The Mafia King's Favorite Nightmare

EVA “Marry him and ruin him.” I stared at Clara, looking for any clue of something that aligned with a joke on her face, but there was none. “You cannot be serious.” “Do I look like I'm joking?” My fingers tightened around the edge of the table. Outside the window, cars moved along the driveway, and somewhere in the house, a clock chimed. Everything sounded painfully normal for a morning that had just turned my entire life upside down. “You want me to marry Orion Veyne?” “Yes.” “The Orion Veyne?” Clara lifted a brow. “How many men with that name do you know?” “The position that was meant to be mine was handed to him, and I need you to get those documents”, she added. “What documents?”I questioned hotly The man she was talking about wasn't someone I could simply marry and divorce when I got tired. His name appeared in business magazines, newspapers, and conversations people lowered their voices to have. He was wealthy, influential, and so unpleasant that even people who wanted his money were afraid of getting on his bad side. And Clara wanted me to become his wife? “Why me?” I asked. “Because the arrangement is no longer going to Vivian, and I need you to help me find those documents and bring them to me.” My stepsister's name jerked something in my stomach, and I could do nothing but swallow a lump. “What gives you the right to mention my name from that filthy mouth of yours?” she questioned hotly, and I looked at her, the disgust on her face evident. “I suddenly lost interest in marrying him; why should I marry now when I still have a lot to do with my young age? You're nothing but a useless jar anyway, so why not go instead of me?” The disgust on her face changed to something I couldn't describe. I almost laughed. What the hell! “Don't be ridiculous; this is a huge opportunity for you, and why are you acting like your greedy self is not willing to be with him, slut!” “If this is such a wonderful opportunity, why aren't you going for it yourself ” Her expression hardened. “Watch your mouth, Eva.” I stood up. “I'm not marrying him.” I clenched my jaw, knowing fully well I was about to be her pawn again, but I wasn't letting her have her way this time. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Clara picked up her phone and placed it on the table between us. Maya's name appeared on the screen. My heart stumbled. “What about her?” “Such a lovely girl,” Clara said casually. “It would be unfortunate if she got caught in a situation she couldn't get out of.” I snatched the phone, but the screen had already gone dark. “Leave her out of this.” She moved closer and whispered enough for me to hear. Then cooperate, go there, and marry him” “You can't threaten my best friend to force me into a marriage!” “Of course I can.”As she said those words, I blinked rapidly, willing the tears away as the words swirled around in my mind. Since my mom died, I had always wanted to please Clara. My dad brought her home two years after the demise of my mother. He was hardly around and paid little or no attention to me. I didn't know what type of work my dad did either. My jaw clenched, and she stepped closer. “You have until noon to get dressed. The ceremony will take place today.” I shook my head, struggling to believe her. I wanted to call my father. I wanted to grab my bag, find Maya, and disappear somewhere Clara couldn't reach us. But running would put them both at risk She had arranged everything before I even knew there was a marriage to refuse. By the time the door closed behind her, my fingers were shaking as my mind drifted to him I hated him already for being at the center of it. ************** The wedding hall was packed by the time I arrived. White flowers lined the aisle. Crystal chandeliers scattered light across the polished floor, and expensive suits filled the rows of seats. Every detail looked perfect, almost offensively so. Nobody looking at the room would have guessed that the bride had spent the morning begging not to be there. Clara adjusted my veil before the doors opened. “Smile,” she whispered. “People are watching.”I felt that Her fingers tightened around my arm. “Not today, Eva.” Then the doors opened, and I stepped into the hall. Faces turned towards me, but I barely noticed them. My attention went straight to the man waiting at the altar. Orion Veyne wore a black suit that fitted him perfectly. His expression was unreadable, his posture relaxed in a way that made everyone around him seem unnecessarily restless. He didn't smile when he saw me. He also didn't even look pleased. His eyes traveled over me once before settling on my face, and whatever he saw there did nothing to improve his mood. Perfect. I didn't want him to be pleased with this arrangement either. When I reached the altar, he offered no hand to help me up the final step, which I gave no care about either. I took it myself and stood beside him, leaving enough space between us to make my feelings clear. The priest began the ceremony. But I was barely hearing any of it. My mind kept returning to Maya, to my father, and to Clara's warning. Every time I considered refusing to say the words that would bind me to Orion, I remembered the phone on the table. Then the priest turned to me. “Do you take Orion Veyne to be your lawful husband?” My throat tightened. Orion stood beside me, waiting. I looked at him. There was no warmth in his face, no silent promise that things might be different once the ceremony ended. He looked as if he would rather be anywhere else. Perhaps we had that much in common. “I do.” The words left my mouth before I could lose my nerve. A few moments later, the priest pronounced us husband and wife. And applause filled the hall. Orion slid the ring onto my finger without looking at me. His touch was brief, impersonal, and over almost before I registered it. “You may now kiss the bride” The hall hung in silence as those words left the priest. Orion turned his head towards me. For one terrible second, I thought he would actually do it. My heart was pounding loudly, and I could hear it. Instead, he leaned close enough for his words to reach only me. “Don't mistake this marriage for an invitation to get comfortable.” Then he straightened and faced the guests. The applause resumed. My eyes stayed fixed on him as I plundered hard at what he meant. I smiled for the cameras when I realized Clara was watching. Maya was still in danger, and I had no intention of giving anyone the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart. By the time the reception ended, my cheeks were already hurting from pretending. Orion barely acknowledged me. He spoke to his guests, accepted their congratulations, and left me standing beside him as if I were another decoration arranged for the occasion. I had expected this humiliation. But I hadn't expected to feel so completely invisible. When the last photographs were taken, a black car waited outside to take us to his residence. His residence. Wait! His residence? I was now expected to live with a man I barely knew, a man whose displeasure could silence an entire room without a single raised voice. I looked down at the ring on my finger. Somewhere behind me, Clara appeared before moving closer and slipping a piece of paper right into my palm. I didn't know what it was, and at the same time, I wondered why Orion had agreed to this marriage. But I would find out. The car door opened, and I got inside. As the wedding hall disappeared behind us, one thought followed me into my new life. I had survived the wedding. Surviving my husband would be another matter entirely.