Chapter 3

But, why would he take Isobel?

It made absolutely no sense. He probably was the one who asked her to marry him. Why would he do that and then proceed to abduct her on their wedding day?

I instantly made it to the party, not bothering to ask questions I didn't have answers to. Scrambling through the crowd, I searched for mom or dad desperately.

God help me. I see one of them before Ace finds me in the crowd.

As soon as I saw mom in the crowd, sipping champagne and staring into space, I breathed a relieved sigh.

I walked up to her with steps of desperation. Immediately mom noticed me, she frowned, settling her flute of champagne on the tray of a server who swept past her at that time.

“Honey, where did you go again? Harper went to pay a visit to you and your husband but, you weren't—”

“Mom please!” I cut in. “For the love of God, can you stop calling that man my husband? It's just a stand-in, remember?”

Mom looked taken aback with the way I had snapped and I felt a pang of guilt.

About to utter an apology, she spoke again. And I knew whatever she said never, ever made sense.

“Well, he is still your husband. At least, until Isobel finds her way back.”

Mom thinks Isobel ran off due to marriage anxiety. I wasn't surprised she would think that. Actually, I knew that was what Dad thought and she was simply following his lead.

“Speaking of Isobel, I think I might know where she is.”

Her eyes widened.

“She called you?”

“No, I did and somebody interrupted. The main suspect of her abduction.”

Mom sighed, as if tired of my reluctance.

“Honey, I told you, Isobel probably went off somewhere to—”

“Mom, would you just listen to me and quit pulling the I-Know-It-All card?!”

I might have snapped a little louder this time, causing more than quarter the population of the party, turning our way. At least, one of them wasn’t Ace.

I exhaled in relief, hoping I passed the information I wanted to pass before Ace notices my absence.

“Mom, now all I want you to do is listen. I believe Isobel had been abducted and the abductor is Ace Reynolds.”

I told Mom, my voice a little below a whisper.

Mom stared at me as if I had grown a horn on my head and suddenly burst out laughing.

Seriously?

“Brielle, just how much alcohol did you take?”

What?

“I think you need some rest. Perhaps, I could inform your husband about it and have you leave earlier than intended?”

Oh, for fuck’s sake!

Without waiting to get a response from me, she swept past me and when my head registered who she was walking up to, my eyes widened.

Mom approached Ace who was still busy with some of his guests, whispered closely into his ear and shortly, his gaze landed on me. His cold, menacing and intimidating gaze.

I swallowed. I could never, ever get used to that gaze.

His gaze on me always felt like he had done a quick search of anything I was hiding in my brain system and figured it out real quick.

With his gaze, I always felt vulnerable. And, I didn't like how that made me feel. I can't wait for all these to be over.

When Mom remained there, engaging him in a rather lengthy conversation, my heart began to pound fast.

Oh, God, be my Knight in shining armor tonight and prevent this woman from letting him know why she thinks I was drunk.

Soon, the conversation was over and Ace turned back to his guests, resuming his chat with them.

A bile rose in my throat and my stomach churned in anticipation as mom walked up to me, her lips twitching slightly.

“He said he would have one of his men take you to the hotel right away. You can get some rest there, honey.”

As she began to walk past me, I grabbed her hand in a tight, anxious grip.

“D-did you by any means tell him why you think I was drunk?”

I tried to steady my breath as I anticipated an answer. She smiled softly.

That's one feature of my mom I was obsessed with - her smile. Since I hadn't taken after her timid attitude, I probably hoped I could at least have her smile.

“No dear. I’m sure he would have laughed in my face too.”

Or put a bullet into my skull, I mentally added.

“But, I didn't think it was necessary to mention that. Besides, Isobel is in a safe place, I'm sure of that. You need not worry.”

“Mom—”

I tried to protest but she cut in.

“I have known your sister longer than you do and I certainly know her better. It took five years after I had given birth to her before I had you. And in those five years, I studied her very closely. Bel is someone who would make decisions on her own accord and take matters into her own hand.”

She wrapped her hand around my unsteady ones.

“Your sister does something once she puts her mind to it, whether or not it suits our interest. That's the kind of person your sister is and I'm certain she made this decision and ran off all by herself. So, don't bother looking for her.”

Her last words pricked my skin like pins, pinching and bruising me.

Don't bother looking for her.

I know what that sounded like. It sounded like there was no hope. The situation sounded hopeless. I'm never going to find her, I'm never going to get out of this marriage I got trapped into.

“Then, why did you suggest I stand in for her?”

My voice is shaky. She knew Isobel might have run off of her own will yet, so she let Dad talk me into standing in for her until she returned, knowing fully well that she is likely not to return.

“Honey, it was the necessary thing to do.”

“Necessary how?”

I could hardly believe my own tone would be as calm and collected. As far as my brain was concerned, I should be screaming, destroying every object I see and probably threatening to kill myself if they don't revoke this fate swap they forced on me.

“We had no choice, honey.” If she keeps calling me that I might actually lose my shit. “And besides, you both look good together.”

My lips parted in disbelief. I tried to gather words. My mouth formed words then, I swallowed it back. I repeated the act almost five times, speechless and dumbfounded.

“Oh, you've got to be kidding me, mom!”

It was probably the second time half the guests' attention would be on me but, I don't give a damn. Even if one of the attention was from Ace.

“Brielle, I've always wanted you to marry someone of influence. Someone that will take care of you and protect you…”

I couldn't believe her words right now. My stomach began to twist with nausea. I could seriously throw up on her face this minute.

“You need a husband like him.”

I start to leave, not sure I can keep up with the conversation anymore but she pulls me back, determination in her Hazel eyes.

“Don’t try looking for Isobel and find a happy home with Ace Reynolds.”

Then, she released me and strodes off.

I couldn't believe what I just witnessed. My stomach kept turning and I believed I could throw up any moment from now.

So, I stumbled to the nearest vacant space I sighted - a small balcony by the corner.

I grabbed one of the plant pots, uprooted the plant and threw up into it.

As it threatened to come out the second time, I felt a hand - cold as hell, giving a shiver run down my spine - grab my blonde hair, folded it gently behind my back and began patting my back with his other hand.

His knuckle rings making brief contact with my open back every time he ran his rough hand down my back, had me shuddering.

I slowly got up and turned around.

Ace Reynolds.

“I didn't know you'd drank this much. My men are waiting, let's go home.”

Home

Home

Did he just say home?

The realization hit me, knocking me down like a truck of loads would.

I'm never escaping this. I was never meant to escape this. My fate swap wasn't temporary like I had thought, it was permanent.

This man who I only remembered as a devil is now my husband.

And, just like the priest had said:

Till Death Do Us path.