CHAPTER THREE
1264 Words
ELIZA’S POV
“Let me go! Let me go!” I struggled to break free from his strong grasp on my arms.
He finally dropped me back on my feet when we were safely outside, close to the outdoor wine bar that had been set up for a funeral. I scoffed in disbelief.
What a mockery!
“How can they treat my sister this way? I’ve watched them ridicule and joke about her death like it was something that was meant to happen. For goodness sakes, your wife died! Act sober.” I yelled in frustration.
“If this was how she is being treated while she’s gone. I shudder to think of how much she must have suffered while alive. I should have paid more attention to her, I should have…” I paused as tears streamed down my cheek. I covered my face and turned away from his gaze, unable to let him see her crumble.
“There’s no point of regret now. The only way to solve the problem is to come up with a solution,” he stated, settling on one of the bar stools that did nothing but accentuate his powerful height.
I stared up at him, wiping the mess that my tears had caused and shoving the thought of my mascara out of my mind.
“What do you mean?”
He hesitated, giving me a smile
“As much as I love my family, this is the one thing I know we both share in common,” he stated.
My brows furrowed in confusion.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Marry me,” he declared
My eyes widened like saucers as my mouth grew open. I raised my hand to cover my opened mouth.“What?!”
“You heard me,” he said, his arms folded across his chest and his suit folding in all the right places.
I blinked once, twice.
“You’ve got to be kidding right?” I asked in disbelief as my heart pounded erratically in my chest.
His smile faded into a frown almost like I had offended him.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” He said stoically.
I hesitated to let the words sink in.
“Have you gone mad?!” I cried.
“I can assure you that I have a perfectly working mind” he responded stiffly.
“Are you in or out?” He declared.
My eyes widened in horror.
“First tell me this, who the hell is going to believe that we got married.”
“If you can play a convincing role then definitely in no time we’ll have everyone eating out of our palms,” he answered.
“But I don’t even know why we need to get hitched before we can… wait, what’s in it for you?” I blurted out as I eyed him suspiciously.
He gave me a sly smile before responding.
“Let’s just say that the time has come for them to face their reckoning,” he said, staring blankly into space.
“But won’t their downfall affect you as well?” I asked with a hint of worry etched unto my features.
“I detached myself from my family years ago. And to answer your question, the only thing I would gain from this would be redemption.”
“Do we have to sleep together?” I blurted out and clamped my hand over my lips when I realised what I had said.
I muttered a curse under my breath but thinking against it, with a defiant set to my jaw, I faced him unashamed of what I had just blurted out.
I watched a smug smile creep up on his face as he responded.
“Well, if it comes down to having s*x with you. I wouldn’t want to object to it but we don’t have to if you don’t want to.” My cheeks stained pink from embarrassment and I looked away from his prying gaze. I felt my skin heat up at the intensity of his gaze almost like he was undressing me.
I wrapped my arms around my shoulders protectively.
“How can I be sure that you won’t touch me?” I asked.
He let out a resigned sigh.
“If it makes you feel any better, a contract will be drawn in order for us to maintain our boundaries,” he stated.
He straightened his spine. His voice growing deeper.
“Are you in or out?” He repeated sternly.
My eyes darted around the area thinking of a way out but I knew, deep down that it was a plan. One I didn’t have in the beginning. All I wanted was to get to the bottom of my sister’s murder but now I was clear on what to do and had a partner. I wasn’t sure if I could completely trust him but I knew that they had a common goal and that is to bring down the house of Vale.
And the best way to find out what was really going on was from the inside. So, with renewed determination, I stared back at him and gave him his response.
“Yes, I’m in,” I declared.
He smiled back at me and rose from where he sat.
“Let’s go,” he ordered, walking past her.
I stared at him in confusion.
“Where?”I asked.
“To get married,” he answered, matter of factly.
My mouth widened in surprise.
“Now?!” I exclaimed.
“Is there going to be a much better time than this?” He asked.
He arched a brow up at her as he waited for the words to sink in.
I was faced with a decision. To sign myself over to this man that I didn’t know about until today in order to find out who killed my sister or refuse his offer and try to figure it out all on my own.
I knew that the later would be close to impossible if I were to do it all on my own. So without thinking much about it, I nodded in agreement and followed him out.
Hours later, we were standing in front of the court registrar who was holding onto our files in one hand and the stamp in the other.
“If there is any reason why this marriage certificate shouldn’t be stamped. Here is your chance.” The man said dryly.
As if getting the go ahead from the silence that ensued after his question, he nodded and the certificate was stamped.
I was married.
I felt the world give way under my feet and I staggered slightly but luckily, strong arms held me tightly keeping me from falling.
“Thank you.” I told him gratefully.
“You’re my wife now. This is the least I can do,” he said with a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
I took one large gulp as thoughts of her impending future entails. I was ready to do anything for my sister but never in a million years would I have thought I would have to get married in order to exact my revenge plan, much less my brother-in-law.
The question kept burning in my mind as I thought aloud, “What the hell have I gotten myself into?”
He chuckled.
But it serious.
I had to say it now or never.
“There’s something I need to tell you”
His frown deepened
“What is it?”
I gulped.
- Writer
