Chapter three

Anna

“Do you, Anna Montgomery take Adrian Sinclair as your one and only husband? To be with him and for him till death do you part,” 

Those were strong words for a contractual marriage. Way too strong for a marriage to be ended after a year. 

My eyes glistened with tears as I looked up at Adrian through my veil. His face held no emotions, expressionless like his mind was not present here. 

My mind skipped when his eyes met mine. It was stone hard, glaring at me as though I had just summoned the devil. 

He had blatantly disagreed to this wedding. 

“The contract was enough.” were his words but I wanted this. 

Though this wasn't really a real marriage, I still didn't want it to seem lame like I meant nothing. This was my first marriage and I refuse to not have a wedding. 

I had no idea if that was why his countenance was stiffened or if it was simply because he didn't want to have anything to do with me! 

“Go ahead,” the priest said, pulling me out of my reverie. 

I looked over at my mum who was sitting right next to my brother, Stefan with tears rolling down her cheeks effortlessly. 

“I do,” I finally said and a look similar to disappointment seemed to flash across his face but it disappeared almost immediately. 

I looked around the almost empty church. There were just four guests. Two from my side and two from his. I had no idea who they were but those were the two people he chose to sit for him. Then, there were two reporters, necessary to keep records I guess. 

Then I looked at the dead end of the lines pews, and there, I saw a lady. She was dressed in black with a black veil over her black hat. I was confused as to who it was when the Priest’s voice came in again. 

“Do you, Adrian Sinclair take Anna Montgomery as your one and only lawful wife? To be with her and for her till death do you part,” he rephrased. 

“I do,” he said without hesitation with no thoughts put in place. His face remained the same, stern. 

“Now, you may kiss your bride,” 

Then I froze. I had not thought about this part. 

This was against the contract. No touching, no feelings. How could we kiss without touching, without feelings? 

“We would skip that part and just…” he cut me off when his lips wrapped around mine. 

My breath hitched and my toes curled up in my shoes. I seemed to freeze in place, not responding to the kiss. 

The camera’s sound clicked, filling my ears, coupled with the resounding claps that followed. 

My eyes were still wide open when he pulled me in, closer to his chest as though I was his second skin. He pressed his hand against my back, tilting his head so he could get a better angle of my lips. Then, I was forced to close my eyes, finally responding to the kiss. 

I pressed my arms against him, opening my lips slightly, giving him permission to slide his tongue into my mouth. Only then, did he break from the kiss. 

He then moved his head closer to my ear, whispering. “This wasn’t done out of love, remember. You don’t get to have the best out of it!” 

His words sounded like a pin, piercing through my skin to my soul. His words hurt and I couldn’t hide it as the tingling feeling or tears burning my eyes resumed again. 

As he withdrew from my ear, my eyes met his and I could see the smirk across his lips. 

I looked away from him to my mum who was sinking in excitement, drowning in pride that I had just married right. 

My eyes darted over to the lady in black but she was nowhere in sight, almost like I was seeing things. 

I looked back at Adrian and he mouthed. 

“It is just a contract!” 

*****

I had sat alone in the car back to his place. 

He had told me he had a business to attend to and that now that we were married, there was going to be a lot to do—-for him and for me. 

As I finally arrived at his mansion, I was wowed. 

Walking in was like walking through the gates of heaven. 

The giant front door flung open suddenly and I was greeted by a young lady with a bright and broad smile across her face. 

“Welcome home, ma’am,” 

Home. 

As strange as that seemed to be, it was my reality now. This was my home. 

“Thank you,” I replied. 

“I am Susan and I will be your personal maid. This way to your room,” 

I get to have a personal maid? 

I scoffed. 

It's crazy how I had almost forgotten how I was treated by him. This place had just made up for that. 

I smiled and followed her. 

“I am Anna by the way,” I said as we walked up the stairs. 

“Oh, I know that by now,” she smiled before looking forward.

“Adrian spoke about me already? He doesn't seem to be the type to,” 

“You have no idea what fortune you are into. You now belong to a world where things doesn't have to be said to be heard or known,” 

“Well, that’s scary. Probably voodoo!” I said and she stopped abruptly, turning around, causing me to almost bump into her. 

“You should watch your words, ma’am. The walls are alive,” 

Uhmm…excuse me? What had I just walked into? A world of magical things? Supernatural world? 

“Okay,” I replied flatly. 

We stopped in front of a giant door. Everything in here was giant, including the windows and curtains. 

Speaking of the curtains. There was no natural lightning in here, just tons of chandeliers illuminating the room with the curtains that were down. 

“This here would be your room,” Susan said as she opened the giant door and I let out a loud gasp. 

I rushed in, looking around and drowning in the beauty that was before me. I had never seen anything like this before. 

I had heard about the Sinclair Enterprises in the news and a few times from my dad but nothing prepared me for the riches they hold, and how wealthy they really were. 

News about their family was gloomy, nothing so flashy. The news about the death of his parents—both dying the same night in a plane crash and then recently, the news about his grandfather but then, his grandfather had suggested he got married to me. 

It was strange. 

How did his grandfather know about me? Why did he choose me for his grandson? 

However, the marriage would be the splash of good news about the Sinclairs for a while. 

“Thank you, Susan,” I said, dismissing her. 

After drowning myself in the beauty of the room, I rushed into the bathroom to have a warm bath. After I was done, thankfully, all of my things were already in the closet which made it quite easy for me. 

I got dressed and walked out of my room. 

As I got outside of my room, I looked at the dead end on the hallway. I walked down towards the door. 

I pushed the door open, and the smell of printer inks and papers filled my nostrils. Everywhere was dark but cold. 

I turned the lights on and the lights flashed across tons of papers and shelves with tons of books. 

“An home office? Epic!” I slid my hand across the desk and over the pile of files on the table. Then, my eyes caught a file jacket. 

The contract. 

Was it ours or his company’s? Curiosity made me grab the file and open it. 

As I read through it, I could see my name. It was obviously our contract but the words in the contract were different from the one I signed though my signature was on it. 

I read through the words, the clauses seeming strange to me. 

How could I have signed this?!

You are not allowed to have a life outside of your marriage. All that you are and will be for the next one year is for your husband. You are not to be in contact with any family members nor are you allowed to be involved in any relationship…

I gasped. Not just by the words but as I looked back, I met eye to eye with the devil himself. 

Adrian, but he wasn't alone.