A GIFT

ELENA'S POV:

“You may now kiss your bride?” The priest declared again.

My heartbeat doubled. Dimitri's face loomed closer to mine, before I could even gather my thoughts together— his lips were meeting mine, sealing away every piece of protest and resentment I had for this union. He pulled away the next second and reached out and took the ring from the box for himself.

I stared at him wide eyed, mouth hanging loose— as I watched him in disbelief.

What just happened now?

I couldn't even place the pictures together.

Was there still any human part still left in the man before me? Or was he totally gone…

“Ladies and gentlemen..” The priest was saying. “Family and friends, it is my pleasure to introduce for the very first time— Mr. and Mrs. Volkov.”

The elders clapped, they were the only audience we had. My father managed what looked like a smile.

Wait, was he really happy that he was selling me out?

God, everything seemed to be changing too fast!

I sighed dejectedly. Dimitri drew closer to me.

“You're my wife now.” He said calmly once he was barely inches from me. His voice had no inflection whatsoever.

A knot tightened in my stomach.

That was right, we were married after all!

His long fingers reached out and curled around my wrist. I looked up at him confused.

He ignored my stare and pulled me closer, I stumbled forward falling hard against his hard chest. His cologne hit me first, filling my nostrils. Taking over the part of me, he hadn't been able to reach yet.

The knot in my stomach doubled, knitting my whole insides together.

Father approached us from behind the pews, he was holding a yellow parchment in one hand. He waved it at us, as he drew near. Once he was just a few feet from us, he stopped and stared at Dimitri.

“Your word is your oath to us, Dimitri.” He began, rasping. Still waving the parchment with a deliberate calmness that made my stomach churn in revolt. His gaze remain latched onto Dimitri's expressionless face.

“This binds you to loyalty, to our future.”

I blinked. What future? What stupid future were they talking about, when I was forcefully throwing mine away to live the rest of my life with this monster.

“I honor my word.” Dimitri said firmly.

My father's face broke into a smile. “Then it is settled then, I'll have my son's and consigliere join you later for the party.”

Dimitri nodded in acknowledgement. “My door is open to your family, Tataglia.”

My eyes widened, I stared between them. Father was smiling pleasantly.

What?

My father never loved when anyone called him by the old family name, how could he be smiling now?

What was really going on here?

Dimitri tugged at my hands, forcing my attention back to him. I tilted my chin up to look at his face, which had now softened.

“Let's go!” He said.

My knees gave way. “What?” I muttered subconsciously with wide panicky eyes.

He frowned and tried to pull me towards him, I pulled back. 

“Where are we going?”

Dumb question!

Dimitri's eyes narrowed, “Home!” He spat out one word impatiently.

My heart picked up.

Where is home? I don't want to go anywhere with you.

I looked at my father for help. “Please don't let him take me father.” I pleaded.

Father's face turned ugly. “You are now husband and wife, I have no further say in what happens between you.” He said and turned away from us.

Dimitri's grip round my wrist tightened, he dragged me, pulling me away with him.

I looked helplessly from one elder to the other.

Couldn't one of them speak up.

Someone just stop this please.

“Please help me, please.”

They turned away too, ignoring my plea.

I fought back the tears threatening to rush out of my eyes as I stumbled forward. I grabbed a handful of my wedding dress in my hand, as I was led out of the cathedral.

Weren't weddings supposed to be a sign of love and devotion for other couples? Why the hell did my own end up this way?

Where did I go wrong?

Dimitri pushed me forward, shoving me into the corridor. I fell forward, staggering and reached out to a pillar to support myself from falling.

“Umberto would take you to the car.” He said not looking at me, his eyes sauntering past me to something ahead.

I followed his gaze.

A young man was cautiously approaching us. Dimitri casually waved at him, and he hurried forward.

“Take her to the car.” He said once he was close to us. 

The young man reached for me, I dodged, avoiding his hands.

He blinked.

“I'm not going anywhere!” I said defiantly, balling my gown in my hands. The young man aimed for me again this time, but caught me as I tried to dodge. Seizing me roughly by the arm. I winced.

“Careful!” Dimitri barked at once. The young man fell back immediately, letting go of my hand as though he had just been stung.

I turned the fury, I had been holding in all through the day's ordeal on him. “How dare you lay your filthy hands on me!”

Umberto or whatever he was called, lowered his head apologetically, causing his long curly blonde hair to pour out on his face.

“Pathetic!” I spat out and wheeled around, turning my fury at the very cause of my problem.

“I'm not going anywhere.” I snapped. “I'm your wife not one of your many whores.”I added bitterly, glaring at him — willing him to see the hate glowing in my eyes, as our eyes met.

His lips curled into a smirk.

Really? A smirk? How dare he smirk after ruining my entire life?

My knuckles blanched round the fabric I was holding and my heart racing so fast, it made my ribs and sides hurt.

“Alright then. Come I'll take you.” He said slowly, his usual cold eyes hinting a kind of cold amusement, that I had never seen there before.

We walked this time, side by side. He didn't drag me.

Umberto rushed ahead of us to open the car doors for us, and once we climbed in— he jumped behind the wheel and started the ignition, rolling the car out of the driveway.

Dimitri's hands slid over my wrist, I flinched and backed away, turning my attention towards the window.

I didn't want to look at him right now, I was still angry at him for ruining my perfect life and I wasn't sure I was going to get over that anytime soon.

“Are you avoiding your husband now?” He taunted, chuckling mirthlessly.

I pretended not to hear and just listened to the rain drops falling on the car roof.

“If you keep trying to avoid me, I'm not sure our first night together would be nearly as romantic as I thought.”

fuck!

I snapped my head round to glare at him.

“You don't look very happy about us.” He observed.

“I'm not!” I spat out honestly.

“Good.” He said with a nod. I curled my brows up in astonishment.

Was he happy that I was unhappy about our marriage?

“You're honest.” He said a second later.

I turned away from him.

I think the window had a better view.

Something cold slid in to my palms, forcing my attention back into the car. I looked down at what was pushed into my hands and my heart almost leaped out.

I gasped, eyes widened.

A diamond necklace.

I held it up in disbelief— Why did he gift me this?

I snapped my head around slowly to stare at him.

“Do you like it?” He asked instead.

My heart raced two fast beats against my chest, as I held the jewelry in my sweaty palm.

Was this a sign of affection or just…

No, I didn't want to complete that, whatever it was.

Maybe he really loves me. Maybe that's why he married me— because he loved me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and gave a slow nod. “Yes, I do. Thank you.”

“Good, then wear it.” He spat coldly, ruining whatever fantasies I had in my head about us.

This was just another of his signatures, just like the ring. He didn't love me. 

He never did!