look, see this as an agreement of mutual benefit. If you refuse this deal, already, you would end up in jail either for drunk driving or for causing an accident that killed the prime minister’s daughter. The world already hates you already, already, but with my name you would be free. I would give you one hundred protection while you give me the genius idea that grew Chad’s company.” He paused to see the impact of this speech on me.

“And. I could help you bring down Chad and whoever hurt you,” he added with a smile.

Thick, uncomfortable air hung between us.

Whatever he was saying was true. I wanted to avenge Chad and Becky for what they did to me.

They landed me in this mess while all I had done had been a good and loyal person to both of them.

“Or,” he said, drawing my attention to him. He clicked on the gun. “I could also finish what he came here to start. I would make it more painful,” he said.

I swallowed hard. “Okay” I nodded without hesitation.

I needed to be alive to avenge them and for my younger sister Bailey, she would be alone without me, considering the fact that we are orphans.

He smiled, his eyes softened for a while before he returned to normal.

He called someone and a few minutes later, a man dressed like a bodyguard entered the room.

He handed me a new iPhone, an iPad and a MacBook.

“Log into your blog account with the phone,” he said.

I nodded and followed his instruction. He pulled out my marriage ring and wore me his own diamond ring.

“Now post it on all your socials. Declare yourself as Mrs Karev,” he ordered.

I took a photo of my finger with his ring and posted it.

I captioned it “Officially Mrs Karev and posted it”.

He liked it immediately, with a wide grin. He stood up and gave me some tablets.

“Take it. It would relieve whatever stress you are passing through,” he said.

“Let’s go dear,” he said.

I furrowed my eyebrows. Why was he acting all nice suddenly. We left the building and got into his Bugatti.

We got inside the car as a comfortable silence eloped us while his driver drove.

“Where are we going?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“The registry?” I asked, my voice filled with surprise..

He took a quick glance at me before he looked away. “surprise. if you are to become my wife. We need to be officially wedded. Have a proof that cannot be disputed,” he explained.

“Right,” I said. The silence eloped us again, but this time it was more comfortable than the former one.

We stopped at the London registry. He threw a scarf at me with a shirt.

“Wear it to hide your identity,” he said and excused me to allow me to change my stained dress and hide my identity.

I quickly changed into a dress and covered my head with a scarf.

I came out to meet him standing at the front. His hands shoved into his pocket enhancing his slender masculine shape. The ray of the sun enhanced his beauty, some of his hair falling to one side.

“If you are done staring at me. We can proceed with the wedding, Mrs Karev ‘’ he said.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself.” I replied as I intertwined my hands with his own.

He gave me a light smile, and we proceeded to the registry.

The priest stood there waiting for us. He cast a judgmental look at me before he proceeded with the marital rites.

I watched him as he began the process. I raised my eyes to meet Jace, staring intensely at me.

A pink hue covered my face as warmth grew within me. Why was my body reacting to him this way?

This marriage was just a contract marriage. Moreover, he saw me as a tool and not a woman.

“Now you may repeat after me.

“I solemnly take Mr Jace Karev to be my husband.” I repeated the words after him.

Jace followed the same order. Repeating the words after the priest. He pulled out another diamond ring and wore it on my finger. I did the same with him.

“You may now kiss the bride, look” the voice of the priest echoed around us.

Chills ran down my spine. I looked down away from his eyes. There was no need to kiss. It was a contract marriage, after all.

“Lyla,” he called softly, making me turn towards him.

His eyes fell on my lips, and his gaze darkened. He leaned towards me as my heartbeat increased.

I parted my lips with expectation. He closed the gap between us and placed his soft lips on my cheek, right beside my mouth.

Shame rushed through me as I closed my mouth. What was I expecting? For him to kiss me like a normal couple.

“You are now declared husband and wife,” the priest declared.

I nodded and waited for him to sign the papers before I signed mine.

We walked towards the door in an awkward silence. Immediately, we opened the door and hundreds of journalists rushed towards us.

My body stiffened at their sight. Jace took my hands as he rubbed his thumb on it. Slowly, my heartbeat reduced.

His men tried to pave the way for us to pass as they fired numerous questions at us.

Questions like, How did I escape? How did I end up with jace. Did I divorce my husband?

“Mr Karev, how do you think your fiance would feel after discovering that you got married to someone else?” A journalist asked.

I halted, jace muscles tightened at the question

. He glared at her as he avoided my eyes.

What?!! Jace was engaged and he went ahead to marry me?