Wife with sticky fingers

(RIA’S POV)

My soul stumbles out of my chest, leaving my body to face this man standing in front of me.

What am I supposed to do?

To say?!

Should I come clean and tell him that he was just conned into getting married to me and we get an annulment, so I can reach Tom?

This way though, I risk the possibility of not only disappointing my parents, but becoming a social pariah in the world.

Not that I have any friends even though, but the thought of being separated from everyone chills me to the bones.

It would be worth it though, because Tom and I will elope and maybe move to Cyprus and then I can build a new life with Tom in Cyprus.

But my dad will kill me. Literally.

On the other hand, should I play dumb?

This way, I keep my parents happy, guests oblivious but walk into the tigers den.

Edmond stalks towards me, his large feet covering the safe distance between us with short strides.

My feet carries me backwards until my back hits the door.

“Do I need to repeat myself, pinna migocolata ----- little wife?” He growls, eyes flashing with anger

“Or do I call you - Imposter?”

“I swear, I had no say in this. I swear!” I yell out, my eyes tightly closed and my fingers raised forming a sign.

I hope that’s the sign of Boy’s scout or girl’s guide because I don’t know the heck I am doing at this point.

Edmond’s heavy shadow comes to lie on me covering my body with two hands caging me on each side.

“What do you mean by this?” Edmond’s voice goes back to being strangely calm.

I peek through my left eye, “You can still ask ask for an annulment.” I say.

I’m shaking in my boots in right now, only that instead of boots, my feet is shoved into an unbelivable high heels.

At least, those I can endure.

This right here in front of me though?

Edmond’s thumb catches a strand of my hair framing my face, his thumb trails my face agonizingly slow stopping short at my jaw.

“Wh-- what?” I stutter.

My right hand clutching the stolen phone close to my body, vibrates in fear.

It is only a matter of time before the rightful owner realises that his phone is gone, so I have to return it back as soon as possible.

There’s just one problem.

It’s very tiny if you look at it from the east.

Or very big if you look at it from the west.

Do you want to guess where I’m standing?

His thumb pushes my chin upward.

My eyes clashes with his.

I immediately dart my eyes to the ground.

No one looks at Edmond Cozen right in the eye.

“Ouch.”

Edmond’s thumb is accompanied by his inex finger - the culprit for the pinching on my chin.

His runs the tip of his tongue over his lower lip, “Look at me, little wife”

Fine.

Consider me murdered.

Dead.

While alive.

“I won’t repeat myself.” Edmond says.

I slowly raise my eyes to see two pairs of dark brown eyes staring at me with unconcealed anger in them.

If I am not so afraid, I would be running my hand over his eyes. Dark brown that reminded me of chestnut roasted by fire.

It would be delicious.

“Good girl.”

His words gives me a tingle.

I curl my toes in the ridiculously tight shoes as his words run down my body tracing the warmth they are creating.

Why did God give a such a terrible man as Edmond such beautiful eyes?

This must be a trap method to lure an unsuspecting prey in and then kill them when their guard is completely let down.

Not me though.

“Now, why should I ask for an annulment?”

Ah ---

Edmond never forgets things, does he?

I open my mouth ….

“Ah ---”

“ I ---”

A figure bursts out of the door next to us interrupting my stammering

“Not to interrupt whatever you newlyweds are doing, but you’re needed on the dancefloor.”

He crosses his ankles resting his upper body on the wall as he smirks at us.

Adrian Crowne!

Edmond’s bestman leans on the wall, a glint in his eye as he watches us.

I have a feeling that he knows more than any other person in this wedding but I honestly don’t care. At this point, I am just more than grateful that I can run away.

I slide underneath Edmond’s hands and turn to the side, wiggling the large wedding gown with my hands.

Huh. So much for stealth.

Darned wedding dress.

Oh, look at me go. Two curse words in a single day.

I’m literally on fire!

Hold on ….

No!

Mum’s going to be disappointed if she hears me curse.

I shake my head willing the curse words to disappear from my mind.

“Where are you going?”

Edmond’s voice stops me in my tracks.

I freeze in my steps.

“There?” I point in the direction of the door leading back into the large wedding hall.

Edmond gives me the dirtiest look I have since since my twenty-two years on this earth.

He juts out his chin at me, an annoyed expression tilting his lips downwards.

“Alone?”

“Eer-- yes? Do you need something?

His eyebrows contort into a twisted shape, his expression looking like he’d just taken a slice of lemon.

He whips his head away from me and mutters something to Adrian.

Adrian laughs and whistles loudly in response to whatever Edmond just told him.

“Mrs. Cozen?” He calls out

I flinch, my shoulders stiffening at the mention of that name.

“Hey!” He calls out again.

I finally turn back, “Yeah?”

My voice is as soft as is possible. If I act nice, who knows if they’ll let me go.

Adrian pushes himself off the door, “If the newlyweds disappeared, then it is only appropriate to be seen returning together. Whatever might have been happening between the two of you, you now have the license to do it.”

“Wh--- Oh…”

My cheeks burned once I pick up Adrian’s meaning.

“I -- No! There --- Nothing like that!” I scramble to explain

“Hmmhmmm” Adrian hums

“You know no one will judge you for it, right?” he wiggles his eyebrows at me.

What the heck is ---

“Oh my goodness.” I press my palms to cool my flaming hot cheeks.

“I-- I -- It’s not like that.” I mutter weakly.

“It certainly is not.” Edmond mocks me as he steps away from his friend.

He takes a step towards me.

Oh, God.

Another way to die quickly.

He bends down until he reaches my eye level.

“Wh --what?” I stammer out.

“I will take this.”

Edmond grabs the stolen phone from my hand with surprising gentility but firmness.

He throws it to Adrian who catches it mid-air.

“Return it.” He says.

Adrian wiggles his eyebrows at me again.

“Of course, we can’t have them thinking your wife has sticky fingers.”

He grins and disappears down the hallway, but not until after giving me a small wave.

My eyes find the hem of my dress, embarrassment doing a DIY creation on the top of my head.

Just kill me, now.