Chapter 3

ELION

Velora Elysia Valemont. I knew there was something about her that didn't sit right with the image she was selling to the public eye and well that…intrigued me a bit.

And some thread of that personality hidden deep inside her, was one that was totally capable of drugging her sister's fiancee.

But right now? How exactly was I supposed to tell her that she didn't do it? We were already married for fucks sake. I hated complication and this was in every way, complicated!

“What are you doing?" I called out immediately. Her back was turned to me and she was looking at my laptop.

“What am I doing?" She scoffed, swerving almost immediately, my laptop in her hands as she gestured to it, “WHAT AM I DOING?"

Fucking hell! It couldn't even delay for a day and she knew already? I also just got this video from Isolde, my assistant, as we got back from the wedding hall.

Worse part of it? Isolde said her father said he knew the first cam I was shown was fake. Wasn't he her biological father? He was, I know. Just rhetorics.

“Mrs Mortier."

“Oh don't you fucking dare! You knew I did nothing with you? You knew I was framed and yet you made me look like the bad and shameless person in front of them, just to save face?" Her face twisted in anger.

She looked pissed. She looked like everything I didn't want to deal with at the moment.

“Dont flatter yourself. I don't ‘use’ people to save face. We're married now, be cordial.” I retorted in a calm voice and she began chuckling like someone who had lost her mind.

The next instant, a slap struck against my cheek and I stared at her in…bewilderment?

“Isn't your statement contradictory? You just used me to save face!" She yelled.

"We're getting an annulment! A divorce! Whatever it is, right away.” I flexed my jaw as she dropped my laptop on the table and turned to leave before pausing in my tracks, " And listen, my father is hearing about this.”

She pulled out her phone and immediately began dialing her father's contact. I didn't interrupt. I walked over to my chair and took a seat.

A divorce? She really thought she could get that even if she tried? Her sister was perfect until I realized at that engagement party why she always seemed weird to me.

Fucking Velora Elysia! A trained assassin. Yet here she was, playing the part of a pampered heiress that didn't know anything about the outside world. She was definitely the one that was delegated to assassinate me.

I stared at her, half interested in how she could mask her true identity so well and half disgusted that she thought she could get out of this alive.

She might spiral and fall and I'd rather she didn't hit me. The call went through almost immediately and she began yelling into the speaker.

“Dad! Mr Montier lied to all of us. He knew I didn't do anything to or with him! It was all doctored. This was all his twisted game. I never betrayed my sis—"

“You’re a lady, Velora. Can't you speak with a little more decorum?" Her father cut her off immediately and I watched her glitch in real time.

She opened her mouth and no sound proceeded.

“Dad, did you hear all I just said?" She finally continued and he only hummed in acknowledgement from the other end.

“I'm getting an annulment this evening." She continued, there was a glint of relief and freedom in her eyes and her father's voice immediately increased.

“Velora Elysia Valemont, don't you fucking dare." She blinked.

I folded my hands together.

“Did you expect your sister to get into marriage immediately right after those photos were posted?" Her dad continued. She steps backwards, grabbing the edge of my desk to keep herself grounded.

It looked like her life was flashing through her eyes.

“Do this for your sister, Velora. It's just one month, it won't kill you." And with that, there was a beep on the other end and the call ended.

She stared blankly. Like she was losing her mind.

Forget it. She is losing her mind.

“They knew already?" She whispered, it seemed like a rhetorical question so I didn't bother to answer.

“You all knew and I was just a pawn?" She asked again, tears sliding out of her hands. Her body was trembling and I dialed Isolde immediately.

She was the only one who could deescalate this for me efficiently.

“If it helps, I just found out this morning." She stopped crying as fast as she started, her face suddenly expressionless as she stared around for something. I wasn't sure what it was.

Before I could be sure, she grabbed a table knife from my desk and slit her wrist. Far enough to keep her hospitalized for days but not enough to actually kill her.

“Elysia!" I yelled as she was hitting the ground while Isolde who just walked in caught her right on time.

“My guess. She found out?" Isolde asked and I nodded.

"Wow. She's good. I almost fell for the whole innocent heiress act.” Isolde nodded with a smile as she carried Velora in her arms while alerting the personal doctors.

"Also, check if she really has a mental illness. I absolutely do not want a mad person in my home.” I stressed and Isolde scoffed.

“Why do you want to confirm that? You act like someone who also has a mental illness but you don't see us, your staff complaining."

Isolde acted like a mother would instead of an assistant, her sharp tongue was unmatched.

“Do you want to lose your job, Isolde?" She chuckled and glared at me.

“Do you want people who would try to seduce you to vie for the position? At least, with me, you don't have to go through too much trouble. As I prefer manly men, if you know what I mean?"

I smiled. She was right.

“You're saying I'm not manly?"

“I'm saying that if a woman like I am tries to seduce a man of your age, people would rush me to a nursing home. And besides…if you even have to ask…”

“Once she's been attended to, I need you back in here." She nodded again before heading out.

I rubbed my forehead lightly as I thought back to Mr Valemont. He was one of the reasons why I wanted to break the arranged marriage. He looked like a prick from the onset and well oh well, he is one.

But when I met Aurelia and we sort of hit it off, I decided, perhaps, it was worth keeping. I wasn't getting any older as well.

And right now, this same way, he had roped both his daughters into his tiny little game. What if he staged this?

Nope. That's highly not likely.

“But how are you so sure that—" Isolde stated and I raised my hands.

“The original video only shows that I didn't get drugged by her. But I know that all this was a well thought scheme that she was somehow involved in. Perhaps Jared orchestrated to make me lose face as I inherit the family business next month."

Aurelia might still be feeling quite sour and still blaming her sister. All I could do for Velora was help her explain and clarify her name but divorce. Impossible. This would be her personal hell.

I dialed Aurelia’s number.

It rang and directly went to voicemail. I called again. Same thing.

Well, it is understandable if she ignores me.

“Oh she won't pick up the call.” Isolde finally said, walking through the door as she placed her phone in front of me.

I raised a brow and looked back down at the phone. Aurelia wasn't sour. She was in a night club. This wasn't just any night club. It was the exclusive members only night club that she obviously couldn't get into just like that.

And she was grinding on a man's dick? I owned this restaurant.

"What is she doing? Revenge? On me?” Isolde shook her head and navigated to a tab that showed her many times Aurelia had visited.

Well. Oh.

Quite long before I even returned and began fulfilling the engagement right and even during the period of courting?

“Honestly. I can not deal with the Valemont's drama anymore. I know they say keep your enemies closer but that girl in there wants to kill me. I almost feel like divorcing her immediately.” I said with a wave of a hand.

Isolde placed both hands on the table and leaned in closer.

"You can't get divorced right after getting married. That would be way bad. The group can't afford that. So why don't you make Mrs Velora fully replace Aurelia?” I lifted my eyes and smirked,

“Do you think she would want to marry me? Why? For what? Money? Her father has a lot. Influence? She works for fucking Jared. My step brother. He would give more.” I said and Isolde held up her hands cutting me off.

" Technically, no. Because while Miss Velora does have a mental illness, it's not bad though. She is also an adopted daughter of the Valemonts.” Isolde broke the news and I furrowed my brows.

"What?”

"I'm what, now?” She called from the doorway. Bloody hell. When did she get here?