1. For Better, For Worse?

CHAPTER ONE

Olivia;

I was a mess.

My heart slammed in my rib cage as I stared at the massive building through the car window beside me.

“Come on, Olivia,” my fiancè, Marcus Kingston, said softly, and I turned to stare at him, his deep blue eyes trying to give me all the reassurance I needed, but I was far from being calm.

“You need to relax, baby. You've been fidgeting throughout the ride. Barely even said a word.”

“ What if they don't…y'know, like me?” My voice was low, but desperate.

My other hand absentmindedly flicked the engagement ring on my left finger. A habit I'd grown accustomed to since Marcus proposed.

Don't get me wrong, I love Marcus, but I just didn't know why I was this nervous. Maybe it was because I'd never officially met the Kingstons and I sure as hell had never been engaged before.

"You're kidding," he chuckled, "our marriage is literally arranged by both families, Liv. I don't see why you should be this nervous."

"I know that. But this is the first time I'm officially meeting them. I'm allowed to be a little nervous."

"And I love that you care, baby. I do too. This shows that this is more than an arranged marriage." He smirked.

“Yea, but...can we reschedule?” I took off the seatbelt and climbed onto his lap, finding his lips for a kiss.

“We cant.” He wrapped his arms around me, chuckling. “It's our engagement party tonight, which happens to be the only day I get to see my complete family. My sister….”

“.... haven't been home for years now, and my stuck-up brother, who never values family, will be there.” I finished for him with a resigned sigh.

“Took the words right out of my mouth again.” Marcus smiled and cupped my face, “Really, you have nothing to be nervous about, baby. I'm here beside you. For better, for worse?”

“Hey!” I hit his chest, laughing, “You're getting ahead of yourself, aren't you?”

His lips brushed over mine slowly, “ It's only a matter of time. To me, you're already my wife. I love you so much, Olivia.”

He took my lips, his fingers sliding into my hair as he kissed me deeply. The hand on my waist pulled me closer.

I kissed him back. Hard. Pouring my worries into it, while his lips did their best to reassure me. Still, it didn't help to untangle the knots in my belly.

I slid towards him, straddling him, my hips automatically grinding against him, wanting desperately to feel him. To get rid of this ache.

"Here?" he asked, breathless, looking out the car window. "Baby, we're literally...."

"Please," I whispered through his mouth. "I need this."

We were in his car, outside his parent's estate and right now, I don't care. I just needed something to cling to. Besides, no one can see us through the tinted glasses from outside.

Marcus pulled away slightly, and trailed kisses down my neck, sucking on the skin there.

"Let me help you relax, then," he murmured against my skin, his fingers sliding under the hem of my dress, slowly dragging it up to my hips. The moment the fabric was bunched at my waist, he hooked a finger around my panties and tugged them aside. The cool air met my wetness, and I shivered—part nerves, part desperate want.

Then his fingers slid between my folds. Slow and unhurried at first, teasing me. I let out a soft moan when he found my clit and began circling it, his other hand pulling me closer.

“God, you’re so wet for me,” he growled against my lips.

My breath came out shaky as I reached for his belt, my fingers fumbling. But once I got it open and unzipped his pants, his cock sprang free, hot and hard against my palm. I didn’t wait.

I rose just enough to position him at my entrance, then sank onto him slowly.

“Oh—fuck,” I gasped, my walls stretching to take him in. My nails dug into his shoulders as the pressure built inside me, pleasure shooting up my spine.

Marcus’s head fell back with a guttural groan, and his hands gripped my hips tightly, guiding me as I began to move. I rocked against him, slowly at first, then faster, our bodies falling into a rhythm.

Each thrust sent a jolt of electricity through me. My hands slid up his chest, gripping his shoulders as I rode him, chasing that high, needing more. The sound of our bodies slapping together filled the car, filthy and breathy.

He met my hips halfway, fucking up into me from underneath.

His lips found mine again, and I moaned into his mouth as one of his hands slid up to cup my breast, thumb flicking over my nipple through the fabric.

“You’re driving me fucking insane,” he groaned, his voice ragged.

But I was already gone.

The knot inside me tightened, my thighs shaking as the climax built fast and furious. I clenched around him and bit down on his shoulder to stifle the scream that wanted to rip from my throat.

I came hard, my body trembling against his. Marcus cursed and followed seconds later, pulsing deep inside me as he buried his face in my neck, breathing hard.

Afterward, I slumped against his chest, still catching my breath as the silence in the car wrapped around us. Marcus brushed a kiss against my forehead, his fingers trailing down my spine with comforting ease. For a moment, everything felt still, like the rest of the world didn’t exist beyond this space, this touch, this man who wanted to marry me.

But that peace didn’t last long.

Reality crept back at the moment I looked out the window again, at the estate, at the people already arriving, and the soft glow of lights spilling out from inside. My stomach coiled.

Marcus tucked himself back in and adjusted his shirt, then leaned in with a smirk. “Still want to reschedule?”

I managed a soft laugh, tugging my dress down my thighs. “Let’s just get this over with.”

We stepped out of the car, hand in hand. My heels clicked lightly against the pavement as we walked up the stone path toward the grand estate. The warm evening breeze carried the scent of flowers and expensive cologne, mingled with soft jazz drifting from inside.

The lights from the hall spilled through the open doors.

A handful of people were already inside, dressed to perfection, glasses of champagne in their hands, and laughter echoing through the space.

I straightened my spine. Smile, Olivia. You’ve got this.

Marcus' hold on me tightened in reassurance, "Don't worry. They're just old relatives. They'll be gone before you know it."

Then I stepped through the doorway, my eyes flickering around.

And everything in me froze.

At first, it was just a flicker, out of the corner of my eye. A flash of platinum blonde hair.

What...?

No...It can’t be.

I turned fully, and there she was.

Standing confidently near the center of the room, dressed in a skin-tight red gown that clung to her every curve. She was smiling, her head tilted slightly as she chatted with someone I didn’t recognize.

My fingers curled into fists. My throat tightened. I couldn't swallow.

What the hell was she doing here?