Chapter 3: The Moretti House
1319 Words
The courthouse was almost empty when Elowen walked back inside with Cassian.
She could still turn around.
She knew that.
One step toward the exit and she could forget this entire conversation had ever happened.
But she didn't.
Cassian walked beside her without saying a word.
The two men who had been standing outside followed them in.
Elowen glanced at them.
“Do they always follow you everywhere?”
“Yes.”
“That's disturbing.”
“They're doing their job.”
“Which is?”
“Keeping me alive.”
She looked at him.
“Who exactly is trying to kill you?”
Cassian's expression didn't change.
“Too many people.”
Elowen stopped walking.
“Wait.”
Cassian turned.
“You said this was just a marriage arrangement.”
“It is.”
“You just told me people want you dead.”
“I did.”
“And you're expecting me to marry you?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“You really don't know how to convince a woman, do you?”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“I wasn't trying to convince you.”
“Then what were you doing?”
“Giving you a choice.”
Elowen folded her arms.
“And if I say no?”
“You walk away.”
That answer surprised her.
She had expected pressure.
Threats.
Something.
Instead, Cassian simply waited.
Elowen looked toward the courthouse doors.
She could leave.
She should leave.
But where would she go?
Back to the house she shared with the man who had betrayed her?
Back to her family, where everyone would know that her wedding had been cancelled because her fiancé had chosen another woman?
She didn't want anyone's pity.
She wanted out.
“Fine.”
Cassian's eyes settled on her.
“I'll marry you.”
He nodded once.
“Good.”
“That's it?”
“What were you expecting?”
“I don't know. Maybe excitement.”
“I don't get excited.”
“Clearly.”
They continued toward the registration office.
A woman sitting behind the desk looked up when they approached.
“Can I help you?”
Cassian placed his hand on the counter.
“We're here to get married.”
The woman looked between them.
Then she looked at Elowen's wedding dress.
Her eyebrows rose.
“Today?”
“Yes,” Cassian answered.
“Do you have your identification?”
Elowen reached into her handbag.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled out her documents.
The woman checked them one after another.
“Are you both certain?”
Elowen looked at Cassian.
He was staring straight ahead.
She swallowed.
“Yes.”
The woman pushed the papers toward them.
“Sign here.”
Elowen picked up the pen.
She stared at the blank line with her name beside it.
This was insane.
She had spent years imagining her wedding day.
She had imagined walking down the aisle.
She had imagined her fiancé waiting for her.
She had imagined saying I do to the man she loved.
Instead, she was standing in a courthouse beside a complete stranger.
A mafia man.
Apparently.
Elowen signed.
Cassian took the pen from her.
His signature appeared beneath hers.
The woman stamped the papers.
“Congratulations.”
Elowen stared at the marriage certificate.
Her name was beside his.
Elowen Virelli Moretti.
She almost dropped the paper.
“That's my name now?”
“Legally,” the woman said.
Elowen looked at Cassian.
“Do you realize what you've just done?”
“Yes.”
“You married a stranger.”
“So did you.”
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Cassian took the certificate from her.
“Let's go.”
“Where?”
“My house.”
Elowen's eyes widened.
“Already?”
“You're my wife.”
She stared at him.
“Don't say it like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like it's normal.”
Cassian looked down at her.
“For me, it is.”
He turned and walked away.
Elowen followed reluctantly.
Outside, a black car was waiting.
One of the men opened the door.
She stopped before getting inside.
“Cassian.”
He looked back.
“What?”
“I have one question.”
“Ask.”
“What happens if I change my mind?”
His expression went completely still.
For the first time since she had met him, something in his eyes changed.
Not anger.
Something colder.
“You won't.”
Elowen frowned.
“You can't know that.”
Cassian stepped closer.
His voice was quiet when he answered.
“I know.”
He opened the car door for her.
Elowen hesitated before getting inside.
She had no idea why his words bothered her so much.
Maybe it was the confidence behind them.
Or maybe it was the way he looked at her, as if he already knew something she didn't.
The drive was silent.
Elowen watched the city disappear behind them.
Twenty minutes later, the car passed through a set of enormous iron gates.
Her eyes widened.
A massive mansion stood in the distance, surrounded by tall trees and security guards.
“This is your house?”
Cassian looked out the window.
“One of them.”
Elowen turned toward him.
“One of them?”
Before she could say anything else, the car stopped.
Cassian stepped out first.
Elowen followed.
The moment they entered the house, several people turned toward them.
A middle-aged woman nearly dropped the tray in her hands.
“Sir?”
Cassian ignored her.
“Prepare the east wing.”
The woman stared at Elowen.
“Who is she?”
Cassian stopped.
He looked at Elowen.
Then, without hesitation, he answered.
“My wife.”
The room went silent.
Elowen's stomach tightened.
Everyone was staring at her.
But one person wasn't surprised.
A tall man standing at the end of the hallway slowly lowered his phone.
His face had gone pale.
“Cassian…”
Cassian's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
The man glanced at Elowen.
Then back at Cassian.
“You can't bring her here.”
Cassian's expression hardened.
“Why?”
The man swallowed.
His eyes returned to Elowen.
For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something.
Instead, he shook his head.
“It's nothing.”
Cassian's eyes narrowed further.
“You don't look like it's nothing.”
“I said it's nothing.”
The man turned and walked away.
Elowen watched him disappear.
Something about the encounter didn't sit right with her.
She turned to Cassian.
“Who was that?”
“My cousin.”
“What's his problem?”
“I'll ask him.”
“And why did he look at me like that?”
Cassian looked toward the hallway.
“I don't know.”
Elowen studied his face.
He was lying.
She didn't know how she knew.
But she knew.
Before she could question him again, the middle-aged woman approached them.
“Sir, should I prepare the room?”
“Yes.”
She nodded and walked away.
Elowen looked around the enormous living room.
Everything was beautiful.
Expensive.
Almost too perfect.
But there was something strange about the house.
The people were quiet.
The guards were everywhere.
And everyone seemed to know something she didn't.
Cassian turned toward the stairs.
“Come.”
Elowen followed.
They had barely taken three steps when a loud crash came from somewhere upstairs.
Everyone in the room froze.
Cassian immediately turned toward the sound.
One of his men reached for the gun beneath his jacket.
Elowen's heart jumped.
“What was that?”
Cassian didn't answer.
He looked at his men.
“Check it.”
Two guards rushed upstairs.
Elowen stood still, watching them disappear.
Then she looked at Cassian.
“What exactly have I married into?”
His eyes met hers.
For once, he didn't have an answer.
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