Chapter 3: The Wedding
564 Words
The wedding day arrived faster than Amara expected.
Too fast.
One moment, she had just signed a contract…
and the next, she was standing in front of a mirror, dressed as a bride.
A stranger’s bride.
The white gown hugged her body perfectly, elegant and expensive in a way she had never experienced before.
Soft fabric.
Delicate lace.
Everything about it felt unreal.
“You look beautiful,” a stylist said behind her.
Amara forced a small smile.
Beautiful…
but not happy.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of the dress.
This wasn’t how she imagined her wedding day.
No love.
No joy.
Just a contract.
A knock came at the door.
“It’s time.”
Her heart skipped.
Time.
She took a deep breath and stood up slowly.
There was no turning back now.
The venue was nothing short of breathtaking.
Grand.
Luxurious.
Filled with people who looked important and powerful.
Amara felt small walking into it.
Out of place.
Like she didn’t belong in this world.
Then she saw him.
Alexander stood at the altar, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
Calm.
Confident.
Like this was just another business deal.
His eyes lifted…
and landed on her.
For a moment, everything else faded.
There was something in his gaze this time.
Something different.
Something she couldn’t quite understand.
Amara swallowed and began walking down the aisle.
Step by step…
each movement felt heavier than the last.
This was real.
She was really doing this.
When she finally reached him, her heart was racing uncontrollably.
Alexander leaned slightly closer.
“Relax,” he murmured under his breath.
“You look like you’re about to run.”
“Maybe I am,” she whispered back.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“Too late.”
The ceremony began.
Amara barely heard the words being spoken.
Everything felt distant.
Blurred.
Unreal.
Until—
“Do you take this man as your husband?”
Her breath caught.
This was it.
The final moment.
She looked at Alexander.
His expression didn’t change.
But his eyes…
were watching her closely.
Waiting.
“I…”
Her voice almost failed her.
She thought of her mother.
The hospital.
The pain.
The desperation.
Then she closed her eyes briefly.
And made her choice.
“I do.”
The words echoed in her ears.
There was no turning back now.
“Do you take this woman as your wife?”
Alexander didn’t hesitate.
“I do.”
His voice was calm.
Certain.
Like he had already decided this long ago.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Amara’s heart slammed against her chest.
Wait—
Kiss?
This wasn’t part of the deal… was it?
Before she could react—
Alexander stepped closer.
Too close.
She could feel his presence.
His warmth.
His breath.
“Relax,” he whispered again.
Then…
he kissed her.
It was supposed to be simple.
Just for show.
But it didn’t feel that way.
His hand rested lightly on her waist, pulling her just slightly closer.
And for a brief second…
Amara forgot this was fake.
Completely.
When he pulled away, her heart was racing even faster than before.
And his expression…
was still unreadable.
“Congratulations,” someone said.
But Amara barely heard it.
Because something had just changed.
And she didn’t know if it was part of the contract…
or something much more dangerous.
- Writer
