Chapter 5.

As Ivy paced back and forth, her heart was pounding in her chest. Today was the day she was going to get married, and she couldn't deny that she was terrified.

She was scared of what marriage to Tarquin would mean. She remembered how she'd tried to act tough and challenge him, only to have him turn into a devil right before her eyes. In a moment of panic, she had signed the contract, but immediately regretted her actions. She had begged Tarquin to cancel everything, but he had refused.

Now, she was stuck, and she didn't know what to do.

Tarquin had made it clear that she wasn't getting out of this, and that there was no turning back. The deal was done, and she would have to live with the consequences. He told her to keep her copy of the contract safe, because without it, she wouldn't be able to leave the marriage.

She sat in the room, watching as a team of maids fussed over her. It was a simple court wedding, but it felt like the biggest production. She didn't understand why they were going to such lengths to make it so splendid. Was this all for the show, or was it really just for her? She didn't want to believe that Tarquin was doing this out of spite, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was trying to make a point.

"Does he want to flaunt it to my face that he is very wealthy?" Ivy scoffed rather displeased than having fun with it.

She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as the time drew closer. It was almost time to go to the courthouse. She knew that once she signed those papers, her life would be forever changed. She would be bound to Tarquin, whether she liked it or not. She thought about running away, but she knew that would only make things worse.

The maids brought him different top designer dresses in white color for Ivy to pick the one she loved most. Ivy didn't bother and asked the head maid to do so for her.

"Please, ma'am! I cannot, the order was for you to make a choice yourself," Maria, the head maid replied and Ivy rolled her eyes.

Since yesterday she had moved in, in preparation for the upcoming court wedding, she had noticed that everyone was afraid of Tarquin and would never dare to appear in his sight or do what he didn't want. She couldn't blame them, she was afraid of him too.

The cold look he always had on his face, always brought shivers down her spine and gave her cold feet.

Ivy remembered she hadn't seen him since his driver brought her over to his place yesterday, she wondered where he was but decided not to be bothered about it as he was capable of taking care of himself.

She finally made a choice and settled for a simple tight fighting gown with matching heels and bag.

As Ivy stared at the entire outfit she had picked, her heart started racing wildly again, she knew no one in her right senses would agree to marry Tarquin if the person isn't after his wealth and influence.

He was very handsome and hot but what about his personality and the aura around him, you can barely breathe because you don't want him to get offended.

After thirty minutes, the maids were done helping Ivy out. She looked like a goddess in a white dress as she matched down the stairs.

She met Tarquin's Mom, Mrs Caroline waiting for her at the foot of the stairs.

"You look so beautiful," Mrs Caroline said. Ivy smiled as she took her hand and helped her step down to the ground.

"Thank you, Mom!" Ivy replied, making Mrs. Caroline smile and hug her lightly.

It was a quick one for Ivy to adjust to everyone and things around Tarquin because they were all nice and accessible unlike him. His mother was the opposite of him, nice, meek, and whatever he isn't.

It wasn't hard for Ivy to get along with her after the dinner they had together. She had decided to take her as the mother she never had and calling her mother too, wasn't that hard for her.

"Are you ready?" Mrs. Caroline asked Ivy.

Ivy didn't answer but looked at her nervously as her heart started racing wildly.

"You don't have to be afraid of anything, I'm here and would protect you from his clutches okay?" She assured Ivy and brought her head closer before placing a light kiss on it.

Somehow the kiss calmed down Ivy's nerves and they started leaving to the car parked outside which would take them to the court.

*

In a dark study, a sleek long figure sat, smoking all alone. The door opened and John walked into the study.

"Sir, the bride is already leaving," John informed.

"When? Is she leaving the court with my Mom?" Tarquin asked as he puffed another smoke looking into nothingness.

"Yes sir, they just left," John replied.

Tarquin dropped the cigarette he was smoking and waved him off. John bowed before leaving the study.

He stood up and checked his wristwatch, he only had thirty minutes before the court wedding would begin. He poured the remaining wine into the glass in his mouth and walked out of the study.

Back at the court, Ivy and Mrs Caroline were patiently sitting waiting for Tarquin who was yet to arrive.

The few guests they invited had already started murmuring. Ivy was a little bit bothered that the man who had threatened her to agree to sign the contract for them to get married wasn't serious enough to know it was the day of their wedding and show up early. She made up her mind to expect whatever outcome it will be.

If the wedding didn't hold, she would fly back to her country and make sure she wasn't reachable in case he wanted to refix the wedding date if he still very much wanted it.

Mrs. Caroline was the one panicking with anxiety, some of the board members were present in the court to witness the wedding, and she knew how bad things would turn out if Tarquin didn't show up.

She was afraid on behalf of him. She quickly stood up and walked out to make a call. She put a call to John who didn't pick up, she continued trying to reach him but John never picked up until she got tired.

She turned around to walk into court, then Tarquin's car arrived and he walked out with John by his side.

John bowed when they walked up to Mrs Caroline who was now burning with anger.

"I have been calling you John, you never picked," Mrs. Caroline snapped at John who looked down at his feet.

"I asked him not to pick as there wasn't any need for it… we were close when you started calling," Tarquin replied straightforwardly and started walking past her.

"Ain't you going to explain why you are late? You kept everyone waiting for over thirty minutes," Mrs Caroline said but Tarquin didn't give her a reply and calmly went inside.

As he walked in, everyone felt his presence and turned in his direction, Ivy was frightened, her heart started racing wildly, and she looked down, unable to look at his face.

He walked straight to sit beside her at the table where they would be signing the marriage certificate and proceeding with how it was going to be done.

Ivy was feeling so uncomfortable and restless with Tarquin’s presence that she started contemplating whether to continue or not.

The kind of life she was going to have in the next 365 days flashed right before her eyes and she stood up quickly.

"Stop!" She said aloud.