Chapter One

It was all a charade. I staggered beside my husband like we were made for each other, so much in love and couldn't keep our hands off each other. But only I knew what was brewing in those moments.

"Do you love all this attention?" His heated words burned my ears every time his face was close to pose for the photo ops. He never missed a chance to put me in my place. "I know you do. Isn't it the reason you agreed to marry a total stranger? I bet you'll sleep well tonight. What an achievement!"

I remained expressionless through all his comments until he handed me a glass of champagne and watched me intently as I took a slow sip. My first taste of alcohol and I already felt dizzy. His cold eyes remained on me as I smacked my lips together and made a face.

"Not an alcoholic girl I presume? Have you ever had a drink before?" He asked, taking away the flute from my hand.

"No."

I didn't know why it annoyed him but he cursed under his breath and downed the content of his flute in one go. "How old are you, Lily?"

His question took me by surprise. How come he didn't know my age when I was told he was the one to pick me up from the bride catalogue. I blinked up at him. "I thought you knew my age. You picked me from the pool of brides."

He scowled at me. "Answer the fucking question, my lovely wife. How old are you?"

"Eighteen." I said in a low dissolving voice.

"Fuck!" He bit his knuckles to suppress his aggression and I could see his eyes reflected the disdain. "I should've never let my dick decide in this matter. Look, what it made me do. I'm twenty six Lily. Almost eight years older than you. What if I were sixty-two instead? Would you still spread your legs for me? Is money really that important to you?"

I knew he was older than me but when he pointed it out like that I kind of felt uncomfortable. I picked up the flute he had taken from my hands and gulped down the sparkly drink in one go. The champagne gave me the liquid courage I needed to counter his accusing words. "Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth, dear husband. Some of us need to jump on the opportunities, taking the risks."

He went from looking annoyed to stony and so very angry. A slow smirk appeared on his lips as he tipped down his chin and whispered against my cheek, his lips warm and soft on my skin. "Aren't you all bratty about your choices? I guess I'll have to keep that sass in check. Now, don't drink too much of that. We wouldn't want to spoil our wedding night, would we?"

I hated that I almost said no and apologized for my come back, but held the words back. Barely, nodding at him. In spite of that, he nabbed me another flute of champagne while chatting with his friends. He kept scowling at me every time I staggered a little in my overflowing wedding dress and challengingly high heels. But his hold on my waist never let me fall and embarrass myself in front of the guests and media.

As he guided me towards the receiving line, I looked around and spotted my in-laws sharing pleasantries with the guests. My mother-in-law, Christina Rutherford was a model in one of the top fashion magazines of her time and my billionaire father-in-law had won her over when she was merely sixteen years old, high school sweethearts and all that. Their love story was nothing less than a fairytale while he stripped his own son of that choice.

I felt sorry for my new husband. No matter how cold and unforgiving his eyes were on me, he was also the victim of our forced marriage. And the worst part was I chose it but he was the one who was forced.

The dinner was as lavish as I have only read in books or watched in movies. All guests took just a bite or two from their plates while my stomach was growling to devour a full plate. But of course, I resisted. With my husband's hand carelessly placed on my thigh and him sitting close beside me, I'm sure it was more than just food that I was hungry for. So, I sipped just the champagne. The taste was clearly getting to me. 

My husband watched me closely as I drained the third glass in a row. If not from the alcohol then it was his cold, drilling eyes that made me a bit fuzzy. It was a pleasant kind though, like the heaviness had been lifted off my chest and I wasn't a bundle of nerves beside my husband. 

"Slow down, Lily. Don't choke on it. You've got better things for that." He breathed in my ear, his hand on thigh running slow, torturous circles. 

His words didn't seem so vile suddenly. In fact , my skin heated up and I found myself leaning towards him. It was definitely three glasses of champagne but either way it felt amazing to be caressed like that from my otherwise distant husband.

"I think we have to let go of the dance. You're clearly not up to it." My husband sighed, knocking back a glass of Amber liquid he had switched to after two glasses of champagne. "I think we should retire unless you want to create a scene as a drunk bride." 

"You're mean to me." I drawled, stepped out of  my seat at the dinner table and smiled sweetly at my husband. Inside I was brewing with rage due to his harsh words. "I think I can manage our wedding dance. Don't worry, I promise not to embarrass you, dear husband."

He looked at me with his intense charcoal eyes, a tumbler with Amber liquid in one hand, while the other was thrown carelessly on the back of the chair. He cradled the content of the glass and downed it in one go. 

I couldn't look away from his eyes. Not when he looked mesmerizing handsome with his ordered movements. He set the glass down on the table and in a quick move crowded me. He was naturally so tall and imposing that I felt like a small Barbie doll in front of him and used that to his advantage by pulling me against his body in a sleek move. His arm circled around my waist, resting possessively at my lower back and with another arm he lifted my chin up to look into his darkened eyes. "No matter how much I despise the kind of you, I'm sure you're at least worth something as a trophy wife, little brat."

With that he twirled me around in his arm, guiding me to the rhythm of the music and his godforsaken power he had over me. I knew he would use that to his advantage and I was handing him that willingly.