Chapter 4

Kehlani's Pov

“So.” He said, ignoring my question, his voice was smooth but laced with an undercurrent of menace, “This is the woman who ran away from the wedding?”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand, silencing me.

“Save your excuses.” He said, his tone dismissive, “Whether you are Selene or Kehlani, it doesn’t matter.”

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on, “I’m not Selene.” I began, “And like I said before, you have gotten the wrong person. I don't know who this Selene is but she has no relationship to me.”

His lips quirked into a small, humorless smile, “You’re bold.” He said, his eyes narrowing slightly, “I’ll give you that. But boldness won’t save you.”

“Neither will mistaken identity.” I shot back, my anger bubbling to the surface, “If you’re smart, you’ll stop wasting your time with me and go find the real Selene.”

The room fell silent as he studied me, his expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, he chuckled, a low, dark sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Very well. I want to throw an olive branch to you, Kehlani.”

“An olive branch?” I repeated, confused.

“Yes. Become my wife.”

My jaw dropped, and I stared at him in disbelief, "What?!" I choked out, unable to comprehend the words that had just left his mouth, "You can't be serious. I don’t even know you!"

He smirked, taking a slow, deliberate step closer, "Oh, I'm very serious. Selene was meant to be my bride, but since she decided to run off, you’ll take her place."

I backed away instinctively, my heart hammering in my chest, "You’re insane! I’m not Selene, and I’m definitely not marrying you!"

His smirk faded, and his expression darkened, his green eyes glinting with danger, "You don’t seem to understand the situation you’re in, Kehlani."

“I understand perfectly.” I snapped, summoning every ounce of courage I had, “You’ve kidnapped me, mistaken me for someone else, and now you’re forcing me into some twisted marriage. But I’m telling you, I’m not Selene, and I won’t marry you!”

He sighed, his tone suddenly exasperated, "You’re making this much harder than it needs to be." He stepped closer again, his towering frame looming over me, "Do you think I don’t have the means to persuade you?"

I stiffened, my defiance faltering under the weight of his words, "What do you mean?"

He smiled coldly, a predator toying with its prey, "Your grandmother, for one. I know all about her condition. Kehlani, you seem to have forgotten about your grandmother in the hospital, are you sure you want anything to happen to her? She's been in a coma for such a long time and you were counting on your man, what was his name? Finn, to rescue her since your parents didn't want to but things fell off, didn't they?”

I froze, “What are you talking about?” My voice wavered as fear clawed at me, “What does my grandmother have to do with this?”

My grandmother had been in a coma for two years, she's been in and out for some reason the doctor's can't explain and I have been working myself to the bone to take care of her. I thought Finn was going to help me after we got married but…

The older woman’s cruel smile widened, “Everything, my dear. You think we didn’t do our homework? Your grandmother’s medical bills are astronomical, and without Finn, there’s no one left to foot them. Except us.”

My breath hitched, fear spreading like wildfire through my veins, "You wouldn’t…"

"Wouldn’t I?" He leaned in, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper, "Do you really want to find out what I’m capable of, Kehlani?"

Tears welled in my eyes, and I clenched my fists to keep from trembling. I couldn’t let them hurt my grandmother.

“You’re a monster.” I whispered, my voice shaking.

He straightened, his expression calm but unforgiving, "Call me whatever you like. But you will marry me, Kehlani, because the alternative isn’t something you want to experience."

I stared at him, my heart sinking as the last shreds of hope crumbled away. This man had me cornered and I knew it, I had no choice but to eventually marry him. My parents had abandoned me, the people I loved all abandoned me too and I was very sure that my grandmother would be left unattended to. This man was my only chance, I had to get whatever I could out of it.

Taking a shaky breath, I met his gaze and asked the only question I could think of, "Who are you?"

He smiled again, a slow smile curving on his lips, "Alec Castor." He said, his voice dripping with authority, "Your future husband."

The room seemed to shake, and I looked at him with what could only be described as a huge ass shock. Alec Castor?! The man I’d heard whispers about, the ruthless heir to the Castor fortune, known for his power, his control, and his utter lack of mercy.

I sighed, “Looks like I can't get out of this after all. However, what is in it for me? You promised to help my grandmother but that can't be just it.”

He smiled, this time it looked like a genuine smile, “What do you want?”

I straightened my spine, meeting his gaze with as much defiance as I could muster, "First, I want a guarantee in writing that my grandmother will receive the best care, no matter what happens between us. Second, I want freedom within this arrangement, I’m not going to be locked away like some prisoner.”

“Mhm. Of course you won't be locked away like a prisoner, you will have work to do once you become my wife.” He said softly.

My heart was beating so hard against my chest as I weighed the pros and cons. Of course there were a lot of pros and cons… I had no idea about it yet but what I knew was that if this man really was Alec Castor, his identity would help me in the long run.

I took a deep breath and stared squarely at him, “I, Kehlani will marry you.”