Chapter 2

VELORA

Elion Vane Mortier had said that I walked into my own personal hell and dear heavens, I didn't know he meant it literally.

He and sister were in love. Or so I thought. So when he said the marriage partner had to be swapped out to preserve his face in the media, I thought it was just a ruse.

He was a billionaire, an heir who had just returned to claim the family properties. What kind of news couldn't he block? I told myself I would dig into this and find out if I had lost memories overnight or something was seriously wrong.

But where exactly did I find the opportunity to do that?

Right now, I was in a tight wedding dress, the corset digging into my skin and a freaking white rose in my hands waiting to walk down the aisle with Elion Vane Mortier.

If I didn't comply, well, father had his way of dealing with things which was..not to say the least, undesirable.

“Velora, how could you do this to me? How could you j—?" I dug my fingers into my wrist, hard enough to keep my head on track.

I couldn't lose my composure today. I couldn't be more of an embarrassment.

“Karl, how long have we dated? Don't you know the kind of person I am?” I asked slowly, his hands on my shoulders gripping me tightly.

“But there are evi—"

“Those are fake! I know I have no proof but I can swear, I would never do that. And right now? It feels like I'm going crazy. I have betrayed everyone including my younger sister. The last thing I want you doing, Karl, is giving me a reality check."

He stared at me for a while before nodding.

“Just one month, right? One month and you both will get divorced so as not to taint Elion’s name, right?” I nodded rapidly as the orchestra began to play.

It was my cue to walk down the aisle. To my dear husband.

My sister leaned on my mother's shoulders, her face buried in mom's neck. The crowd was silent and I could feel the judgment in my eyes.

What stupid reputation were they even protecting? The way everyone was staring at me, it was clear that I was the scapegoat here.

“Skip the vows. We'll go directly to exchanging rings." Elion ordered and I watched the priest hesitate for a second before nodding and handing us the rings.

It didn't even take 10 minutes and we were done exchanging rings and walking down the aisle together, right into a waiting car while the orders stayed to eat, drink and make ridicule of my name.

Once we were in the car and the windows were rolled up, we detached hands and Elion took off his ring like it disgusted him.

“Drive."

I kept staring at him. There was no expression whatsoever, and certainly no words said to me.

“There is no way you didn't know nothing happened between us, Mr Montier." I finally broke the silence.

No answer? Oh, I wasn't in public sight anymore, Mister. I was behind doors now and I was not going to shut up.

“Keeping quiet about it doesn't —"

“Aren't you quite close with your younger sister?" I felt tongue tied immediately, “Why would you drug her fiancee? And yet your exit point is that we didn't have sex?" He stared me down and I looked out the window.

There was more to this. And I was going to find out and prove myself.

The car came to a halt inside of the Mortier’s mansion. It was quite a beauty.

We got down and I followed him into the living room.

“Take Mrs Mortier to her room." He said solemnly, letting me alone with the maids.

“She's really a shameless slut. How disgusting." One of them whispered and I giggled.

“Aren't you going to grab your things and come with us? You're not expecting us to start serving you, right? Everyone knows—" A maid was passing with a bowl of soup, I immediately snatched the soup and poured it directly on the maids head.

"Woah! Oh my. Argh.” She exclaimed and I grabbed a fistful of her hair in my hands while the other maids took a few steps away.

“I'm not a kind person. I might be a pampered heiress but that doesn't make me kind. I will not hesitate to hurt you if you make me angry enough and I think you all should know, I'm mentally ill. If I kill you, I'll probably not go to jail." They shuddered and I grabbed my suitcase.

“Where's my room?" One of the maids pointed before leading the way, clearly trembling in fear.

Well…I was right though. I had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder. And just today justified that this was indeed my personal hell. I couldn't survive here.

I needed to find a way to escape. To find evidence. And to leave this marriage before the 1 month mark.

Once I was in my room, I took off the ridiculous wedding gown with the help of a maid and slipped into plain tees and leather trousers.

I got out of the room and bumped into an elderly lady just right outside my door.

“I'm so sorry. Do you know Elion’s office? I have something to discuss with him." I queried and she pointed me to the direction before leaving.

She didn't even need to ask. Who was she? His mum? Aunt?

“Mr Mortier?" I called out as soon as I got to the door but there was no reply.

“Mr Mortier?" I knocked again and this time, the door creaked open by itself. He wasn't here. Should I wait for him? A video seemed to be playing on his laptop so he probably went to get water or something.

I walked in. His space looked just like him, dark, organized and just out of touch.

I was about taking my sit when I caught sight of the contents of the screen from the reflection on the glass behind.

Was that not me? Fuck him and whatever rules he might have. I flipped the camera around and it was definitely me. And him.

I restarted the video, it seemed to have been gotten from a camera. It was him. And I.

Entering the room at different times. Though we both looked drunk at the times we entered.

This was why everything felt off. This was the original CCTV cam! He had it.