CHORDS OF REVENGE

Chapter 5:Post Wedding Hostilities

Elena had barely stepped through the doors of the Knight mansion before the hostility began. The air inside was cold: not from the temperature but from the atmosphere. The grandeur of the home did little to mask the disdain that Adrian’s girlfriend, Cassandra, and his sister, Vanessa, radiated toward her.

The reception had been nothing short of a spectacle. Paparazzi lined the streets, guests marveled at the extravagance, and Adrian played the doting husband in front of the cameras. But as soon as they were out of the public eye, his hand dropped from hers, and his charming smile was replaced with indifference.

“Don’t expect this charade to last,” he had whispered earlier on.

Now, standing in the main hall of the Knight mansion, Elena felt as though she were stepping into a lion’s den.

“Welcome, Mrs. Knight,” Vanessa said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her tall frame leaned casually against the railing of the grand staircase, her arms crossed. “How does it feel to land yourself the ultimate lottery ticket?”

Elena ignored the jab, clutching her small purse tightly. Adrian’s silence beside her was deafening, but she had already learned not to expect him to defend her.

“Leave her alone, Vanessa,” came a voice from upstairs.

Elena looked up to see Evelyn Knight descending the staircase. The older woman’s kind eyes immediately softened the tension in the room.

“Enough of the theatrics,” Evelyn said, shooting a pointed look at Vanessa. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Vanessa scoffed but didn’t respond, choosing instead to storm off in the opposite direction. Evelyn reached Elena and gently took her hand.

“Come, dear. Let me show you to your room.”

Evelyn led Elena to a beautifully decorated guest room, not the master bedroom Elena had assumed she would share with Adrian. She tried not to show her surprise, but Evelyn noticed.

“I insisted on this arrangement,” Evelyn explained. “I figured you would want some space… given the circumstances.”

Elena offered a weak smile. She appreciated the thoughtfulness, but it was another stark reminder that her marriage was a sham.

Evelyn stayed for a few minutes, helping Elena settle in. As she left, she turned back and said, “Don’t let them get to you. You’re stronger than you realize.”

The warmth in her voice was almost enough to make Elena cry. Almost.

•••

Dinner that evening was a disaster. Cassandra, who Elena didn't see much at the wedding, made her grand entrance. She was stunning, wearing a form-fitting black dress that seemed more suited for a runway than a family dinner. Her arm casually rested on Adrian’s shoulder as she whispered something in his ear, causing him to laugh, a sound Elena had not heard directed at her.

“Well, well,” Cassandra said as she took her seat directly across from Elena. “The new Mrs. Knight. I must say, I expected someone… different.”

Elena met Cassandra’s gaze, refusing to back down. “And I must say, I expected someone a little more respectful of boundaries.”

Cassandra’s smirk faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

Adrian, who had been silent up to this point, finally spoke. “Enough.”

The single word silenced the table, but not because it held any real authority. It was more the tone: a weary exasperation, as though this entire situation bored him.

Elena pushed her plate away. She wasn’t hungry anymore.

Later that night, Elena sat on the edge of her bed, staring out the large bay window. The city lights in the distance twinkled like stars, a sharp contrast to the dimness she felt inside.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She opened it to find Adrian leaning casually against the frame.

“Settling in?” he asked, his tone devoid of any real interest.

“Why are you here?” Elena asked, folding her arms.

Adrian stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “Just a reminder,” he said, his voice low. “This isn’t real. You’re here because I need you to be, but don’t for a second think you’re part of this family.”

Elena’s jaw tightened. “You don’t have to remind me, Adrian. Trust me, no one is letting me forget.”

He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he turned and left, the door clicking softly behind him.

Elena wandered through the lavish halls of Adrian Knight's mansion, her new home after their extravagant yet hollow wedding. The weight of the day’s events, from the vows she had barely managed to say to the icy stares of Adrian's girlfriend, Cassandra, clung to her like a suffocating veil. Her feet carried her aimlessly, the soft glow of the chandeliers above illuminating her weary face.

In truth, she hadn’t meant to explore; she just needed to escape the suffocating reality of her situation. The mansion was cavernous, its rooms brimming with the kind of luxury Elena had never known. Yet despite the grandeur, it felt empty—cold, much like her marriage.

As she approached Adrian’s private music studio, muffled voices seeped through the c***k in the door. At first, she thought nothing of it. Adrian, maybe, often secludes himself there, and the sound of voices wasn’t unusual. But as she drew closer, her heart stopped.

Cassandra’s laughter rang out, soft and alluring, followed by Adrian’s unmistakable chuckle.

Elena’s hand froze mid-air as she reached for the door. Her pulse quickened, her breath catching in her throat. Slowly, she peered through the gap.

What she saw shattered whatever fragile hope she had harbored about her new life.

Cassandra was seated on the piano bench, her legs draped over Adrian’s lap. His hands, the same hands that had gripped Elena’s during their vows, rested lightly on Cassandra’s thighs. Their proximity, the ease with which they touched and laughed, was a stark contrast to the icy detachment Adrian showed Elena.

Elena’s heart cracked, the betrayal sinking deep. She hadn’t married Adrian for love, but this? This was a level of humiliation she hadn’t been prepared for.

"Adrian," Cassandra purred, her voice dripping with seduction. "I don't know how you’re managing to keep this charade up. That woman doesn’t belong here, and you know it."

Adrian didn’t respond immediately, but the smirk on his face said enough.

"She’ll serve her purpose," he said finally, his voice low and dismissive. "Let her think she has a place here. It makes the game more interesting."

Elena bit her lip to keep from gasping, tears burning her eyes. Her hands trembled as she backed away from the door, careful not to make a sound. Her vision blurred with tears as she stumbled down the hall, the sting of Adrian’s words cutting deeper than she thought possible.

She found herself in the garden, the cool night air doing little to calm the storm raging inside her. The image of Adrian and Cassandra burned into her mind, his casual cruelty replaying over and over.

She wrapped her arms around herself, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. What had she expected? That a man like Adrian Knight, with his wealth, fame, and ego, would treat her with respect? That their marriage, built on manipulation and power, would somehow yield kindness?

For the first time since she’d agreed to Adrian’s terms, Elena felt something stronger than despair. It was anger, a quiet, simmering fury that pushed through her pain.

If Adrian thought she was just another pawn in his twisted game, he was wrong.

Wiping her tears, Elena straightened her spine. She wasn’t going to let him break her, no matter how hard he tried.

•••

The next morning, Elena woke early. She didn’t want to face anyone but decided to explore the house on her own. She wandered through the expansive halls, marveling at the art and architecture.

In the library, she found Evelyn, who was reading by the window.

“Good morning,” Evelyn said, smiling warmly.

Elena hesitated but then stepped inside. “Good morning Grandma. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“Nonsense,” Evelyn said, gesturing for Elena to sit. “You’re family now.”

The word “family” felt foreign to Elena. She hadn’t felt like part of a family in years, not since losing her parents and taking on the responsibility of caring for her younger brother, Liam.

As they talked, Elena found herself opening up to Evelyn about Liam’s illness and how her marriage to Adrian was the only way to save him.

Evelyn listened intently, her expression softening with each word. “You’re a remarkable young woman, Elena,” she said when Elena finished. “Don’t let anyone make you feel less or otherwise.”

Elena left the library afterwards feeling a small glimmer of hope.

That hope though was short-lived. By the time breakfast was served, Vanessa and Cassandra had teamed up to make Elena’s life miserable. They made snide remarks about her appearance, her background, even the way she held her fork.

Elena endured it all in silence, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a reaction.

Later, as she walked through the garden to clear her mind, she heard their laughter from one of the balconies. They were clearly mocking her, but she refused to look up.

Instead, she focused on the roses in front of her. They were beautiful despite their thorns, a small reminder that beauty and strength often go hand in hand.

Unbeknownst to Elena, Adrian had been watching her. He saw how she carried herself with quiet dignity despite the onslaught of cruelty from Cassandra and Vanessa.

For the first time, he felt a twinge of guilt. But he quickly buried it, remi

nding himself of why she was here. She had hurt Vanessa, his little sister, and this was her punishment.

Or so he told himself.