Chapter 6.

On hearing Ivy say stop, Tarquin somehow felt nervous that she was going to reject him in front of the guests and cancel the wedding. He clenched his fists, already thinking of how to deal with her if she had the nerve to do so.

"I need to use the restroom," Ivy said and excused herself. One of the workers in the court followed her out to show her where the restroom was located.

Tarquin signaled John to come over, John quickly did and he whispered in his ears.

"Ask some of the guards to guide the restroom and stand by at every exit in case she wants to run away,"

John nodded, receiving his command before leaving to mobilize the guards to do so.

Ivy thanked the worker who showed her the restroom and walked into one of them. Everywhere around the restroom was very quiet and calm, she slumped on the floor not minding her dress being messed up, and allowed the tears that had already gathered to flow down.

She was regretting everything, the circumstances that brought them together, the fear that made her accept the marriage contract, she could not even look at the face of the man she was getting married to because she was so afraid of him.

She wondered how she was going to live her life in the next 365 days, will it only be for his pleasure or hers and will they live separately like they weren't married as he detests her so much?

Ivy couldn't tell how it was going to be but she knew the next 365 days of their stay together wouldn't be something to cherish at all.

The thoughts of these things kept running through her mind, she was sweating even under the Air conditioner present in the restroom. They were signing their marriage in one of the biggest courts in the city, she was supposed to be happy rather than sad on her wedding day but there wasn't any room for happiness in her heart, she was rather aggrieved.

"Hello, ma'am! Everyone is waiting, it has been 10 minutes already," The worker who escorted Ivy said.

Her words made Ivy remember what was awaiting her. She quickly fixed her hair, cleaned her eyes, and tried to keep a pretty face and calm composure.

Meanwhile, Tarquin was already running out of patience while waiting for Ivy. He couldn't stop gritting his teeth. He would check his wristwatch over and over again wondering why she was taking so long to return to the courtroom.

He looked around for John and saw him coming in. John saw the impatience written all over Tarquin's face and understood the reason behind it, so he quickly walked over to him.

"She is already heading back," John announced and immediately Ivy walked in. She walked with a straight face back to the table and sat down without paying much attention to Tarquin.

She had already concluded in her mind to act like Tarquin wasn't present with her to be able to proceed with the wedding because the thoughts of him by her side were making her get scared and making her lose her breath like she was going to collapse at any moment.

Two hours later, everything was done. They signed and registered the marriage. They also took pictures with the alleged Ivy's rich parents that were arranged by Tarquin to deceive the board members.

Ivy didn't hesitate to head into the car to get away from Tarquin's sight. She had been holding her breath all the while they were standing close to each other taking pictures and could only breathe after she got into the car, away from him.

While Tarquin tried to join Ivy in the car, he got a message from an important client. There would be a meeting in an hour.

He quickly called John over and asked him to arrange another car so he could head early to the meeting arena to prepare the necessary documents needed for it.

His mom who had been watching him closely understood everything going on. She called John over which John obeyed.

She forced John to review that Tarquin was about to leave for a meeting just after his wedding and it got her mad.

She walked straight to him boiling with anger, the board members and other guests were still around but she didn't care. She felt like slapping him hard but restrained herself from doing so.

"You ain't leaving, have that in mind," Mrs Caroline said as she stood behind Tarquin which made him turn to look at her.

"What do you mean Mom?" Tarquin asked.

"You cannot fix a meeting on your wedding day, cancel it, and go home with your wife, you are now married," Mrs. Caroline replied.

"This meeting is very important mom, how can I cancel it_"

"Tarquin, listen to me. First of all, today is your wedding. You should have made it known to whosoever you were meeting that today is your wedding, you are meant to spend today with your wife," Mrs. Caroline said.

"Mom, please stop, I don't want to argue with you right now, let me leave in peace," Tarquin as John started coming closer, to probably inform him that the car had been prepared.

"John, cancel whatever arrangement you had made because he isn't leaving," Mrs. Caroline said with her voice slightly raised.

People's attention was already getting attracted to the scene, Mrs Caroline was creating. Tarquin sensed if he refused to listen to his Mom, she would create a scene and embarrass him in front of everyone.

He clenched his fist and started walking to the car to meet Ivy. He didn't know the reason behind the fuss his Mom was making, he was no longer a kid.

He decided to swallow his anger, but his mind was still made up of going to the meeting.

Ivy, who had been waiting in the car, had been worried as the car was yet to start leaving. She started getting a feeling Tarquin would be joining her and just as she felt, the car door opened and he climbed in and closed the door.

His presence startled her so much that she nearly jumped out of her skin, she had to shift away out of panic and strained her right ankle due to the height of her heels.

Ivy hissed out loud in pain, she raised her dress and started massaging her ankle.

Tarquin looked at her and looked away without being affected even as he knew she was hurt. He wore a dark shade and relaxed back on the car seat unbothered.

Ivy struggled to remove the shoes but couldn't, she had to endure the pain on her ankle and sat back quietly.

They didn't talk to each other until the car came to a halt in the middle of the road, making Ivy sit up while wondering what was wrong.

Tarquin opened the car door and walked out before closing it. She saw him enter another car which zoomed off immediately.

She released a deep breath that she wasn't aware she had been holding in. One of the maids came into the car and closed the door before the driver started the car and continued their journey back home.

Ivy saw the maid bring out some medical kits before asking her to stretch forth her right ankle which Ivy obeyed.

She wondered how the maid knew she had sprained her ankle and the right one at that, it was only Tarquin who was in the car with her.

She guessed he had informed the maid before leaving, Ivy scoffed, she remembered he had acted like he didn't care whereas he had been observant to know that it was her right ankle she sprained.

Ivy wanted to laugh aloud but not out of happiness, she just wanted to laugh.