CHAPTER THREE: What We Call “Our Honeymoon

His expression sent me opening my mouth out of the blue as “yes” was the only word that came out. “yes, I do” I quickly modified my word. My throat felt dry, and my nose blocked, but I just held onto my composure and stood there, breathing with my mouth slightly opened.

Then, I looked back at Collins, and he just gave a soft wide chuckle, which I'm sure deep down, that he is really happy about this.

The pope smiled to show how happy he is for a holy matrimony and he continued, “Mr Collins Norman, do you accept Miss Aliya Clarks as your lawfully wedded wife, in health or in sickness, in riches or in penury and in plenty or in scarcity…”

“Yes, I do…” His deep baritone voice sent a jolt of vibrations that caused butterflies to fly in my belly. “I promise to shower you with the most intimacy a wife could ever need. Till death do us apart.”

The crowd ended up clapping their hands softly, but that wasn’t my concern. He ended his speech with death? Wait, how would I know that I was supposed to say all these? I didn’t even know anything about him, but there was nothing I could do. I couldn't turn back the hands of time, I'd have made amends.

“If there is anyone against this holy matrimony, the individual should speak or forever hold their peace!” The pope repeated the words thrice, and no one dared to speak during that moment.

When it was time for the bride's kiss, after we exchanged rings, I felt shy, but then, Collins kissed me. It was the softest kiss I've ever had, and I felt my heart swell. At that moment, I really believed he was my Mr. Perfect.

We danced after the kiss, and Collins held my waist really perfect, and I placed my arms around his neck. That felt relaxing for me.

After the white wedding, we were supposed to get prepared for the dinner party. I was on my way to the changing room, and Sarah was nowhere around, maybe because she had been busy greeting some of the guests.

I was about to open the door to that room when a cold, soft hand grabbed me from behind. I felt shocked that I gasped and all I knew was that he just started pulling me away from the place.

At first, I felt annoyed, but later, I felt he might have had a surprise waiting for me, and maybe this was his best way of revealing it to me.

We got to his black Benz, and I was placed on the back seat with him. His driver was a masked man in all black. He was dressed like an assassin who was ready to strike anytime, and I bet he didn't have any gun on him at that moment.

This sent a jolt of fear through me, and I decided to politely ask my husband what was happening, but he gave no response as the car engine ignited and went on motion.

“Collins, what is the matter? I hope all is well” I asked again, this time, trying my best to not annoy him, and I was glad he gave a response this time, though a simple one.

“We're going home” he had said calmly, but I knew deep down that he was in his mean state. Let me just risk asking one more question, I had determined inside myself, just to be sure.

“Home?” I managed… My voice, a little rough. I took a breath and tried again carefully and slowly this time. “Home?... I… thought we were having dinner with the people around” I looked through him, trying to understand his mood.

“Dinner?” He looked at me, his eyes dark, he chuckled, and looked away again. “Who cares about dinner? Only the poor does that…”

His words struck me hard like a blow, and I felt like blaming him or giving him some hard slaps, but I knew I couldn't. I didn't expect that it was going to be the two of us alone tonight.

The smell in the car began to choke my spirit, but I held my composure because of his scary looking driver, I was scared to the bones.

The street lights and the movement outside reminded me of what was about to happen. Inside the car, it was tense and silent. .

When we got to his mansion, I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. Lights filled the whole place, making it seem that it was more charming than that of during the day, I just did as if I didn't see it as I was boiling inside.

The driver got down from the car and came to open Collins's car door. He got down and gestured for his driver to not open my door as he came all by himself to open my door for me.

I was trying to get down when he carried me in a bridal style straight to the mansion.

“I can walk by myself” I blurted, I wanted him to put me down because of what he did earlier in the car from the reception.

He chuckled again. This time, it seems it was a genuine one from his heart. “We are married, remember” he said and adjusted his arms to carry me more comfortably.

I just stood there, still, even whilst my head and body ached from all the planning stress and ceremony palaver. I yearned for a warm shower and a deep, long sleep.

As we got to the dining room, he dropped and carefully placed me on one of the chairs, and we had a little, though beautiful but expensive wine feast. “Now, this is what we call dinner…” He said, took a large gulp, and quickly added, “and perhaps, our honeymoon had just begun.”

I glanced at him for a second and looked away. I had no choice but to just make up some excuses whenever I felt the urge to defend myself, since I'm married now, not even to mention being married to a stranger. “I need to sleep.” I said with a calm and weak voice.

“Sleep, huh?” He still kept his smiley face as if he meant something else. “What about you start your wife duties tonight?”

I thought he was joking with that statement, and I just looked at him, my eyes narrowed, and my head spun. I made to stand up and leave, but I was disappointed because I didn't know the room I should go into, so I sat back.

Just as if my body knew I needed help, I felt pressed at that moment. “I need to use the toi…” I was going to make use of the toilet when he swiftly carried me again through the stairs.

On carrying me through the stairs, I developed more fears because I'm sure he would want to request for the inevitable. But I was alert, and something inside of me told me to politely decline if he did.

He carried me to the room filled with red fluorescent lights, these ones different from the ones outside. The smell that welcomed me was of strawberry flavoured burning candles mixed with his perfume, but this time, it was stronger.

And following my sharp sense of smell, I turned my head to my left, and there were candles lit on the mirror table across the dim lights when the grand mirror reflected them. It was hot for me but I trust the room was cold. He carried me to the crimson coloured bed. It was a circular one that had four golden pillars.

I saw a pair of scissors under the beside lamp on the bedside table, and I wondered what he used them for. “Probably for crafts” I whispered to myself.

With practised ease, Collins carefully placed me on the round crimson bed. Even with my heart hammering hard against my ribs, I felt treated like a legal wife. And this had just vandalised every detail of the rumours I had heard about him.

He went straight to the table's drawer that held the grand mirror and burning candles. He brought out handcuffs…

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To be continued!