Chapter 3.

As Dylan drove through the bustling city, his phone rang. Checking the caller ID, it was Leah, the woman he was initially supposed to marry in place of Emily. 

He answered the call, and Leah's voice rang from the other end. “Where are you, sir? I’m already at the Registry.”

“Go back home, I already got married,” he said flatly.

“What?” Confusion was evident in her voice.

“But you’ve paid me,” she argued, her disbelief palpable.

To earn his father's properties, he needed to get married. It was his father's ultimatum set for him and his twin brother; whoever gets married first, gains everything he owns. Not having any woman in his life and not being ready to have one, Dylan settled for a contract wife, bringing Leah into the picture. But upon getting to the Registry, Emily's appearance and her drama in claiming him as her groom made him achieve his goal easier and faster.

“Keep the money,” Dylan replied, hanging up before she could protest. 

Moments later, Emily’s car pulled up outside a grand mansion, its architecture both stunning and imposing. He followed suit, stepping out of his car, momentarily impressed. “She’s from a rich family. This is nice!” he thought, taking in the luxurious surroundings.

“Let’s go in,” Emily said, hooking her arm through his as they walked toward the entrance together. 

Inside, they were greeted by the sight of Erica, Emily’s sister, curled up on the couch, absorbed in a movie. 

“Are Mom and Dad home?” Emily asked, her tone expectant.

“Yeah, I think so,” Erica replied absentmindedly, eyes glued to the screen.

“Bloody hell! You brought a man home? That’s quick!” Her younger brother, Edward, exclaimed upon entering with a cup of popcorn. This outburst finally pulled Erica’s attention away from the television, and her eyes widened at the sight of Dylan.

“Not just any man, a very handsome man,” Erica pronounced, her flirty grin all too obvious.

Emily rolled her eyes at the sibling drama. “Why are you two home at this time?”

“Night shift,” Erica replied, taking a quick glance at Dylan. She worked as a nurse.

“Just taking a break,” Edward added, the mischief in his eyes suggesting he found their situation more amusing than alarming. He's the CEO of the family's company.

“Can any of you help me get Mom and Dad?” Emily asked, urgency lacing her voice.

"Totally," Erica sprang up from the couch, her eyes still wide with surprise as she hurried off to carry out Emily's request.

A few minutes later, Erica returned accompanied by their parents, both looking startled to find Dylan with Emily in the living room.

"Who's this fine young man?" Sophia inquired, taking a seat on the couch beside her husband.

"This is Daryl Blackwood. He's my husband," Emily stated, a confident smile spreading across her face as she revealed the ring on her finger, eliciting a wave of shocked gasps from her family.

"Wait, your boyfriend that you're about to marry, right?" Erica clarified, trying to make sense of the sudden announcement.

"No, my husband. We just got married," Emily reiterated firmly.

The room fell into an awkward silence, the air thick with disbelief.

"Wow, that's bold," Edward finally broke the stillness, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you serious, Emily?" Sophia’s voice wavered, her expression a mix of concern and astonishment. "You just got married? To him? Your boyfriend?"

"Yes, Mom! I know this is sudden, but..." Emily’s voice trailed off as she shot a pointed look at her father, Charles. "...Dad left me no choice," she added defiantly.

"In case you forgot, Dad said to bring a man home in two days, not marry him on a whim," Edward replied, attempting to stifle a smirk. Emily shot him a reprimanding glare, her eyes fire.

Sophia exchanged worried glances with her husband, Charles, who scrutinized Dylan with a narrowed gaze, shifting from surprise to a more scrutinizing appraisal. “Daryl, if I remember correctly, you said your name is?” he asked, extending a firm hand.

“Yes sir,” Dylan confirmed, matching Charles’ intensity with a respectful handshake. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Pleasure to meet you," Charles echoed, his skeptical expression slightly softened.

"Please, have a seat," Charles gestured toward the couch, and Dylan begrudgingly complied, feeling the tension radiating off of him like a palpable fog.

"I'll go get my things," Emily chimed in, eager to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere.

Once inside her bedroom, she flopped onto her bed, letting out a joyous scream as she threw her hands in the air, celebrating her victory over her father.

"In your face, Dad," Emily laughed, a spark of defiance in her eyes.

"Believe me, you don't want Dad to hear that," Erica chimed in, slipping into the room with a teasing grin.

"But seriously, sis, that's incredibly rash and reckless. Getting married without a plan?" Erica continued, concern creeping into her tone.

To them, it wasn’t a well-thought-out decision, but to Emily, it was the culmination of dreams; her destiny all along.

"As long as it saves me from marrying Alex, it’s absolutely worth the recklessness," Emily replied with a bold smile, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she flashed a rebellious look towards Erica.

Meanwhile, in the living room, an interrogation session was unfolding between Charles and Dylan.

“So tell me,” Charles said, his voice steady but voice carrying an undertone of steel, “what attracted you to my daughter?”

Dylan clenched his fists, his patience fraying as he sat under the weight of Charles’s scrutiny. This wasn’t just a conversation; it felt like a trial and it took him the last string of his patience to not get up and walk out on them.

“She’s…” Dylan paused, taking a deep breath as he searched for the right words. “She’s someone no one can resist,” he said, forcing a smile.

“Actually, she’s someone you should run from, my sister is crazy,” Edward interjected, an impish grin on his face.

Suddenly, Emily returned from her room, a few suitcases in tow, accompanied by Erica. “Let’s go,” she announced with a beaming smile aimed at Dylan.

“Yeah, bro, good luck with your headache,” Edward said, casting a sympathetic glance at Dylan before receiving a sharp glare from Emily.

“Vous (you),” Charles began, shifting his gaze to Emily, his tone turning serious, “La raison pour laquelle j'accepte ce mariage flash et insensé, c'est parce qu'il est un jeune homme exceptionnel et qu'il vient d'un conglomérat noble.” (The reason I'm accepting this flash, insane marriage of yours is because he's a fine young man, and he comes from a noble conglomerate.) He finished, the tension palpable in the room. Charles believed Dylan wouldn’t comprehend his words, but to his disappointment, Dylan understood every single word. His lips tilting up slightly in a smirk as he listened to Charles.

Emily finally tore her gaze from her father and turned to Dylan. "Let’s go, honey," she said.

Saying their farewells, they exited the house. Once they reached the car, Emily loaded her suitcases into the trunk and stole a glance at Dylan from the corner of her eye. "So, what’s next?" she asked, a hopeful lilt in her voice.

"My family’s house," Dylan replied, his tone flat.

A warm smile spread across Emily's face at the thought. Meeting Daryl’s family had always been a dream of hers; it signified a step deeper into his life. "I hope they like me," she murmured, a hint of anxiety creeping into her words.

As they pulled away from the mansion, Emily cuddled closer, wrapping her arms around Dylan’s one arm as he concentrated on driving. "So, honey," she began, "when will you make preparations for our trip to Paris?" Her excitement bubbled just beneath the surface.

Dylan felt a flicker of irritation at her clinginess and shifted slightly, trying to break free from her embrace. "What’s going on in Paris?" he asked, his disinterest evident in his tone.

Emily turned to face him, confusion knitting her brows. "What do you mean, what’s going on in Paris? That’s where we planned to have our honeymoon. You don’t remember?" Her voice trembled slightly with worry, searching his expression for any sign of understanding.

"Fine, Paris it is," Dylan conceded, but the unease still lingered in the air like a dense fog. 

Eventually, they arrived at the Blackwood abode, a sprawling estate that boasted a blend of classic elegance and modern luxury. Dylan parked the car in front of the grand mansion and, as Emily stepped out, she gasped, letting her eyes wander over the impressive architecture. "Wow, this place is huge!" she exclaimed, excitement shining in her eyes.

She moved to retrieve her luggage from the trunk, but Dylan gently but firmly stopped her. "Leave it; there are people to do that," he said, waving towards a couple of staff members nearby. His tone was dismissive, almost rehearsed.

"Let's go," he said to Emily, his hand gently guiding her into the house where a lively discussion buzzed in the living room.

Dylan cleared his throat, drawing the attention of everyone gathered. 

"Hey, what's up, bro?" his younger sister, Stephanie, beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Dylan responded with a playful wink.

"Who's this beautiful damsel you've brought with you?" his mother, Sara, asked, her warm smile reflecting genuine curiosity as she looked at Emily.

"This..." Dylan began, glancing at Emily, who was visibly nervous yet beaming with pride. "This is my wife," he announced, and the room fell into a stunned silence, their shock palpable.