Chapter Four

Everyone paused.

They stood still, agitating, waiting for the next show. Their eyes were sharp. Their faces were curious. Some looked excited. Some looked cruel.

They were waiting for the next drama to unfold.

Ken stood before Riley, tall and proud. His presence alone made the air feel heavy. The disgust in his eyes was sharp and cold. It cut straight through her heart.

“What gave you the right to call yourself a Hale?” he repeated.

His voice was calm. Too calm.

Riley’s lips parted, but no words came out. Her throat felt dry. Her mind went blank.

“I… I…” she stammered. “My father… I—”

Her voice broke.

Ken began to walk toward her slowly.

Each step was measured. Careful. Like a predator closing in on its prey.

His eyes burned into hers.

Riley staggered backward. Her legs shook badly. Her heart raced so fast that it felt like it would jump out of her chest. Her breath came out in short gasps.

She looked around desperately.

The faces around her were mocking her. They looked entertained.

It felt like the entire hall was waiting for her to be destroyed by her own husband.

Even the kitchen assistant who had insulted her father earlier was watching now with pride. Her lips curved into a mocking smile. Her eyes shone with satisfaction, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Riley’s foot slipped.

She stumbled.

Her body tilted forward, and she lost her balance completely.

Before she could fall, Ken’s arm wrapped tightly around her waist.

Riley froze.

Her breath caught painfully in her throat.

She did not move.

She did not breathe.

Her eyes lifted slowly and locked with his.

For a brief second, the world disappeared.

“You can’t claim to be part of the Hale family,” Ken said coldly.

He pulled out a document from behind him and raised it slightly so everyone could see.

“That’s because you haven’t signed the marriage certificate.”

His frown suddenly disappeared.

A wide smile spread across his face.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Loud.

Riley’s ears rang. The laughter sounded distant, like it was coming from underwater. Her face burned with shame. Her hands trembled violently at her sides.

Ken gently helped her stand straight again, as though he hadn’t just humiliated her in front of everyone.

Riley forced a nervous smile.

Her heart was still pounding. Everything felt unreal. Like a bad dream she couldn’t wake up from.

Just then, Don R.J. Hale stepped forward.

He smiled warmly and patted Riley’s back softly.

“Sign this document to finalize your marriage certificate,” he said kindly. “Welcome to our family, my dear. You are now one of our own.”

Riley lifted her head slowly.

She smiled back, but it was weak. Trembling.

She felt unsettled deep down. It was like she was standing in a place she didn’t belong. Like she was standing on a thin glass floor that could shatter at any moment.

She looked at Ken before signing.

Her eyes searched his face.

As though she was seeking permission.

He gave her a fake smile and nodded slightly.

That was all she needed.

Riley’s hands shook badly as she took the pen. She signed her name carefully, each letter feeling heavier than the last.

The crowd raised their glasses.

They all cheered happily.

Applause followed.

But Riley’s heart was still racing.

Now, she just couldn’t wait for the wedding to be over.

Her father stepped closer and gently held her hand. His eyes were already filled with tears.

“You don’t know how happy you’ve made me today,” he said softly. His voice shook.

Riley smiled through her tears and wiped his face gently.

“I just want to see you smile,” she said. “No more crying.”

He nodded slowly.

“Now I don’t have any regrets in life,” he said as tears finally fell. “I know the Hales will protect you from now.”

Those words pierced her heart.

Riley couldn’t stop herself anymore.

She cried.

She wrapped her arms tightly around her father, holding him as if she would lose him forever if she let go. Her chest rose and fell sharply as pain flooded her heart.

She didn’t know if it was the pain of leaving her father behind.

Or the fear of the future she had just walked into.

They both cried in each other’s arms.

Ken watched them from a distance.

Anger crawled through his stomach like poison.

He clenched his fists tightly.

Gold diggers.

Both of them.

He wanted to walk over and chase them out. He wished he could openly tell her how much he despised her.

But he couldn’t.

His grandfather would never allow it.

Ken’s eyes moved to Don R.J., who was busy laughing and talking with business associates. His smile was wide and charming.

Fake.

Always fake.

Ken had never been able to read his grandfather. Since he was a child, Don R.J. had always been one step ahead.

He could be smiling at  you today. And then suddenly turn against your tomorrow.

He was always good at painting a “happy family” image in the public but Ken knew what his family really felt like on the inside.

Everything Don R.J Hale does was calculated.

And that scared Ken more than anything.

As much as he admired his grandfather’s power, he hated him for his need to control everything and everyone.

Ken adjusted his tie sharply.

The room felt suffocating.

He never for once imagined he would have such a wedding.

A wedding that feels like his own funeral.

What was meant to be a celebration felt like hell.

Everything looked perfect on the outside. The decorations. The music. The laughter.

But nothing made real sense.

Why was he been forced to get married and worse to a poor country side girl.

If Riley had been rich, he would have understood his grandmother was fighting for more power but that’s not the case here.

Was this really all to a promise he made to her father years ago after he saved his life in a burning building.

Or is there an hidden reason for this marriage?

Ken couldn’t contain his thoughts anymore, he needed some air so he turned and walked out of the hall.

Outside, he loosened his suit jacket and pulled it off angrily. He ran a hand through his hair, breathing deeply.

Just then he heard slow and steady footsteps approaching him from behind.

“Congratulations on your wedding.”

Ken froze.

His heart skipped.

That voice.

He knew that voice.

A part of him wished he was wrong.

“This cannot be happening”, Ken thought to himself.

He clenched his fists and slowly turned around.

A woman stood before him.

She wore a long red dress that hugged her perfectly. Her hair was smooth and neatly styled, her silver accessories glittered. Her beauty was striking. Effortless.

She looked unreal.

“Katerina,” Ken whispered.

His voice shook.

“You didn’t tell me you were back.”

She smiled and walked closer. “And you didn’t tell me you were getting married.”

Ken shook his head slowly.

He didn’t know what to say.

He was usually bold with the world. Fearless. Confident.

But with Katerina, he was always weak.

Speechless.

Only she had that effect on him.

“If you had told me,” she teased lightly, “I would have brought you a wedding gift.”

She laughed softly.

He wished she wouldn’t be so relaxed talking about his wedding like it was nothing.

He wished she would cry and begged him not to leave her.

“Well, I just came to congratulate you,” she said, turning slightly. “I should be leaving now.”

She smiled at him.

Her eyes lingered.

Ken’s chest tightened painfully.

Katerina had always been his first love. His first crush. The woman he wanted but never had the courage to confess to.

He had always told himself there was time.

Now there was no time.

He was already married.

But he was scared now more than ever, if he let her go now, he might lose her forever.

A storm of emotions rushed through him.

Fear. Regret. Desire. Pain.

As she turned to leave, Ken reached out suddenly and pulled her back. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

Katerina froze.

Ken closed his eyes and tightened his hold.

“I miss you,” he whispered.

His voice broke.

“I miss you so much.”

Katerina’s heart raced wildly.

This was not the Ken she knew.

He sounded desperate.

Real.

She slowly raised her hand, about to touch his.

Then she lifted her head.

And froze as she saw who stood before her.

Riley.

Still in her wedding gown.

Her eyes wide.

Her face pale.

She stared at them.

She could  not move even if she wanted to. It was like she was stuck.

She just stared.

Riley’s heart shattered silently.

Her newly wedded husband was holding another woman.

In public.

He didn’t  even had a little sense of shame.

He had no intention of hiding his affair.

Not even on their wedding day.

At that moment, everything became clear.

He did not respect her.

And he never would.

Tears filled Riley’s eyes as the truth crushed her.

She had not married a man.

She had married hell.