Court Marriage
856 Words
Alice sat in the back seat of the car, her hands shaking as they pulled into the parking lot of the courthouse. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and her breath came in short gasps.
She knew she had no choice but to go through with this, but she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had been building up inside her.
As she got out of the car, she saw the tall, imposing figure of Madame Bette standing at the entrance to the courthouse. The woman's eyes were cold and hard, and Alice could tell that she was not pleased with the current situation.
Shel took a deep breath and forced herself to put one foot in front of the other. She followed the woman into the courthouse, her head held high, even though her knees were weak. They made their way to the judge's chambers, where the marriage would take place.
Alice's parents were already inside, looking nervous and uncertain. The judge was seated at his desk, looking stern and unyielding. She felt a wave of panic wash over her, but she forced herself to stand tall and stay calm.
Her father had succeeded in marrying her off to the cold billionaire, someone she barely knew.
The judge looked at Alice with a cold, calculating gaze. "Miss Alice, you have been called here today to enter into a contract marriage with Bryan Yates. Do you understand the terms of this contract?"
Alice swallowed hard, her hands trembling.
"I do understand the terms," Alice said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Very well," the judge said. "You will now stand before the court and sign the contract. Your parents and Madame Bette will witness your signature."
Alice stood up, her legs shaking. She felt like she was in a dream, like this wasn't really happening. But she knew that it was, and she had to go through with it. She picked up the pen, and her hand trembled as she signed her name on the contract.
As she sat back down, the judge said, "Your marriage will now be official. You and Mr. Bryan will live together for a period of one year, after which time the contract will be dissolved. During that time, you will be provided with a monthly stipend to cover your expenses."
Alice's heart sank. She would be a prisoner for a year, living with a man she didn't know or love. She felt sick to her stomach, and she wondered how she would ever survive.
"You will now be escorted to your new home," the judge said.
Alice looked towards her mother's direction. The woman looked at her with so much affection in her eyes. She never imagined such life for her daughter, but fate had it differently for her. Her father looked calm, after all the decision was made in favor of him.
Alice and her parents quietly left the courtroom to the garage. Her belongings had already been packed in the car trunk.
As the car moved towards the mansion, Alice looked out the window and saw the sun setting over the city. The sky was painted in shades of pink and orange, and the city lights were beginning to twinkle in the distance. The buildings were tall and imposing, and she felt small and insignificant in comparison.
She thought about how her life had changed so drastically in such a short time. She had gone from a young woman with hopes and dreams, to a prisoner in a cold and lonely mansion.
But even though she felt broken and defeated, she couldn't give up.
As the car pulled up to the imposing gates of the Yates' mansion, Alice felt her stomach drop. This was the moment of truth, and she knew that there was no turning back now. She took a deep breath and steeled herself for what was to come.
The gates opened, and the car drove up the long driveway. Alice could see the mansion getting closer and closer, and she felt like she was being swallowed up by its shadow.
Finally, the car came to a halt. This was her new home, but for a short time.
A man who looked like he was in his early forties walked up to her.
"Welcome to your new home, Miss Alice. I'm Mr Bates, the family butler," the man said, his voice emotionless.
"Thank you," Alice said, but her voice came out sounding weak and uncertain. She looked around at the opulent surroundings, feeling out of place.
"I'll instruct the maids to show you around if you don't mind. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask", the butler said.
The butler led her up to the room prepared for her.
The room was big, with a king size mattress at the center of the room, and a table at the head of the bed.
Alice was lost in thoughts, she failed to notice the beauty of the room.
" I'm married to Bryan, right?", Alice suddenly asked.
" Yes Miss Alice", Mr Bates answered, surprised.
" Shouldn't we share a room?"
- Writer
