Chapter 3: The Midnight Wedding
886 Words
The words echoed through the empty courthouse parking lot.
"Kill him before the wedding begins!"
Everything happened at once.
The four men charged toward Alexander.
Isabella froze.
"What—"
Before she could finish, Alexander grabbed her wrist.
"Get down!"
A gunshot shattered the night.
Bang!
The bullet smashed into a marble pillar where Isabella had been standing seconds earlier.
She screamed.
Alexander pulled her behind a black SUV just as another shot rang out.
Bang! Bang!
Concrete exploded around them.
"Stay here," Alexander ordered.
"They're trying to kill you!" Isabella cried.
"I know."
His calmness terrified her more than the gunfire.
One of the attackers shouted, "Don't let him escape!"
Alexander glanced around the parking lot, calculating every movement.
Then, with astonishing speed, he lunged from cover.
The first attacker swung his pistol toward him.
Too slow.
Alexander caught the man's wrist, twisted it sharply, and the weapon clattered onto the pavement.
A powerful punch followed.
The attacker collapsed unconscious.
The second man rushed in with a knife.
Alexander sidestepped, seized his arm, and sent him crashing over his shoulder.
The blade skidded across the wet ground.
Isabella stared in disbelief.
"He's not just a billionaire..."
"He's trained."
The remaining two attackers hesitated.
One reached for a rifle hidden inside the SUV.
Alexander's expression darkened.
"Wrong choice."
Within seconds, the rifle was knocked away, and both men were lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
Police sirens echoed through the streets.
The attackers scrambled back into their SUV.
"This isn't over, Knight!" one of them shouted.
The vehicle sped into the darkness before the police arrived.
Silence returned.
Isabella slowly stepped from behind the car.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Alexander adjusted his suit jacket as though nothing unusual had happened.
"Are you hurt?"
She could only stare.
"You... you fought all four of them."
"They underestimated me."
"Who are they?"
"I told you."
His gray eyes met hers.
"No questions."
The reminder sent a chill through her.
He wasn't joking about the contract.
Moments later, several police cars arrived.
Officers surrounded the area.
One detective approached Alexander.
"Mr. Knight, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Do you recognize them?"
"No."
The detective frowned.
"This is the third attack this month."
Isabella's eyes widened.
Third?
Alexander ignored her reaction.
"We'll increase your security," the detective said.
"It won't be necessary."
"Sir—"
"They'll be back."
The detective sighed.
"You really should reconsider."
Alexander simply walked away.
As if assassination attempts were part of his daily routine.
He stopped beside Isabella.
"It's 11:57."
She looked toward the courthouse clock.
Only three minutes remained.
"If I walk away now..."
"You'll never hear from me again."
"And my family's debt?"
"It remains."
She closed her eyes.
Everything had happened so fast.
The ruined wedding.
The debt.
The contract.
The attack.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Yet one thing was painfully clear.
Without Alexander...
Her family would lose everything.
She took a slow breath.
"One year."
Alexander nodded.
"One year."
"You'll keep your promise?"
"I always do."
She searched his face for any sign of deception.
She found none.
At exactly 11:59 p.m., they entered the nearly empty courthouse.
An elderly judge looked up in surprise.
"I wasn't expecting another ceremony tonight."
Alexander handed over the paperwork.
"We're here to be married."
The judge adjusted his glasses.
"So suddenly?"
Alexander answered simply.
"We're out of time."
The ceremony lasted less than five minutes.
No flowers.
No music.
No guests.
No celebration.
Only silence.
The judge smiled kindly.
"Marriage is built on trust."
Isabella almost laughed at the irony.
Trust was the one thing they didn't have.
The judge continued.
"Do you, Alexander Knight, take Isabella Hart to be your lawful wife?"
"I do."
His voice never wavered.
The judge turned.
"And do you, Isabella Hart, take Alexander Knight to be your lawful husband?"
She hesitated.
This wasn't love.
It wasn't destiny.
It was survival.
"...I do."
The judge signed the certificate.
"Then by the authority vested in me..."
He smiled warmly.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Midnight.
Alexander Knight had a wife.
The contract was fulfilled.
The judge looked at them expectantly.
"You may kiss the bride."
Alexander remained still.
"So do we have to?" Isabella whispered awkwardly.
"It's tradition," the judge replied with a grin.
Alexander stepped closer.
"So everyone believes this marriage is real."
His voice was barely audible.
He gently placed one hand beneath her chin.
Before Isabella could think...
His lips brushed softly against hers.
The kiss lasted only a few seconds.
But it left her completely breathless.
When he stepped back, she realized her heart was racing.
He looked as composed as ever.
"Let's go."
Outside the courthouse, his assistant hurried toward them carrying a tablet.
"Congratulations, Mr. Knight."
He handed Alexander the device.
Alexander glanced at the screen.
For the first time since they'd met...
His expression changed.
"What is it?" Isabella asked.
He slowly turned the screen toward her.
Across every major news website was the same breaking headline:
BILLIONAIRE CEO ALEXANDER KNIGHT MARRIES UNKNOWN WOMAN HOURS AFTER BRIDE IS ABANDONED AT THE ALTAR
Below the headline was an even more shocking article.
Someone had leaked a confidential file.
At the bottom of the page, in bold red letters, were six chilling words:
"YOUR WIFE DIES IN SEVEN DAYS."
To Be Continued...
- Writer
