Chapter 3: Successfully Trapped

Chapter 3: Successfully Trapped.

STELLA 

Trevor Lindsey seemed gentlemanly and I was getting more familiar with this side of him. 

Two weeks wasn't enough especially when we were only meeting for dinner and going on arranged dates. 

I’d spent the past weeks on convincing myself that Trevor wasn’t the kind of man I feared ending up with. 

He had all the qualities that it took to make a good husband but for my validation still flickered. 

 He showed he cared and he knew how to treat women, but there was this side I still looked out for.

I'd requested of her Father to delay the wedding for at least a month, but in his words, a person didn't need as long as a year to know another, and two weeks was just enough. 

I stood at the entrance of the hall, my sweaty palm wrapped around the hand of my scented white rose wedding bouquet. 

Despite wearing the silver-accesorized mermaid wedding gown of my dreams, the tightness of my smile could have torn my face open.

Valerie was present. My Mother too. My half-sister, Rebekah. The man I was getting married to, Dylan. He was on the podium with the priest. Then, my eyes landed on my Father who was walking up to me—ready to walk me down the aisle. 

My eyes teary, I slipped her palm in his as he stretched to receive it. The marriage was finally happening before everyone. It was becoming a reality. 

Everyone’s gaze welcomed me as I was walked down the aisle. 

I stood before the whole congregation, my parents’ friends who were dignitaries, my family, and Dylan's best friend, Asher.

Trevor's mother had the biggest smile ever. She smiled like her long-time dream was finally coming true. We’d met once and bonded instantly—the click had just happened. 

“Mr. Dylan Lindsey, do you take Stella Rosa Scott as your wife today? To love her and build an empire on the foundation of love with her?” The priest's voice struck like lightning. 

My pulse tripled its normal rate. 

What are you expecting, Stella?? 

The longer it took him to respond, the more thoughts collided in my head. 

“Yes, I do." He said every word slowly, with a smile.

When I was asked the same question, my chest turned heavy, I could feel this unknown weight press on me—not because I didn't know what to say. 

I felt every part of me haunted by the awareness of what I was entering into. 

Marriage was no piece of cake and it required sacrifice—all these I knew but had no choice.  

My eyes turned misty and tears fell I she said loud and clearly, “I do," 

Loud applause cut across the room, and everyone cheered loudly with excitement. 

They all seemed happy. All of them. But I was nowhere close to happiness. 

The weight of moving into a different house, being a wife, having to endure and tolerate someone for the rest of her life, and having kids for him pressed on my shoulders. 

It was definitely the hardest thing I was ever going to face. It was my fate

Within hours, the wedding had ended and that marked the beginning of the reality i’d always wondered what it'd be like. 

The laughter and clinking of glasses soon faded into silence. Hours later, we were heading home already. 

***

The wedding took place and all our guests celebrated with us. Everyone had smiles on their faces but only a fool would believe the smiles.  

I bade my best friend goodbye as I settled into the limo that was to convey us to his home—our new home. 

Dylan sat at the edge of the car while I maintained the distance by remaining at the other edge. 

My bones ached, and my eyes begged to get some sleep, but we had barely gotten out of our wedding venue. 

I touched the ring on my finger. I wasn't sad.

I wasn't happy. 

I was just Stella. I felt numbness spread within me.

The ride ended and I walked into the big mansion that it was. Trevor seemed impressed because I was obviously impressed. 

“It's one of the little things I own," He boasted with an air of casual pride, watching me drown in admiration.  

My eyes drifted to the ceiling, where a crystal chandelier glittered like starlight.

The walls were painted in soft tones, with delicate gold patterns tracing along their edges. Every piece of furniture gleamed as if it had been chosen to impress, not comfort. Even the air smelled faintly of roses and polished wood.

For a moment, I forgot to breathe. This was the kind of home I had only seen in magazines. The kind of home with beautiful, elegant, intimidating, and breathtaking interior decoration.

“Stella,” Trevor’s voice cut through my admiration, smooth but firm. “You have to go with her. She’ll show you your room.”

My gaze fell on the young woman beside me. She was dressed neatly, hands clasped before her.

“What?” I turned to him, half expecting a joke.

“She’ll show you your room,” he repeated, smiling too easily.

The words sank in slowly, stealing the air from my lungs. My room?

I blinked, still trying to understand, while the chandelier above us shimmered like a silent witness.

“Yes, love. Your room, you're going to like it" 

“So, where is your room? We don't get to share a room? Why?” I asked with a hint of anger in my tone. 

"One at a time, Mrs Trevor. Don't talk to me harshly, love” 

A sharp feeling of unease ran through my veins like lightning.

I slapped my forehead with my palm, expecting to wake up to reality as I waited for the right answer I needed. 

“I am a businessman and you know it, Stella." He said, striding to me, his eyes fixed on mine in an intimidating manner but my feet remained planted.

Was that his own way of saying he's too busy to share a room with me?

His fingers brushed my lips, warm and trembling, before cupping my face.

“You know I have business to take care of" The distance between us widened with silence as he stepped back, his scent fading like smoke in the cold London air.

“Dylan, we're married,” I said, releasing every breath I was holding. 

His feet stopped moving. 

That expression on his face was enough to let me know how unimportant I was but I dared to ask. 

“I am your wife, Dylan. We should live together as a couple" My voice weakened as he stepped forward in confident and deliberately slow steps. 

"Honey, you know what?” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, my brain sending a response to the feel of his skin against mine. The sweetness in his tone was laced with mockery—one that failed to get the best side of me. 

"It was just a ring and some vows, don't take things too seriously. After all, you have the whole house to yourself.”He said icily. 

“Lets call it marriage benefits” He smiled.

 I stared at him like I'd just seen a mask fall off his face. 

Tears tripped down my cheeks as every word sank deeper. The things I dreaded were setting in, right before my very own eyes. 

Just vows? I attempted to speak but everything that filled my mind felt stuck in there. Bringing words out of my mouth became the hardest thing to do. Suddenly, I didn't know how to talk again. 

“Go in and have some rest. The house is yours—" 

"You don't mean it, do you?” I could finally bring words out but my voice was hoarse. 

“Dear wife, I did.”He took off his ring and turned my palm, so my wedding ring came into view. 

His ring in one hand, my palm in the other.

"Matching rings, some words, and signatures" He smiled, dropping my palm as he wore his ring back. 

I watched him walk away ignorantly like a child watching her Father walk away, without hope he'd ever return. 

That night, I knew that I'd walked into a trap and that was only the beginning of my misery.