Chapter 4

KIRA’S POV.

THE PRESENT…

"You move an inch more, and a bullet goes through her skull." my father's voice rang in my head.

I watched as Aunt Linda shut her eyes, her body trembling with fear. I couldn't bear to see her suffer because of me again. She still has the scars from last time. But I also couldn't let my father blackmail me into marrying a criminal.

"You can't force me into this, Father," I stated, maintaining a stoic expression. I couldn't let him see he had me.

"Or maybe I can." he dragged her hair, making her open her mouth in a scream. Seeing this, he held her closer, forcing the gun into her mouth.

"Father!" I cried, my eyes widened in shock. "Please don't do this. You can't make me marry someone I don't love. He's a criminal, father."

“Don’t be dramatic, Kira. We’re all criminals—it’s our line of work. I’ll give you ten seconds to decide, and you know better than anyone that I don’t bluff.”

I felt everyone's eyes on me, trying to predict what my answer would be. Will I choose my own life and happiness over a maid who has been there for me my entire life or will I sacrifice my freedom and happiness for a maid? To them, it was probably an easy choice but it wasn't to me. I couldn't watch my father kill the only woman who had cared for me but marrying Adrian was like going from frypan to fire. I didn't know which was worse, staying in the mansion or staying with a murderer.

I looked at my groom, the tattoo on his neck peeking from under the prison uniform he wore, his dark eyes staring at me. This wasn't a fairy tale, I couldn't melt the heart of a beast.

But I could save the life of an innocent woman.

I looked at Aunty Linda, her eyes opened, the dried tears getting stained by the new ones that couldn't stop dropping.

I gathered my dress before walking towards the altar. I looked at the priest, giving him a go-ahead.

"Please, may we all be seated? '' he started. Everybody went back to their seats, silence following after. "We're all gathered here for the uni_," he said before he was interrupted by Adrian's thick voice. He stood beside me, his eyes glaring at the priest, "Just go ahead with the fucking vows." he cursed earning a gasp from everyone around.

Only the devil would curse in a church.

The priest sighed before continuing, "Do you Adrian Vasillos take Kira Neel as your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"And do you Kira Neel take Adrian as your lawfully wedded husband?"

Do I let them win? Do I let my father take my last chance of being happy?

"I…I do." the words burned my throat.

"You may go ahead and sign the marriage documents". Adrian took the pen first, the ink in his large not going unnoticed. He signed the papers, not hesitating for a second. I took the pen, trying to fight back the tears that already made my vision blurry, and then signed.

"I therefore pronounce you Husband and Wife!"

The words continue to ring in my head even after I sit in the car, Adrian by my side, the silence between us almost choking me.

I didn't know how my life turned out to be this disastrous. I kept glancing at him hoping he would magically reappear as Dylan and I would realize that all this was a figment of my imagination, but every time I looked at him, I turned back to the window disappointed.

"Is there something you want to say?" He broke the silence, his eyes still looking outside the window.

"No," I said and turned to my side of the window. I looked back at him, deciding to just go all out. "What do they have on you?"

He didn't move or speak, I thought he didn't hear me speak so I spoke again.

"Why did you accept to marry me when you knew I was initially meant to marry Dylan and I love him?" This time he looked at me, his eyes roaming over my face.

He let out a loud scoff. “Do you really think I wanted to marry my younger brother’s sloppy seconds?” he asked, staring me down from head to toe. His harsh words cut deep, and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I couldn’t understand why his gaze alone made me feel so dirty.

"I'll never love you, Adrian. I don't belong to you. Everything happening right now is a misunderstanding and I know I'll get my Dylan back, and I will get my life back" My breath hitched, remembering how I stood there as Kayla told me about her pregnancy. I still found it hard to believe. The Dylan I knew would never betray me like that, there's just something behind it.

"I don't know what you and my father are planning but you will never have me, Adrian" I glared at him but instead, he only smirked at me.

“You’re still as naive as ever,” he drawled, his eyes narrowing at me. “Let me spell it out for you, little rebel. I have no desire for you. Our marriage is just a formality. I prefer my women pure and untainted, not like you.” he said.

Tears welled in my eyes as I got out of the car, feeling the heavy gown begin to get itchy. I let my eyes roam over the structure of the building in front of me. It was magnificent. I hadn't even noticed Adrian leaving the car and entering the house.

"He couldn't even bother to help me get settled," I murmured before rolling my eyes. I gathered the gown again in my hands, already feeling irritated by it.

Just as I stepped into the house, I saw the maids already lined up, their heads bowed, slightly.

"Umm," I tried to say something but couldn't find the words to say.

"Welcome, ma'am" A young Maid approached me, "I'll show you to your room," she said before walking towards a path.

I followed her, my eyes taking in everything. I noticed how the house lacked warmth. There were no pictures or even decorations, the only sign of life in the house was how neat it was. It perfectly suited him, it was just as cold and dark as his heart.

The maid finally opened the door, stepping away for me to enter. I had expected my room to be as empty and dark as the rest of the house but what I saw shocked me. It almost looked similar to the one I had back at my father's mansion.

"I will be back later to prepare you for the welcome celebration." I heard the maid say.

"What celebration?" I asked genuinely confused.

"The master would be celebrating his release, he has been away for three years," she responded.

"Ohh, I won't be attending, so you don't have to prepare me for anything," I said, not bothering to look at her. I couldn't go through the stress of faking to be happy in the presence of strangers anymore.

"You'll be going."

I looked up to see Adrian glaring hard at me. The maid was no longer standing there.

I glared back at him, not ready to stand down this time.