Chapter Five.

"You're what?!" Tristan snorted, shaking me off balance, the expression of fear was written boldly on me like sin.

"Yes, I'm pregnant," I stammered. "I confirmed it a few weeks ago, but my parents aren't aware."

Tristan kept a straight face, his eyes piercing as if trying to read inside of me. He’s a monster; His kind gestures were all a facade.

"Since when?" Tristan asked, giving me a serious and calm expression

He gave me a cold look, I panicked, then he smiled. Who smiles at the news of a sudden pregnancy from a one-night stand with a random girl you were soon to be married to?

"And why did no one tell me?" Tristan inquired, his tone measured.

"Because …..There was no way to reach you except through my parents, and I didn't want them to know just yet," I hastily replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Mmhn, I see," His expression unreadable.

Tristan leaned closer to me, his chest pressing against mine, resting his hands solidly on my hips, just below my waist. This time, he moved slowly, his movements deliberate.

He gently grasped the back of my neck, applying a little pressure I shivered, his hand rested on my neck applying pressure. His lips were soft and warm, and they molded to mine, leaving me breathless. The whole scene in front of me wasn't what I expected. The kissing was intense, I was gasping for breath feeling the urge between my thighs.

Tristan pinned me against the edge of the balcony, his hands roaming over my body, caressing my curves. My body responded eagerly, letting out soft moans as he touched me in the right places.

What the hell was going on?

Is this man even human?

I tried to draw back but it only made him do more, my parents' voices kept echoing.

“This child is not mine”. My mother cursed.

“You failed to raise her”. My father argued.

“Honey don’t say that to me”. The argument continued and my body shivered from the touch of the monster before me.

Tristan lavished attention on me, and I could feel my body giving out towards a climax. And then, it happened – a rush of pleasure washed over me as I held onto him tightly, my legs trembling.

Tristain was sure a hard one, it sure took him years of experience to be this perfect with a woman’s body.

I couldn’t look him straight in the face, I felt ashamed, with my gown wet, I glued my eyes to the lace of his shoe not moving.

Different thoughts played like drums in my head, he was going to blow my cover in front of the strangers that called themselves parents. I was cooked, my heart racing. His eyes were glued on me, fear gripping me for the fear of the words he would spill.

“Oh, this cup of shame is about to befall me”. I whispered.

Tristain raised my head, his expression still cold and unreadable.

“Did you say something”

“Not really….the lace…yeah the lace is well crafted”. I chipped in, he nodded, and looked in the opposite direction.

"The marriage will hold tomorrow," Tristain said, his voice low and husky, as he licked the finger that had been teasing my poor nipples. "Being pregnant is no excuse."

He gazed at me seductively, his eyes burning with lust. "You seem different, I wanted more of you from the first night you threw yourself at me"

I felt embarrassed, and my cheeks turned cold. "What happened between us was a mistake, I never meant for any of it to happen" I stammered, choosing my words carefully.

He looked at me and chuckled. "I don't care. You’re mine now and I own you."

Just then, his phone rang, and his expression changed in an instant.

"Speak," he ordered

Tristain's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, revealing a glimpse of the man beneath the charming facade.

“I want the whole record wiped clean with no traces, a clean job or I fish them out myself”

“You’ve got two hours, the clock is ticking”. Tristain threatened, his fist red like he was about to throw a blow.

I’m doomed.

Tristain held my hand, and together we walked back to the dining area to meet my mother, who looked at me with disgust. The expression on my mother’s face signaled she had witnessed the intimate moment between us. I stayed glued to my food pretending like I wasn’t just smooched right in front of them.

My mother’s face betrayed her emotions, and my father looked at me with mixed emotions but I didn't care.

They could go to hell for all I care.

The tension in the room was obvious. No one dared to say a word, not in front of my supposed husband.

"Thank you for your warm welcome," Tristan complimented my parents. "This is one of the best dining experiences I've had in a while."

It was finally time I got shipped away like a cargo box.

"The pleasure is ours, Mr. Tristan," my father responded.

"Katrine will be leaving with me," Tristain announced, my parents didn’t argue, it felt like a done deal. He summoned the guards to pack up my luggage. I sat there watching the whole thing unfold.

We made our way to my sleek black Mercedes parked outside.

The drive home was quiet, the tension between us palpable. I struggled to contain my tears, but they simmered just below the surface. Tristan's informant had provided him with disturbing information about his rivals, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of rage.

I hated my parents for this, I cursed them repeatedly in my heart with the tears forming. They had orchestrated an impromptu switch, replacing the original bride with me. Furthermore, they had turned a blind eye when Jared cheated on me with her sister.

The harsh words my father had once spoken to me echoed in my mind: "You're such a useless child." "You amount to no good." "I regret birthing you." The look of disgust on her mother's face was eerily familiar. Staring at Trustain, his eyes focused on the road, I regretted my existence, wondering why I was ever born.

Glancing over the review mirror, I saw a child running freely in a garden, her mother running after her smiling, hugging her at intervals with the kid's teeth wide open. Her eyes beaming with joy and excitement, I looked away the moment the view was out of sight, my gaze fixed on the road ahead, tears welling up in threatening to pour. I turned swiftly, my back facing Tristain, unwilling to allow him to witness my pain.

Looking at them for too long stirred up memories I'd rather forget. The flashbacks were unsettling, and I felt the familiar sting of anger and resentment.

We finally arrived home, and he pulled over, opening the door for me. He held my hand, leading the way, his gesture a mix of lust and pity.

Tristan instructed the maid to show me to my room he stepped out to make a few calls.

"Speak," I heard his voice echo across the hallway.

"Is that all?" He asked, his tone firm.

"Alright then," he concluded, and with that, I ended the call. I stayed glued to the door not knowing what to expect.

The next morning, a full glam team was ready to pamper me. In just a few hours, I emerged before Tristan transforming into a breathtaking princess. My hair was styled to perfection, and the wedding dress fit me flawlessly.

"You look perfect," Tristain complimented and pecked my cheek in front of the glam squad while they clapped in unison.

Tristain was always eager to display public affection to the public but cold when it’s just us.

Tristain pierced his gaze on my body signaling me to talk.

"I love ….i love the color of the dresses, they did a great job," I stammered. "I don’t look the same”. I smiled backing up my foolishness.

They all bowed in appreciation, with Tristain raising a thumb for a job well done.

“Shall we?"

"After you," I replied, offering my arm.

We arrived at the registry office and made our union official. The moment we were about to leave, my parents arrived, full of excuses and apologies. But Tristain smiled, held the door open for me, and we drove off, leaving them stunned by his sudden change in attitude.

As we drove away, I couldn't help but cry profusely, using bouquet as cover, weeping for the life I was sold into, a different mix of emotions rushing through me, a blend of fear and guilt. For the first time since we left the registry, Tristain looked at me, unconcerned.

" Why are you crying?"