My Cold Husband

It was an autumn morning and the streets of Belgravia were nearly full with tourists from across the world.

Lily Sterling , an 18-year-old, residing in Belgravia, a western central district of London was getting ready for her wedding.She had an elder sister named Rose with whom she was not particularly close.Rose and Lily were the daughters of Ronald Sterling and Rebecca Sterling.

Ronald Sterling was the 32nd richest bussinesman in London. Th Sterlings were going through a downfall in their company as The Williams offered to help through partnership. The Sterlings were looking for a man for their elder daughter after getting to know that she had an affair with her classmate from college.

The Williams wanted their son to get married as well, as he was now settled and declared as the CEO of their company. Both of the families needed each other and hence agreed upon marrying their children.

Rose was to be married to the CEO of the largest company known to London and also a billionaire, Zared Williams, until she ran away.

Zared Williams was the only heir of James Williams and Clarissa Williams. Rose didn't want to get married but was being forced to, by her parents.The Sterlings could not inform the Williams about their daughter's runaway on the day of the wedding, it would bring disgrace to their name and reputation and leave them insulted.

The only way for the Sterlings to maintain their position was to marry Lily to Zared. Since Lily had no faith in her parents, she was not shocked by their choice. She knew they would go to any extinct for the sake of power. Lily has been physically as well as mentally abused by her parents since she was a child for getting the 2nd rank in school and never the 1st.The Sterlings thought of it as a disgrace to stand second to anyone.

Lily was sitting in the dressing room getting ready for her wedding. She sat looking at herself, realizing nothing would be the same again. She didn't know how to feel, if she should feel happy or be sad. Happy that she won't live with her abusive parents anymore or sad that she was forced on someone who didn't want her. The makeup artist was almost finished with Lily’s makeup when her Mother entered the room.

“Lily,it's time to walk down the aisle” said Rebecca.

Lily took a deep breath and her father entered the room,she looked at her father willing to spot some empathy in his eyes but unfortunately found none.

All of them left the room together and were now standing in front of the gates of the church in which the wedding was held. Everything was grand, the decor, the system. It was a beautiful sight for the eye 'but all this for what ?' Lily thought to herself. She walked up to her father and put her arms through his while he opened one to entwine them.When the gates opened, Lily and her father proceeded to walk down the aisle while she kept her eyes fixed on the ground.

Meanwhile Zared who was also not happy with this wedding could not take his gaze away from Lily, her almond-shaped hazel eyes, her red flushed cheeks, her dark brown, wavy hair falling down to her waist, her pale skin glowing in the light. He found her exceptionally beautiful,but another thought entered Zared's mind as he saw her beauty...'Every woman craves money and nothing else' with that thought the admiration in his eyes for Lily changed to disgust. Reaching the front of the church Ronald placed Lily's hand into Zared's.

Lily lifted her eyes to see a man with ocean blue eyes and dark hair with one part slicked back and other falling on his forehead. He seemed to be around the age of 25 , she was extremely mesmerized by the beauty of Zared until the Priest began with the vows.

"Do you, Zared Williams take Lily Sterling as your lawfully wedded wife ?" asked the priest.

"I do" his deep voice echoed,his eyes looking straight into Lily's with no emotions to be seen.

"Do you, Lily Sterling take Zared Williams as your lawfuly wedded husband ?"

"I-I do" Lily hesitated, feeling the heat from Zared's stare.Lily’s heart rate was not normal right now and she was imagining her future life and was nervous about how she will handle so much at such a young age without having any experience for even going out to a bakery to buy mere cupcakes. She felt her body stiffened as the Priest declared both of them as lawfully wedded now. Her breath was stuck in her throat.

"You may now kiss the bride." the priest said.

Zared stepped forward placing his hands on Lily's waist, he leaned forward and placed his lips on hers and pulled out just after a second. Lily found this strange but did not pay much attention to it. The wedding ceremony came to an end after a long day of chit chatting with friends and relatives and meeting with relatives and business tycoons of each other's families.

Zared and Lily departed for Knightsbridge located in the central part of London where Zared resided.Because Lily and Zared were both exhausted and did not know each other well enough to engage in conversation, the ride was silent.

They reached their house after a while and Zared, ignoring Lily, got out of the car and proceeded towards the house.Zared always saw the day of marriage as a day when he'll get married to the love of his life and would live happily ever after but he was forced by his parents to get married into the Sterling family.

He didn't want to get married as he didn't know anything about the person he was getting married to and was pretty sure she was just a golddigger who agreed upon marrying him for his wealth.