Chapter seven: I do

The taxi pulled in front of a huge white courthouse. I pulled on the hem of the only white dress I could find that was deemed fit for this occasion.

After yesterday’s events, I spent the entire day in my bedroom, working on my designs and trying to distract myself from the reality that I might be making the biggest mistake in my life.

I’d only left my room to get some snacks from the kitchen because no one had bothered to call me for lunch. Though, I would not have gone if they had.

I knew they didn’t care about all the fuss I was making, but I wanted them to notice how upset I was.

Later that night, I received an email from Mr. Kingston’s assistant, Clara, informing me of the time of the meeting.

In my own little way of protesting, I left the house before anyone could wake up and killed some time at the park before heading to the courthouse at the agreed time.

The taxi driver let out a little cough, already annoyed at me for delaying him from his next passenger by still sitting in his car.

I got out, apologizing to him, but he just grunted and said something about kids these days always having their heads in the clouds before driving away.

I spotted Mr. Kingston and a man, who must be his driver, Henry. They were standing in front of the courthouse with Mr. Kingston repeatedly checking his watch, a frown etched on his face.

Despite his nasty frown, he looked good.

He was wearing dark grey slacks, a matching white button-down jacket, and a black tie.

He turned to Henry and said something to him. Henry nodded before stepping closer and helping him straighten his tie.

My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.

The action seemed so natural, almost too natural for someone as cold as Mason Kingston.

Well, from what I knew about him.

But….I can’t lie, he was really handsome.

I won’t blame Henry for being blinded by his beauty and falling in love with such a cold man.

Mason Kingston was a cruel man. Not only was he abandoning his lover to marry someone else, but he was also using his power as his boss to force him to be a witness.

He could have just given him a day off or something.

Who am I to talk, though? I had practically done the same thing to Ryan. Except I had the decency to break things off with him.

I couldn’t help but stare at him. I wonder what Henry saw in him. Maybe deep, deep, very deep down in that cold and icy exterior, there is a warm side to him.

As if sensing me, he turned to look at me, and his face contorted into a frown. Those blue eyes watched my every movement until I stood in front of them.

‘’Good morning,’’ I said to Henry, giving him a small smile. Then, I turned to Mr. Kingston, but he spoke before I could say anything.

‘’ You’re late, Miss Davidson,’’ he said without even bothering to return my greetings.

Miss Davidson, Miss Davidson, Miss Davidson. Mimicking his voice in my head. Why so formal? We were going to get married anyway.

I gave him a hude smile, ‘’ It’s just five minutes.’’

I kind of lost track of time when I was sketching in the park. It’s my way of escaping reality and calming my nerves, so I hadn’t really noticed how quickly time had passed.

Good thing the park was just a ten-minute drive from the courthouse.

‘’Miss Davidson, I don’t like people being late. Someone late, even a minute late, makes such a person unreliable. And an unreliable person creates room for unplanned events.’’

‘’Everything must go according to plan to avoid unnecessary mistakes.’’

He looks at me intensely. If his eyes could shoot lasers, I would already have two holes in my head.

‘’What is that?’’ he says slowly.

I followed his gaze to my sketchbook, clutched in my hands.

‘’It’s my sketchbook. I was drawing in the park before I came here, and I didn’t have much time to return it.’’

Lies.

I wasn’t even planning on going home until this evening.

‘’Hand it over to Henry; he will keep it safe for you.’’

Then, he turned and started heading into the building.

Turning to Henry, who has been quietly watching our exchange, I handed him the folder.

‘’Thank you.’’

I gave him a pitiful look before following Mr. Kingston inside, practically sprinting to catch up to his long strides.

A few minutes into the wedding, as the registrar read the marriage rite. All my nerves came rushing back.

Was I Really Doing This?

This isn’t what I wanted.

I wasn’t getting married in a beautiful garden filled with different types of flowers.

My dad wasn’t walking me down the aisle, with Mom and Julia smiling at me from their seats.

Most importantly, Kim isn’t here as my maid of honor.

I wasn’t bursting with happiness or drowning in love for the man beside me.

‘’Miss Davidson.’’

The sound of my name snapped me out of my depressing thoughts.

Both the registrar and Mr. Kingston were looking at me intensely.

‘’Sorry. Can you repeat that?’’

I said, my cheeks turning red, having been caught with my mind wandering.

‘’ I said, do you, Miss Davidson, take Mr. Kingston to be your lawfully wedded husband?’’

The word no was hanging just at the tip of my tongue, but I felt Mr. Kingston’s grip on my hand tighten before slowly loosening.

Like a warning, not to do anything funny.

As much as I would love to say no and stop everything, I didn’t like breaking my promises.

I was the one who had come to him to marry me, and I had accepted his conditions, so there was no turning back now.

My gaze jumped to his face, but he was staring straight ahead, his features free of emotion. One would think that the wall was more interesting to him than his bride.

‘’I do’’

They could hear my heart beating loudly in my chest. The registrar repeated the same words to Mr. Kingston with a tiny hope. I assumed one of us would regain our senses and call out this sham.

‘’I do.’’

The cold, firm voice spoke without hesitation

Yup.

There went any hope of freedom I had.

He didn’t even think about it, like he wasn’t even marrying a total stranger.

‘’You may kiss the bride.’’

My eyes widened.

Mr. Kingston turned toward me, and I came into contact with warm lips.