Chapter 3

Chloe's POV

I was walking on burning coal.

The walk to the aisle was one I dreaded, not because marriage wasn't something I liked but because my father was giving me away to a total stranger.

I turned to look at him, walking beside me with a big smile plastered on his face. I have always wondered how he managed to do this; pretend like everything was fine when it wasn't.

"This one will be over before you know it and you'll be at home in no time." He said and tapped the back of my hand lightly.

"Home?" I asked.

"Your husband's house darling, you'll be just fine. Don't do anything stupid and we won't have any issues." He said, the whole time the smile was still on his face, one who didn't know would probably think it was a father reassuring his daughter.

I sighed.

We walked to the aisle. From a distance, I could see my "supposed " groom. He would have easily passed as my dream man but right now, his height annoyed me.

My father stopped at the little stairs that led to the stage and walked back to his seat, I felt he had left me to my fate.

Two steps up and I was already feeling faint, the anxiety and fear had taken my strength.

"Help your bride up." The minister said and he turned to look at me.

The moment our eyes met, I almost fell down from where I stood , my eyes bulged out of their socket.

"This can't be." I muttered to myself.

My groom was the one night stand, the man I had spent the previous night with– The one I wasn't supposed to see again.

I held my dress tighter to stop me from running, shame and embarrassment watched through me as I stood there staring at him.

My palm suddenly became sweaty, I could barely breathe as we both stared at each, recognition hitting both of us.

He immediately took back the hand he was offering me to hold for support, I looked away and walked by myself up the stairs to stand in front of him, my heart slamming hard against my chest.

"Did you know about this? Was that the reason you came to me last night?" He asked, his face filled with what I could interpret as anger.

"I'm as shocked as you sir and if there's anyone you should be staring at like that, it should be the parents." I said looking at his father who had gone to shake my Dad as the two men conversed in low tunes.

I felt like throwing up.

"You want to believe you didn't know you were marrying me and the whole thing last night wasn't orchestrated by you?"

"What's so special about you that would make me want to risk the rest of my life for you?" I hissed.

"Money, power?" He said counting with his fingers.

"You must think I beg to eat, please boy, don't piss me off."

"You must–"

"Let's begin the ceremony." The priest announced cutting him off, I was glad for the interruption.

"We're gathered here to witness the coming together of two lovers who have found it proper to continue the journey of life properly and together."

"Lovers." I scoffed.

I wanted everything to end so I could just hide somewhere and cry.

"Do you Grayson Coleman take Chloe Williams as your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health, till death do you part?" The priest asked.

His name was Grayson, I turned to look at him, he had this bored expression on his face, like he would rather be anywhere else than here.

"I do." He replied looking away, I followed his eyes, he was looking at his Dad.

The crowd cheered at his reply, the hall was already filled to the brim with guests and paparazzi flashing camera lights at us, it was supposed to be a big wedding after all, the two families of the two richest business moguls were uniting in marriage.

"Do you Chloe Williams take Grayson Coleman as your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, till death do you both part?"

Silence.

"Do you Chloe –" 

I heard him the first time, this was where I gave my consent to be dragged into a marriage I didn't want.

I turned around to look at my father, his eyes were on me, I could see the warning, it screamed "don't embarrass me Chloe." I looked at Grayson, I could see a smirk at the corners of his lips.

"I–I" I stammered, the words not willing to form in my mouth.

The hall fell silent, I drew up my wedding dress and looked at the priest.

"I do." I blurted out.

The Silence in the hall broke into clapping, people cheering and more camera flashes.

I felt sick.

                            ~•~

An hour after the white wedding, we were told to change for the reception, I had thought I could finally rest.

I walked into the hall and soon after, we were asked to dance together, he looked bored but I didn't care.

The wedding had already started, it was time to countdown to the end. If he thought he was the only one who didn't want this, he was wrong, I didn't too.

"You seem happy, you must have married your dream man." He said mockingly.

"You think it's my dream to be stuck with someone like you? I have better plans."

He scoffed.

He was already making my skin crawl and I wanted to be far away from him as soon as possible.

"Where's your husband?" Mr Coleman, my now father-in-law asked.

"I don't know Sir, he was here a minute ago." I said yawning.

"That boy, he better behave himself." He cursed under his breath.

I watched as he scurried away in search of his son.

I soon noticed a crowd moving to a particular direction, curiosity got the best of me and in no time, I was dragging my long flowing gown towards the direction.

"He's really doing this at his wedding?" Someone whispered to the next person.

Immediately they noticed me, they made their way, slowly I walked to the front and my eyes almost dropped.

Grayson, my supposed husband, was kissing and rubbing another woman, somewhere everyone could see, the paparazzi could see.

The fool! This was his way of ending the marriage.

His father's face turned red, my father's smiling face had been replaced with an unreadable expression.

I held my dress tighter, my life had just been plunged into a deeper hole.

The attention was on me, I could barely breathe.