Chapter 3

Kiara’s Pov 

      Feeling rebellious, and because I knew dad could do nothing to me right now, seeing as we were both walking down the aisle while thousands of people watched. And because of that, I tightened my hold on my father's bicep painfully, digging my acrylic nails in as hard as I could, wanting to hurt him in any way, even though it was obvious that what I was doing was literally a drop of water compared to an ocean.

Dad grunted painfully and I mentally patted myself on the head. I held on tightly, even as I felt his steps flatter a little at a point. I didn’t relate, and he hissed something in my ear which I interpreted as a warning, as he handed me to my husband and walked away, not before shooting me a warning look.

I suddenly felt like flipping him off right there, but decided against it instantly.

I turned my head around to stared up at the mafia lord through my veil, and I felt my head spin a little. I used to consider myself quite tall for a girl, but even being in heels right now, this man managed to tower over me effortlessly.

And lord, was he big. His shoulders and chest looked so wide, it made me feel explicitly small compared to him, and that didn’t make me feel good, it only made me feel closed in helpless.

Throughout the sermon, I was jilttery. His hand held mine throughout, and I long to yank my hand from his. I recited the wedding vows robotically, wrinkling my nose at how fake and sham this entire thing felt like, and for a moment, I felt something shatter inside me, at the conclusion that this was now the new pact of my life.

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The pastor echoed out and I swallowed the hard lump in my chest slowly, feeling a dreaded shudder engulfe me in that moment.

“You may now kiss the bride.” 

I darted my eyes around as I turned sideways to face my new husband, quickly wondering if there was a way I could manage to run away right now. The guards I could sight at different spots in the church, and the ones I could already tell were postitioned at different posts around the church, made me drop that thought instantly.

I jolted when my veil was abruptly lifted, I had been too busy thinking about how to run away again that I didn’t realize how close the mafia lord was to me until this instant. With the veil out of the way, I could see his face crystal clear this time.

A Large hand lightly held my chin while I watched my new husband lower his head towards mine slowly, and without thinking, a horrified gasp slipped past my lips as I jerked away from him.

I hadn’t realized what I had done until a quiet murmur began to pass through the crowd. A quick glance at the pastor who was frozen in shock, and then the anger burning in my new husband’s eyes, was proof enough that I had done something wrong. I definitely wasn’t supposed to have pulled away. I’m sure dad would have come up to slap me if he could right now.

The look in my husband’s eyes was so intense as he stretched forth his hand and grasp my chin firmly, and I was tugged towards him in an instant, blinking wide eyed at him. My heart was racing and goosebumps gathered on my skin, just as the mafia lord lowered his head and took my lips in a seering kiss.

The kiss wasn’t deep, his lips had barely moved against mine, but it felt so intense, that I might have crumbled on the floor if his grip were not very firm on my chin. The fact that both our eyes were opened while that kiss happened, made me feel more closed in and helpless.

The kiss probably lasted for a few seconds, but it felt like an enternity which I’d rather not relive, just as the crowd got the their feet and applaud.

At that moment, I hated my life, hated my parents for birthing me, and hated my brother for putting me in this kind of situation.

~~~

   The reception went by in a blur, and I felt dizzy and nauseous throughout.

Everyone were celebrating around me, while I silently mourned the abrupt end of my childhood. I tried everything in me to steer clear of my husband, but that’s literally impossible since everything happening right now, required me to be by his side, like a dutiful little wife, and my mouth twisted at that thought.

I stood beside my husband as lots of people came forward to congratulate us, dutifully smiling when in reality, I wanted to steal a gun and end every one of their lives.

When it was time for our first couple’s dance, I tried to shove all emotions off my face as I moved around the dance floor with my husband. 

Bring held against him this way, left me no choice but to actually look into his face. I’ve seen him a couple of times from a far distance, and I had been a little teenager during those times. It felt like I was seeing him anew, his hair was dark and on the longer side. 

His jaw looked sharp and outlined, paired with high cheek bones, an inverted face and deep blue eyes. His hand felt firm against my waist and I wished he’d leave a little space between our body, because being pressed up against him right now was unnerving me making me nervous.

We didn’t exchange a word throughout the dance, and I fled to a restroom as soon as the dance was over. I really couldn’t catch a breath because I was called on almost immediately to dance with my father.

“Xavier will definitely tame that wild beast inside of you.” Dad murmured as we moved together. I squared my shoulders and jutted my chin.

“You had better wish him luck then.”

Dad glared at me and his grip on my waist began to tighten while he glared at me.

“I think technically, I’m no longer your property, which leaves you no right to hit or punish me any longer, right?” I asked, and without waiting for a response, I pulled away from the dance and walked towards Xavier to stand beside him– while the music was still playing, right before it slowly came to an end.

Dad remained frozen on the dance floor for a moment longer, he pinned me with a hard glare before finally existing the dance floor, and I let out a small exhale. I felt Xavier staring at me at a point, but I pointedly ignored it.

In as much as I had seemed brave as I told off dad, I was scared shitless of how Xavier was going to ‘discipline me’.

I decided to shove that thought out of my head for now, and when Micah had approached me to attempt to apologize, I had turned away from him and completely ignored him.

Lisa cried in my arms as I hugged her goodbye, but I held my tears back, because tears were a sign of weakness. 

Mum had smiled and waved at me but I glared at her in response, and after that, a little while later and Xavier and I were leaving the reception hall, heading straight for his house.