Chapter 4: believe me, it's a setup!

He narrowed his eyes, like he couldn't see my face clearly.

"Why?" he whispered calmly, way too calm for what I expected.

I bit my lips; my fingers dug deeply into my palms.

"I... I... I..." I fiddled, not knowing what to say.

His eyes grew deep into my face, sending a fearful feeling down my spine.

"I didn't mean to," I cracked.

He frowned even more.

"You didn't mean to be this cute?" he asked.

My throat went dry immediately.

"Huh?" I muttered confusedly.

He raised his hands to my face, and before I could blink, he smashed his lips into mine.

He kissed me deeply, so much that I couldn't breathe.

My hands flew to his bare chest, trying to push him off, but he wouldn't budge; instead, he grabbed both of my hands and pinned them above my head.

I choked with every second.

Tears welled in my eyes.

Then he slowly broke the kiss and stared at me softly.

I coughed as I caught my breath.

"Emma you're mine now, it took me years to finally be with you" he whispered.

Before I could fathom what he meant, his hand moved to my lips, caressing them slowly.

I gulped down emptiness.

"Ethan, this Isn't right?" I cried.

"Why...? we are married now," he whispered, and grabbed hold of my dress with just one grab, the dress flew to the ground, leaving me bare.

"Emma," he growled as his eyes scanned body.

Tears streamed down my cheeks...he has no idea I'm different from the person he thinks I am.

what will happen when he finds out?

I wanted to push him off, but..He lifted me off the floor and made me wrap my legs around his torso, taking over my lips once more.

I bit his lips; and tried struggling to break free, but he continues until I reciprocate.

He carried me to the bed, dropping me slowly without breaking the kiss.

His hands went to my breasts; he caressed them teasingly, my hands slowly went to his head pulling him closer as a whole new feeling washed over me.

A soft moan escaped my lips.

"That's it baby, moan for daddy," he whispered, unbuckling his belt and making me run my hands over his bare chest as he thrust into me.

_________

(Next morning)

The bright light from the morning sun hit my eyelid, jolting me from sleep.

I opened my drowsy eyes and found Ethan sleeping peacefully beside me.

His hands wrapped around my waist.

My cheek burns red and hot, as I remember every one of last night, the thrust, the kisses and the touches.

He pounded on me like someone who hasn't been with a woman all his life. The hickeys and marks all over my body are a testimony to it.

It hurt down there, but yet not as much as the pain in my heart.

Giving out my V-card to someone who doesn't even like me.

I don't even know how he would react when he discovered the truth.

"Emma..." he muttered half asleep and pulled me more closer.

I swallowed hard.

Maybe I should just run now that he's still asleep; he wouldn't notice.

I tried to sneak from his grip on my waist but his strong hands held me back, pulling me closer to himself.

On the third attempt to escape, his eyes flew open.

"Emma, stay..." he halted his word the moment his eyes landed on me.

He blinked several times like he wanted to be sure he was seeing wrong, but each time he blinked, he discovered that he wasn't seeing wrong.

"You?" he mumbled and rubbed his eyes.

"wait..you?!" he pushed me from his side like as if I was a plague.

"What are you doing in my room? On my bed?" he frowned with hint confusion in his eyes.

My fingers fidgeted against each other.

"I... I..."

"You fucking...What?" he growled impatiently and rode down the bed with the duvet leaving me bare.

His eyes flickered in shock on seeing me naked.

He quickly looked away from me, threw the duvet back at me, and wore his pants.

"I didn't mean to..."

" You didn't what?" he paused as if trying to put some ideas together.

"Where is Emma?" he asked as if that's the only thing that mattered to him.

I said nothing and curled into the bed corner.

anger crossed his face...he roughed his head in frustration as if my silence was driving him crazy.

"Answer me!" he yelled.

I flinched and gripped the bed sheet tightly like it's my lifeline.

Right now he's totally different from the man from yesterday.

"Sh...she's not here!" I cracked out.

His jaw dropped, and slowly, eyes owered to the bloodstain on the white sheet, then to the hickeys on my body and face.

Realization hit him.

"You...?"

" The one I got married to... is you?" he narrowed his eyes.

I bit my lips and nodded quietly.

his face turned pale.

He staggered backwards as if all his strength was drained from his body. .

"I can explain... I didn't mean to, they forced me." I cried.

He stared at me as if he had just watched a horror movie.

"They made you do it?...Who?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

His jaw tightened.

"Answer me!" He ordered.

"My parents drugged me and made me do it... Because Emma didn't want to get married to you."

"Lies, lies, lies! Emma can't do that, she's too innocent for that!" he shouted and pointed at me, his eyes red with anger.

"You did it for money, right!? He question as he matched towards me like someone who's about commiting a murder.

I quickly shook my head and shifted back.

Fortunately for me a knock came at that moment.. it was from Mr. Sterling.

"Sir, a package from the Armstrong family just arrived" he announced from the door.

Ethan shut his eyes and turned to me.

"Meet me downstairs," he said with anger visible in his voice and walked out of the room.

A wave of relief flushed through my face.

The tears I was holding back finally withered my cheeks slowly.

I knew this was going to be messy but I never expected him to be that angry and deadly .

I slipped into the dress and walked downstairs.

The moment I stepped down from the stairs Mrs Marcus charged at me.

"You gold digger!. You did all of this for money, right? So you think taking your sister's place would give you what you desire? how vicious can you be!" She flared at me.

I froze.

Just that moment Ethan's phone rang, he hesitated before answering.

Emma high pitched voice echoed from the other end of the phone.

"Ethan! You married the wrong bride!"

"She tricked I and my mother into the basement, rendered us unconscious and stole my place." She cried.

My chest tightened.

I glanced at Ethan.

He said nothing.

"Ethan, if you don't believe me, check the surveillance footage I sent" With that the call went dead.

The room went cold with silence.

Then a surveillance footage appeared on the TV showing Emma and my mom with bandage round their heads in hospital beds.

Bruises cover their body...then it switched to the video of mom and Emma walking Into the basement while Emma was on her phone, mentioning,

"Elena, I am on my way.

they entered the basement, and the next moment their loud cries echoed.

my brows creased confusedly as I watched the footage.

when did all of this happened? I thought...but when the video of how I walked out of the room dressed in the wedding dress displayed.

It became clear to me.

I glanced at Ethan.... without thinking i rushed to his side, and cover his eyes

"Don't watch, it a lie and a set up! That's not what happened " I cried but he shoved me off and I stubbled to the hard floor.

tears blurred my vision and one question settled in my heart.. how can a parents cause their own daughter this pain?

I shifted to Ethan.

"Ethan! They used the surveillance footage against me... while cutting the real part when I was dragged into the.." I explained.

He turned to me and grabbed me by the neck before I could finish my words.

His hands trembled with rage as he choked me.

"Ethan, please"tears flowed down my cheeks to his hands on my neck.

His eyes darkened even more

"Don't you dare say my name!" he growled and release my head with a push.

I coughed.

"No..no! Those footage are edited, I...I ..was the one that was lock in there" my voice cracked.

He said nothing.

"I didn't do it... they're trying to frame me" I tried to explain

Mrs Marcus charged towards me, yanked me up by my hair.

"You still have the guts to lie even with evidence? You're so shameless and vile!" she snapped and grabbed hold of my once injured arm.

I shut my eyes as pain shot through me.

"I heard you are an ex con...spending another term would suit you, Ethan call the cops right now!" She shouted.

She pressed her hand against my arm and started dragging me towards the door.

My blood dripped and stain the floor.

"Please you have to believe me, they're lying!" I cried.

"liar!" she hissed and dragged me past Ethan who stood motionless.

But just as we past...Ethan grab my other arm, pulling me to himself.

Mrs Marcus grip loosen, sending me into his hands.

I froze in his arms

Our eyes made contact.

"No one is calling the cops..." he paused.

"she's my wife now" he said without breaking the eye contact.

I heave in Relief.

" But she have to pay for her crime!" Mrs Marcus shouted her face blow hot .

"She will pay!" Ethan replied coldly and waved at Mr sterling who's has been standing beside the door all this while.

He whispered something to him.

Mr sterling nodded and walked out.

Some minutes later he returns with a document and medicated plaster stitch.

He handed them to Ethan .

Ethan let go of me and push the documents to my face.

"Sign it" he said.

My hand tremble as I went through the documents.

He wants us to remain married for three months before divorce claiming it's because of his reputation.

Beneath the document was the condition I must keep" that I would remain invisible throughout the period of the contract."

I sigh and slowly lift my hand to sign the documents.

Maybe I should be happy, at least in three months time I would be free.

just as I was signing it, Ethan lean in with a cold smile.

He opened the plaster and gently placed it on my injured arm.

He blew air in too it, raise his eyes to mine and whispered calmly.

" Welcome to my world of torture!"