Chapter 4

Sierra’s POV

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding the moment Lucian stepped outside the restroom. The air suddenly felt thick, suffocating me. I desperately gasped simultaneously to breathe, my chest moving up and down as I evened out my breathing.

“Argh!” I screamed, kicking the wall in frustration and hurting my feet. “A-Aw!”

I closed my eyes, the gun still in my hand as I leaned against the wall. I didn’t expect to meet my soon-to-be-husband that way. Just the first meeting and we knew we didn’t like each other. 

Well, good!

I never planned to like him anyway.

“He thinks I’ll cling and fall in love with him? He didn’t have to warn me or anything. I already know what to do, motherfucker!” I grumbled, getting up and punching the wall.

That man made me show him what I could do. I was supposed to be a young lady who knew nothing but to sit still and be pretty, like what my father and Roman kept telling me.

“Oh, god. I almost killed him,” I muttered, hiding the gun underneath my skirt.

I should have let Roman follow me here, but knowing Lucian’s thoughts about marriage wasn’t that bad at all. I washed my hands and looked at my face in the mirror. Compared to earlier, I looked even more terrible.

“Miss, are you there? Your father wants you to hurry,” Roman’s voice rang in my head as he knocked.

“Coming,” I replied, grabbing a handful of tissue and wiping my hands dry. “What’s with that look?”

Roman stared at me for a moment before fixing his glasses and glared. “You look like a mess,” he noticed. “Are you doing this on purpose? If yes, you’re just wasting time. Looking like that wouldn’t be enough to stop this marriage.”

Hah! I already know that. And I didn’t look like this on purpose.

“Nice. Let’s go meet my future husband, then.” I walked ahead, ignoring Roman’s complaints.

“You should at least try to smile. Then maybe you’ll look decent,” Roman suggested as we stopped in front of a huge door.

“Are you sure you want me to smile?” I provoked him and pushed the door open before he could react.

The loud thud made everyone look my way, including him… My fiance.

“A-Ahem. Miss Vale has arrived,” Roman announced awkwardly, glowering at me as he led me to my seat.

“Thank you for waiting,” I smiled sweetly, surprising not just Lucian but also my parents. None of these people ever saw me smile this stupidly, but if this was all it takes to make them move even a bit, I wouldn’t mind doing it just to see them react.

They weren’t just the only ones playing this game. I, too, was a player.

“I didn’t expect the Vales to be hiding such a treasure. Who would expect that you’ve managed to grow a beautiful flower in your garden of blood,” Lucian remarked, moving his gaze from my father to me.

He stood up from his seat and reached out for my hand, his gaze fixed on me as his lips brushed the back of it. “Nice to meet you, Miss Vale.”

Acting as if this is the first time we meet, huh? To think he’s willing to do this in front of my parents despite telling me not to expect anything.

“Sienna,’ I said in a low and commanding voice. “It’s Sienna Vale, Lucian.”

I saw his lips twitch when I called him by his first name.

What? He doesn’t like it? But he started this.

“Oh, sorry. Did I get too far calling you by your first name at our ‘first’ meeting?” I pulled my hand back and covered my mouth. “I thought it would be okay now that we’re getting married.”

Lucian forced a smile as he sat down, leaning his back. “That’s fine. Now that we’ve finally met in person, I could say that we’re getting along just fine…”

“Yes,” I smiled cheerfully, my hands on my chest. “I feel the same.”

Lucian and I exchanged quiet gazes throughout the discussion. The treaty was formally signed. All that was left was the wedding that would be held the next day.

Both parties seemed satisfied with the arrangement, well, except for me… and maybe for him, too.

“Do you feel the same? And how bold of you to call me by my name when I didn’t allow you to,” Lucian barked after snatching me away from the room, using a stupid excuse to talk to me in private.

“Says the one who wants to ‘get to know me’ better,” I retorted, brushing off his hand on mine. 

“Besides, do you want me to call you Mr. Moretti instead? Or maybe you prefer Sir Moretti, Boss Moretti, Master Moretti? You have a name for a reason.”

His eyes narrowed as he sighed. “You talked a lot for someone walking into a marriage like a lamb ready for slaughter, huh?” Lucian stepped closer, his breath fanning my face. “That smart mouth of yours, is that supposed to impress me?”

“Are you impressed?” I cocked my head to the side, meeting his gaze.

“No,” he responded, his jaw tightening in frustration.

“Then it’s not,” I muttered, raising my chin. “It’s supposed to remind you that I’m not one of those men at your disposal. You don’t get to tell me what to do with a glare and a title.”

Lucian hissed, pushing me against the wall. “No, but you’ll be bound to me in the name of marriage,” he threatened, as if it would kill me having a husband like him.

I’m living in the same world as he is. Just because I am not allowed to wield a weapon means I cannot.

“And so are you,” I smirked, pushing him away. 

“We’re both trapped in this marriage, so don’t use it against me like it doesn’t bother you.”

“You’ll regret marrying me, Sienna Vale,” he grumbled, his hands balled into fists.

“And so you do,” I said with a cheeky grin.

I will make sure you do.