Hatred begins

Stuck in an Arranged Marriage with the Popular Playboy

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Chapter 2: Hatred begins 

Slow piano music starts to play the moment she enters, some classical piece she had never heard of before.

Probably Bach or Beethoven, who cares, they all sound the same to her anyways.

The guests are already standing when she step through the threshold of the ceremony hall. All eyes are on her, staring at her with as much admiration as jealousy. What are they jealous of? What is there that they could possibly desire? Her dress? Her jewelry? Her future husband? They can have all of it if they so much desire it.

Lori looks at the man so many women in this room envy her for. He is wearing a midnight black suit, it must be custom-tailored judging by the perfect fit. His dark hair is styled out of his face, revealing his forehead.

Other people would have swooned at the view, but all she wanted to do was to turn around and leave this god awful place. And judging by the iciness in his stare, he was thinking the exact same thing than her.

Lori quickly look away, searching the rows and rows of people for any familiar face. Some work colleagues of her father bow their heads at her when she pass them by, her mothers oldest friend waves her small hand at her when their eyes meet, a businessman from abroad, her brother had worked with a few times in the past, smiles at her when she accidentally make eye contact with him.

Perhaps he didn’t come today. Lori wouldn’t blame him, if it was she in his shoes she wouldn’t have come as well.

She pass her sister-in-law next, her brother is already sitting next to her, handing her his silken handkerchief so she could dry her teary eyes. It makes you chuckle, she has always been an easy crier. But Lori’s smile falls the moment she notice the empty spot next to her.

Someone must have gotten up just moments ago. Has it been him?

Lori stop all of a sudden, getting ripped out of her thoughts and back to reality. Her father is looking down at her, signaling her with a stern nod of his head into the direction of the official that she had arrived in the front.

Her throat feels so dry, not even swallowing helps.

“Don’t disappoint us, daughter”, he says and then he is already gone from her side, leaving her all alone on a stage you didn’t want to be on. Of course all she get from her father are threats. He couldn’t even give her arm an encouraging pat.

She turn her head to face her future husband. He looks even angrier up close, his nostrils are flared and his jaw clenched. It’s obvious he hates her, and god does she hate him too.

The official clears his throat, raising his hand to stop the music. The guests sit down. The room is so silent now, Lori can actually hear her own heartbeat in her ears. She hadn’t even realised how much it had raced. She swallow, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.

Elijah’s eyes narrow, not once breaking eye contact with her in a means to taunt her. She can’t say it isn’t working, her heart begins racing even more.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man, and this woman in official matrimony. Into this agreement these two people come together to be joined. If any person here can show cause why these two people should not be joined in matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace”, the official speaks all of a sudden, nearly startling her.

Elijah turns around, looking into the faces of his guests and silently pleading them to speak up. It shouldn’t have affected Lori, but it did, even broke her heart a little if she was being honest. She does not want this marriage as much as he does not, but begging someone to speak up is cruel even for her standards.

Silence, not even a cough can be heard. He lets out a scoff, turning around again. His eyes meet hers, sparing her one angry look.

The official nods in contentment and continues.

“Marriage is a sacred union between husband and wife and shall remain unbroken. It is the basis of a stable and loving relationship and is a joining of two hearts.“

Elijah scoffs at this, making the official stop for a moment. He sends him a warning glare, clutching the book in his hand until his knuckles turn white.

“We are all here today to witness this joining of two hearts”, he continues, once convinced Elijah wouldn’t act up again.

Lori’s niece had walked up next to them with a red cushion, which carried the rings, in her small hands. She is smiling up at Lori with her gums on full display, something she had gotten from Logan.

Lori smile back at her, patting her little head gently.

“Thank you love”, She tell her, making her smile just all the more.

Once you have accepted Elijah ring, her niece waddles up to the frowning man beside her. She looks up at him with nervous eyes, clearly scared by the unfamiliar face. Lori had already expected him to shoot her an angry glare, but instead a smile hushes over his face for just a moment.

“Thanks little one”, he says softly, accepting the ring.

She giggles, hiding her face behind the now empty cushion before she runs down the stairs and into the safe arms of her mother.

She must have stared at him in total shock, because when he raises his head again and their eyes meet, confusion rushes over his face. She quickly look away, studying the golden ring in her fingers instead.

“Do you Elijah take Min Lori to be your lawfully wedded wife?” the official asks.

Elijah stares at her for a moment, his jaw clenching. Silence can be heard in the big hall, only the loud breathing of one of the guests is ringing in her ears.

Please say no, please say no, please say no and run away.

“I do”, he finally speaks, shattering even the last remainder of hope in her chest.

“Do you Min Lori take Elijah to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

She look into his eyes, they were still as cold as ever. She could still say no and run away. It would probably ruin her life and her parents would most likely disown her, but at least she would have her freedom.

Her freedom and the man, her heart was actually beating for. Lori takes a look into the crowd of people. The spot next to her sister-in-law is still empty. So he didn’t come. Of course he didn’t.

She blink the tears away and look back at Elijah.

“I do”, She speaks, her voice nearly breaking.

“Now repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed”, the official signals Elijah to put the ring on your finger.

He takes her hands into his. They feel as cold as ice against her heated skin.

“With this ring, I thee wed”, he says coldly, slipping the golden ring on her finger.

“With this ring, I thee wed”, Lori speaks, following his actions.

She let go of his hands as soon as the burden of the ring was on her finger. She want nothing more than to wipe her hands on her dress. She can still feel the spots his fingers touched, it makes her cringe.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride”, the official announces and closes the book from which he had read the speech before.

Her eyes race between Elijah. She feel so scared all of a sudden, like the air had been knocked out of her lungs. This is the part she had hated the most. She would rather eat a knife than kiss him and yet here she was, having to kiss him.

Elijah takes Lori’s face into his hands, looking just as nervous as she does. With the hint of anger in his eyes of course. He leans down, not closing his eyes. And neither does she.

It was a quick kiss, a peck rather than a kiss. His lips only brushed hers before he pulled back again with cold eyes. Relief washes over Lori, this wasn’t so bad after all. She can live with that half-assed kiss, she can’t even remember how he felt like anymore.

And whilst they are staring at each other with resentment in their eyes, their guests were applauding.

So this is going to be her life from now on.

***

Two months prior

***

“So I heard you will be marrying the Kim Elijah”, Her sister-in-law said as soon as she entered the bar and sat down in the booth next to her.

It had been Lori’s third drink in which she had been currently poking around with the straw when she had so rudely interrupted her sulking.

“I guess so”, Lori mumbled with her voice already strained from drinking too much.

“That’s so exciting, wow. My sister will marry the biggest playboy of all of the city”, she laughed and waved a waiter to her table.

“Sister-in-law”, Lori corrected her, feeling terribly moody.

“I never had a little sister, just an annoying little brother, so please let me have my moment right now”, she said.

“He isn’t that annoying”, Lori murmured under her breath and she was sure she would have poked questions at you if the waiter hadn’t arrived right this moment.

“Yes ma'am?” he was in his twenties, probably a student working at this bar to earn some extra money for his studies.

“A Tequila Sunrise please and for my sister a Mojito, but with double the rum”, she told him.

Lori’s eyes grew big, before a fond smile appeared on her face. The waiter bowed, before going back to the bar and telling the barkeeper the order.

“You know me too well”, Lori mumbled, taking a sip from her half empty Mojito.

“I know you need it”, she said, taking one of Lori’s hands into hers.

“Now, do you want to tell me how you could convince Kim fucking Elijah to marry you?”

“Of course, are you ready for the romance story of the century?”

She nodded slowly, unsure if Lori was being sarcastic or not.

“Once upon a time there were two adults. Both of their parents owned big companies. They had never met before and definitely hadn’t planned on meeting. But that all changed when one day the parents of the daughter met up with the parents of the man and without their childrens’ consent they agreed on uniting their children in marriage. The end”, Lori sighed, watching the ice cubes melt in her glass. The limes had been ruined by her ruthless poking from before, the green pulp swimming in the translucent liquid.

Her sister in law studies her face, her perfectly groomed eyebrows knitted deeply.

“So that’s why I have never seen him at your parents place before. You are basically being sold to someone.”

Lori click her tongue, pointing at her.

“You hit the nail on the head, sis”, Lori took a long sip of her drink, “and I god damn hate it.“

“But that could be a good thing, you know. Uniting your companies is a good idea. Kim Enterprises has the biggest net worth nowadays and with Logan married to me, Min Superior will gain enough power that the possibility of becoming first place won’t be that impossible.”

Lori scoff at her words, sending her an annoyed glare.

“Hey, don’t glare at me. Logan and I also hadn’t met before our marriage and now look at us. I couldn’t imagine a better husband for me. And I’m sure Elijah will be the same for you”, she assured Lori.

“No he won’t, not when I have already Jord-“, Lori immediately stopped herself from speaking her sister in law’s little brother’s name.

“What? Who?” she gasped, now wide-eyed and at the edge of her seat.

“Nevermind. Look the cocktails are coming”, Lori said, feeling sober despite the alcohol in your veins.