Chapter 22BIANCA’S POV After taking a closer look, the rooftop turned out to be a great venue, contrary to what Nina thought. Surprisingly, Richard made the right choice. He had rented it just for our wedding this evening. It had a small bar and eatery with fairy lights, giving a cosy glow. Elegant tables and chairs covered in soft linens were neatly arranged in tables, and artificial climbing ivies adorned the walls. One could enjoy their drink and food while surrounded by the open sky and cityscape. It was the perfect spot for our wedding. The venue itself was already beautifully decorated, so we didn’t need much. Still, we added delicate drapes and floral arrangements in the colour of the event; ivory, wine gold, and rose red to create a more wedding-like atmosphere for our guests to know it’s a special occasion. For inexplicable reasons, my pulse throbbed unevenly. My heart knocked against my chest and my breathing was icy, freezing. Though the heater was on, it wasn’t really h

Chapter 24RICHARD’S POV “Do you, Richard Smith, take Bianca Sinclair to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?” David looked at me expectantly. I was lost in the depths of her eyes when those words echoed in my head. Inwardly, I jolted and my breath hitched a bit. Was this real? Was I really getting married? If someone had told me this day would arrive so soon, I would have thought they were ridiculous and laughed my lungs out. But the day has come. The day was now. Marriage was never something I envisioned for myself after Heather’s disappearance. Tales of marriages falling apart and the demands and daunting challenges made me see it in a not-so-positive light. If my father hadn’t set this up, I might have waited until I was over forty, or honestly, I’d have been content as a bachelor. That way, life would’ve been simpler,

Chapter 26 RICHARD’S POV I furrowed my brows, feeling confused and disoriented. Worried one of those hungry reporters or paparazzi might be stalking me, I scanned the area, hoping to find one. If they found out about the wedding and had my phone number, the news of my marriage to B could spread like wildfire tomorrow. I don’t want that to happen after putting in all this effort to prevent it. But how did they even manage to find my number? Fuck!! This wasn’t good at all. Ben! Maybe that idiot ratted me out. Or even worse he could be the stalker monitoring and sending me this message. He did say he’d ruin every relationship I got into. And this was perfect timing. If I find out he was the one behind this, I’ll do more than punch him in the face, this time, I’ll make sure he spends the rest of his pathetic life in the ICU. My phone binged again, almost startling me as I quickly looked back at it. Unknown number: You’ll soon break your neck(a hand on the face disappointed emoji) I’m

Chapter 28BIANCA’S POVThings were about to get ugly, and I didn’t want that. Not on a day like this. My wedding day! I tried convincing Richard to let go so we could be on our way, but he wouldn’t listen. It felt like he had been waiting for this moment for a long time. My parents were the only ones who could intervene and bring them back to their senses before something bad happened. Surely, they wouldn’t disobey their elders.“Officiant of the year! Of course, you deserve a standing ovation,” Richard acted hysterically, faking a clap and giving David a condescending sneer. “Oh please! Tolerate and appreciate you, my foot! It’s not like I begged you to come to officiate the wedding. Left for me, I would have never invited you. Even if you were the last judge in the city, I’d rather fly across the continent to find another one.”Gasps and shock echoed around the dinner table. David’s mouth hung open as he blinked in extreme surprise and bewilderment, wondering what he did to deserv

Chapter 30BIANCA’S POVThis wasn’t the limo Richard had arranged for to ride me home after our dinner date at Dinnos. Although they were nearly the same dark creamy colour, this one was fancier, more luxurious and comfortable. It had great mood lighting, top-notch entertainment systems, fresh-smelling leather seats, and even a mini bar which was well-stocked with a selection of soft drinks, water, wines, spirits and champagne. The partition between us and the chauffeur was up for privacy. I believe Richard got this just for the wedding. How sweet of him.I buckled up my seatbelt, ready for the ride. The chauffeur hopped in, started the engine, revved it up, and drove us out of the hotel and onto the road.Richard was about to grab a bottle of vodka and two glasses from the well-stocked mini-bar when I stopped him.“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” I asked, staring at him in confusion and disbelief. I didn’t mean it in a bad way, but after all that happened at the dinner table, I