##Chapter 3
Wedding Day.
Michelle's POV.
D-Day, it was my wedding day already.
“Why were you not in your room?” my friend, Bella, asked worriedly when she saw me going into my room with the heavy bandage on my head.
“What happened!” she screamed, and her voice echoed in the hotel hallway.
“What's wrong with your head? Why are your clothes stained with blood? Who did this to you?” She panicked.
“Calm down, Bell,” I said. “Calm down? You really think I can do that after seeing you like this?”
“Let's go inside.” I pulled her into my hotel room. “What’s going on Michelle?” She asked impatiently, checking my head.
“I fell, and I was taken to the hospital. I am fine now” I lied, knowing Bella wouldn't stay calm if I told her about the incident. She would probably go berserk and make her family lose a lot of business deals.
Her anger cannot be suppressed by a super power and I wasn't ready for such action that morning. “What? You should have called me, I was worried all night, I tried your number several times, after you left the party room, I was so worried.”
“You should rest for now, I will tell your parents to shift the time a little bit” Bella said, standing up, but I stopped her.
“No need, I can manage.”
“You got injured, and you need to rest, the wedding can wait, your health matters” she said, but I know my parents would never accept unless my corpse was lying down.
“I am really fine, I can do this” I said, stretching my arms, trying to make her believe it.
“I will believe you, but if you ever feel any discomfort tell me right away, okay?”
“Yes, mummy Bella” I teased her.
************************************
I was dressed in my sophisticated wedding dress, which seemed like a huge punishment to me. I felt like I was punishing myself as I walked into the wedding hall.
I changed the bandage into a smaller one and it was covered with my hair. The pain was bearable thanks to the injection I got last night.
The spacious, extravagant hall yet classy was filled with people waiting for the groom to show up.
Unlike other weddings that always have their groom waiting for them, I had to wait for mine with the last hope in me.
‘He promised to show up' I mulled in my head with a sweaty palm. I kept sweating profusely that I almost ruined my makeup.
“What's going on?” Bella, my friend, who was my maid of honor whispered from behind, but I didn't reply, because I wasn't at ease myself.
People started murmuring inside the hall. I looked in my stepmother's direction and I could see how angry she was, even my father's gaze held a lot of disgust.
My eyes became teary again, I looked away from them trying to fight back my tears, but then my gaze landed in an irritating direction.
Sharon was at the corner of the hall with an evil smirk plastered on her face. I shivered as I tried to control my tears.
I remembered how she smashed the flower vase on my head last night and all I could feel was the urge to ruin her. I wanted her to taste hell and beg for death, but what could I do when I was the one facing the biggest downfall.
'Did I get tricked again? I shouldn't have trusted him,' I blamed myself. Tears rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably, as I heard insults thrown at me by a few guests.
The guest got angry, and they all wanted to leave, but they all stopped when the door opened wide with a bright light ray, which was blinding. A masculine figure walked in, looking like a runaway model.
They were all curious to see his face, since they couldn't see his face because of the light, their gaze was on him.
“Where are you all going when the wedding has just started?” His baritone voice rang out despite the size of the crowd without using a megaphone.
'He is here!’ I smiled faintly, with a relieved sigh.
“Lucian Houston?” The crowd was shocked immediately when they heard his voice. I looked at Sharon's direction, and her expression was more shocking than the situation. She looked like she saw a grim reaper coming after her soul.
“It's your wedding day, you shouldn't cry” Lucian said, wiping my tears slowly. He was quite a pretender, people would think we have been dating for a long time seeing how he was touching my face.
“You are late” I said tonelessly. “Had to attend to something, I am here now, your groom is right here.”
“Shall we?” He asked for my hand. We said our vows, and I was surprised he didn't omit any words as promised. It was just a contract marriage, I didn't expect him to complete his vows, and I swayed away by his serious gaze as he said those words.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
I looked at him, and shook my head telling him not to do it, but that was fruitless. I was caught off guard when he pulled my waist closer to him, and smashed his lips on mine.
He kissed me slowly, and affectionately. His warm lips made me follow his rhythm, he made sure he didn't touch my head because of the wound. I almost started to enjoy it, but he stopped, and he winked at me after letting go of my lips.
‘'Jerk!’ I thought. He almost toy with me, but I wasn't ready to fall for another Houston.
I looked away from him, and stared at the figure, who was immersed in fear from afar, Dell. Lucian traced my gaze direction, and immediately his gaze fell on him, Dell left the hall with Sharon, not being able to withstand him.
“Let's go,” he said with a cold gaze. “Okay” I said, and looked behind me, searching for my still shocked friend. She gave me a questioning gaze, but I didn't have the luxury to explain.
“Later Bell” I said hurriedly.
We left the hall, and I noticed the hall was loudly quiet. No one has the balls to say a word of criticism or complain. Even my stepmother couldn't come and say what was in her mind.
An extravagant car stopped in front of us, with three cars filled with bodyguards, behind it.
“Get in” he said, not opening the door for me, but I didn't expect much from him.
It has been a few minutes since the drive started, and I didn't ask where our destination was. “Where are we going?” I asked slowly.
“To make the contract” he said, not saying the exact location. I didn't bother saying any words.
“Take this” he said, motioning me to collect the medicine from him. I collected it with a questioning gaze.
“The doctor prescribed it, you shouldn't get sick if you really want to get back at them.”
“Thank you, Mr Houston” I mumbled.
After some time, the car pulled up in front of a penthouse. They got down from the car without saying anything, but I knew I was meant to follow him.
I almost got the wrong idea after he kissed me, but he made sure I came back to my senses.
The Villa was no ordinary, even his doors were meant to impress. We sat across from each other. I was staring blankly at the space because I couldn't afford exchanging gaze with him. We just exchanged vows and things were so awkward for me.
He called someone in which I suspected to be his assistant, he always showed on the news with Lucian. The man came in with a file in his hands.
He bowed slightly after dropping it on the table, and left immediately. “Read carefully before signing, there's no going back after reading the clauses” He said with an expressionless face.
'It's a marriage contract, what is special about it?’ I mulled in my head.
I opened the papers and started reading the clauses. It was going smooth until a particular clause caught my attention.
“Party B{Michelle} must…..what?” I gasped in surprise. I was tricked!
##Chapter 110Darren's POVThe Standard“Where is she?!” I got to the gate, and the bodyguards looked confused. “Where's my girlfriend?!” I yelled. “Ma'am just left,” they reported. “What? You let her out?”“Yes, she seems angry and—” they couldn't finish their words after seeing my eyes. “If Bella gets hurt in this neighborhood, be ready for the consequences!” I ran out of the mansion and started running to only God knows where. I couldn't think straight knowing she might encounter danger around.“Bella, please come back to me,” I mumbled in my head as I looked around. I regretted going into the annex. “Bella!”I called her name several times, and then realization hit me. “Michelle—what if_” I couldn't finish my words as I pulled out my phone and dialed Lucian's number.“Hello,” I heard my friend's voice with curiosity laced in it. “Is Bella there?” I asked, making him sense urgency in my voice. “Bella? Why? What's wrong, buddy?” He asked worriedly.“Is she with you or not?!”“No, sh
##Chapters 109Bella's POV.Love His Ex“This is so boring…”I mumbled after eating breakfast, I haven't seen Darren since yesterday, and I couldn't find him. The house is too big; I might get lost.“How could he?” I hissed. “I know I was wrong, but I'm his guest! That rude old man!” I ranted, waiting for a knock on my door, but I didn't hear anything.“I will give him a call then,” I mumbled to myself and reached out for my phone, but then I remembered my phone was with him. 'Bella, how could you be so forgetful?’“Ella, Ella… He can't even take care of me properly,” I hissed, imitating him.I got out of my room and wanted to take a stroll. “Good morning, ma'am,” the maids stopped and greeted, which was unusual to me. My parents weren't that rich to have so many maids, so it was awkward.“Morning,” I said hurriedly, trying to avoid others. “I'm going to take a stroll,” I said, which was true, but deep inside me I was looking for my boyfriend.“My cat is not here?” I mumbled after loo
##Chapter 108Michelle's POV Reassurance“Good morning, darling.” Lucian kissed my neck on the bed. Shirtless, revealing his sexy n*pple and abs. “Morning,” I replied dryly as I stayed in the same position.“Michelle, wake up,” he whispered to me, but I didn't listen. “I brought you breakfast,” he mumbled, but I ignored him.“My love, you are with a child; you don't want to hurt the child, do you?” Lucian mumbled. “Leave me alone. I'm not hungry.“Really? Are you sure you don't want spicy chicken?” He asked stylishly as he opened the tray. The smell of the food hit my nose, and I couldn't resist it. 'Wow!’ My hormones couldn't resist it, even though I wasn't in the mood; my body was yearning for it.“I will just throw it away.” Lucian cleared his throat and wanted to take a step, but he halted when I hugged his thigh. “I will think about it.” “Think? C'mon, babe, you don't need to stress your little brain; I will throw it away, and we will go on a hunger strike together. You know I
Chapter 107IncapableHarry's POV“It's weird,” Elena mumbled beside me with a curious look, but I did everything possible to avoid telling her anything, because she has been trying every means to ask about the situation that happened earlier since we got home. I am too busy to explain the situation to her.“Babe,” she called. “Huh?” I turned to her. “Why are they after her?” She asked slowly. “After whom?” I acted ignorant.“You know what I'm talking about, Harry,” she slapped my arm. “It was just an accident, the driver was probably drunk. C'mon, baby, don't think too much,” I replied with a forced smile.“I'm not thinking too much here, and don't take me for a fool, Harry. What's happening? You all seem like you know what's going on, and you, my husband-to-be, refuse to tell me what the problem is.”“You guys are scaring me,” she hissed angrily. “What are you saying, darling?” I dropped my phone and pulled her closer. “It's her family's struggles. It's personal; that's why I decide
##Chapter106His Mansion Bella's POV “Michelle!” I wanted to follow her, but I was stopped by Darren. “Ella, calm down” he gave me a reassuring look.“Let's go” Darren motioned me to walk, but I couldn't move immediately as the scene I just witnessed kept reappearing in my head. I watched Lucian's car retreating back, thinking of how shocked she would be.“What just happened?” I mumbled, and Darren breath heavily. “Trust me Ella, we will take care of this.” “C'mon, let's leave this place” he held my hand and placed his other hand on my waist to support me while walking.“Okay” I nodded subconsciously as I followed him to the car. The silence inside the car made him worried that he checked up on me almost every second. I reached out to my phone, trying to call Michelle, but Darren was quick to understand my intention. “Ella stop. He will take care of her.”Not too long,We arrived at his mansion and I was confused because we didn't plan on going there, also that was my first time v
##Chapter 105Bring Him AliveLucian's POV The screech of tires ripped through the air, a sound that sent shivers down my spine and froze my blood. I looked up, my heart leaping into my throat as I saw my wife, oblivious to the danger, stepping out into the street. A car, a blur of metal and headlights, hurtled towards her, with terrible intentions.“Michelle?” Time seemed to slow down. I was paralyzed for a split second, my mind screaming at me to act, to move, to do something.“Michelle!” Then, a surge of adrenaline took over, propelling me forward with a force I didn't know I possessed. I lunged, reaching out with all my might, grabbing her arm just as the car wanted to hit her.We tumbled to the pavement, the impact jarring my body. I held her tight, my heart pounding against my ribs. My eyes scanned her face, searching for any sign of injury. “Are you okay, michelle?” I panicked more, seeing how quiet she was. I knew she was probably more shocked than I was.Relief washed over