The Scorned Bride: His Cruel Vows

Chapter 4: Get Out!

Thalia's Pov

"I am not wearing that," I said, my voice raw. "Take it back. Bring me literally anything else.”

It was a beautiful white gown with delicate lace sleeves and a sweeping silk skirt. I recognized it immediately. I’d been there when she picked it out. It was Aria’s wedding dress. The very one she was supposed to wear to marry Adrian before her plane went down.

The maid gave me a look of pure disgust. "Mr. Blackthorn ordered you to wear this. You don't get a choice, Thalia. Put it on, or I'll drag it over your head myself."

“You can't expect me to wear this. It's Aria's wedding dress. If Adrian sees me wearing this…”

“Then what else are you going to wear, you murderer?” She cut me off, “You've killed your own sister-in-law to get your way, so why play the victim now? God, I’ve always hated how arrogant you were just because Adrian favored you. Trust me, from here on out, you’re going to be treated worse than the staff.”

I clenched my hands at her words, angry. But I couldn't do anything. If I retaliated, I would be accused of making a scene and Adrian would get angrier.

I didn't want his attention; I just wanted to survive him. I swallowed the humiliation and nodded slowly.

“Okay. Help me put it on.”

Wearing my dead sister-in-law's dream dress, carrying Adrian's secret baby felt like a sick joke. I wanted to tear it off, but I had to endure it.

Once I was dressed, the guards escorted me out of the room. Adrian was standing at the bottom of the stairs. He was wearing a classic black tuxedo, looking incredibly handsome, but his face was completely blank.

As I reached the bottom step, his eyes traveled down my body, scanning the dress. Suddenly, his expression brightened up and a small smile appeared on his lips.

"Aria?" he whispered, his voice shaking with a tenderness I hadn't heard in years. "Aria, you're back? You came back to me?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to take the final step down the stairs.

"It's Thalia." I said softly.

The moment my voice hit his ears, the warmth vanished from his face. His smile shattered, and his features twisted into a frown.

"Why are you wearing that?" he hissed, his teeth clenched. "Take it off."

"I don't have any other dress to wear, Adrian," I said. "Your employee brought it to my room. She said you asked me to wear it.”

"I asked?" Adrian shouted, "How stupid do you think I am, Thalia? Why on earth would I ask Aria's dress to be worn by you. Aren't you satisfied with forcing this married? Did you have to defile her memory too?”

"If you're trying to say I'm lying, then I'm not." I said, more calmly than I felt. “You can ask the maid herself. I…”

"Take it off, Thalia. I won’t ask again.”

I didn't say another word. I turned on my heel, marched back to my room, and practically tore the gown off. The fabric felt like acid against my skin; I couldn't even bear to look at it pooled on the floor.

A few minutes later, a different maid kicked open the door. She tossed a simple, off-the-rack white dress onto the bed.

"Put this on. Now," she muttered. "Mr. Blackthorn is running out of patience."

I put it on and practically ran to the wedding hall.

I kept my chin up, staring straight ahead at the priest, trying my best to ignore the venomous whispers. Adrian was already standing at the altar, his back completely rigid. When I finally reached his side, he didn't even spare me a single glance.

The priest looked uncomfortable, clearing his throat before starting. "Dearly beloved..."

The service was a blur. Neither of us spoke our vows with any emotion. Finally, the priest let out a subtle sigh of relief.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

The chapel went completely silent. I turned my head slowly, looking up at my new husband with hooded eyes. He wasn't going to kiss me, he just looked at my face, let out a short, mocking laugh, and turned on his heel.

He walked straight down the aisle and out the main doors, leaving me standing there completely alone in front of everyone. I wasn't going to let people start to murmur even more so I just turned around, and walked briskly back to home.

I stayed locked away for hours. I didn't eat, and honestly, no one cared enough to check. Around midnight, a heavy fist pounded on my door.

I dragged myself out of bed and unlocked the door. Adrian stood in the doorway. His tuxedo jacket was gone, his white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, and his dark hair was completely messy. The moment the door opened, the strong, pungent smell of alcohol hit my nose. He was wasted.

"Adrian?" I asked, "What are you doing in my room?"

He didn't answer me. He stepped inside, pushed me out of the way, and slammed the door shut behind him.

"You're drunk," I said, backing away from him as he stumbled slightly. "You shouldn't be here. Let me call the driver or one of the staff to help you back to your room. You need to sleep."

I turned around to reach for the door handle, but before my fingers could touch the brass, Adrian lunged forward. His large hand grabbed my upper arm with force, and he violently yanked me backward.

"Ah!" I gasped as my balance gave out.

He threw me onto the mattress. I hit the bed hard, the breath knocked out of me. Before I could even scramble backward, Adrian climbed over me, pinning my legs down with his heavy body.

"Adrian, stop! What are you doing?!" I yelled, pushing my hands against his chest. "Get off of me!"

"What am I doing?" Adrian laughed, his voice slurred and deep, his breath smelling heavily of whiskey. He leaned down, his face inches from mine, "Isn't this exactly what you wanted, Thalia? You forced me to marry you. You signed the certificate. You wanted to be my wife so badly, didn't you?"

"No! You forced me to sign it because of Marge!" I protested, struggling wildly beneath him. "Let me go! You're hurting me!"

"Stop pretending!" he growled, grabbing both of my wrists and pinning them above my head against the pillows. "You played your cards perfectly. You got rid of Aria, and now you're lying in my bed. So don't act innocent now. Let's give you what you've been begging for."

"Adrian, please, listen to me…"

He didn't let me finish. His lips crashed down onto mine. I froze. But it wasn't like a punishing kiss like I thought it was going to be. Because of the alcohol, his lips were soft, warm, and desperate. He kissed me deeply, his grip on my wrists loosening just a bit as his hand moved down to cup my cheek.

For a moment, my brain stopped working. The man I had loved for ten years was kissing me with a warmth I had craved for a lifetime. My heart took over, and against my own will, I found myself melting into him. My eyes closed, and I started to kiss him back, losing myself in the touch of his lips.

But then, he leaned into my neck, his voice a broken, intoxicated whisper against my skin.

"Aria...God, Aria... I missed you so much..."

The words hit me like a bucket of freezing water. My eyes snapped open, my mind instantly clearing.

He wasn't kissing me. He was kissing Aria. A surge of anger and humiliation exploded inside my chest.

With one huge movement, I hit his face as hard as I could. The sharp sound cracked through the dark bedroom. Using his momentary shock, I gathered all my strength and violently pushed his heavy chest away from me. Adrian stumbled backward, falling off the side of the bed and landing heavily onto the floor.

I scrambled to the opposite side of the bed, pulling my knees to my chest, my whole body shaking as I stared at him.

"You bastard… Get out!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "Get out of my room, Adrian!”