Married to the Enemy

Chapter 3

The bad feeling in the Rivas house didn’t go away after the talk. It got worse.

Luca only made it halfway down the hall before his anger burst out. By the time he got to the main room, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. He threw a glass. It hit the wall and broke, making a loud sound that echoed. Pieces of glass spread on the floor. No one moved to clean it. No one said a word.

Then he threw another thing, a heavy decoration from a table. It hit the ground and broke into pieces with a dull sound. Luca ran his hand through his hair, walking back and forth. His steps were not steady because of the strong feelings inside him. The room felt too small, the air too thick, like the walls were pushing in.

He couldn’t fight this. That was the worst part.

“You want me to stand next to him like nothing happened between our families,” he said, his voice cutting through the quiet as he turned suddenly.

Alejandro had followed him, but walked slower. He stood near the door now, watching without saying anything, his face calm.

“You think that will work?”

“I think it has to,” Alejandro replied. The answer was quick. Too quick.

Luca let out a breath that sounded like a laugh, but there was no humor in it. He turned away again, walking, his thoughts jumbled. “This doesn’t fix anything,” he said. “It just hides it.”

“For now,” Alejandro said. “And for now, that’s enough.”

Luca stopped walking. For a moment, the quiet between them felt heavier than the noise had. He turned back slowly, looking at his father, trying to find something in his face that made sense.

“And when ‘for now’ is over?” he asked.

Alejandro didn’t wait. “We’ll deal with it when it happens.”

“That’s not a plan.”

“It’s the only one that matters right now.”

Luca looked at him, a sharp look in his eyes for a second before it became quiet again, controlled. Then Alejandro added, as if he had been waiting to say it. “There’s a party in five days.”

Luca froze. The words took a moment to sink in. “Both families will be there,” Alejandro continued. “That’s where it becomes official.”

Five days. That was all the time he had before everything changed in a way he couldn’t undo. Luca let out a slow breath, his shoulders tensed, then relaxed. “You don’t waste time, do you?”

“We don’t have any to waste.”

Luca shook his head slightly, but there was less anger in it now. The anger hadn’t gone away, but it had changed, becoming sharper.

“You don’t have to like it,” Alejandro said. “You just have to stand there and make it look real.”

Luca’s eyes snapped back to him. “And after that?”

“After that,” Alejandro said, “you make it work.” There was no comfort in his words. No reassurance. Just an order.

Luca looked away again, his jaw tightening as he let out a slow breath. There was no way out of this. Pushing harder wouldn’t change anything. Finally, he nodded once.

“Fine.”

The word was quiet. It wasn’t agreement. It wasn’t acceptance. It was just knowing that something was already decided. Alejandro watched him for another moment, then nodded slightly. That was enough.

The days before the wedding went by fast, but they didn’t feel fast. Everything was done quietly. No big announcements, no unnecessary activity that might attract attention. The plans were made by people who knew how to keep things secret, people who knew how to make something important happen without making a big show of it.

The place was chosen carefully—a private house far enough from the city to stay hidden, but close enough to show that this wasn't a secret. By the time the day came, everything was ready.

Caius arrived first. He walked into the room with the same calm way he always had. His eyes quickly looked around the room before settling. The setup was simple, with almost no decoration. A long path to walk down, a raised platform, and a small group of people who were important enough to be there. No one spoke loudly. No one stayed longer than they needed to. Caius took his place without hesitation. His face showed nothing.

Moments later, the feeling in the room changed with Luca’s arrival. He didn’t hurry. He didn’t wait either. He walked in like he belonged there, even though nothing about the situation suggested that he should. His eyes found Caius almost right away. For a short moment, neither of them moved. Then Luca walked forward, closing the distance until he stood next to Caius.

Up close, the difference between them was more clear. Caius stood still, calm, his presence quiet but strong. Luca had a restless feeling hidden under the surface, something that wasn’t fully visible but could be felt.

The person leading the ceremony stepped forward, getting everyone’s attention. “We are here today to see two families join,” he began, his voice steady, “connected by an agreement, and by a promise that will shape what happens next.” The words filled the silence. No one interrupted. No one reacted. Caius listened, his focus strong. Luca barely seemed to.

“Caius Ashford,” the officiant said, turning to him, “do you take Luca Rivas as your husband, and accept the duties that come with this union?” There was a short pause. Caius looked up, his voice calm and even as he answered. “Yes, I do.” The words settled into the room without any resistance. No waiting. No change in his voice. Just a decision spoken out loud.

The officiant turned. “Luca Rivas, do you take Caius Ashford as your husband, and accept the duties that come with this union?” Luca didn’t answer right away. His eyes shifted, landing on Caius for a moment longer than needed. There was something there—something sharp, questioning, almost like a challenge. Then he let out a quiet breath. “Yes,” he said. The word was steady. Then, more clearly, “I do.” It had weight. Not warmth. Not softness. But a clear decision.

The officiant gave a small nod. “Then, by the power given, this union is official.” The rings were brought forward. Caius took his first. When he reached for Luca’s hand, his movements were smooth and careful. Luca’s fingers were warm, tense under his own, but he didn’t pull away. The ring slid into place. Simple. Final.

Then Luca took the second ring. He turned it once in his fingers before reaching for Caius’ hand. His grip was stronger, less distant, as if the moment required something more than just going through the motions. For a short second, their hands stayed like that. Then the ring settled into place.

“Then it is done,” the officiant said. The words stayed in the air. No one clapped or moved. Caius released Luca’s hand first, stepping back slightly, creating space between them again. Luca stayed where he was for another moment, his eyes lingering before he finally turned away. Around them, the room stayed quiet. People exchanged brief words and nods, but nothing in the feeling of the place suggested happiness. It felt like the end of something. And the start of something else that no one fully understood yet.

Caius stepped down from the platform first. Luca followed. They didn’t look at each other again.