The Casanova's Bride

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE MAN I MARRIED

Amara

"Everything?"

I stared at Zola.

She looked exhausted.

Her face was pale, and she kept rubbing her temples as though she was struggling to focus.

"What happened to you?"

"I'm fine," she whispered.

"No, you're not."

I reached for her hand.

It was cold.

"What did they do to you?"

Zola hesitated.

"I don't know exactly. They gave me injections."

My heart dropped.

"Injections?"

She nodded slowly.

"I think it was something to keep me calm. I don't know. I've just been feeling dizzy since they brought me back."

I immediately turned toward my parents.

"What did you give her?"

My father didn't answer.

My anger rose.

"You promised me she would be safe!"

"She is safe," my mother said quickly.

"Then why can barely she stand?"

Before my father could respond, Alexander stepped forward.

"Enough."

His voice was cold.

Everyone went silent.

He looked at Zola.

"Can you walk?"

Zola nodded.

"Then we're taking you to a doctor."

My father frowned.

"That's unnecessary."

Alexander slowly turned toward him.

"I wasn't asking."

There was something about his tone that made even my father fall silent.

Alexander looked at me.

"Get your friend into the car."

I stared at him.

"Why are you helping us?"

His expression remained unreadable.

"Because she's clearly unwell."

He glanced toward my parents.

"And because I don't appreciate people being mistreated under my name."

I blinked.

There was no softness in his voice.

But there was something else.

Responsibility.

I helped Zola toward the car.

Alexander followed behind us.

Once we were inside, Zola rested her head against the seat.

I held her hand.

"You're going to be okay."

"I know."

She gave me a weak smile.

Then she looked toward the front of the car.

Alexander was sitting across from us, staring out the window.

"He's your husband now," she whispered.

I sighed.

"Unfortunately."

Alexander looked at me through the rear-view mirror.

"I can hear you."

I folded my arms.

"Good."

His eyebrow lifted.

"You've been married for approximately an hour and you're already insulting me."

"I've been forced into this marriage. I think I'm allowed."

He looked away.

"Fair enough."

Zola suddenly laughed quietly.

I looked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She shook her head.

"I just didn't expect him to be like this."

"Like what?"

"Cold."

Alexander answered without looking back.

"I'm aware."

I rolled my eyes.

"At least he admits it."

His lips twitched slightly.

It was almost a smile.

Almost.

The car eventually stopped outside a private medical facility.

Alexander immediately got out.

A doctor and nurse were already waiting.

I frowned.

"You arranged this?"

He looked at me.

"Yes."

"You called them before we arrived?"

"I don't enjoy wasting time."

I followed Zola inside.

After examining her, the doctor assured us that she needed rest and observation. The medication she had been given had left her weak and dizzy, but there was no immediate danger.

I finally breathed again.

"Thank God."

Zola squeezed my hand.

"I'm okay, Ama."

I nodded.

Then I looked toward Alexander.

He was standing near the door, his hands in his pockets, watching everything quietly.

I walked toward him.

"Thank you."

He looked at me.

"For what?"

"For helping her."

He shrugged.

"She's your best friend."

I stared at him.

"And?"

"And you're my wife."

Those words felt strange.

My wife.

I looked away.

"This marriage doesn't mean you own me."

"I know."

I looked back at him.

He was completely serious.

"You can live your life. Finish university. Have your ambitions."

I hadn't expected that.

"You don't care?"

"I care about my reputation," he replied coldly. "And I have no intention of having a wife who hates me because I tried to control her."

I almost smiled.

"At least we're clear."

He nodded.

Then he walked toward the door.

"Come."

"Where?"

"Home."

I froze.

"Your home?"

"Our home."

I stared at him.

That word sounded far too real.

Alexander noticed my hesitation.

"Don't worry."

He opened the door.

"I don't bite."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Your reputation says otherwise."

For the first time, he actually smiled.

"You're going to be a problem."

I picked up my bag.

"Get used to it."

And just like that, I followed my husband into the life I had never chosen.

I still didn't love him.

I didn't even know him.

But perhaps...

Just perhaps...

Alexander Devereaux wasn't going to be the monster I had expected.