Chapter One

Simone

I stared down at my wedding gown, admiring the beautiful flowers on it. Father made sure I got the best dressmaker to design my wedding dress. It disgusted me.

“It’s not so bad you know” my sister chimed from where she sat at my bed.

“Easy for you to say, you are not the one getting married to a stranger” I laughed.

“He couldn’t be that bad” she tried again. I mean the blogs say Zion Scots is the most eligible bachelor in L.A”

I knew what she was doing. She was trying to make me feel better. But it only made things worse.

“I don’t love him”, I sobbed. This isn’t what I want for my life. I want love and children and a garden, and white picket fences. But it’s no use crying over spilled milk. So, I wipe my eyes and look at my reflection in the mirror.

“I want to be alone”, I smiled politely at my sister meeting her eyes from the mirror.

As the door closes, I sigh, resting my head on my hands. Father’s words came rushing back like a tsunami.

“Your first duty is to family. And our family’s fortune is dwindling. You have to marry Zion Scott. He will take care of you”.

“What if he doesn’t? What if he treats me like trash?” I asked, (just as you always treat me?”) I wanted to add.

He looked at me like I was crazy. “We don’t get to choose our family. But we get to protect it” he said.

And that was it.

I can do this. I can play wife as long as I need to. I reassure myself.

Ping. My phone beeps with a text.

“Come to the garden”

“What?” Who is this and how did this person get my number?

Maybe it was Zion. We’ve never spoken and aside what the blogs provide, I’ve never seen him in person.

Does he want to meet before the ceremony? Has he finally decided he doesn’t want me?

Excited with the possibility of that, I dropped my phone on my vanity table and head towards the garden.

“Where are you going to?” I head dad’s stoic voice from the cellar.

“The garden. I need some air”. I lied. Why did I lie?

He nodded and turned around, spitting orders to the servants about what wine they should carry.

The garden was nicely decorated but nothing was to my liking. It all seemed like the taste of Zion, the man I was about to meet. But he was nowhere and there was nobody here.

I sat down on one of the seats, fingering the lace of my dress as I waited. Waited for what exactly, I have no idea.

At the end of the aisle, was a large bouquet of flowers. There was a note on top of it. Whoever kept it there wanted me to see the note. I picked it up and it read, “come to the garage.”

Now, this was annoying. Who was this person and why was he playing with me? Is this Zion’s way of fun? I huffed in annoyance and turned in the direction of the garage.

It was dark but I could make out a tall figure at the back. He was standing by one of the cars, resting casually on it. I should be scared, but I wasn’t.

I tried to adjust my eyes to the darkness and I walked up to him. “Hi Zion. It’s nice to meet you” I spat out.

It was a lie. It wasn’t nice to meet him. He was my biggest nightmare come to pass. He didn’t move, he just stood there a little distance away from me.

His hands moved from his side and before I could understand what was going on, whack! I felt a smack on the side of my head and I fell.

What? What was happening? I asked myself as I felt my vision blur. The man bent over me but I couldn’t see him so clearly. It was all so blurry and everything became darker.

But I could see his eyes. They were the brightest shade of green I had ever seen.

But why? Why did this green eyed man hit me? And why was I stupid enough to leave my room thinking it was Zion?

He didn’t stop staring at me until my eyes started to flutter close and I gave in to the cloud of sweet unconsciousness. And the one thought that kept my head buzzing was, “why?”