CHAPTER TWO

Kam's POV

As I stood, listening to the Reverend recite the vows, I stared into his face—my soon-to-be husband's face—as he looked at me with undivided attention.

"I do," he said, and his words were followed by thunderous applause from the crowd, all dressed in white, as per the wedding’s dress code.

The Reverend repeated the vows, and it was my turn to respond.

I could feel the intense gaze of everyone on me, waiting expectantly for my reply. But I couldn’t open my mouth. I couldn’t say a thing.

My heart clenched as I tried to force the words out.

Why was it so hard to say? They were just two simple words. So why was I hesitating?

My gaze drifted from him to the expectant crowd. Through the veil, I scanned their faces and saw my manager, Jemima, nudging me to respond.

The Reverend echoed the vows again, but still, I couldn’t answer.

Then I saw my darling Dawn’s sad face. She looked like she might break down if I refused.

Dawn… wait, why wasn’t I answering? Did I really want to lose my daughter? Here I was, weighing my happiness against my daughter’s safety.

Gosh… was I okay?

I turned back to meet Arrow Spears’ piercing glare. He was waiting, and I took a deep breath.

"I… I… I do," I finally said, my voice shaking. The crowd’s claps were slow, as if they, too, were wondering why I’d hesitated.

But that didn’t matter. The relief on my daughter’s and Jemima’s faces was all I needed. Seeing Dawn’s chubby cheeks stretch into a smile made me smile, too. Then, the tears that had been welling in my eyes finally fell.

Arrow placed a gentle hand on my jaw, turning my face toward him. He pulled back my veil and raised a brow, probably because of the tears in my eyes.

"You may now kiss your bride!" the priest announced. I gripped my big, white, diamond-studded ball gown tightly as I gazed into his eyes with my tear-filled ones, wondering if he was going to kiss me.

Nah. He definitely wouldn’t. But I was proven wrong when he leaned in, his head moving closer to mine like he actually would. Yet, I barely felt the brush of his lips. Should I feel relieved he didn’t kiss me, or awkward, since he was supposed to?

Anyway, that didn’t matter. All I wanted was to get this wedding over with and go home.

Wait—home? If I was going "home," then I’d be going to his home. I was married to him, so that meant I’d be staying with him.

I should know that, but why was it still surprising?

Oh God, why was my life taking such drastic turns?

First, there was the scandal that ruined my modeling career six years ago, then the accidental one-night stand with the most powerful man in Russia, which led to nine long months and the arrival of Dawn. Then my mission to find my lost sister, then my encounter with this devil of a man, who offered me a deal. I accepted—and now, here I was, married to him. After this wedding, I’d be living with him.

Could my life get any worse?

We faced the crowd, and even knowing what was next, I still wished I could stop this wedding. Soon, we were in his car, on the way to his home.

No… it was our home now. It belonged to both of us.

The car ride was silent and awkward, and I kept gulping at intervals.

Dawn was with Jemima at my previous home, and Jemima had already told me she was asleep. Jemima was more than a manager—she was my friend, like family. She’d been with me through all my stressful times, standing by me, and never leaving me alone. She was a true friend.

My thoughts were interrupted when the car came to a sudden stop.

I looked at Arrow, who sat beside me. He opened the door and stepped out without a word, not even offering me a hand.

I scoffed at his rudeness as he walked off, leaving me alone to carry my heavy ball gown. Getting out of the car was a struggle; the plus-size wedding dress made it hard work.

If only that jerk hadn’t walked away—I could have used his help.

Finally, I managed to get out and kicked off my silver heels immediately.

I gathered my gown and held my heels in one hand as I stepped inside.

"Woah!" I whispered, stunned at the sight before me. This place was fit for royalty!

The interior was absolutely breathtaking. From the spiraling chandeliers that glowed in soft white light to the polished marble floors, everything screamed luxury. Even the white chairs had delicate gold detailing, making the place feel like a palace.

The staircase, too, spiraled like the chandeliers, adding to the glamour of the space. In a word, it was magnificent.

I climbed the stairs, not quite sure where I was headed, until I reached a hallway lined with doors on either side. I opened the first one, and what I saw left me speechless.

My hand slipped from the door and my throat bopped as I gazed lost at the completely naked body of my husband.

He tied his towel around his body and turned around to face me.

His defined ripped chest perfectly synced with the six tight packs on his stomach and trailing to his lower body which he had now covered with the towel.

" Lock the door when you're done eye-raping me " He said and opened the bathroom door walking in.

I blinked and gasped at my fussy behavior, my cheeks flushed at the realization that I had seen a private part of his body and he didn't even react to it.

Damn, why was he so sexy.

I slowly closed the door behind me walked in and gulped as I reminisced what I had seen earlier.

Gawd what was wrong with.. I shouldn't be thinking this.

I shook my head, walking into the room, but froze as a thought hit me.

Wait—am I actually staying in the same room as him?

“What the hell… Am I in your room?” I yelled towards the bathroom door, but only the sound of running water replied.

I scoffed and sat on the bed, frustrated. Staying in his house was already too much, but now the same room? How was I supposed to survive this?

And why wasn’t he answering me? I wasn’t some doll he could just ignore!

I huffed and stood up, considering getting out of my wedding dress. But who was I kidding? It had taken two girls to help me put it on—there was no way I could get out of it alone.

The white ribbons crisscrossing my back were just out of reach. Sighing, I walked up to the mirror and looked at my reflection.

My makeup made me look so delicate, almost fragile. Seeing myself like this brought back a memory.