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

 Chapter 4

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.

Tears welled in my eyes.

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.

He 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.

His hand moved to my lips, caressing them slowly.

I gulped confusedly.

"Isn't this 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. He lifted me off the floor and made me wrap my legs around his torso, taking over my lips once more. 

I bit my lips; he still thinks I'm Emma. 

I struggle 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, which sent a whole new feeling 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.

 "Emma!" he growled, almost quenching the arousal in me...

 _________

 (Next morning) 

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

 I opened my drowsy eyes and found Ethan sleeping peacefully. 

His hands wrapped around my waist.

My cheek burns red and hot, as I remember every one of his thrusts, the slow and the fast ones.

But turned pale when I remembered how he moaned Emma's name throughout our encounter.

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 not as much as the pain in my heart.

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

"Emma... Don't go again," he muttered half asleep.

A tear drops down.

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

But his strong hands held me back, pulling me closer to him every time I tried to escape.

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

"Emma, stay..." he paused his words.

His eyes grew into a deep and confused frown.

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

"You?" he mumbled, his eyes first scanning the room.

When he discovered that it was his room, he quickly pushed me from his side like a plague.

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

My fingers fidgeted against each other.

"I... I..."

What?" he roared, his eyes blow red.

He rode down the bed with the duvet that covered me, leaving me bare.

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

"I didn't mean to..."

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

I said nothing.

He rubbed his head with 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 different from the man I saw yesterday.

"She's not here!" I replied.

His eyes lowered 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 nodded slowly.

His jaw dropped. 

As if all his strength was drained from his body. He staggered backwards and drop to his knees .

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

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.

"Answer me!" He ordered.

"My parents... 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.

"You did it for money, right!? He question.

That moment a knock came... it was from Mr. Sterling.

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

A wave of relief flushed through my face.

And at the same time worried.

What if the package they sent ain't going to clear thing but worsen it? 

Ethan shut his eyes and turned to me.

"Meet me downstairs," he said with anger visible in his voice.

He picked up a shirt and walked out.

The tears I was holding back withered my cheeks slowly.

I slipped into the dress and walked downstairs.

There, I meant Mrs Marcus and Ethan.

She stared at me in disgust and detest.

"You're a gold digger!. You did all of this for money, right? So you think taking your sister's place would give you what you desire?" Mrs Marcus flared at me.

I froze.

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

"Ethan! You married the wrong bride!" Emma high pitched voice echoed from the other end of the phone.

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

My chest tightened.

I glanced at Ethan.

His hands were cling into a tight fist.

"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 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.

Afterward, the video showed how I walked out of the room dressed in the wedding dress.

How my hand rested on the basement doorknob, like I was trying to lock it.

Then the last part showed Dad's men breaking down the door and bringing Emma and Mom out, wounded and weak.

My legs weakened when I realized what it was all about.

They used the surveillance footage against me... while cutting the real part when I was dragged into the basement?

I turned to Ethan.

His face trembled with rage.

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

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

"You still have the guts to lie even with evidence? You're so shameless and vile!" Mrs Marcus 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!" 

She dragged me past Ethan who stood motionless.

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

Mrs Marcus grip loosen, sending me into his hands.

I froze.

Our eyes made contact.

"No one is calling the cops...she's my wife now, the world knows already "he said without breaking the contact.

I heave in Relief.

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

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

He whispered something to Mr sterling.

He 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 me.

"Sign it" he said.

My hand tremble as I went through the documents.

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

I slowly lift my hand to sign the documents.

Maybe I should be happy, at least three months

I would be free.

Then Ethan lean in with a dark smile.

He opened the plaster, placed it carefully on my injured arm and raise his eyes to mine.

My heart skipped beats.

Eventually his smile darkened.

" Welcome to my world of torture!"he whispered.