Forced to marry my husband's killer

Chapter four: A cold marriage

The priest began to speak, reciting the standard vows. Elena’s mind drifted, her eyes fixed on Victor’s. He remained impassive, his gaze steady and unreadable. What was he thinking? Was he as unhappy about this arrangement as she was? Or did he see her as just another acquisition, a debt to be collected?

“Do you, Victor Caldwell, take Elena Harper to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”

Victor’s voice was calm, almost mechanical as he replied, “I do.”

Elena felt a chill run down her spine. She barely registered the priest’s next words. She heard her own voice say, “I do,” but it felt distant, disconnected from her body, as if she were merely an observer watching herself from afar.

“With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the priest declared. “You may kiss the bride.”

Victor stepped forward, and for a brief moment, Elena saw a flicker of something in his eyes—a hesitation, perhaps, or a fleeting moment of doubt. Then he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was brief, devoid of passion, a mere formality. When he pulled away, the flicker was gone, replaced by the same cold, distant expression he had worn since she arrived.

“Welcome to your new home, Mrs. Caldwell,” he said, his voice a mix of politeness and distance.

Elena forced another smile. “Thank you,” she replied, though the words felt hollow. She was now Mrs. Caldwell, the wife of a man she did not know, bound to a life she did not want.

As the guests began to disperse, Elena felt a small hand slip into hers. She looked down to see a young girl, no more than seven or eight years old, with wide blue eyes and a shy smile.

“Hello,” the girl said softly. “I’m Lily.”

Elena’s heart softened. “Hello, Lily,” she replied gently, crouching down to the child’s level. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Lily nodded, her smile growing a little wider. “You’re pretty,” she said, her voice full of innocent sincerity.

Elena couldn’t help but smile back. “Thank you, Lily. You’re very pretty too.”

Lily beamed, and for a moment, Elena felt a warmth she hadn’t felt in weeks. But the moment was quickly interrupted by Victor’s stern voice.

“Lily,” he said sharply. “Come here.”

Lily’s smile faded, and she quickly withdrew her hand from Elena’s. She cast a nervous glance at her father, then looked back at Elena with an apologetic expression.

“Sorry,” she whispered, before hurrying over to Victor’s side.

Victor’s eyes were hard as he watched his daughter. “I told you to stay with Vivian,” he said, his tone cold.

“But I wanted to meet her,” Lily protested, her voice small and uncertain

Victor’s expression softened just a fraction, but his voice remained firm. “Go inside, Lily.”

Lily glanced at Elena one last time before turning and running toward the house, her small figure quickly swallowed up by the shadows of the grand entrance.