Chapter 5

★A Day Before The Wedding★

Annelise’s POV

I could still remember how I couldn't get enough of him. My mind was blank; I was not in my right sense of mind. I must have been under the influence of a hard drug to have lost my virginity to a total stranger that night at the Harrington's mansion. I knew I lost it as I could still feel the pain between my thighs. 

I jotted awake in my bed back at home. I started to think about how I should have known that my father was up to no good when he told me we were going out that night for business. I thought he would stop making my life miserable since I was not of any good to him.

I came down from my bed to the bathroom to clean up my messed up face, tomorrow I'll be married to Ethan Harrington. I hid my red face with layers of makeup that my friend Esther helped me with. She has no idea of the reason why I had been crying for weeks now. Even I myself am confused about the direction of my tears. Was it because I lost my first kiss, my virginity, and pride to a total stranger that night? Or because I have no say in marrying a man I barely know for business? Esther knew the marriage was not born out of love. She knew most of what I was facing with my family, and she has been a great help to me.

★Present★

I took my father's arms as we began the march to the altar. My husband-to-be was already there. When we got close, my father transferred my hand to Ethan, and we faced the Bishop. I quickly removed my hand from his, as his warm hand burned my cold one.

I half-listened to the Bishop as he spoke. When he asked the big question, facing Ethan, he answered, “Yes, I do.” The Bishop turned to me, “Do you, Anastasia Simon, take Ethan Harrington to be your wedded husband, to love and to hold, to cherish and respect, with your body in riches and in poverty, in health and in sickness, for better for worse, till death do you part?”

I looked around the hall; my eyes caught that of my father. Anastasia herself was absent. It was all their plans, as i presumed that Anastasia would be taking back her place once I have gained everything from the marriage, and I would go back to being Annelise, a nobody, and the neglected daughter.

My gaze started shifting to my in-laws, but Ethan cleared his throat, and I looked up at him. The veil covering my eyes was a cover for me at the moment. His face was hard while waiting for my answer.

I remembered my mother, swallowed my pride, and said, “Yes, I do,” which sealed my fate.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the Bishop said.

Ethan turned me towards him, and my body reacted to his touch. I pulled back from his hand a little, and he pulled my veil over my head and looked me in the eyes.

I blinked back tears. I was not about to make a fool of myself right there. Ethan lowered himself and whispered in my ear so no one would hear, “Remember, this is all an act, so act your part well,” he said and pulled back.

Even his whisper sent shivers down my spine. I must get my act together. He did not wait for me as he captured my lips with a warm kiss which lasted for half a 10 seconds before he pulled away.

I almost wobbled to the floor, but Ethan caught me in his arms. That was how much his kiss and touch affected my whole body. He released me when he was sure I would not end up kissing the floor, and right then I knew I was in trouble. How could I react to him like this? How can I pretend when in public, if I am this affected by his kiss and touch?

We turned to the crowd, and people started congratulating us. I plastered a smile on my face as I accepted their greetings. I looked at Ethan and saw he was doing better than I was. How could he remain this cold and unaffected? Then his family came forward, and I tensed up beside him.

“I see you got yourself a bride finally,” a familiar voice said, and I gasped when I saw who it was. I should have known that the world is not so big; strangers could definitely meet each other.

Their attention turned to me, and I looked down at my bouquet. “Yes, Ken, meet my bride Anastasia,” Ethan said.

“Anastasia Harrington, what a nice ring. You look familiar though,” Ken said.

I avoided looking at his face as much as I can, but he was persistent in looking at me. “Is that how you greet your brother-in-law?” Ken asked.

What? Brother-in-law? Oh no, I'm doomed! It must really be a dream.

“Step brother-in-law,” Ethan corrected sharply.

“Does it matter? What have you been teaching your bride, Ethan, to be disrespectful?” Ken asked, looking at Ethan.

“You are blocking the line. Others would love to meet my dear wife,” Ethan said instead.

I knew from their conversation that the two of them do not like each other, and it looks like I am stuck in between the two families that would never accept me, more like jumping from frying pan to fire. Was Ken not the stranger I've been dreaming about? It's better not be true as I might actually be digging my own grave; it's only a matter of time before the truth would surface, and there would be no saving by then.

First, I'm Annelise, not Anastasia.

Second, Ken might actually be the stranger I lost my virginity to.

Third, Ethan is someone no one dares to be at odd terms with, given his rumors of organized crimes which makes him a formidable foe to anyone who dared to cross him.

“Ethan,” a female voice called out, breaking me from my chain of thought.

“Grandmother.”

“You need to start calling me ‘mother’ in public.”

“Don’t I know you? You are her,” the elderly stout woman said, raising my cheeks as I stared into the eyes of Ethan's grandmother. “The whore from Ken’s room.”

“My room? Oh, the Soulless Ginger from the other night,” Ken said, grinning from cheek to cheek, as I felt sick to the stomach with his devilish act.

“What do you mean? Why are you calling her a whore?” Ethan asked, confused about what's actually happening.

I swallowed heavily that I choked on my spot, I started coughing which started as an act but started becoming real gradually. I felt sick and dizzy at the same time.

“Hey, are you okay?” Ethan asked, grabbing my shoulders.

My eyes turned in my head, and I finally lost consciousness. I fell to my side, and I knew that someone caught me by my waist, but I had no idea who it was.